BT07 – A review more appropriate around 4 a.m. …

The Walking Dead: The Best Defense, Vol. 5 (Image) [collects #25-30]
w. Robert Kirkman; a. Charlie Adlard 

Writing		New reader?
Art		Non-comics reader?

The Walking Dead: This Sorrowful Life, Vol. 6 (Image) [collects #31-36]
w. Robert Kirkman; a. Charlie Adlard 

Writing		New reader?
Art		Non-comics reader?

Zombies in comics have almost become a cliche, and Robert Kirkman writing about zombies as well — but Kirkman’s Walking Dead series remains the premiere post-zombie-apocalypse comic out there.  It’s done more, examine more about life-after-zombies than any other work I know of — and, honestly, it’s done it by doing what zombie tales are about.  Zombie stories are not about zombies, or fighting zombies — they’re about what life-and-undeath struggle means to the humans, to the ones left behind, and to what level of savagery — to the zombies, others, and themselves — they’re willing to descend in order to stay alive.  When do evil decisions become necessary, and even virtuous? 

Our band of humans in TWD have managed to hold up pretty successfully in a penetentiary, the supplies inside providing them with some comfort, and the fencing keeping the zombies out,  But when a helicopter crashes nearby, a rescue team the send discovers another community, equally secure, but not quite so benign.  Life and death struggle, lots of blood, and two of the most brutal torture sequences I’ve ever seen, sees the party’s escape back to the prison.  

But there are traitors in their midst, now, and the nearby town will likely not leave them alone.  How far will  our protagonists go to be safe?  And while in a constant life and death crisis, is there room for ordinary relationships?

This is really good stuff.  It’s not for the squeamish, and it’s not uplifting or entertaining.  It’s grim and gritty and reading the entire series to date would probably drive one to drink.  But it’s probably more solid literature than 99% of what I’ve reviewed today — even if it is about zombies.  Except it’s not — it’s about people, stripped down to Hobbesian state-of-nature decision-making.  Faboo.

(listening to: Yankovic, Weird Al, “Jerry Springer” from Running With Scissors)
(listening to: Serra, Eric, “The Severnaya Suite (Among the Dead / Out of Hell / The Husky Tribe)” from Goldeneye)
(listening to: “Over at the Frankenstein Place” from Rocky Horror Picture Show)
(listening to: Gold, Murray, “Clockwork Tardis” from Doctor Who – The New Series – Original Television Soundtrack)
(listening to: Pet Shop Boys, “Nervously” from Behavior)