Don and Randy get out the old VW bug and take a spin down Zombie Highway.
Randy:
Folks who have been reading my reviews for the last few months know that one of my favorite books of the moment is The Walking Dead, a zombie comic that puts the focus on characterization as much as on the horror elements of the story. Well, it turns out Robert Kirkman isn't the only one doing that, as I found out when I took a look through the pages of Bughouse Comics's Zombie Highway.
Don:
Weird... I recently discovered the strength of The Walking Dead and enjoyed Steve Niles and Kieron Dwyer's Remains, another zombie comic from IDW Publishing. Why is everyone so obsessed with zombies lately? Oh wait, of course... it's the ultimate comment on voter apathy in the United States, right?
... Right? ...
Zombie Highway #1-2
written by Jason Pell
illustrated by Roberto Viacava & Eduardo Bazan
published by Bughouse Comics
Don:
Four friends make their way across a zombie-laden countryside. They've recently carried out a special assignment for a wealthy but notorious employer, and they're on their way to get paid... and if a couple of the guys have their way, laid as well. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure has a zombie trapped in his basement, but he's not torturing it. He's caring for it, even nurturing it and feeding it live human victims, and he's doing so for a disturbing purpose.
Randy:
Zombie Highway is something of an odd bird, being basically a slice-of-life zombie comic with a dark sense of humor. It's got in common with The Walking Dead a strong set of characters and attention to their reactions to being in a world of the undead, but it actually puts me in mind just as much of off-beat road movie comics like Preacher or indie books such as Box Office Poison. Pell's story follows the adventures of four friends who were involved in some criminal enterprises, but who have now found themselves in the midst of a zombie world instead. Oh, and one of them is naked. Long story. At any rate, rather than playing up the horror, Pell's story has a quirky feel to it.
Don:
On the surface, this is a zombie comic, but it really isn't. It's part crime story, a la The Usual Suspects, and part dark comedy, with some horror trappings on the periphery. What's a bit disconcerting about the book is that much of the comedy stems from gay jokes. From lesbian zombies to a tubby blowhard being manipulated by a sexual predator, Pell seems to think that gay perversion equals easy laughs. It actually detracts from the smarter and more complex plotting that's at play in this series.
Randy:
One of the advantages of a story that puts our heroes on the road is that it pretty much has to move. So Pell gets through a fair amount of story in these two issues, from an encounter with a tourbus of the damned (with a punchline I don't want to give away) to a diner with a strange pervert who takes an interest in one of the characters. One gets the impression that Pell's world was weird before the zombies got in, and indeed his protagonists take the emergence of the undead in stride, as if it's just another weird thing in their lives. They continue to give each other grief, play pranks on one another and basically act like a bunch of overgrown teenagers or fratboys in the midst of this world of the dead. These personalities could easily make them unlikable, but I found that since the characters were on equal footing in terms of maturity, I quite enjoyed watching their more casual interaction with a zombie infestation.
Don:
Apparently, the tinge of homophobia in the main characters didn't irk you as much as it did me. Mind you, Pell has crafted an interesting landscape. Why there are zombies isn't explained, but the effect it's had on society is clear. One gets the impression that the horrific social circumstances that serve as the backdrop are fully realized and plotted out. There's depth in that context.
Randy:
Actually, I think that reading homophobia into the series is a bit of a stretch, so rather than not having a problem with it, I just think you're off the mark on this one.
At any rate, Pell's story isn't missing out in terms of having an actual plot. In the background of a story about the four friends trying to complete their criminal mission, there's someone who has found a way to rid zombies of their only pesky weakness and a deranged husband to a zombie wife who will play a pretty significant role in the characters' lives. There's a great "what's gonna happen next?" factor to this book to go with the sense of humor and characterization.
In terms of artwork, Zombie Highway isn't as polished as The Walking Dead, it's most obvious comics competition, but it's pretty good. Indeed, the covers have a strong design that would make me pick them up off the rack, and Viacava's style reminds me of early David (Private Beach, Bite Club) Hahn. His characters are distinctive and realistic, and his storytelling is strong as well, especially when it comes to the boisterous Tag. His zombies could use a little more detail in terms of making them look more horrific, as they instead come off sketchy as compared to the rest of his characters, but everything else about the art is very good.
Don:
You're right... some more detail in the portrayal of the zombies would reinforce the more horrific qualities of the story. Viacava tells the story clearly, though, and the lighter quality of his art works well with the humorous moments in the script. What's needed here is a darker look overall, and more menacing appearances for the various antagonists -- undead or otherwise -- throughout.
For more information about Zombie Highway and Bughouse Comics, visit Bughouse Comics.com.
Email Randy and Don comments about this review.
