The Kill Lock #1 Review

By Nolan P. Smith 

Editor

If you are looking for a great looking book with a lot of personality, I highly recommend checking out IDW’s The Kill Lock.

By Livio Ramondelli with letters by Tom B Long, this book surprised me. It seemed interesting from the solicits, the artwork on the cover looked great, but it didn’t prepare me for what I read. Four robot/droids have been marooned to a lost planet to live out their lives as a death sentence with one caveat: all four are tied to a Kill Lock- so if one dies, they all die. The group is composed of an Artisan droid with too much personality and a track record of deaths to back it up, a young droid who doesn’t remember why he’s there, a massive brute droid with a drinking problem, and a Wraith with a secret to why he has been exiled. The four go on a search for a way to bypass the kill lock, something that hasn’t been done before. 

The artwork here is nothing short of amazing. I am in awe of the interior pages, the character designs, the panel layouts- everything. Visually it is incredible. The story is outstanding, too. The dialogue gives an excellent R rating to this band of misfit droids. But it also feels very natural. 

I am blown away by The Kill Lock. Ramondelli has created something extraordinary here. It feels like what Transformers should have evolved into by now- a rough, dangerous droid adventure that feels more human than you could imagine. Scoop up this first issue and get ready for a wild ride. 

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.

Nolan P. Smith is the Editor and Co-Founder of Pastrami Nation. Being a reporter for the past ten years, he has worked for a variety of media outlets, from newsprint to the ever-evolving internet platform. Residing in Victorville, CA, writing has always been a significant aspect of his life. You can usually find him at comic book conventions, looking for more amazing books to dive into, or at the gym at odd times of the night. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter @nolanpsmith, and Instagram @kakooee.