Review: Zombie Tales #1

Posted by bob in Comics, Reviews on May 27th, 2008

BOOM! Studios has been off to an impressive start with a wide array of subject matter and they have attracted a nice variety of talents. People seem to be finally catching on as some of their offerings have gained traction. Among them is Zombie Tales, which has previously been a miniseries. Tomorrow, the first issue of an ongoing monthly series launches.

The comic has three stories, one serial, two stand-alone and they are all good looking and well-written. It’s tough to find something new to say about a zombie attack or being a zombie so finding compelling stories will be tough and in all three cases, the writers have opted to focus on one or two main characters, making them the focal point and making the reader care.

The serial is from Joe R. Lansdale and Eduardo Barreto, neither of whom are strangers to horror. Their story of a wheelchair-bound vet and a nurse trapped in a hospital is off to a good start but we need to learn a little more before we see if this is a sustainable story. Barreto’s storytelling is crisp and clean, as usual, but added a lot from the color by Andrew Dalhouse.

Steve Niles, who helped remake modern day horror, is represented with a story about a father merely trying to protect and provide for his children. You feel for the adult’s plight and the emotion from artist Daniel Lafrance is terrific.

The highlight of the issue, for me, is a story from Academy Award nominee Kim Krizan (Before Sunset), about a world dominated by zombies with the humans the stuff of myth. Adding to the story is the moody art from Jon Reed and colorist Pablo Quiligotti.

All in all, the ongoing series is off to a fine start and I certainly looking forward to seeing what can be done in a sustained manner.