Lady Killer: A Graphic Novel Review

Posted May 10, 2018 by shooting in Book Review / 21 Comments

Lady Killer, Volume 1 by Joëlle Jones and Jamie S. Rich

Review by Lauren

Source: copy from library; all opinions are my own

Official Summary (add on Goodreads): Josie Schuller is a picture-perfect homemaker, wife, and mother—but she’s also a ruthless, efficient killer for hire! A brand-new original comedy series that combines the wholesome imagery of early 1960s domestic bliss with a tightening web of murder, paranoia, and cold-blooded survival.

Review: I don’t know where I first saw Lady Killer (Volume 1), though I imagine it was somewhere online. At any rate, once I saw it, I added it to my Amazon wishlist and there it sat for awhile. I was therefore very excited to realize that one of my local libraries carried the first volume (the second is out now) so I snatched it up and happily read it soon after.

Lady Killer is violent, and it’s definitely an adult book, but I also didn’t find anything to be too gratuitous. The book follows housewife and mother Josie, who seems to have the picture perfect life – a loving husband, two little girls, etc. However, what nobody in her “real life” knows is that she’s actually a killer for hire and has been doing this for years.

There is definitely more emphasis put on the plot of the story – and the killings – than really in depth characterization. Despite this, I still felt like I got to know Josie. Volume 1 shows where she stands on certain issues and how she won’t kill just anyone. She’s an efficient killer, and it doesn’t hurt that she can use the fact of her being a woman to disarm people. Sometimes this means her sexuality, but other times it’s just the fact that she appears innocent and unable to hurt anyone. That’s where people are mistaken though! Josie can fight with the best of them and like I said before, she’s very efficient at getting the job done.

It looks like Lady Killer, Volume 2 is out now so I definitely want to find a way to read that soon, as I’m curious where Josie ends up after Volume 1.

Finally, I had a question for you, whether you’ve read these books or not: do you consider a killer for hire a serial killer? I mean, they are killing multiple people at different times and in different places. Yes, they are being paid to do so, but I still think that this counts as being a serial killer. This difference makes it interesting when thinking of Josie, as a woman, as most serial killers are men. Plus, a killer for hire almost tries to sanitize the issue a bit, but when you really think about it, Josie is still very much a killer whether there is money involved or not. As such, I’d consider her a serial killer. Would you?

Lady Killer: A graphic novel about a killer for hire...who just happens to be a mom and wife too! #graphicnovels #bookbloggers Click To Tweet

(Let’s Talk About Serial Killers is a new “feature” on the blog; it will mostly be attached to things I review that deal with serial killers – TV, movies, books, etc.)

21 responses to “Lady Killer: A Graphic Novel Review

  1. Love the pictures!! For some reason, I don’t see people hired to kill as a serial killer. Both are equally scary. I think the fact she is choosing who to kills makes her much more dangerous then someone going on a random rampage.

  2. I have this graphic novel in my school library, it doesn’t get much attention. I like your question, I don’t know that I’d consider a hired killer as a serial killer automatically, but I guess they could be if they followed the rest of the characteristics of a serial killer.

  3. I might actually be curious about this one. It’s almost like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as a serial killer instead of a comedian! Sounds kind of good to me!

  4. Okay, I can’t explain exactly why, but I don’t consider a killer for hire a serial killer. Maybe it’s a different psychology at work? I don’t know… but I don’t really consider them one and the same. I really like the art work in this one!

    • shooting

      It’s an interesting question for sure -I’m loving all the differing thoughts and answers!!

  5. Fun that you found a wish list book at the library. Interesting concept that she has such a dark side while living a whole different daytime life. Obviously, she is fooling a spouse and children so that says something about how good a liar or at least a multiple personality she is. There are definitely some severe psych issues for someone to have such a dichotomy going on so I agree that she is definitely in serial killer category.

  6. Hi Lauren, these books look fascinating. Not sure they’re for me though. I definitely would consider Josie a serial killer and killers for hire in the real world. For money or not, doesn’t make a difference. Although, I suppose for psychological studies, a serial killer who does it randomly for reasons other than money, is more of interest in trying to understand the motives. Great review, Lauren!

    lisa thomson recently posted: Word of the Year Check-In
  7. Any graphic novel called Lady Killer immediately makes me sit up and pay attention. I think a gun for hire so to speak would still be a serial killer. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. Isn’t it if you kill three people or more, you’re considered a serial killer or something like that? Have you seen that new show Killing Eve? The whole premise revolves around catching a serial killer who happens to be a paid assassin.

  8. What a fun, if dark, premise for a series! I will admit, this does not sound like my cup of tea. I don’t like violence and I struggle with it when I can visualize it (such as in graphic novels). But I’m so glad you found something you enjoy! Plus, let’s hear it for the library. I LOVE my library system. 😀

    Jackie B recently posted: The Paper Magician

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