Image Comics/Meatgrinder Studios 2015
Written by Mark Kidwell
Illustrated by Richard Bonk
Coloured by Jay Fotos
I’ve made no secret over the years i’m a huge fan of Mark’s zombie epic and that he gives a worldwide view of the situation that started with the Vietnam War. It’s been fun, weird, twisted and always entertaining but this one shot takes things to a whole new level of creepy for me. The way he has managed to create a villain for this story and two detective in San Francisco who are following the Zodiac, yes nicely done time frame wise, took me to a place I wasn’t prepared to go. Not only is he really effed up in the head but his whole back story that unfolds you get more and more disturbed by what you see.
With the popularity of the Walking Dead and Z Nation I see no reason that a channel like Starz doesn’t come along and make a series of movies based on these books. This isn’t series material this is movie material each mini-series and one shot can be made into a movie and someone needs to come along and capitalize on what Mark’s created here.
Richard’s interiors are pretty expressive and his zombies are horrific and it all blends to work really well together. I like that there is this line of sexy that doesn’t crossed into that realm of gratuity no real nudity just a suggestion a well placed angle of someone getting dressed or showing cleavage it’s more tasteful but this isn’t your typical horror story. Oh and there’s something about the shirt this dude is wearing that gets kind of draws your eye to it instantly and it’s weirdly captivating.
I want to talk about the story but I can’t because in all honesty this is one you have to read for yourself it’s that involved, gripping and just off the cuff crazy. Blending what this guy has been through, what he’s doing and sticking it in the middle of the zombie outbreak demonstrates a level of creativity that you just don’t see. The characterization is pretty intense and while it most focuses on the bad guy there is still enough there to warrant another visit to San Francisco and revisit the detectives for a future story.
If you think all zombie books are alike then you’re wrong because this one is more intelligent than you think and sometimes even scarier than it is smart. If you haven’t experienced the ‘68 franchise yet this is a perfect way to do so it’s a one shot and showcases everything you need to know and it’s sure to draw to all the other stories available.