I ZOMBIE #2

And it all comes together. The first issue was mostly a book with a plethora of monster cliches; the zombie, the vampire, the ghost, the werewolf, etc. It didn't entirely make a cohesive, entertaining book. It felt more like a bunch of ideas that didn't connect. This issue, however, is better, richer, and more alive. The pieces are slowly fitting into place, even with a new added threat: the mysterious mummy/invisible man character. The spectacular, iconic art certainly helps. Artist Mike Allred seems to be channeling the 1950's with his art. It fits because back then there were a ton of lame, B-monster movies that arrived for the drive-in set. This book feels like a 1950's I Married a Werewolf type of film
with it's aw-shucks attitude and quirks and scary monsters that seem more playful and humorous than deadly. In this issue we learn that the werewolf is really a typical nerd working in the IT department at a nursing home. His friends decide to finally go out on a Saturday night and happen to catch the eye of a female vampire that runs a pack of vamps that used to run a paintball company. Meanwhile, the zombie grave-digger (she has to eat a brain once a month to remain normal) keeps getting visions from the last dead guy whose brain she devoured. He was murdered and perhaps this mummy/invisible man was the culprit. And there's a cute, blonde ghost milling about. It's a lot, sure, but it works. It's not really fresh but it is strange and fun and pretty to look out. Definitely one to stick with. ***1/2 (out of ****)