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Killadelphia #1-12
Killadelphia Deluxe Edition Book One
Finally, the acclaimed horror title which was nominated for an Eisner Award for "best new series" is collected in a stunning hardcover featuring the first 12 issues and more!
From RODNEY BARNES, the breakout star comics scribe and television writer behind HBO's Winning Time, and the show-stopping artist who redefined SPAWN for a new generation, JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER.
When a small-town beat cop comes home to bury his murdered father, revered Philadelphia detective James Sangster Sr., he stumbles into a mystery that will lead him down a path of horrors and shake his beliefs to their core. The city that was once the symbol of liberty and freedom has fallen prey to corruption, poverty, unemployment, brutality...and vampires.
Now, it’s up to Jimmy and an unexpected companion to stop long-thought-dead President of the United States John Adams from building an undead army and staging a bloody new American revolution.
There’s a reason they say you can’t go home again. Welcome to Killadelphia.
Collects KILLADELPHIA #1-12 and chapters 1-5 of the terrifying werewolf tie-in story ELYSIUM GARDENS
From RODNEY BARNES, the breakout star comics scribe and television writer behind HBO's Winning Time, and the show-stopping artist who redefined SPAWN for a new generation, JASON SHAWN ALEXANDER.
When a small-town beat cop comes home to bury his murdered father, revered Philadelphia detective James Sangster Sr., he stumbles into a mystery that will lead him down a path of horrors and shake his beliefs to their core. The city that was once the symbol of liberty and freedom has fallen prey to corruption, poverty, unemployment, brutality...and vampires.
Now, it’s up to Jimmy and an unexpected companion to stop long-thought-dead President of the United States John Adams from building an undead army and staging a bloody new American revolution.
There’s a reason they say you can’t go home again. Welcome to Killadelphia.
Collects KILLADELPHIA #1-12 and chapters 1-5 of the terrifying werewolf tie-in story ELYSIUM GARDENS
360 pages, Hardcover
First published November 22, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 10, 2022
(Thank you to Edelweiss for the review copy.)
This was a wicked graphic novel. Killadelphia follows detective James Sangster as he tries to navigate the vampire-swarmed city of Philadelphia. The story starts when detective Sangster buries his father Sangster Sr., who was also a detective. James' father died in suspicious circumstances, which will soon be revealed to James as the number of odd murders rises in the city and the dead start coming to life. When James decides to dig his father's grave, he finds him alive and breathing. James decided it was his mission to fight against the vampires roaming the streets. He is not alone in his quest, as he has his father and colleagues on his side. In Killadelphia's universe, the 2nd president of the USA, John Addams, and his wife, Abigail, are power-hungry vampires. The two of them are the main villains of the story. They want to build an army of vampires to take over Philadelphia, and soon - the whole country.
Killadelphia's graphic design is stunning. The color palette is gorgeous, and the character design is realistic. The dialogue flows naturally, and the narration perfectly sets the tone, making it easy to immerse yourself in the story. There were some romantic moments between detective James and one of his colleagues. I thought that was a gentle addition to the overall dark tone. I enjoyed my time spent reading this graphic novel, and I will definitely check out volume 2 because volume 1 ends with a tense cliffhanger. I think readers interested in American history and vampires would enjoy this graphic novel.
This was a wicked graphic novel. Killadelphia follows detective James Sangster as he tries to navigate the vampire-swarmed city of Philadelphia. The story starts when detective Sangster buries his father Sangster Sr., who was also a detective. James' father died in suspicious circumstances, which will soon be revealed to James as the number of odd murders rises in the city and the dead start coming to life. When James decides to dig his father's grave, he finds him alive and breathing. James decided it was his mission to fight against the vampires roaming the streets. He is not alone in his quest, as he has his father and colleagues on his side. In Killadelphia's universe, the 2nd president of the USA, John Addams, and his wife, Abigail, are power-hungry vampires. The two of them are the main villains of the story. They want to build an army of vampires to take over Philadelphia, and soon - the whole country.
Killadelphia's graphic design is stunning. The color palette is gorgeous, and the character design is realistic. The dialogue flows naturally, and the narration perfectly sets the tone, making it easy to immerse yourself in the story. There were some romantic moments between detective James and one of his colleagues. I thought that was a gentle addition to the overall dark tone. I enjoyed my time spent reading this graphic novel, and I will definitely check out volume 2 because volume 1 ends with a tense cliffhanger. I think readers interested in American history and vampires would enjoy this graphic novel.
January 19, 2023
This was incredible, I am enthralled. I can’t wait to read the rest. The “Elysium Fields” sounds like it will be a great tie-in. I hope this keeps going, I already want more.
December 10, 2022
2.5, rounded up.
This, surprisingly, didn't do much for me. The art is really good, but something about the story just didn't pull me in. It feels choppy, like I'm missing pages. Things just jump from one plot point to the next, rarely with anything in-between.
I also am not a fan of super-hard to read scripts in text boxes or balloons, without a plain print version somewhere on the page, and the first bit of volume 1 has a bunch.
The big saving grace of this is the art. There are some absolutely beautiful panels in this, and the inking is really well done.
This, surprisingly, didn't do much for me. The art is really good, but something about the story just didn't pull me in. It feels choppy, like I'm missing pages. Things just jump from one plot point to the next, rarely with anything in-between.
I also am not a fan of super-hard to read scripts in text boxes or balloons, without a plain print version somewhere on the page, and the first bit of volume 1 has a bunch.
The big saving grace of this is the art. There are some absolutely beautiful panels in this, and the inking is really well done.
April 8, 2023
First off, Killadelphia has so much going for it. It is a truly wicked and amazing take on the vampire mythos. Top tier art really pushes this to another level. My only quibble is the main storyline just seems a little tough to handle. It’s a truly minor complaint. An ex-leader of the country is the prime antagonist?
October 18, 2022
Just when you think the vampire subgenre has been done to death, a graphic novel comes along that grabs one’s attention and reignites one’s affinity for the trope. As the title suggests, one of the ways that this book establishes itself as something different is to lean into setting, a setting with a unique heritage but no particular connection to vampires, in this case Philadelphia. The book takes cross-genre to the extremes, involving not only speculative fiction / horror but, also, historical fiction and detective fiction.
Killadelphia doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, but it does an exemplary job with an assortment of common tropes and plot devices. Like Seth Grahame-Smith’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the book mashes up vampires and historical figures, but – in this case – Barnes goes more obscure by using John and Abagail Adams. The book also plays on the dysfunctional father / son relationship as source of tension and character growth. In this case, James Sangster Jr. comes to Philly due to the untimely death of his father, James Sangster Sr., but the father’s death turns out to be more of an undeath, the detective having been caught up in an investigation that led him into a den of vampires. This ultimately plays into a reluctant team up as the Philly vampire scene goes epidemic.
There’s some ancillary material with this deluxe edition, most notably a werewolf comic that takes place in the same universe, called Elysium Gardens. [Otherwise, it’s the usual alternate cover art and author exposition type stuff.]
I enjoyed Killadelphia and would put it in the upper echelon of vampire-inspired graphic novels that I’ve seen of late.
Killadelphia doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, but it does an exemplary job with an assortment of common tropes and plot devices. Like Seth Grahame-Smith’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the book mashes up vampires and historical figures, but – in this case – Barnes goes more obscure by using John and Abagail Adams. The book also plays on the dysfunctional father / son relationship as source of tension and character growth. In this case, James Sangster Jr. comes to Philly due to the untimely death of his father, James Sangster Sr., but the father’s death turns out to be more of an undeath, the detective having been caught up in an investigation that led him into a den of vampires. This ultimately plays into a reluctant team up as the Philly vampire scene goes epidemic.
There’s some ancillary material with this deluxe edition, most notably a werewolf comic that takes place in the same universe, called Elysium Gardens. [Otherwise, it’s the usual alternate cover art and author exposition type stuff.]
I enjoyed Killadelphia and would put it in the upper echelon of vampire-inspired graphic novels that I’ve seen of late.
August 9, 2025
I’m a sucker - if you’ll pardon the pun - for all things Vampiric, and “Killadelphia” is one of a number of titles within that genre I currently have available to read.
THE POSITIVES:
Upon first approach, its narrative structure seems to be via the White male gaze being that President John Adams leads the proverbial charge at the outset, but it quickly becomes apparent that themes of historical Black subjugation and trauma in forms both large and small are the beating heart of this story, and the reclamation of one’s power and story is key here and I found it fascinating as I began to scratch beneath its surface and draw further comparisons. Maybe I’m wholly over-analysing its intent - how one perceives a piece of art is all relative after all, but whatever you take from this, it’s largely an enjoyable and thought-provoking ride. Also, JSA’s Artwork is fantastic in being able to elevate the intensity of all things visceral and then grounding the procedural where needed. A really great choice of Artist for this.
THE NEGATIVE:
Yeah, you read that correctly - just one:
The pacing of the 2 connecting stories collected here is consistent, however I really wasn’t a fan of the choppy time-jumps, as more often than not they just unnecessarily muddied the waters and confused things. That being said, I did wonder at one point if there was a possibility I was simply unlucky enough to have purchased a misprinted copy, so I can’t state for sure if that was intentional or not, but it eventually became quite distracting trying to keep track of certain characters suddenly popping-up in a different time in their lives, only to suddenly jump back to that same character or some one else entirely in the present only to jump back again a page or so later. I hope it wasn’t intentional because - for myself at least - I felt those flashbacks would have been far more effective being self-contained and not cut-up and displaced to the point where they just seemed dropped-in wherever, with little rhyme or reason.
TLDR;
While it doesn’t particularly break the wheel or venture upon any new ground that hasn’t already been trodden before in some shape or form, it’s still worthy of your time and money. Just be prepared to join a lot of dots to keep track of what’s going on and know that by the end of Book 1 you’ll likely be sat on the fence as to whether you’ll invest in Book 2.
FOR FANS OF:
Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter
Interview with the Vampire
The Strain
THE POSITIVES:
Upon first approach, its narrative structure seems to be via the White male gaze being that President John Adams leads the proverbial charge at the outset, but it quickly becomes apparent that themes of historical Black subjugation and trauma in forms both large and small are the beating heart of this story, and the reclamation of one’s power and story is key here and I found it fascinating as I began to scratch beneath its surface and draw further comparisons. Maybe I’m wholly over-analysing its intent - how one perceives a piece of art is all relative after all, but whatever you take from this, it’s largely an enjoyable and thought-provoking ride. Also, JSA’s Artwork is fantastic in being able to elevate the intensity of all things visceral and then grounding the procedural where needed. A really great choice of Artist for this.
THE NEGATIVE:
Yeah, you read that correctly - just one:
The pacing of the 2 connecting stories collected here is consistent, however I really wasn’t a fan of the choppy time-jumps, as more often than not they just unnecessarily muddied the waters and confused things. That being said, I did wonder at one point if there was a possibility I was simply unlucky enough to have purchased a misprinted copy, so I can’t state for sure if that was intentional or not, but it eventually became quite distracting trying to keep track of certain characters suddenly popping-up in a different time in their lives, only to suddenly jump back to that same character or some one else entirely in the present only to jump back again a page or so later. I hope it wasn’t intentional because - for myself at least - I felt those flashbacks would have been far more effective being self-contained and not cut-up and displaced to the point where they just seemed dropped-in wherever, with little rhyme or reason.
TLDR;
While it doesn’t particularly break the wheel or venture upon any new ground that hasn’t already been trodden before in some shape or form, it’s still worthy of your time and money. Just be prepared to join a lot of dots to keep track of what’s going on and know that by the end of Book 1 you’ll likely be sat on the fence as to whether you’ll invest in Book 2.
FOR FANS OF:
Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter
Interview with the Vampire
The Strain
October 29, 2023
Killadelphia by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander.
Killadelphia is my favorite current horror comic for quite some time, its one of the not many comics i collect in single issues, but here i am with the great looking hardcover. If there is one book that deserves double dipping its Killadelphia, its a monster book at heart focusing on Vampires in its first arc, and later on Werewolfs and other Ghouls and such. The story follows James Sangster jr, a police detective in Philadelphia, who's dad died, Sangster Senior was also a police detective and left al kinds of weird clues about whats going on in Philly. This starts a fantastic horror adventure with the most beautifull artwork and a kickass story. This is truly a original horror graphic novel with all the tropes but at the core this is a book about racism, social injustice, and inequality. The way its handled in a horror comic is fantastic, and you really learn some stuff about America's dark past. Its also alot about previous President's and it just works like a charm for me. This is one book i keep one recommending as i still think this deserves a bigger audience !
Killadelphia is my favorite current horror comic for quite some time, its one of the not many comics i collect in single issues, but here i am with the great looking hardcover. If there is one book that deserves double dipping its Killadelphia, its a monster book at heart focusing on Vampires in its first arc, and later on Werewolfs and other Ghouls and such. The story follows James Sangster jr, a police detective in Philadelphia, who's dad died, Sangster Senior was also a police detective and left al kinds of weird clues about whats going on in Philly. This starts a fantastic horror adventure with the most beautifull artwork and a kickass story. This is truly a original horror graphic novel with all the tropes but at the core this is a book about racism, social injustice, and inequality. The way its handled in a horror comic is fantastic, and you really learn some stuff about America's dark past. Its also alot about previous President's and it just works like a charm for me. This is one book i keep one recommending as i still think this deserves a bigger audience !
January 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this take on vampires. The “police versus supernatural creatures” is nothing new, but Barnes throwing in President John Adams as a vampire throws an unexpected twist into the trope. By contrasting an actual father/son relationship with the “found family” relationship, he also adds some depth to a fantasy police procedural.
The art by Jason Shawn Alexander is terrific, too, by turns illustrative and impressionistic.
They also find moments to add little humorous homages. If you recognize these cameos then you’re one of the cool kids. And by “kid” I mean “senior citizen”.
The art by Jason Shawn Alexander is terrific, too, by turns illustrative and impressionistic.
They also find moments to add little humorous homages. If you recognize these cameos then you’re one of the cool kids. And by “kid” I mean “senior citizen”.
February 8, 2023
I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
James Sangster Jr., a police detective, goes to Philadelphia to bury his father, also a detective. When going through his father's possessions he finds his journal on his recent cases. As he reads the journal he begins to doubt his father's sanity, James Sangster Sr. claims that Philadelphia is plagued by vampires. As Jr. investigates his father's death and digs up his body he finds his father is right when he finds him undead and awake. Together they investigate the cause of the vampires and the deaths.
The story builds itself on vampire basics while giving itself a different origin story. It uses race relations and issues with the police and plays all of this against the recent developments in the government. It is an interesting take on the typical tale. It is nice to see something that is not the typical rich white vampire story.
If you are a fan of vampire stories, this is a good one to read.
James Sangster Jr., a police detective, goes to Philadelphia to bury his father, also a detective. When going through his father's possessions he finds his journal on his recent cases. As he reads the journal he begins to doubt his father's sanity, James Sangster Sr. claims that Philadelphia is plagued by vampires. As Jr. investigates his father's death and digs up his body he finds his father is right when he finds him undead and awake. Together they investigate the cause of the vampires and the deaths.
The story builds itself on vampire basics while giving itself a different origin story. It uses race relations and issues with the police and plays all of this against the recent developments in the government. It is an interesting take on the typical tale. It is nice to see something that is not the typical rich white vampire story.
If you are a fan of vampire stories, this is a good one to read.
February 5, 2023
The scene: Vampires are overrunning Philadelphia. A detective on the case ends up getting turned into a vampire, and has to team up with his son (also a cop) and the mortician to put an end to what's happening. And President John Adams is involved?!
This is campy, and a bit all over the place, but I liked it. I think there are some plot lines that aren't needed or could be smoothed over a bit more to help aid with pacing issues, but I'm interested enough to keep reading.
The artwork is cool--very reminiscent to 30 Days of Night, which I believe Jason Shawn Alexander worked on. The story involves vampires, so there's a lot of blood. Always a good time!
This is campy, and a bit all over the place, but I liked it. I think there are some plot lines that aren't needed or could be smoothed over a bit more to help aid with pacing issues, but I'm interested enough to keep reading.
The artwork is cool--very reminiscent to 30 Days of Night, which I believe Jason Shawn Alexander worked on. The story involves vampires, so there's a lot of blood. Always a good time!
May 20, 2024
This is a cool ass book. I received it as a birthday gift from one of my best friends. Before reading the book, I was skeptic of how deep the storylines would go. After finishing it today, I can confidently call myself a "Killadite”.
I like dark, mysterious stories. Killadelphia delivered. The illustrations are my favorite: many of them haunt me although the storylines, to me, made them palatable.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of horror, US History, vampires, and Philadelphians.
I like dark, mysterious stories. Killadelphia delivered. The illustrations are my favorite: many of them haunt me although the storylines, to me, made them palatable.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of horror, US History, vampires, and Philadelphians.
December 19, 2023
Just finished the Deluxe Edition of "Killadelphia" from Image Comics.
It contained issues 1 thru 12.
It was stunning! Goes right for your jugular. A fresh take on vampire lore that retains a classic sensibility. It is radically gorgeous, gory and has some of the tightest horror writing I've ever come across in a horror graphic novel. The world and mythology building is spectacular. It's a huge tale. I could not recommend it enough. Can't wait to read and absorb what comes next! 🩸
It contained issues 1 thru 12.
It was stunning! Goes right for your jugular. A fresh take on vampire lore that retains a classic sensibility. It is radically gorgeous, gory and has some of the tightest horror writing I've ever come across in a horror graphic novel. The world and mythology building is spectacular. It's a huge tale. I could not recommend it enough. Can't wait to read and absorb what comes next! 🩸
January 14, 2024
Killadelphia Book One is chilling horror in both the lines in the letters and on the page. It is a great horror story with buddy cop, father son dynamics, and historical fiction elements. This multi layered supernatural story is bolstered by the truly terrifying art by Jason Shawn Alexander.
Book One ended on a big cliff hanger and I cannot wait to read more.
Book One ended on a big cliff hanger and I cannot wait to read more.
January 19, 2024
Well crafted, generation spanning vampire conspiracy tale, gorgeously illustrated by Jason Shawn Alexander. I was attracted by the pretty art, but stayed for the clever, intricate story and capable writing. Good stuff.
March 4, 2023
This was magnificent! Moments that genuinely made me gasp out loud, and concepts that I can’t remember really ever reading before. This year one hardcover is a masteclass in graphic storytelling and beauty, though be warned: it does end on a cliffhanger.
April 22, 2023
The second arc was better and didn't suffer much from the pacing issues of the first arc. The first arc could've worked better if some plot points were omitted and others developed more. Had the potential for 4 stars but only reached 3.
February 2, 2024
Wow! What an amazing cross of the vampire genre, historical fiction, family drama, police procedural, racial reckoning, theological discourse, and the power of love, habit, and duty. Yeah, I know that's a lot, but Barnes delivers all of it. And then some.
February 20, 2024
It took me ages to go through it. I couldn’t really get into the main story, as it is hard to follow and felt highly disjointed. The art is really really nice, but if you imagine to remove it from the equation, I am not sure that what is left is enough
December 5, 2022
1-6, Sons of the Father, ☆☆☆☆
7-12, Burn Baby Burn, ☆☆☆☆
Elysium Gardens, ☆☆☆
7-12, Burn Baby Burn, ☆☆☆☆
Elysium Gardens, ☆☆☆
Read
January 18, 2023Great characters, waiting for book 2.
March 20, 2023
I went into this series completely blind and was not disappointed. I would 100% recommend it to anyone
September 2, 2023
Great vampires. Loved the founding fathers angle. Really loved a couple Easter eggs. Parts just felt off to me. I’m interested enough to keep reading.
February 2, 2025
Super great story. Can’t wait to see where the story goes!
November 13, 2025
Really fun vampire comic establishing great characters to root for!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews