The story of Britain after the infected have taken over continues in BOOM! Studios' 28 Days Later #7. Michael Alan Nelson and Declan Shalvey return as writer and artist, with Tim Bradstreet and Sean Phillips on cover duty. Selena and crew are fighting to survive and find help for Derrick. In this issue, they encounter fellow survivors who send them on a hunt for supplies, but Selena and Clint find themselves on a completely different mission.
This issue was a great continuation of the first 6 issues, and I thought it fell in well with the films. It's a title that I look forward to reading to see what happens to the characters. So often in film prequels/sequel comics the stories are, shall we say, less than stellar. Not so with this title. Nelson creates a story that makes me care about the characters, more so than seeing the infected, much like Walking Dead. That's what makes a good zombie story to me, when it's more about the survivors.
If you liked the movies or if you are just a fan of a good zombie/survivor story to read, pick this up. It's another great title from BOOM!
Stacey Rader
Senior Reviewer
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What do you get when you mix flappers, a secret affair, and zombies? Heroes star Brea Grant, her brother Zane, and artist Kyle Strahm give us the answer in IDW's We Will Bury You. I am always up for a good zombie story, especially an anachronistic zombie story, so I was very excited to read this one. But does this zombie tale rise above the hordes of zombie titles already out there
Sometimes when you see a TV or movie personality's name on a book, it can mean that it's not so great. In this case, however, it's not true. Brea and her brother have written an interesting twist on the old zombie story by setting it against the turmoil of the Roaring 20s. Mirah, a dime-a-dance girl, is stuck married to Henry. Henry is not so fond of women, or at least he's not so keen on the value of women. And that's fine, since Mirah has another iron in the fire. On top of that, people are starting to riot in the streets, but this isn't any ordinary riot.
Ben Templesmith's cover art is a great introduction to this title, and Kyle Strahm's art complements the story. His zombies are grainy and gory, and I loved the fly that flew throughout the book. As the story progressed, the fly became more flies based on the zombie action.
This title is definitely one to watch. It's a well-written tale that I'm excited to see as it develops. Pick it up at your local comic shop, and prepare to be buried in this story.
Stacey Rader
Senior Reviewer
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Zombie epidemic sweeps 1920s New York City in all-new series
Co-written by Heroes star Brea Grant and in stores now
Signing at Desert Island Comics this Friday
In 1920s New York City, life is hard — and then the zombies appear. Actress Brea Grant (Heroes, Halloween II) and her brother, Zane, weave a historical horror in We Will Bury You, available today in comic stores everywhere and in digital form for the Sony PSP tomorrow. The four-issue series follows two unlikely heroines from the margins of society as they fight to survive and battle the spreading zombie infection. Desert Island Comics in Brooklyn, NY, will host the sibling team for a signing of their first comic this Friday, February 26th at 7 p.m.
“Zane and I have been working together on music or other creative endeavors for a long time,” said Brea Grant. “We have a similar sense of the world, sense of humor and work ethic, so it just really works out.”
We Will Bury You is set during the Roaring Twenties, a time of great change for American society. The Grants add the chaos of zombies to this already challenging era to create an ingenious new horror story that offers an engaging look at the human condition.
“Besides the aesthetic of the Roaring Twenties being a great and underused environment for horror, there were a lot of big changes going on during that time period,” said Zane Grant. “The country was divided in a lot of complicated ways that are still relevant today.”
Artist Kyle Strahm provides the series’ stark images, with covers by Ben Templesmith (Wormwood), Eisner-winner Nate Powell, Trevor Hutchison (Transformers: All Hail Megatron) and Nathan Fox (DMZ).
“We wanted someone who could conceptualize both the beauty of the era and the grotesque nature of the zombies,” added Brea. “Kyle’s [We Will Bury You #1 sample art]portfolio had these amazing, scary monsters alongside futuristic images and realistic faces. Everything he draws feels a little mystical, yet bizarre. He has no trouble showing the sickening nature of what we were visualizing.”
Issue #1 debuts today, February 24th, and sets the stage for disaster, introducing the series protagonists and painting a historically accurate picture of this pivotal time. The series is available both in print and digital formats. We Will Bury You #1 on the PSP will also feature audio commentary from the Grants, discussing the process of creating such a unique story.
“Brea and Zane have crafted a compelling story with a unique take on the zombie subgenre,” commented IDW editor Denton J. Tipton. “Their shared love for the comics medium really shines through, as does their understanding of dramatic storytelling, all delivered with a distinctive voice.”
We Will Bury You #1 (of 4; $3.99; 32 page) is now available in stores. Diamond order code DEC09 0924.
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Inaugural DC Showcase short appears on Blu-ray/DVD
release of Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
Renowned horror/comics writer Steve Niles adds his special touch of terror to the first-ever animated version of The Spectre, the initial entry in the DC Showcase series of animated shorts. The Spectre is being distributed February 23 by Warner Home Video as part of the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-ray/DVD.
Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) is the screenwriter of The Spectre, which is being distributed February 23 by Warner Home Video as part of the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-ray/DVD.
From the creative forces behind the DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies, DC Showcase puts the spotlight on favorite characters from throughout the annals of DC Comics in fascinating, short-form tales sure to entertain longtime and new fans alike.
The Spectre focuses on a detective story with an ethereal twist, featuring the otherworldly character originally introduced by DC Comics in 1940. The voice cast is led by Gary Cole (Entourage) as the title character and Alyssa Milano (Charmed) as Aimee Brenner.
The Spectre makes his animated debut as the title character in the inaugural entry within the DC Showcase series of animation shorts. Gary Cole (Entourage) provides the voice of The Spectre, which is being distributed February 23 by Warner Home Video as part of the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-ray/DVD.
Niles is one of the comtemporary writers responsible for bringing horror comics back to prominence. Named by Fangoria magazine as one of it’s 13 rising talents who promise to keep us terrified for the next 25 years, Niles is currently working for seemingly all of the top American comic publishers. His current ongoing series is “Simon Dark” for DC Comics with artist Scott Hampton, and “Batman: Gotham After Midnight” with artist Kelley Jones.
In 2002, the success of his “30 Days of Night” sparked renewed interest in the horror genre, and was developed as a major motion picture with Sam Raimi producing and David Slade directing. Niles co-wrote the screenplay. The film debuted as the No. 1 movie at the domestic box office. Also in development are adaptations of Wake the Dead with director Jay Russell, and Criminal Macabre and The Lurkers.
Niles got his start in the industry when he formed his own publishing company called Arcane Comix, where he published, edited and adapted several comics and anthologies for Eclipse Comics. His adaptations include works by Clive Barker, Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison. IDW released a hardcover and softcover collection of Niles' adaptation of Richard Matheson's “I Am Legend.”
Niles has been nominated for multiple Eisner Comic industry awards and was the recipient of two Spike TV Scream Awards for Best Horror comic and Best Comic Adaptation. He also won the Scribe Award for Best Original Novel in 2007.
Currently his graphic novel “Freaks of the Heartland” is being developed for film by David Gordon Green. Niles is also writing a major videogame property that will soon be announced.
Niles took a pause from his daily marathon writing schedule to chat about The Spectre. Here’s what he had to say …
QUESTION:
How familiar with The Spectre were you entering this project?
STEVE NILES:
My knowledge of The Spectre was fairly minimal. I had done a series called Batman Gotham County Line, where I had used a few of the supernatural characters. For that writing, I looked at Dr. Fate and Spectre, but in that case, I went with Phantom Stranger.
Within six months, I got a call from Todd Casey at Warner Bros. Animation asking if I’d be interested in writing this short, and that’s when I got really interested in him – and he does fascinate me now. I dove headfirst into all of the 1970s Spectre stuff, and the more I read, and the more I talked to Bruce Timm about the him, the more I fell in love with the character. Judge, jury, executioner. He kills. I wish I had been more into the character before because he’s perfect for me.
Detective Corrigan has a slight edge on most investigators in The Spectre, the first entry within the DC Showcase series of animation shorts. The Spectre is being distributed February 23 by Warner Home Video as part of the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-ray/DVD.
QUESTION:
So The Spectre really hits home for you?
STEVE NILES:
I have a big affection for crime and noir, and a big affection for horror, and The Spectre is the one character that I can literally combine them. He can be a detective when I need him and, then, when he gets the confession out of you, I can have him kill you. He’s very Ditko-esque, or even a kind of Rorschach. But I like The Spectre better in that, because he’s a dead guy and he’s haunted, you trust his judgment a little more. You figure he’s justified. That’s why Batman doesn’t kill – he can’t judge a living peson. But this is a guy who is dead, he knows how the system works, he understands the ramifications, so he figures he can save us all a dime … and kill them with a muscle car.
I remember as a kid reading The Spectre comic and the true fun of it was that this guy had a flair for the ironic in his retribution. There was this issue where a hairdresser gets killed by giant scissors. I loved that so much. It makes it such fun to write a character who gets to look into each bad guy, see what makes them work, and then turn that on them. It’s like he gets to give them a little taste of hell before he sends them to hell.
QUESTION:
You’ve worked in a number of mediums, but this is the first time in animation. How did that experience compare to comics, film, etc.?
STEVE NILES:
I loved it. I find it really liberating working in other people’s sandboxes. Tell me what your rules are, and I can stay there and have fun, instead of just staring at a blank piece of paper. It was fun working with Alan (Burnett) and Bruce (Timm) and bouncing ideas off them. They say “too much dialogue,” I say “Okay, cut it out.” There can be no ego in this writing. And it was probably the easiest time I’ve ever had writing something. I’ve had lots of fun writing movies and comics, but this was just plain fun. The worst part of the whole experience was that we had to lose one of the killings, but that was no big deal. And that’s as bad as it got.
A bit of romantic history flows between Detective Corrigan and Aimee Brenner in The Spectre, the inaugural entry within the DC Showcase series of animation shorts. Gary Cole (Entourage) and Alyssa Milano (Charmed) provide the voices of Detective Corrigan and Aimee Brenner, respectively. The Spectre is being distributed February 23 by Warner Home Video as part of the Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Blu-ray/DVD.
QUESTION:
“No ego”? But you must still feel a certain amount of pride to finally earn your first “written by” credit for The Spectre?
STEVE NILES:
Even 30 Days of Night was a “story by” credit and I had the “script” credit divided with three other people. This is the first time, love it or hate it, that I can watch the film and say, “That’s my freaking dialogue.” The Spectre is the most complete thing I’ve ever had go from script to screen, and that in itself is really exciting for me. Being able to see what you write actually get onto the screen is phenomenal and so hard in movies.
QUESTION:
Did you work closely with Bruce Timm on this project?
STEVE NILES:
I’ve been a fan of Bruce Timm for years, and we had never had an opportunity to meet. Ironically, I was doing last minute edits on the script on the way to Seattle for a Con and he was sitting right next to me – and that was the first time we met. He’s as big a nerd as me. We like the same comics, we both love the 70s … we’re both fans of guys like Herb Trimpe, Frank Robbins, Sal Buscema, Jack Kirby. We do the classic geek stuff, sitting around and talk about this stuff, and buying comics we’ve already bought before. Right now I’m on a major Spectre binge, buying every damn Spectre I can get my hands on. The Golden Age art looks insane, but fortunately the prices on those will keep me in check.
QUESTION:
Will viewers find Steve Niles’ fingerprints all over this script?
STEVE NILES:
There’s a lot of me in this script, and people that know me will see that quickly and throughout. If I could do a comics series called “Monsters and Muscle Cars,” I’d be a happy guy. I have a 1973 Nova that I keep running. When I’m not writing, I’m out driving in that. I love that damn car.
I also have a big love for noir, so there’s an homage to, say, speech patterns that sound like Fred MacMurray from Double Indemnity. This script offered some great opportunities to throw a lot of this stuff I love into it. As well as to take a nice swipe at Hollywood greed, which is such an easy target, but still fun. The people who know me who have seen it say “Geez, why didn’t you just put yourself into it.” I guess I should’ve just had the Spectre kill me.
QUESTION:
Did Warner Bros. ever curtail your freedom in creation?
STEVE NILES:
The funny thing is that I was going to be more restrained. I thought, “Well, I can’t rip heads off.” And they were saying, “No, come on. Let’s see what you’ve got.” I think people will be surprised at how actually scary this thing is. It’s a good little horror story.
DC SUPER HEROES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
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