If you’re looking for a premiere issue that doesn’t waste any time, throwing you headfirst into an ancient, bloody feud, look no further than Kill All Immortals II #1. Writer Zack Kaplan, with art by Fico Ossio, Thiago Rocha, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, reintroduces a powerful Viking family, now vulnerable, into a modern world where new, and equally immortal enemies are closing in.
The story immediately splits into two high-stakes confrontations. In Oslo, Norway, we meet one of the Viking descendants in a boardroom, desperately fighting off a hostile takeover of the family company. He quickly reveals their unbelievable past: they are the children of Erik the Red, born a thousand years ago, who gained their immortality from a “Tree of the Gods.” This family history lesson is violently interrupted when new enemies, led by the antagonists Jochi and Altani, breach the offices.
Meanwhile, in Paris, France, we are introduced to the brother’s sister, Frey Asvald. She’s giving a fiery speech about how regular people can fight back against the “untouchable gods” of the billionaire class. She’s approached by Ogedei, the CEO of Nine Ribbons, who is every bit the predatory oligarch she’s just been railing against. He tells her she’s exposed and vulnerable and offers to “buy” her charity to “save” her. After she violently shuts him down, a brawl erupts, forcing her to flee and later connect with her brothers, who confirm the terrible news: their attackers are also immortal. The issue ends on a cliffhanger, making the true conflict clear: immortals vs. immortals.
The artistic team does a phenomenal job bringing this brutal war to life. Ossio’s art is dynamic and captures the kinetic energy of the fight scenes, like the boardroom takeover and the climactic, bloody face-off at the Buddhist retreat. Rocha’s colors elevate the tension, using dramatic red light in the tense office scenes that contrast perfectly with the cool blue-green palette of the Norwegian night and final confrontation. Finally, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering is strong, giving a palpable energy to the sound effects.
Now, full disclosure: I haven’t read Kill All Immortals I, so I was definitely missing some essential backstory. While the comic gives you some quick notes at the start, you’re still dropped into this world with very little explanation of the rules. For the most part, that’s okay, but it’s compounded by a script that sometimes feels stilted and difficult to follow. The dialogue reads unrefined, and reading it was a struggle instead of a smooth experience.
The biggest issue for me, however, was the character work. The Khans are just evil for evil’s sake, leaving no middle ground or intrigue. The “good guys,” the Asvald family, also come across as somewhat one-dimensional. It’s possible that my unfamiliarity with the first series contributed to this, but even a new reader should be able to grasp the basics and find something to connect with. Here, it felt like pure action without much else, which may be exactly what some readers want, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.
Despite these issues, Kill All Immortals II #1 is a powerful re-entry into this world of ancient gods and modern empires. It perfectly establishes the extremely high stakes of a war for survival, where one side literally cannot die. It’s a serviceable start, and hopefully, the next chapter will deliver more compelling dialogue and character intrigue to match the stellar art and killer concept.
‘Kill All Immortals: II’ #1 Review: Bloody Viking Feud Crashes the Modern World
Kill All Immortals II #1 is a powerful re-entry into this world of ancient gods and modern empires. It perfectly establishes the extremely high stakes of a war for survival, where one side literally cannot die. It’s a serviceable start, and hopefully, the next chapter will deliver more compelling dialogue and character intrigue to match the stellar art and killer concept.
