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Zomblog – “Fear the Walking Dead” Will Make You Double Take

Published

9 years ago

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Fear The Walking Dead has arrived bringing a new type of zombie apocalypse with it. Instead of throwing the viewer into the middle of a world gone to hell, we’re treated to a slow descent into madness that captures contemporary fear in new and alarming ways. I’ve seen the first two episodes of the AMC spinoff series, and the closest thing I can compare it to is Double Take’s Ultimate Night of The Living Dead.

Now hear me out. I know we’ve already ranted about Fear The Walking Dead. But let’s get another take. The tone of this new series is very different than the sister series. The new series makes character drama a center point, and therefore the story seems much more palpable. Double Take has created a mantra that is unique to the world of comics, that celebrates character above all else.

It’s also important to mention that in both worlds the downfall of humanity isn’t quite exactly how we’ve typically pictured it. This creates an uncanny sense of familiarity to the whole ordeal that seems relatable. Double Take has built a dialogue first mentality that mirrors what the pilot of “Fear The Walking Dead” does right. Our stories in the Ultimate Night of the Living Dead universe begin with a fully realized oral story that carries throughout the background of the issue’s plot.

My book, “Race” just finished it’s first pass on dialogue. And the story was developed with an action first mentality that makes for a cinematic story driven by character relationships that could be communicated without a single line uttered between them. The tension builds through the visuals in any Double Take book. Fear The Walking Dead works in much the same way. Both warrant their existence through being a thoughtful alternative to the typical zombie yarn. The zombies in Fear The Walking Dead move faster, look healthier, and bite twice as hard, and Double Take’s do too.

I do have to say that I was quite stunned by how similar these things seem to align. In an age where zombie narratives are a dime a dozen, you have to do something startlingly different to stand out. Now, Fear isn’t something profoundly new. But, Double Take’s zombies are a brand new take on an old idea made by people who have a grand understanding of what zombie movies were when they were made unbelievably well.

This year feels like it could be a strange and interesting year for zombies. We’re finally treating these ridiculous undead creatures to new ideas. A lot of recent zombie stories rely on unsatisfying zombie kills to drive their narrative. Double Take’s process isn’t willing to sacrifice substance for style, they are taking cues from Fear The Walking Dead before even seeing it. Which shows that great ideas come in pairs, I just know that Double Take’s zombies are better than those in The Walking Dead because I know what’s coming, and you’re not ready for it.

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This Zomblog will run every Monday and Friday until I run out of things to say about zombies. 

Until then check out Double Take Universe to keep up to date on the incredible comics that will be coming your way in September.

Fear The Walking Dead premieres on AMC Sunday August 23rd.

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Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

Published

2 days ago

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April 18, 2024

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Witchblade cover

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.

  • Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover

  • Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)

  • Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)

  • Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)

  • Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)

  • Cover H (1/250): Line art by Marc. Virgin Cover, Inks (B/W)

Witchblade #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Witchblade comic panel Witchblade #1 cover image

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