Zombies! Everybody loves zombies! Once upon a time, zombies were the under-appreciated middle child of the horror genre but those bleak days are far behind us. In recent years, zombies have been turning up all over the place to great popular acclaim. Zombies have shambled their way into the public's heart through the "Resident Evil" game and movie franchise, movies like "Dawn of the Dead" and "Shaun of the Dead," and, of course, comics.
The Walking Dead, from Image Comics, has stumbled, moaned and gasped its way to the head of the pack in the land of zombie comics. This book is the brain-child of the renowned and beloved Robert Kirkman, creator of Invincible and Battle Pope and the writer of Marvel Team-Up and other fun Marvel books. The starting premise of this book was to look at what would happen if one of those end-of-the-world apocalyptic zombie films didn't have to end in just two hours. What that really means is this comic is not your typical brain-eating zombie gore-fest (not that there is anything wrong with that). Walking Dead is actually a very thoughtful, character-led book about a group of very "real" folks and how they live and cope in a world overrun by the undead. There is action, and there is zombie violence, but the real strength of the book is character-based drama.
Kirkman clearly loves this book and these characters. Unfortunately for them, this love does not guarantee that anyone will survive in the world of Walking Dead. It has been clear from the start anyone, possibly even lead protagonist Rick, can die at any time. No one is safe. Kirkman is a master of cliffhangers that will leave you staring aghast at the final page, and counting the days until the next issue. The cast of characters is brought believably to life by the dark and moody black and white art of Charlie Adlard, and the great covers by Tony Moore.
The Walking Dead #18 is a good jumping on point for new readers, despite coming in mid-story, because the issue provides a cool "score card" of all the main characters (past and present) and their connections to each other. Each issue also boasts a huge letter column, sometimes up to 8 pages(!), answered by Kirkman himself, which can help new readers get up to speed fast.
Keeping in mind that the language and the, sometimes shocking, violence mean this comic is not one for the young or the faint-at-heart, The WalkingDead #18 is a can't miss read. If you like zombies, action, and human drama, you will enjoy your visit to the gripping world of The Walking Dead. Drag your decomposing carcass to the counter and ask for this book by name now, while Walking Dead #18 is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week! (Tasty brains not included in Book of the Week offer.)
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