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Review: ‘The Last Zombie: Before the After’ #3

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The cult-busting call for zombies in popular culture has been steadily increasing over the past decade or so, creating a massive sub-genre of horror that only seems to be growing by the day. But while most Zombie fiction usually describes the state of affairs surrounding the breakdown of civilization due to the rise of these flesh-eating corpses, Brian Keene’s The Last Zombie follows its own unique path. His series presents the rare aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, where there are, presumably, no zombies left in the world, and follows the remaining members of the American armed forces and government who must deal with the consequences of such a pandemic disease.

WRITTEN BY: Brian Keene
ART BY: David Hutchison
PUBLISHER: Antarctic Press
PRICE: $4.99
RELEASE: February 6th

Taking place two years after the zombie apocalypse brings about civilization’s collapse, readers are introduced to Dr. Ian Scott, Sergeant Warner, and their team of Colorado-based scientists, soldiers, and civilians assigned to a cross-country mission concerning a FEMA bunker in West Virginia. In a time where the zombie threat is seemingly over, losing all contact with a bunker used to protect high-profile individuals, and which houses Dr. Scott’s fiancé, is more than a little suspicious. There’s a real sense of urgency that translates through the pages with each passing issue; and since Dr. Scott has been accidentally exposed to the virus that caused the zombie pandemic, his struggle to fight the infection long enough reunite with his fiancé adds to that intensity.

Keene breaks “The Last Zombie” down into five sequential story arcs, and each arc delivers character-driven issues and location-based imperilment that needs to be conquered before progressing with the mission. It’s because of this set-up that makes the series such an interesting read. This crew may have survived the zombie apocalypse but Keene keeps them on their toes with a growing famine crisis; the rise of plague-like diseases; and run-ins with drug cartels and outlaws. He offers his readers a fresh take on the zombie fiction sub-genre by staying away from the cliché and familiar; and by providing something different to the masses. It’s this uniqueness that will ultimately hook consumers.

“The Last Zombie: Before the After” is the fourth arc in Keene’s series, and it follows the team in Davenport, Iowa, where they’re forced to take shelter in an abandoned hotel due to a raging blizzard. Issue #3, the most recent installment of the series, is brimming with fantastically disturbing imagery thanks to David Hutchison’s black and white panels depicting a zombie orderly going to town on a maternity ward. Surprisingly uncommon, this is the first I’ve seen a zombie gorge itself on newborn baby intestines, and it’s too gorious to miss. That said, while the overall art presentation is visually pleasing, it’s not spectacular; but I find it to be a huge step-up from Fred Perry’s previous issues, though not quite as impressive as Joe Wight’s work on the series.

Zombie enthusiasts should definitely check this series out. If not for the well-crafted, relatable characters and their individual zombie plague stories, or Keene’s premise that flipped the zombie apocalypse genre on its head; then for the baby buffet massacre. Delicious.

4/5 Skulls (for the baby massacre)

Reviewed by – ShadowJayd

Comics

‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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