Writer: Chris Ryall
Artist: Ashley Wood
Publisher: IDW
Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 24th
In my advance review of the first issue of Zombies vs Robots my only real concern was over the lack of carnage that the title promised. Let me state for the record – things have been rectified for the second issue. Seriously. No, I’m not kidding, talk about swinging from one end of the spectrum to the other.
The end of the first issue saw the last human alive, a baby, ingest a drop of infected zombie blood at the same time as a robot was infected as well, causing a worm virus to be transmitted to all the robots. To top it off, an army of zombies have arrived on the threshold of the station where the baby is held – and they want brains. What follows is a descent into pure carnage and death on an impossible scale. Whilst the first issue was a scene-setter, the second is all out action.
The artwork is superb, carrying on the impressive work from the first issue. Once again, the colouring adds the all-important grounding pulling it away from stark black and white titles, but not heading anywhere near the garishness of other full-colour zombie titles. Ashley Wood has an amazing knack of appearing as though he is sketching all the time, when in fact he is pouring an amazing amount of detail and composition into every panel.
Ryall manages to control events with a script that hopefully means he didn’t have to pay himself by the word. This is not a complaint, the reverse in fact, the lack of involving dialogue is a benefit in these circumstances. What dialogue that does surface is entirely fitting and progressive, and he still manages to fit some great characterization in with one particular protagonist.
Hmm, it is very difficult for me to discuss much else about the issue without giving too much away, which I really don’t want to do because you should be getting this title. If halfway through the issue you aren’t shocked, I will guarantee the last page will floor you. What sounds like a fun concept turns out to be just that, but with far better artwork and writing than you should really expect. You ought to all be grateful; if you’re not the zombies will get you and make you read it. Ryall and Wood are a great team, more please.
James Dodsworth - Born and raised in Yorkshire, residing in London since 2000, James has a Law Degree and works for the Anti-Financial Crime Office of a International Asset Management Company. He is a writer and editor for FractalMatter.com.
But his main claim to fame is living next to the pub where Shaun of the Dead was conceived.