SPLICED COMICS /
REVIEW / I KILL GIANTS
This, of course, doesn't sit all that well with the
people around her, who unabashedly believe her
to be mentally unstable. Her older sister is too
stressed and busy to deal with the problems that
Barbara is facing and/or causing, their mom is only
mysteriously alluded to and there is a terrible secret
looming in the upstairs section of their home. All of
this leads up to an incredibly beautiful emotional
climax as the readers start getting pummelled with
plot-twist after plot-twist. The reader grows and
develops alongside Barbara as we slowly garner
more insight into the young girl's troubles. Her
courage is incredible, she never shies away from a
challenge and when you eventually see the battle
between Barbara and the titular giant, you will fall
in love with her spirit and tenacity. A lot of this
is owed to Niimura's art - it appears so naïve and
rushed initially, but boy does it get glorious when
the eponymous giant storms Barbara's coastal
neighbourhood.
ISSUE 04
The book is pure expression and heart exhilarating from beginning to end and so moving
that I was in tears by the end. The insight into the
human condition, what it means to truly be an
outcast and the consequences thereof, but more
importantly, the sacrifices we have to make for our
own beliefs sometimes will hit you hard. Whether
it's pride that holds us back, or fear, or weakness,
it doesn't matter; but when we seek solutions by
working with our faults and not against them, we
can all kill our own giants.
Do yourself a favour and read this book comic fan or not, it's a revolution that really
should not be missed.
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