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A WWII legend is transformed
into a dark force of vengeance. May
2, 2006 - A legend was born during World War II. In the mid-'40s, "Kilroy
Was Here" graffiti began appearing across Europe in the strangest places.
It came to symbolize that Americans had been to (and assumedly liberated) a
town. While some found it an amusing joke, because Kilroy's signature wound up
in unexpected places, others took the myth a bit more seriously. Could Kilroy
have been an Allied super-spy or perhaps something far more mysterious? In the
'90s, writer Joe Pruett took the legend of Kilroy and imagined him as an
ethereal being who appears wherever there is catastrophic strife. Kilroy is Here collects
Kilroy's various publishing appearances, from limited series to Negative Burn
shorts. For most characters, this hodgepodge of disconnected stories might be
better served in separate trades, but the collection serves the character well.
Some may find the lack of continuity and follow-through a tad frustrating,
especially since the origin of Kilroy is never fully explored. The first half of Kilroy is
Here is divided into two multi-issue stories, "Revelations" and
"Pride, Prejudice and Persecution". "Revelations" introduces
us to the idea of Kilroy, a supernatural being who hungers for souls. He feeds,
as much as possible, on the worst of mankind and finds himself draw to the
greatest moments of 20th-century evil. "Revelations" is
intriguing, but misleading. Its set-up feels like the beginnings of an epic
series filled with surprising reveals that will eventually get to the core of
Kilroy. In "Revelations" we discover that Kilroy is hunted by both
devils and angels, who seek to destroy him for unknown reasons. However, this
storyline remains unresolved for the rest of the graphic novel. The remainder of
the book switches gears, becoming an episodic re-telling of Kilroy's historic
appearances. I have no problem letting the mystery of Kilroy remain a mystery,
but it's a little unfair to build up as if future revelations are forthcoming
and then give us nothing. The next story, "Pride,
Prejudice and Persecution" is the strongest in the collection. Kilroy
arrives in Sarajevo and provides a frank testimonial on the horrors of the
Bosnian War. Only Joe Kubert's Fax from Sarajevo has been as powerful, direct
and accurate. Kilroy's potential is laid out in this story and yet the rest of
the book fails to capture the essence of the "Pride" story arc. Much of the shorter stories
that follow are little more than exercises in revenge. Though Kilroy is
portrayed as a sympathetic character, his adventures get a tad repetitive. He
doesn't learn, he doesn't grow, he just sees violence and devours villains.
Sure, he's a lonely little force of nature, but that doesn't excuse a lack of
dynamic stories. A few of the shorter tales manage to be poignant, but none
reach the gravity of "Pride." There's quite a variety of
talent on display in this trade, including Mike Oeming and Brian Bolland, which
should interest just about any comic-book aficionado. Kilroy is an interesting
character, infused with remorse and an inexplicable duty to balance the darkest
moments in human history. The trade is worth it almost strictly for the
"Pride, Prejudice and Persecution" story arc, but at $25 it's
difficult to recommend too highly. If you can find it at a discount, Kilroy is
Here is certainly worth picking up. |
Kilroy is Here Review