Stephanie Kay
Oct 13, 2007, 10:12 pm
<a href="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=10184" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/zombie2t.jpg" alt="Zombie #2" hspace=10 align=left></a> Reviewer: Alan Bergin, alan_bergin@yahoo.com
Story Title: The rest stop gang
It's alright baby, you did good.
Writer: Mike Raicht
Art: Kyle Hotz
Colour Dan Brown
Letters: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Warren Simons
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published By: Marvel Comics (www.marvel.com)
This title is suggested for mature readers.
Man, but those dead guys can run! The debate between the merits of classic, shambolic zombies versus the runner-bean-zombies has been raging for a while now. Movies like 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead (2004) have introduced a whole new kind of terror with undead ghouls who'll chase you to the ends of the earth for a nibble. Zombie purists will argue that these creatures are not in fact, real zombies, that they possess none of the charm of the slow-moving marauders. But while I'd agree that the lurching undead are the more authentic zombie, I can't help but admit that these running buggers are (for want of a better description) bloody terrifying! It is with great pleasure then, that I get to tackle the review of Zombie #2, where the latter appear in their undead droves.
The last installment was good. It was a nice set-up issue in which we were hastily introduced to our core cast of characters. The story's author, Mike Raicht employed a clever ruse in which he incorporated a bank robbery and used it to divert our attention away from the impending undead menace. It worked rather well, as it allowed for some speedy & conflicting character expositions. More importantly, it allowed the robbery's chief antagonists to be incorporated into the zombie story. With all of our cast members subsequently holed-up in an unsafe refuge, we're allowed a little down-time to properly make their acquaintance. Well...not exactly..
The second installment commences with a brief synopsis in which we discover the cause of the undead outbreak. Having made an effort to flesh-out the characters embroiled in the bank robbery, Raicht takes the time to get to know the rest of our cast (or would-be zombie nosh). What follows is a dialogue-heavy issue, that is interrupted by the over-zealous undead as they attempt to break into the survivors' sanctuary. Zombie couldn't be described as being highly original. The concept has been done to..death a hundred times before, but where the title fails in the originality stakes, it delivers with a solid story that is very well-told. New arrivals of the human (and undead) variety enter the fray at numerous intervals and a clever twist features toward the issue's close.
Much like the story that it depicts, Kyle Hotz artwork kicks it up a notch in portraying the various character interactions as well as the ensuing chaos that surrounds them. The action scenes are fast-paced and utterly vicious, while expert detail is given to characters' expressions as they adjust to their increasingly unforgiving environment. Angie's wide-eyed innocence is played-up, Hanifan's deterioration in health is perfectly reflected in his increasingly sullen & dishevelled appearance and more importantly, greater attention has been given to distinguishing our lead hero from our principle antagonist. The scenes of gore and carnage are also worthy of special attention. If eyeballs being blown to bits or jaws being torn from faces aren't your thing, then SUCK IT UP! It's Halloween afterall!
The reason I'm enjoying this book so far is because it's the type of story that I want to read. I adore classic zombie stories, that deliver with strong characterization, gripping inner-conflicts, scenes of tense action and lots and lots of undead ghoulies. The Walking Dead played it a little too safe for a little too long and is only now recapturing my interest, while Marvel Zombies, succeeded in providing a few laughs before disappearing. The mix of heroes & villains and a barrage of undead assailants in an enclosed environment signifies a return to the classic zombie formula. Whether the zombies stumble & moan or run & screech, it's hard to deny that Raicht and company are on to a winner with Zombie. Any fan of the undead who's worth his weight in embalming fluid, would be a fool to miss out.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdhalf.jpg
Buy Zombie #2 online from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=20987)
Story Title: The rest stop gang
It's alright baby, you did good.
Writer: Mike Raicht
Art: Kyle Hotz
Colour Dan Brown
Letters: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Warren Simons
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published By: Marvel Comics (www.marvel.com)
This title is suggested for mature readers.
Man, but those dead guys can run! The debate between the merits of classic, shambolic zombies versus the runner-bean-zombies has been raging for a while now. Movies like 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead (2004) have introduced a whole new kind of terror with undead ghouls who'll chase you to the ends of the earth for a nibble. Zombie purists will argue that these creatures are not in fact, real zombies, that they possess none of the charm of the slow-moving marauders. But while I'd agree that the lurching undead are the more authentic zombie, I can't help but admit that these running buggers are (for want of a better description) bloody terrifying! It is with great pleasure then, that I get to tackle the review of Zombie #2, where the latter appear in their undead droves.
The last installment was good. It was a nice set-up issue in which we were hastily introduced to our core cast of characters. The story's author, Mike Raicht employed a clever ruse in which he incorporated a bank robbery and used it to divert our attention away from the impending undead menace. It worked rather well, as it allowed for some speedy & conflicting character expositions. More importantly, it allowed the robbery's chief antagonists to be incorporated into the zombie story. With all of our cast members subsequently holed-up in an unsafe refuge, we're allowed a little down-time to properly make their acquaintance. Well...not exactly..
The second installment commences with a brief synopsis in which we discover the cause of the undead outbreak. Having made an effort to flesh-out the characters embroiled in the bank robbery, Raicht takes the time to get to know the rest of our cast (or would-be zombie nosh). What follows is a dialogue-heavy issue, that is interrupted by the over-zealous undead as they attempt to break into the survivors' sanctuary. Zombie couldn't be described as being highly original. The concept has been done to..death a hundred times before, but where the title fails in the originality stakes, it delivers with a solid story that is very well-told. New arrivals of the human (and undead) variety enter the fray at numerous intervals and a clever twist features toward the issue's close.
Much like the story that it depicts, Kyle Hotz artwork kicks it up a notch in portraying the various character interactions as well as the ensuing chaos that surrounds them. The action scenes are fast-paced and utterly vicious, while expert detail is given to characters' expressions as they adjust to their increasingly unforgiving environment. Angie's wide-eyed innocence is played-up, Hanifan's deterioration in health is perfectly reflected in his increasingly sullen & dishevelled appearance and more importantly, greater attention has been given to distinguishing our lead hero from our principle antagonist. The scenes of gore and carnage are also worthy of special attention. If eyeballs being blown to bits or jaws being torn from faces aren't your thing, then SUCK IT UP! It's Halloween afterall!
The reason I'm enjoying this book so far is because it's the type of story that I want to read. I adore classic zombie stories, that deliver with strong characterization, gripping inner-conflicts, scenes of tense action and lots and lots of undead ghoulies. The Walking Dead played it a little too safe for a little too long and is only now recapturing my interest, while Marvel Zombies, succeeded in providing a few laughs before disappearing. The mix of heroes & villains and a barrage of undead assailants in an enclosed environment signifies a return to the classic zombie formula. Whether the zombies stumble & moan or run & screech, it's hard to deny that Raicht and company are on to a winner with Zombie. Any fan of the undead who's worth his weight in embalming fluid, would be a fool to miss out.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/wdhalf.jpg
Buy Zombie #2 online from X-WORLD and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopexd.asp?id=20987)