Kill Train #1: Terror on the Tracks
Creative Team
writer: OLIVIA CUARTERO-BRIGGS
artist: MARTINA NIOSI
colorists: SIMONE D’ANGELO
letterer: BECCA CAREY
publisher: MAD CAVE STUDIOS
Reviewed by Seth Adrian Romo
Kill Train #1 kicks off this dystopian series with a gradual build-up that will have readers hooked by the last page as screeches of subway brakes burst their ears.
In an effort to manage overpopulation, subway trains in New York are picked at random for the passengers to be killed. Determined to get downtown, Vanessa—a struggling writer with no funds—has no other option than to catch a train and hope the 1 in 10,000 chance of being on a kill train will be in her favor.
Kill Train is an engaging read thanks to its succinctness. Written by Olivia Cuartero-Briggs, the script doesn’t overcomplicate the plot or waste time world building. Readers are given two critical pieces of information: Vanessa (the protagonist) was once a shining star, and now she’s about to board a train that has a history of being a tool to cull citizens.
It’s easy to connect with Vanessa as her life isn’t suffering from bad decisions—but a series of bad luck. (A concept that is very understandable.) A substantial amount of the page count is spent following Vanessa as she goes about her day, but there is a foreboding vibe that looms all around her.
The art from Martina Niosi and colors from Simone D’Angelo wonderfully craft the duality of people going about their lives and moments of violence that sporadically pops up. Panels filled with the horrors of a kill train are filled with red and purple hues and the use of the color purple follows Vanessa in subtle ways.
It would be great if there was a “Sunday Movie” score when constructing reviews as Kill Train very much fits the category of a story that doesn’t do anything unique but serves as a self-contained and incredibly entertaining experience.
Final Verdict
Kill Train is every bit exhilarating as it is deadly. With its relatable cast and horrifying concept, prepare to feel the anxiety of being trapped in a steel cage as blood splashes everywhere.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 9.0 |
| Story/Plot | 9.0 |
| Art/Line Work | 9.0 |
| Colors | 9.5 |
| Final Score | 9.1/10 |