Kill 6 Billion Demons, Vol. 1

Parkinson-Morgan’s popular webcomic is collected into its first trade edition, telling the origin story of Allison Ruth, a barista who becomes embroiled in an interdimensional nightmare. After her boyfriend is kidnapped by demons and a metaphysical key is shoved into her forehead, Allison finds herself in Throne, a bizarre, sprawling city outside of the 777,777 worlds that make up reality as we understand it. Allison embarks on a quest to save her boyfriend and liberate Throne from the Black Emperors who rule the multiverse. This volume’s plot serves mainly as prologue, but Parkinson-Morgan nevertheless showcases his impressive worldbuilding abilities; Throne and its environs come to life as a macabre James Stokoe–inspired hellscape, the details of which are never muddied (despite Parkinson-Morgan’s sketchy linework) thanks to the nuanced coloring. Spacing out each chapter are glimpses into the universe’s unique mythology, an enticingly baffling blend of world religions, that invite readers to become completely absorbed in this visually and textually stunning debut from a strong new talent. (Sept.)