Comix-to-Flix #16

Strike Back below!

by: Jeb Whitlock Sep. 16, 2005

COMIX-TO-FLIX is a JoBlo.com column featuring reviews of comic book graphic novels that have been optioned to be made into motion pictures. Seeing as the universe of comic books and movies is becoming more and more connected, we figured that we may as well jump right into them as well, especially since we love both mediums to begin with. We hope that you enjoy this new addition to the site and be sure to email us with your thoughts.

The Walking Dead Vol. 1:
Days Gone Bye
by Robert Kirkman & Tony Moore

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PLOT:

Rick Grimes is just a cop. Not a superhero. Not a super soldier. Not a demon hunter. Just your average, small-town Kentucky police officer; the kind who hardly ever has to even draw his gun, let alone shoot it. Then one day, Rick finds himself on the wrong end of a prison escapee’s shotgun. The next thing Rick knows, he’s just woken up in an abandoned hospital…to the end of the world, as he knows it. See, just like in the movies, the dead have risen. The dead are walking. And the dead are hungry.

Now, it seems while Rick was in a coma, the government told everyone to seek safety in the big cities. Which means Rick’s wife and only son probably made their way to Atlanta . And Rick Grimes is a cop…and a husband…and a father.

In a world now at the mercy of the walking dead…

“He was going to try to eat us, Dad.” – Duane

FILM STATUS:

There are no concrete plans yet to for The Walking Dead movie. However, Kirkman has mentioned that he’s been approached by a director who’s interested in the material. (Comics2Film.com)

CRITIQUE:

Holy. Crap. Just…wow. Best book I’ve read all year (and I just read The Long Halloween the night before this).

Just had to get that out of the way.

Seriously, this is one of the best zombie movies ever. It’s as good as Romero’s stuff (better than some of it). It’s better than Savini’s stuff. It’s better than the Dawn of the Dead remake. It’s better than 28 Days Later. And I love all of those movies.

First of all, Kirkman has crafted some of the most authentic characters I think I’ve ever seen in a comic book. Everyone, from protagonist Rick Grimes on down, just looks and reads like someone you might meet on any given day. They behave like real people, not your typical stock characters from your average horror comic or film. There’s no pair of young lovers, no weasel looking out for only himself, no cocky hotshot out to eliminate the zombie menace on his own. No heroes. No villains. Just characters written like actual human beings who’ve effectively survived the bloody apocalypse. Basically, this is the antithesis of Resident Evil and House of the Dead. Would that all zombie (Hell, all horror) movies could be like this.

Of course, character dramas of any kind don’t work if the words they speak don’t ring true. Fortunately, Kirkman totally knocks it out of the park when it comes to that aspect to. A lot of writers often suffer the pitfall of trying to make their dialogue to…well, quotable for lack of a better term. Too grand, too epic, too preachy, too sweet, too much! Kirkman deftly avoids this. His characters speak to one another like you or I very well might in the same f*cked up situation. He uses simple and direct speech, always driven, while never being inane or “hit you over the head” obvious. Just great, great work on his part.

“I need to scratch my nose.”— Rick

Of course, a comic book without an artist wouldn’t be a comic book, and thank Jeebus for Tony Moore, who does some outstanding work here. For every written boon on Kirkman’s part, Moore matches it artistically. Everything the man does in this volume is just golden. His style matches the story perfectly. In fact, when I called Days Gone Bye a movie earlier, it wasn’t wholly in jest. For reasons beyond my explanation, Tony Moore’s artwork is just inherently cinematic in nature. His pencils glow with detail, both of the everyday and horrific nature. His characters’ faces are beautifully expressive. His action sequences are gripping, claustrophobic things to behold. I defy someone to read certain scenes in this book and not have their hard pounding with the same fervor as after sitting through the first ten minutes of last year’s Dawn of the Dead.

The Walking Dead, for the record, is a black and white title. While a put off for some, this worked extremely well for me, complimenting the stark nature of the book greatly.

“I don’t know about you but I was getting sick of all that sunshine contradicting what was going on down here.” – Glenn

WHAT ELSE?

Again, the action sequences here are some really gut wrenching stuff. The interaction between the zombies and humans tend to be extremely claustrophobic and fast paced. Additionally, Kirkman sets up some really innovative situations, particularly one where Rick and one of the other survivors have to infiltrate Atlanta (where he incorporates a variation of an idea actually used in Sean of the Dead). He also takes a unique (at least to my knowledge) approach to how zombies behave, and specifically what they will and won’t attack.

As a side note, animal lovers might find this book a bit hard to get through.

“Jim’s gun store is five blocks from where I found you. I never go that far in. There is no way we can do this.” – Glenn

Needless to say, this puppy is pretty graphic. The best part is, not only is this a zombie story, it’s one in which there’s no such thing as a special effects budget! That means all sorts of gory, bloody brutality!

And fine, I have one qualm with this book. The opening is pretty much the exact same thing as 28 Days Later, except replace “bicycle accident” with “shotgun blast.” But y’know what? In this case? Not gonna complain.

“It’s not the same as killing the dead ones, Daddy.” – Carl

IN CONCLUSION:

I cannot stress enough how much this book rocks. Every aspect of it rules all. If you like zombie movies or horror movies, check this book out! If you like thrillers, check this book out! If you like character stories, check this book out! It you want yet further proof that comic books truly can transcend into the upper levels of storytelling, then damn it, check this book out! Simply one of the greatest horror stories I’ve ever read.

Somebody needs to option The Walking Dead now! I have not read a more perfect comic book for film (or T.V.) adaptation since "30 Days of Night". Some outstanding potential lies amidst these pages. I truly hope I get to see a faithful version of it on the big screen soon.

"It never should be, Son. It never should be.” – Rick

GRAPHIC NOVEL RATING (10/10):

MOVIE POTENTIAL (10/10):

Source: JoBlo.com