You’re Stronger Than You Think You Are

The 2015 Canne International Film Festival is coming to a close this weekend. The CIFF is an annual event, through invitation only, that showcases films of every genre from around the world. One of the primary purposes of this event is for a film to find financial backing and/or distribution. Many of the films, and every person behind them, are vying for such an opportunity. There are many titles worth discussing, but considering what we usually cover on this site, there’s really only one honorable mention: I Kill Giants.

I Kill Giants is an American graphic novel published by Image Comics in 2008. It was written by Joe Kelly (Deadpool, Big Hero 6, member of Man Of Action) and illustrated by J. M. Ken Niimura. I Kill Giants story centralizes around a young girl, Barbara Thorson, and her exemplary imagination. What’s a bit heart-warming in this tale is how she can be relatable to so many different people. Yes, first and foremost, she’s a bit of a geek; a social misfit, lover of Dungeons & Dragons, and doesn’t really have a lot of friends. She mostly talks to her fellow human beings about these giants that she believes are real, are coming our way for some misdeeds, and how she believes she’s the one that has to stop them. Things take a bit of a turn when she starts to see pixies, signs in clouds, and just other things that foreshadow a dark time ahead. One of the other ways she is relatable to just about anyone, well, that’s a just a tad bit more morose.

You see, I Kill Giants is not your average comic book; it goes beyond the cape and cowl. When most people, outside of the medium, hear the terms “comic book” or “graphic novel” they assume it’s about super-powered folks cladding spandex, especially for film projects. Understandably so, considering 2016 seems to be giving birth (like damned rabbits) to at least 7 comic book films. But I digress; I Kill Giants is much more than a tale about an over-imaginative girl. It hits a bit more home than one would think, and allows the tale to become much more versatile. It’s about coping with loss of a loved one.

Now, losing a loved one is never easy, by any means. Everyone handles it differently.   Some take the approach of being strong for everyone else, some let their emotions fly, and others escape to other worldly places to allow themselves some comfort or deniability. This story takes the far latter. This story shows what a little girl would do just to feel safe and secure in her own skin after losing a long, tiresome battle that she couldn’t really comprehend at the time. It’s about eventually finding someone to share your feelings and loss with; it’s about allowing yourself to feel the pain, not to forget, but to remember the wondrous times you did have together. And that is what makes it so damn relatable to just about anyone.

The central quote of the book is, “You’re stronger than you think you are.” As this could pertain to dealing with loss, it could pertain to so much more. Adversity finds it’s way into our hearts and minds in various ways, each and every day. We can choose to let it knock us flat on our asses, or we can choose to stand up and fight back. Your will and inner strength are powerful weapons in your arsenal, and you would be surprised at yourself, and what you could accomplish, when you use them. I Kill Giants helps us to remember that.

I Kill Giants is a one-of-a-kind story, which will make it a one-of-a-kind movie. It’s already found financial backing from Treehouse Pictures, Man Of Action, XYZ Films, and, believe it or not, Chris Columbus. So help spread the word of an amazing story from even more amazing creators. Go to your local bookstore, comic book shop, or Amazon, and pick it up. I Kill Giants kicks you square in the feels, and it’s something you don’t want to miss. And remember, my friends: You’re stronger than you think you are.