
Pangolin Comics
By Patrick Cornelis
Now I do love that I have such an International connection when it comes to the people I know in the comics industry. This is from Belgium I want to say, their website can be translated into Nederlands, Francois or Queens English. Honestly I kind of want a physical copy in it’s original language just because I think it would be hella cool. So we all know that zombies are a very common theme these days and are extremely prevalent no matter where we turn. So it really comes down to a few things to make the story set itself apart from what we already see and know.
The whole idea of how the zombie plague or virus starts on Earth here is extremely well thought out, original and adds aspects to it we’ve never seen before. Using magic, alternate dimensions and a being that looks like she’s straight out of the Nine Rings of Hell isn’t something you see in zombie books and that alone makes this noteworthy. So while I am in some ways spoiling the magic behind the curtain here if you read the description from Comixology, which is a great way to read this by the way, it’ll spoil more for you so i’m doing ya a small favour.
I think that the originality behind the virus and how it’s come to Earth is extremely well told while at the same time leaving a lot of room for further exploration and development. I like that Patrick kind of just dives into the deep end here and brings us the events and imagery that tell of the past and how that affected the present but the details are a bit lacking. This way there’s plenty to go back over in flashbacks to flesh out. He has absolutely no problem getting us into the story with how it’s structured so once he’s captured the attention the rest is easy peasy.
I’m a huge fan of any creator who can write and illustrate their own work. The talent that takes is extreme and to see it done so well here is beyond amazing. Patrick reminds me of Mark Kidwell in this regard and that means the future of horror storytelling is only getting stronger and stronger. The use of page layouts here are excellent and the angles, perspective and utilisation of backgrounds really bring the reader the bigger picture and allow us to be immersed in the story. The attention to detail is phenomenal, from the regular folk with individual style and panache to the undead or demonic the imagination and creativity we see here is superb.
The pacing of the issue may seem a little erratic at first but in reality it has this very real chaotic feel of a man in Will or Warlock who is thrust into a world and situation he’s not prepared for. This means the aimless wandering the mourning of his son taken in the events that lead up to the present. So it’s very realistic in how it’s all portrayed and while that may seem a bit scattered it does make complete sense to me. I’d be walking around in a haze and confused trying to get a grip on things while figuring out what i’m supposed to be doing as well. That Patrick can portray that here instead of making him know his role and understand his part in what’s happening all the more impressive.
It’s high time you see how the rest of the world does things. It’s surprisingly similar, the laws of writing and illustrating, while keeping a different viewpoint and sensibility at the forefront. It’s fresh, new, different and exciting and when was the last time you could say that about a zombie story? 28 Days Later indeed.