Graphic Novel Review - Death Sentence - Montynero (Author) & Mike Dowling (Illustrator)

Graphic Novel Review - Death Sentence - Montynero (Author) & Mike Dowling (Illustrator)

Recommended for 18+

Well, that escalated quickly!

A sexually transmitted virus, the G+, gives the victim incredible powers with the downside of only six months of life left to live. When rogue media icon Monty develops powers more powerful than anyone else and threatens an apocalypse, it's up to frustrated artist Verity and fallen rock idol Weasel to put a stop to him. But, with Monty as powerful as he is, do they have any hope?

If I was to sum Death Sentence up in one word, it would probably have to be 'holy-shitting-WTF'; seriously, there are several moments here where you won't quite believe what you're seeing - and I mean that in a positive, keeps-you-gripped, way. Without wanting to spoil the surprises, there are some deaths that you wouldn't dream anyone would ever try and portray in any form of media, that left me literally open-jawed as I double-checked that what I thought had happened had actually happened. Talk about pushing boundaries! And far from being gratuitous and only there to shock, it only serves to enhance the sense of despair and peril that the world finds itself in.

Story- and visual-wise, this is firmly an adults-only story, with none of it holding anything back. From boobs and bums to exploding heads and bodies sliced in half, you're not going to want anyone squeamish seeing this, which is a shame because I was utterly transfixed throughout. It's a nice change having a graphic novel of this calibre set mainly in the UK, and I'm feeling uber-excited having learnt that there's a Volume 2 on its way.

Having a superpowered-STI is an original take on the superpower/mutant staple, and having lotharios such as Weasel and Monty spreading it is sure to come into play in Volume 2, with more and more people affected by the disease. It's truly a graphic novel that I wish hadn't ended, yet I was completely satisfied with the way it did, and looking forward to seeing where the creative team take it in the next volume.

Buzzfeed called this the 'best British comic in years' - they're absolutely, 100%, correct. I'm loving nearly everything that Image Comics are throwing at me at the moment, but Titan Comics have thrown out something that's right up there with the best.

Essential.

5/5