Typically I gravitate towards horror, thriller, or science fiction when I choose what comics I read, so when it was recommended I take a glance at Tyler Kirkham‘s Final Boss I had my reservations. A Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat style fighting comic just normally isn’t my jam. Damn, was I wrong. Final Boss kicks some serious ass.
Get ready for an over-the-top adventure that’s a high-octane nod to classic action stories. Trying to forge a new path, Tommy uses his newfound powers for various paid enforcer gigs and street fights, only to uncover a past far more complex than he ever imagined.
Kirkham is a veteran comic creator, who has worked for the likes of Marvel and DC and whose work speaks for itself. So it wasn’t the creator that made me a bit reserved about this comic series, it was more the theme and genre. Just trying to get myself psyched up to read Final Boss was something that I had to work at. After reading the first five issues, I cannot believe I even gave it a second thought.
Final Boss is an epic fighting comic, that is a combination of Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, action adventure, superhero, and mystery story. Yes, it’s a lot. But it works so well together. You have moments of action-packed fighting, moments of exploring mysterious caves, and moments of just trying to make ends meet. Theres a lot packed into the first volume but somehow doesn’t feel bloated.
Tommy is a likable character who is struggle to find his place, pay bills, and find a missing family member. So there you feel empathic towards him, feeling his emotional pain, but also his physical pain. The ability to connect with such an outlandish style of character truly surprised me and I was not only routing for him to win each fight, but to succeed in his mission in life.
The fights are epic, brutal, and downright fantastic. Kirkham’s storytelling and scripting is wonderful, but it’s the artwork that screams out and grabs your attention. He has a keen ability to craft not only big action-packed and visceral fighting sequences, but also the intimate and emotional moments. Large scale settings and small up close shots are perfectly illustrated with ease.
Final Boss is for those long time fans of fighting video games, action-packed stories, and a stellar mystery. While I don’t tend to gear towards this style of story, giving this a shot was the best comic book experience I did for myself in 2025. Final Boss is a perfect comic in both story and artwork. I could not ask for more from Tyler Kirkham. Now, I just can’t wait for more from this series!
The collected edition of Final Boss hits local comic shops on May 12, 2026 from Image Comics.
Final Boss Preview
