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DEADWORLD
REVIEWS & LETTERS DEAD-KILLER DEADWORLD: DEAD-KILLER
WORLD'S HEAVYWEIGHT COMICS
COMIC READERS REVIEW
DEADWORLD
The
story opens with the gang barely able to flee for their lives from a scouting
mission searching for food and supplies. They continue to travel the countryside
in a school bus and manage to find a secluded spot near the river to hide from
King Zombie and his troops. As they conceal the bus in the bushes, Dan spots an
abandoned river boat just begging to be boarded. So as they embark on swimming
out to the river boat, King Zombie's new reinforcements (the Grakken) rear
their ugly heads at the worst possible moment. Now
of course, the issue ends on a bona fide cliffhanger and I hate to say this, but
I have a sinking feeling there's going to be a few casualties next issue.
I'm not sure what possessed writer Gary Reed to start offing the cast this
quickly, but I take my hat off to him for dispensing with the formalities and
getting right down to it. He sure knows how to pace his story and I have been
enjoying the freshness he puts into every single character. Hopefully there are
enough left over for the next issue! So
now I get to the other big change that started with this issue, and that is with
Dalibor Talajic coming in. The Croatian born artist brings a much different
approach to visuals and it didn't detract here from the story at all. In fact
I found his work to be quite polished and not as loose and frenetic as Vincent
Locke's was. I can't say that I wasn't saddened to see Vincent bow out
from the series after just two issues, but the artist has too many other
commitments to keep him from penciling this series on a regular basis. The good
thing though is that Dalibor Talajic is an excellent replacement, so it's safe
to say the series is still in good hands! Overall,
this was an excellent issue despite the publishing delays and change of artists.
I am totally endorsing this book to others just based upon how much of an
emotional resonance you'll find with all the characters. So I think it's
safe to say that Dead World will titillate to no end. BROKEN
FRONTIER REVIEW I
think it's safe to say the world has gone to hell in a hand basket, as
thousands of dead bodies return to life to set a grim visage all across the
world. The only question remaining unanswered is how a terrible thing like this
happens, but there's never enough time to stop and evaluate. All one can do in
a time as horrible as this is run for dear life, and if that's not enough to
seriously get you to crap your pants, wait until King Zombie rears his ugly
puss. I am sure that will do it. The
set-up to this series sounds cliched, but don't let that fool you from
discovering the plights and perils of a world run amuck with the living dead.
This series after all is the grand daddy of zombie/horror comics, despite what
some of you might think, and Dead World certainly does deliver the goods. It
starts out with a school bus full of teenagers searching for sanctuary with
Father Damien in charge of the group. Along the way they pick up a mysterious
stranger named Deake who appears to be a crazy lunatic. Deake claims to be in
possession of a book that is solely responsible for unleashing all hell on
Earth, but before anyone on the bus can rationalize the situation a horde of
zombies halt the proceedings. Everyone
is put into a precarious position, but the group is prepared to defend
themselves at all costs. They battle the horde of zombies to the best of their
abilities, despite the casualty of losing Father Damien. The kids are forced to
forge ahead and continue fighting while Deake cowers in fear inside the bus.
Eventually, the battle comes to a halt and when the kids are about to exult in
victory, another surprise awaits them. This time a motorcycle riding (King)
zombie with the power of intelligence shows up demanding to have Deake turned
over to him immediately, or else all hell is going break loose. Again, the kids
show a ton of gumption and fight back unaware of the power King Zombie wields,
and he does indeed have several demonic tricks up his sleeve.
I just love the story dynamics set up here to explain away a rotten situation.
The characters find themselves in a totally amplified situation on a horrific
scale, and I love how writer Gary Reed handles it. His dialogue is fresh,
realistic and still kept within familiar parameters that the original series
from the 80's run. Again, this new series is meant to be a reworking of that classic Caliber
80's title and it came out long before the slew of more recent zombie-infused
comics (like The Walking Dead). This
time around there are several notable changes in characters and plot devices,
but the one remaining constant is artist Vincent Locke. He was the original
artist on the 80’s run and he's returned here much older and more
accomplished than at that earlier time period. His work still retains a crude
line style, but I find it more streamlined and much slicker than before. I also
think it helps to have his work printed on white bond paper as opposed to the
grayish tones of newsprint. His art here is stark in quality and I think it
works best for the graphic depictions this series is going to boast. Overall
I think this is going to be one hell of a ride for horror fans, and for anyone
interested in the sub-genre of zombie comics. I think current titles like The
Walking Dead have much to owe to a grand title like this, since Dead World came
way before. I only hope that fans and horror aficionados embrace the grand daddy
of them all. I know I did.
LETTERS To the Dead People, Finally!. Deadworld is on the shelves again. Even though I understand why it is so late, I don't like it but I guess I have to live with it. I just hope the new artist, Dalibor, can keep it on some kind of schedule. So, what did I think of the new Deadworld? I loved it. I was so excited with this issue. I thought the scenes of the bus crashing ("you wanted to hide the bus, I hid the bus") and then Joey's bug eyed stare at Donna's breasts were great scenes. There were a lot of great scenes in this issue. I was shocked to see the early demise of Mickey and Chris. Man, Gary, you don't waste any time! But I think it worked as now I don't know who will survive although I'd give a good bet that Dan and Joey will keep on going. Anyone else, I don't have a clue. As for the new artist, I thought he was really good. Some of the characters are a little off and you can tell he doesn't have a firm grasp on anatomy yet but he's good enough in those areas and overall, he did the job. His scene of the teens walking with the upside reflection was especially nice. I don't care what other people say, Deadworld is the best zombie comic out there. All those others are imitiators of Deadworld as that is the original zombie comic and just because this is a new series, I don't think people should forget that. ---Robert Henrion Gary, The writing is wonderful! I'm glad to hear that within the next issue or two is where the new storyline will have a life of it's own. Thanks for all the years of great Caliber comics. I suggest that people also go out and pick up the Saint Germaine, Baker Street (aka Honor Among Punks) & Renfield (if they can find it) Trades. If I make it into the comic, being killed with a baseball bat would be good, maybe my head could fly off. Could a Motorhead song be playing in the background, or is that too much? Here's hope to making it monthly, ---Dave Hello,
Dear
Gary, Peter
does the magazine, FROM THE TOMB, which is a celebration of the last 60 years of
horror, crime, and science fiction comics.
Sixteen issues are already out so be sure to check it out. Hey
Deadheads, Congrats
on the return of the only TRUE undead/horror book around. It's great to see
Vince's art again. It's cool how you are approaching this new series. Where's
the GORE??? You need to reinstate
the old "wussy" & gore covers. There better be graphic displays of
gut munching gore goodness & some nudity in upcoming issues. Otherwise it
won't be TRUE Deadworld. I just got
the 1st issue and it looks good. A bit tame but your just quick starting the
book, so I understand. You guys better not screw this up, I've been waiting
YEARS to see Deadworld return. You got some hard core fans out here Vince &
Gary, don't disappoint us .We might have to feed your worthless warmie hides to
King Zombie. All Hail King Zombie!!!! To
the Dead folks- Same
thing here. In the first few pages, I saw the Priest becoming the new lead
character, a teacher and guide for the teens. I thought that was a good move by
Gary. Then, oops. So much for that thought. An even better idea. Now, I knew
that no one is safe. King
Zombie was on top of his game. And he seems a bit more sure of himself and
therefore, more terrifying. That's a scary thought. I
had to read it twice because I liked it so much the first time. You just have to
go monthly on this title even though I know that won't happen.
Of course, the coolest guy has to be named Dan. It’s just right. P.S.
Are you going to run a letters column answered by King Zombie again? That was
one of my favorite parts of the original series. To
all involved; I
also scoured over the back issue section at the shop, and by some cosmic force
of universal alignment, there happened to be one other old issue of Deadworld
there - the original 1986 Vol. 1 #1. So here I am, new to the Deadworld series,
and I have the very first *and* the very newest issue to form my first
impression from. What
a tremendously cool concept - a traditional zombie plague idea with a
supernatural twist at the core, rather than a scientific explanation.
I *cannot* wait to read further issues, to see how this
"re-worked" story turns out. I loved the radio broadcast page at the
start - I look forward to a
development of this Safe Haven idea. Excellent writing, Gary! It
was very interesting to compare Vincent Locke’s artwork from old to new and
see the evolution of a terrific artist. The pace of the new story is
perfect, and the panel flow and composition are truly inspiring. I have
to say, I am glad that the
cartoonish element has a minimal presence - but I do like the simplified eyes
that occur on characters like Joey from time to
time. The perfect touch, I'd say. Gary,
Vince and "King," Dead.
It's so nostalgic it's... sickening.
I can't wait to get to read the series and see who dies first.
And second. And third.
Yeah, I have a Yesterday
I ran & picked up DeadWorld #1...I loved it. It was great, and my only
disappointment was that I couldn't immediately pick up #2.
...I've re-read the new DW several times now, and I continue to be
stunned by it. That's the sign of a TRULY great comic in my book....my desire to
re- The
most shocking thing about the new DW was the principle cast of characters. Dan
is so fresh-faced, and that really set the bar for the fact that in this
incarnation, the cast really DOES look like a group of teenagers. John is
stunningly clean-cut, and seemingly the very responsible...I kept thinking that
he's almost the Mike character in this version.
Speaking of which, Mike is a lot less forceful & "with it"
in this DW, and the fact that his hair is longer than John's STILL bends my mind
considering the original archetypes. Very interesting.... The
stunner is Joey...I actually LIKE the Joey character this time out of the gate
(!!!!). He comes off less a hyper-'80s forced "cool" cliché than a
sort of "Calvin lost in the zombie Apocalypse", and I actually do find
his general attitude & delivery quite amusing...again, for the first time
EVER. And his appearance...Thank God John got this kid a decent wardrobe.
Donna hasn't quite had a chance to shine yet (as with Mickey), but her
drastically younger appearance is eerily appropriate...if she falls in with the
bikers again, it's going to be HAAAAARD to watch. I can't wait for the interplay
between her & Dan. But
beyond Joey, the BIGGEST shocker was Chris. No longer the hardened, abrasive
Adrienne Barbeaux-ish character she once was, She's drawn so, so pretty now,
& so vulnerable, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I've never had a crush
on a DW character before ('cept maybe Vamp), but I have to just face the fact
that now, I do. God, stay away from that riverboat, hon.... And
Good Ol' KZ...hasn't changed a bit. Hehe...he's in top form (his "the
future" line is pure, fried gold) and I can't wait to see more of 'im...though
looks like his two buds went the way of the dinosaur. Maybe they got taken-out
during whatever the hell happened that got Deake on the bus BEFORE issue 1!!! This
business of the Safe Haven worries me...my money says it's either the
paramilitary city or the corrupt scientists. Either way, if I were them I'd
figure out the source of the signal, and go RIGHT the hell in the opposite
direction. In all, a fantastic,
fantastic job from all parties, from Reed to Locke, to Pruett & everyone
in-between. |
