Publisher: Image Comics$2.95
One Shot
black & white
32 pages
written by Frank Cho
art by Frank Cho
cover by Frank Cho
Publisher: Image Comics
$2.95
One Shot
black & white
32 pages
written by Frank Cho
art by Frank Cho
cover by Frank Cho
Review by Larry Stanley
To be honest, this is a really tough review to write. I am a Frank Cho fan, all the way. I think the man is one of the finest pin-up and ‘Good Girl’ artists of this generation. His work on Liberty Meadows has won awards and raves from all across the industry and his new mini-series Shanna the She Devil is selling out in many areas of the country.
I honestly love his work. I try to get anything he has done, simply because I respect his talent and I like him as a person, based on what I have read and heard about him from others.
But that does not mean I have to like Zombie King #0.
When talk about this book first started many of the comments were along the line of, “This will be something totally different for Frank Cho.” And when I finally had a chance to see the book, I had to agree.
Now, I love Zombie Comic book. And I love Zombie movies; so when I heard about Zombie King I was excited, based on the fact of the type of book and that Frank Cho would be doing the art.
Then I had a chance to see the book. I am really torn. First, the art is amazing. Here we have the style, quality and talent that Cho has displayed since he first started displayed in a manner that is not along the same lines as his previous work.
It is horror, pure and simple. Dealing with a new drug that can mend bones, reconnect nerves and even bring dead cells back to life. There is only one minor problem with this new piece of immortality. It literally does bring dead cells back to life, and when it does it gives these creatures only two drives.
To eat and to have sex; and there is where I become torn on this book. Opening up with a Zombie having sex with a cow, the scene is at first comical but as you read further in the story you discover that this is not an aberration of this Zombie.
Each of these creatures has only the desire to rape and to kill and eat their victims.
Yes, this first situation is funny; and yes, it is also offensive in some ways. As I understand it, many retailers have gotten in trouble because there was no warning label on the book to let parents or consumers know that something in it might be a little to ‘strong’ for everyone.
And I understand that. People and fans are used to certain types of work from Cho. Having this thrown in their face might be a shock. According to several retailers I have spoken with, they have had to pull the book after complaints and had to bag it before placing it back on the shelves for sale.
Yes, this is a major departure for Frank Cho. And there is a chance it will get a bit more ‘shocking’ with the next issues if it continues on in this vein.
How will the Cho fans react when one of his Zombie characters first drags a woman down, rapes her and then murders her? As Zombie fans, we have become accustomed to seeing people killed and ripped apart by Zombies. But so far, we have not see rape as a part of the story line.
What will be the reaction when this happens? I don’t know but I can imagine. There has been a minor stink right now. When the big stuff hits, it is going to smell like a skunk.
The thing is Frank Cho had to know this would happen. And he still went on and did it. Why?
He does not need to fall into the channel that some other decent writers and artists have fallen into, that of the “Shock” book. He is too talented and too creative to have to rely on some cheap attempt to pull readers in by showing them something gross.
And if the book does continue in the vein of sex and murder by the living dead, I believe it will do more to harm his career and future work then he can see at this point.
This book could be great. It could be one that might have been able to be read by a real cross section of fans, both of Comics and Zombies. It could have done a lot to bridge the gap that exists between the Horrorphile and the Comic fan.
Will it now? I don’t think so. I think it will instead further fan the ideas of one that, “All they are is sex and boobs,” while the other says, “All they want is blood and guts.” And both groups will use these phrases interchangeably.
Cho could still turn this book around. He could still give the readers a story that will be fun, filled with action that will stun the reader without running them off. He could; the question is, will he?
Zombie King #0 is a well-drawn, well-written book. It seems to have a good potential for characters that you will really be able to get into. The plot and idea, while not brand new, is still fresh enough to get the interest of a reader.
And lots of folks will buy it just for the cow-humping scene. And lots will not think of what the story will lead to.
When and if it does, will the fans still laugh? Will they find rape as funny as they do murder and cannibalism?
God, I hope not.