The Other Dead #1
Written and Co-created by Joshua Ortega
Co-creator by Digger T Mesch
Art by Qing Ping Mui
Colors by Blond
Letters by Tom B. Long
Covers by Reynir Hauksson (Regular), Dave Dorman (RI), and Kevin Eastman & David Millgate (Subscription Variant)
Creative Consulting by Kevin Eastman
IDW Publishing
Release Date: September 25, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Zombies permeate our entertainment at all levels these days. Though, in truth, they have morphed quite a bit from the old shuffling feet and inexhaustible searching for brains versions that I grew up on several decades ago. Popular television shows and even classic literature have fallen victim, but few have any originality to them. They are after all, just zombies. That’s where The Other Dead #1 changes the game a tad. You see, this isn’t about just regular old zombies…it’s about things OTHER than man becoming reanimated and doing horrible things to those around them.

The premiere issue of this six issue mini-series is all about the setup, though some things have already begun that will affect the storyline later on. In this comic, we get a fine sampling of animals gone wild, er…undead. From hunters taking down wild game that comes back to unlife to rend them limb from limb to ritually sacrificed animals coming back to exact vengeance on those who did them wrong. This all seems to be taking place in the deep south, namely southern Louisiana.

This is all taking place in the present day, with another huge hurricane about to reach out with more destructive power than Katrina had. During it all, we witness the death of a former Vice President and how it all galvanizes our current head of the executive branch to do something hands on with this problem plaguing the New Orleans area. Normally we don’t see a lot of comics using current political figures or if they do it’s only peripherally. But this series seems to stretch those normal boundaries and explore the idea that our President would get into the thick of it, right from the start. Of course, we have to wait until next issue to see anything else but it’s a great first act.

Joshua Ortega (Gears of War) does a bang up job with the story here, having worked from the initial film treatment by Digger T Mesch (both are listed as co-creators, as well). An original idea fleshed out for comic readers and it’s even given a once over by none other than Kevin Eastman, of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fame. Hell, Kevin even contributed to an alternate cover for this issue that you should definitely check out, by the way. Rounding out this powerhouse of talent is an artist that I haven’t seen before but have quickly come to appreciate, Qing Ping Mui, and Blond handling the coloring for the series. It’s just as visually appealing as it is well written.

This isn’t your run of the mill zombie comic. It’s above and beyond anything else that’s out there. These animals are infinitely more dangerous after death than they were while alive. Stronger, faster, deadlier. There’s not much more to say except go get this series. And get it while you can, because unlike the creatures in the comic, there’s no guarantee of a second chance here. The animals may reanimate but no one knows if IDW Publishing will do a reprint. So go on, go get it!

And umm…brrrrrainssssssss.