Book Review: Kim & Kim vol #1

Book: Kim & Kim volume #1 (issues #1-4) by Magdalene Visaggio with illustrations by Eva Cabrera, color by Claudia Aguirre and letters by Zakk Saam

Edition: Single Print Issue

Description:

Kim & Kim are twenty-something besties out to make a name for themselves in the wild world of inter-dimensional cowboy law enforcement. In a massive "screw you" to their parents and the authorities, they decide to hijack some high stakes bounty -- and end up in way over their heads. Kim & Kim is a day-glo action adventure that's bursting with energy and enthusiasm. Blending the punk exuberance of TANK GIRL with the buddy adventure wackiness of SUPERBAD (if Michael Cera was a trans woman and Jonah Hill a queer girl partner in crime), Kim & Kim is a bright, happy, punk rock sci-fi adventure that is queer as shit.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Kim & Kim volume #1 is one crazy, zany wonderfully funny mess. No wonder it was recently nominated for a 2017 Eisner Awards for Best Limited Series. It follows bounty hunters Kimiko "Kim" Quatro and Kimber "Kim" Dantzler as they track down criminals. I wouldn't necessarily say they were successful with their careers since they are in huge financial trouble but they have so much enthusiasm for the job.

With their latest bounty not resulting in payment, Kim & Kim were in a financial bind. A lead for their next bounty came unexpectedly from Kim Q.'s old friend Saar Harring. Saar and his bounty hunting partner Columbus Cross were willing to cut the ladies in on a bounty if they worked with them. Saar and Columbus were members of the Catalans, an elite group of bounty hunters in which Kim Q. used to be a member of. However, problems with her father, Furious Quatro (who runs the organization) sort of ended her friendship with Saar. Despite in need of money, Kim Q. turned down the offer, she didn't want anything do with the Catalans.

Back in their day-glo space van, Kim Q. decided they should go after the bounty themselves. The bounty is to bring in Tom Quilt, a mob courier who has gone rogue and started murdering some of mob boss El Scorcho's minions.

Taking the information they gained from Saar and Columbus they were off to find Quilt. Which turned out to be easier than they expected but unfortunately the Catalans duo wasn't far behind. It also turned out that Quilt wasn't some wayward mob courier but instead a shape-shifting alien who had been enslaved (along with several others) and was forced by El Scorcho to smuggle drugs. He asked the Kims for help to try to get back home which turned out to be a strange and messed up adventure in and of itself.

But first they need to find the elusive Lady Babylon which has Kim D. resorting to using magic she's not very good at. They had no idea that someone was after them which also resulted in more trouble and things didn't go as planned with helping Quilt which of course was nothing but trouble. They were still in debt and needed to find a bounty to at least earn some money but nothing seems to go right for the Kims. Everything is just a big mess. And crossing paths with Saar and Columbus had the four going up against the person who had been after the Kims.

This book is so funny and ridiculous I was laughing so much while I was reading it. Kim & Kim attract nothing but trouble from their jobs to their personal lives. I'm not sure this will be for everyone, the characters do curse a bit but I found the story to be hilarious. I notice the Kims have a distant relationship with their parents. I don't believe Kim Q.'s issues with her father have anything to do with her being transgender I think it's more to do with her dad being so overbearing and over protective. She wants to live her life her way and not her dad's way. As for Kim D., I believe her parental issues stem from her moving away from magic to become a bounty hunter. Honestly, she's truly terrible at magic and should steer clear of it but that doesn't stop her parents from continuing to mention it. Thankfully, her parents came to the rescue financially speaking because they needed the help.

Kim & Kim volume #1 was a joy to read. It works on all levels because it's a fast-paced, action packed, zany story that has great writing and fun artwork. I wanted to read more from this which is why I'm super happy that there will be a second volume with issues starting this summer.