Not Your Average Zombie Comic

Posted by: Nicolas Americanos in MyBlog on Nov 04, 2009

Gath Ennis and Jacen Burrows take the zombie genre to the limits in “CROSSED.”

Comics have been going zombie crazy lately. Over the last few years we have seen more and more zombie titles such as the popular and innovative “Walking Dead” and the “28 Days Later” series. Comics have been doing what they do best; taking a theme that had become generally stale in the movie industry and figuring out new and interesting angles to bring to the public. However, everything has its limits.

The best example of this is the Marvel Comics “Marvel Zombie” miniseries. What started as a great set of character generations by Mike Millar in “Ultimate Fantastic 4” #21 was followed up by the popular and creative “Marvel Zombies” miniseries by Robert Kirkman both in 2005. The series gave us a chance to see our favorite heroes run amok in a humorous fashion. Marvel then went on to continue with their time honored tradition – taking a good idea and completely over serializing it. The beginning of the fifth installment of the ¨Marvel Zombie¨ franchise was released in September 2009, though the quality of each miniseries has continually diminished. (I could deal with the Marvel Zombie civil war, but Marvel Zombies vs. Marvel´s cast of C-string heroes was unoriginal and pathetic.)

It is easy to understand why Zombies are so popular not just in comics, but in all sci-fi and horror genres. Zombies make excellent tools for a writer to create heroes and heroines out of ordinary characters. Audiences like to see the weak and the ordinary step up and become something greater than their normal selves in life or death situations. It appeals to the question inside of all of us, “What would I do in this situation??”

From an action point of view, the zombie is also a great plot device. With a zombie infestation there will always be an unlimited supply of villains for our heroes to kill in creative ways, with elaborate scenes without worrying about moral issues. This plays on a base psychological fear many of us have as humans; being overwhelmed by mob violence, which the zombie genre inherently has.

But, frankly, there is really only so many ways one can repackage the modern zombie classic, George Romero’s “Day of the Dead.” Personally I have become bored with the genre as a whole. (At least in comics and movies - in games the “Resident Evil” series is still in top form, partly because of the interactive level and quality design work.) Until Garth Ennis, known for ultra-violent, profane, and dark-humored comics, such as “Hitman” and “Preacher” entered the zombie market in March 2008 with “Crossed,” a nine-part serial from Avatar publishing with illustrations from veteran artist Jacen Burrows.

I knew I was in for a treat when I went to my local shop to purchase issue # 1 last year when the first comment I heard while buying the book was, “I did not like this book, I could not get used to the sodomy.” Ennis takes his art-form to new highs (or lows depending on your tastes) with “Crossed.” It is difficult to explain the full scope of violence presented with in “Crossed” because it is unlike anything seen in a comic before. It may have the same time –tested incipient zombie theme - Viral outbreak that has caused humans to lose their higher brain functions – the virus is transmuted at an alarming rate by way of eating human flesh - But this is the first time infected seem less like zombies, and more like devil-spawn that embody the worst characteristics the human race is capable of. It is important to note the name of the title, ¨Crossed, ¨ comes from the cross like rash that appears across the face of the infected; Which to be sure is another jab at religion by Ennis, a common one of these themes.

"The Crossed are people who - though infection - have given in to the absolute worst instincts that human beings can: murder, rape, torture, cannibalism, all of the most cruel and inventive kind imaginable. They are out of control, really. Their number one is urge is to get their hands into normal people and commit every ghastly act they can think of - they can't fight it, and they don't want to." Garth Ennis, Wizard #206. The story follows a group of survivors ten months into a global viral catastrophe. Each issue gives flashbacks into how the character has survived up to this point, how he or she has had to adapt to this new environment, and how much of their humanity each character had to sacrifice to survive. The infected seem to be semi-intelligent, at times extremely intelligent, and are capable of cognitive actions of such as using guns, organizing, and adding bodily fluids to their bullets to infect victims when they shot victims. Ennis´ sites Cormac McCathy’s The Road, and Max Brooks´ World War Z as influences for “Crossed.” Burrows artwork is as usual excellent in this work, exactly what one would expect from a veteran of the industry, and has produced some of the best works in Avatar publishing such as ¨The Courtyard, Scars,¨ and also with Garth Ennis, ¨Chronicle of Wormwood.¨

The interesting thing about “Crossed” is Ennis is not trying to dazzle the reader with long, boring, dialogue pieces designed to make you identify with the characters. This is becoming the norm of the PG-13 zombie genre. Ennis on the other hand keeps the pace fast and violent, you learn about the characters from their actions, not their whining. Compare it to what HBO is doing with True Blood in response to Twilight. Showing a talented writer can take a childish but popular theme like vampire love, and with the right amount of whit, violence and yes a whole lot of lewdness, can be brought to an adult market. For some, ¨Crossed¨ will be remembered solely for its lewdness, and for some for this same reason will find it completely unacceptable. (I think the infamous “salt scene,” in issue # 1, may be one of the goriest scenes in comic book history.)

No matter whether you enjoy this title or not, one must respect Ennis as a writer for what he has been doing for years - Not trying to appeal to the mass audience. A writer of Ennis talent could easily be producing more work like his ¨Punisher Max¨ from Marvel Comic publishing, which is nowhere as controversial, and will not alienate more timid readers. Reading ¨Crossed¨ one gets the sense it is about pure artistic enjoyment, not sales. This work is his most extreme to date, and should be looked into by industry fans (if you have not already) because this is one of the most unique comics you will ever come across. Issue 7 of 9 was just released this October.ill ever come across. Issue 7 of 9 was just released this October.