The zombie has enjoyed a renaissance over the last decade, with its popularity even higher than in the era of George A. Romero’s critically-acclaimed zombie-films -as-social-commentary. The introduction of realistic-looking and highly playable video games such as this Resident Evil series in the late 1990s introduced the zombie to a new generation, and reignited the interest of those who remembered the films of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties.
In the periods between Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and the zombie re-entering the mainstream in films such as Resident Evil and 28 Days Later, the comic book kept die-hard zombie fans enthralled on a regular basis. Marvel’s Tales of the Zombie, and DC’s Weird War Tales produced zombie stories throughout the Seventies, and, in the Eighties, independent comic publishers kept the zombie fresh, so to speak, with titles such as FantaCo’s Gore Shriek and Arrow’s Deadworld.
The biggest success arrived shortly after the zombie had been re-established as a great cinematic monster. Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead was first published 10 months after the release of Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later, with the film’s influence apparent in the opening pages. The comic book series up to date pays tribute to its heritage in zombie film, as well setting itself up as the ultimate 21st Century zombie story. Critically acclaimed, as well as commercially successful, the series has won an Eisner award for Best Continuing Series, and it’s success has led to Kirkman establishing himself as a partner in series’ publisher Image Comics. The series has also recently spawned a television adaptation, which has also garnered much acclaim in its short first season.
Having recently published its 80th issue, The Walking Dead is displaying no signs of ending. Its focus on the darker side of human nature when survival is paramount, and the fragile trust and ever-shifting relationships forged in times of danger, makes for a fresh and inventive narrative throughout the zombie apocalypse.
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