The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

June 2, 2014
Although it is visually energetic and brimming with interesting artistic choices, this story, derived from the eponymous album and videos by Way’s (Umbrella Academy) former band My Chemical Romance, still struggles to provide much in the way of narrative momentum. Cloonan’s (Conan) bright, energetic art buoys the action, which follows a gang of ragtag but fabulous (they are based on rock stars, after all) freedom fighters on their crusade against Better Living Industries, a sinister megacorporation, but the dystopian plot quickly loses steam. Evoking a sense of gritty excitement and sand-baked glamor, the artwork establishes a desert world in which everything looks worn and battered. Way and Simon never fully embrace to the world devised by Cloonan’s pencils, constantly getting sidetracked by half-formed ideas, especially in the long stretches that focus on futuristic youth culture. Fans of Way and Cloonan will definitely enjoy the story, but others may just look at the pictures.

September 15, 2014

In videos for songs from their album Danger Days, singer Way (Umbrella Academy) and his fellow members of the punk-meets-Queen band My Chemical Romance portrayed the Killjoys, flamboyant near-future rebels who die rescuing a young girl from Better Living Industries, the totalitarian rulers of dystopian Battery City. In this sequel set 12 years later, the girl (never named) meets a new gang of self-styled Killjoys whose leader is determined to attack Battery City. But fugitive deejay Cola tries to teach the girl a better way. Meanwhile, Korse, the enforcer who killed the Killjoys, has developed a compromising secret, and two Battery City porno droids, in doomed love with each other, place their faith in the legend of Destroya, he who will come to liberate their kind. VERDICT Way and Simon contrast the story's sf elements (and support its righteous tone) with mysticism, personified by death figure the Phoenix Witch. Cloonan's (Demo) part Mike Allred, part Scott Pilgrim artwork fits this combination well. Not so brilliant as the album that spawned it but still a satisfying, wildly inventive ride.--S.R.

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