Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: N/A
Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Tony Moore
Colored by: N/A
Lettered by: Robert Kirkman
Editor: N/A
Publisher: Image Comics
Some work invents genres, some fits well into an established genre, and others work so well they transcend the genre itself. A great example of transcending a genre is a film like the original Star Wars. George Lucas’ film introduced a grand new approach one that rose above just sci-fi, it actually had such a sweeping impact that it affected nearly every other genre as well. The Walking Dead is to comic books what Star Wars was for the movies. The book’s survival-horror, action, and drama elements come together so perfectly they move above any genre pigeon holing and create something fresh and original.
Good characterization is something that I talk about in a lot of my reviews, it is something that I will hem and haw about until a horror-film like apocalypse hits our planet. Robert Kirkman through the first five issues has built up the characters that make up his un-merry band of survivors, holding above the usual horror clichés and fashioning a character-centric story of utmost perfection. The action, thrills, and chills would be rendered meaningless if not for Kirkman’s engaging characterization.
This month’s tale builds, luring the reader into the state of calm like the cast that the shocking and unnerving moments sneak up on you to fabulous effect.
After last month’s foray into the doomed city of Atlanta, Rick Grimes and his fellow survivors have enough weapons to arm everyone in their party. Kirkman starts the issue with the characters involved in a target practice session. Young women or a seven year handling a gun with perfection out of the blue just wouldn’t work, but with the time jump of three weeks and this sequence, zombie conflicts down the line are leant greater credibility.
Another factor that’s really coming together in Mr. Kirkman’s scripts is the disagreements and tension which are becoming more distinct within the small encampment. The amazing part is that the characters haven’t faced all that much hardship since we’ve been following them. More than anything it is the gravity of the situation that is weighing on them and its obvious when things get worse, some are not going to rise to the occasion.
The centerpiece of issue #5 is an incredible sequence around a campfire where we get a greater understanding of the cast. The scene is nothing more than talking heads, but the horror inherent is mesmerizing; the scene is grisly only in the details that the characters reveal about the horrors they faced to reach their current precarious situation. There’s no blood and gore here, but the stories are as horrifying as anything that can be put into a comic. This is gripping character exploration that brings us one step deeper into the world that Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore have created.
Mr. Kirkman’s excellent writing could be wasted if not for the varied skills of artist Tony Moore. Moore brings to life the tension of the camp so well that it feels like the comic is going to burst in your hands. The static moments around the campfire setup the eerie calm before the storm. While it’s obvious that something’s going to happen to break the calm, when it finally does it’s still a big surprise. The carnage that ensues afterward is amazing all-out zombie mayhem that should meet the expectations of any horror-phile.
The thing that makes The Walking Dead so good, is that it holds up to any book on the stands in every facet. I picked this book up because I love the zombie genre, yet what a got was a comic that was better than everything on the shelves. Not because it was a zombie book, with the characterization and plots, the zombies could be replaced by floating lint balls as the primary heavy, and it would still work as outstanding drama. The zombies are the reason why things are happening, but they aren’t the focus of Kirkman’s stories. This is about the people involved and their realistic interactions in a totally unreal situation.
The Walking Dead goes beyond the words good, great, outstanding, or recommended, this is a truly special piece of monthly entertainment!
A good week for a zombie fan!
Not only did I get a new copy of The Walking Dead last Wednesday, but on Friday I was treated to the first all-out zombie film in a long time. Yeah, Resident Evil was okay and House of the Dead was…well its best we don’t talk too much about that one.
Dawn of the Dead is a zombie film and one with a budget! I was ready to hate this film just because Universal had the audacity to remake a classic. I’m glad I didn’t pre-judge the movie without even seeing it. The previews I saw leading up to release looked good, but you never know until you see the film.
The film captured the soul of the original and spun it off into something for the new millennium. It’s one of the scariest movies I’ve seen on film in years, and features solid acting, and jaw dropping effects.
The Walking Dead and the new Dawn of the Dead (not to mention CrossGen’s outstanding Route 666 have made 2004 a great time for to be a horror buff!
Late breaking news: This weekend it was announced that Tony Moore will be leaving the series later this year to be replaced by Charlie Adlard. It’s assumed that Tony’s got a big project brewing, so stay tuned for more developments.
