Written by: Kyle Starks
Art by: Steve Pugh
Colors by: Chris O'Halloran
Letters by: Becca Carey
Cover art by: Gerald Parel (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: February 18, 2026
First Impressions
The issue kicks off with a bang of crude humor and frantic pacing that grabs attention, but Eddie's nonstop smug quips quickly grate like nails on a chalkboard. Steve Pugh's dynamic art sells the chaos well, evoking a pulpy assassin vibe amid small-town absurdity, yet the brazen tone aiming for wit lands more annoying than clever. It promises thrills laced with dark laughs, only to overplay the edginess until it feels forced.
Plot Analysis (SPOILERS)
Eddie Stallion, a cocky hitman in the Menagerie assassin group, steps in for a burglary that accidentally targets the Raven, a top boss. He grabs the loot and flees as the organization slaps a massive bounty on him. Desperate for cover, Eddie races to Pluto, his overlooked childhood hometown where his estranged father George lives. Tension ignites right at the doorstep.
Stopping at a gas station, Eddie brutally stops a robbery, flashing his lethal skills while attracting eyes. He arrives at George's house to raw hostility; the old man nurses terminal cancer and deep resentment. Childhood crush Sophie works as George's hospice nurse, complicating emotions amid the friction. Local old friends sniff opportunity from the bounty rumors.
Menagerie killers close in on Pluto, ramping up peril as Eddie balances survival with forced family talks. A deranged local crime boss, a failed cartoonist, adds quirky menace to the mix. Eddie shares reluctant moments with George over past regrets, peeling back his tough facade. Multiple threats force hasty team-ups.
Violence erupts in stylish clashes, revealing Sophie's tangled connections and the boss's wild schemes. Eddie mows down attackers with flair, but his bravado shows emotional fissures. A cliffhanger unleashes loyalty shocks and looming disaster. The frenzy leaves you curious despite the noise.
Writing
Kyle Starks drives pacing with high-speed action sequences that propel the story forward briskly, yet dialogue often devolves into loud, edgy banter that aims for humor but feels obnoxiously over-the-top. Structure builds from heist screw-up to domestic siege effectively, though thematic family redemption gets buried under crass jokes straining for laughs. Authenticity falters when quips turn brazenly try-hard, disrupting flow.
The script weaves backstory via snappy exchanges mostly well, but relentless obnoxiousness in Eddie's voice drowns subtler emotional beats. Humor relies on edgy shock over clever irony, making funny moments land annoying instead. Overall, it hooks through momentum while the tone's volume holds it back.
Art
Steve Pugh's layouts guide action fluidly from wide brawls to tight confrontations, with panel flow enhancing chaotic energy effectively. Character expressions exaggerate Eddie's smugness into caricature, capturing acting nuances in fights and glares vividly. Chris O’Halloran's colors contrast Pluto's muted grit against explosive violence sharply, bolstering moody tension.
Composition aligns with beats, using angles for isolation and impact, though some transitions jar slightly amid the frenzy. Inks deliver punchy shadows in combat, heightening drama; tonality mixes cartoon flair with grit seamlessly. Pugh elevates the loud script through visual synergy.
Character Development
Eddie motivates through survival instinct and hidden family pull, staying consistent as bravado masks vulnerability, though relatability suffers from his grating persona. George's bitterness roots in history drops that feel genuine, fostering tense growth. Sophie gains layers via past ties and current risks, avoiding flatness.
Originality & Concept Execution
Hitman-with-daddy-issues refreshes tropes by pitting city killer against rural regrets, succeeding in action but stumbling on humor's edgy execution. Menagerie intrigue fused with Pluto oddities sparks freshness; premise delivers thrills, yet brazen comedy underdelivers promised wit.
Pros and Cons
What We Loved
- Dynamic layouts fuel relentless action flow.
- Punchy inks amplify combat intensity sharply.
- Family tension grounds assassin chaos effectively.
Room for Improvement
- Edgy quips grate as obnoxious overkill.
- Brazen tone annoys more than amuses consistently.
- Humor strains for shock without clever payoff.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterThe Scorecard
Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 2.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 0.5/2
Final Verdict
End of Life #1 barrels through bullets and bedside spats with visual punch that somewhat redeems its loud, try-hard comedy, but the obnoxious edge overshadows quieter strengths. Kyle Starks and Steve Pugh craft enough chaos to intrigue Vertigo fans, yet it scrapes by in a tight budget chasing laughs that mostly annoy. Die-hards might endure; casuals should pass.
6/10
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