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The Deal: It's the latest issue of Vertigo's quirky horror/humor series, iZombie. (That said, I've noticed that I read and/or review a lot of horror/humor comic books these days. I never noticed how much product is out there until now. Interesting.) The comic chronicles the adventures of a female zombie who must eat a human brain once a month, in order to avoid turning into a mindless monster. And after eating the brains, she often finds herself trying to fulfill the dead person's last wishes. On top of that, she hangs out with a weird collection of friends: a ghost, a were-terrier (as opposed to a werewolf), monster hunters and more.
The Good: I've enjoyed keeping up with this series; all in all, it features a great concept, engaging writing and incredible art. But, as the book developed, I began to fear that the supporting cast would crowd out the main character, Gwen. Writer Chris Roberson, however, found a cool and fairly concise way to explain how everything in the iZombie world is connected. So, while it may appear that the title is populated by a gaggle of weirdos just to make the book weird, Roberson makes everything fit. Oh, and did I mention the incredible art? It's amazing how — after all these years — Michael Allred still manages to improve on his kitschy, cartoony, ultra-clean drawing style. Allred is one of the industry's biggest talents; the guy doesn't get nearly enough accolades for his work.
The Bad: A book like iZombie can easily get caught up in its own inner mythology, quickly becoming inaccessible to new readers. Hell, in the first five issues alone, it's already a little difficult to keep up. I hope that the creative team finds a way to balance self-contained stories with "world-building" arcs that only hard-core enthusiasts can love. One last thing: Can we get a damned letters page in this book? Come on DC ... how hard can it be?
The Verdict: After five issues, it's still an entertaining read. Buy it.
Quick Hits
Irredeemable No. 17: This book — which is sort of about a "Superman" who turns evil — is truly one of my guilty pleasures. And the last page of this particular issue is scary as hell, by the way. The Verdict: Pick it up.
Reviewed materials provided by Heroes Aren't Hard to Find: www.heroesonline.com.
iZombie No. 5
Published by Vertigo (DC Comics). Written by Chris Roberson. Art by Michael Allred.
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