Aliens Vs. Zombies #1 - Zenescope Entertainment

ALIENS VS. ZOMBIES No. 1, July 2015

Well known for its “full-color action, fantasy and horror titles” this first instalment of an “all-new” five issue mini-series by “Zenescope Entertainment” is a rather enjoyable fast-paced read, and most definitely provides a new twist to the somewhat stale premise of the World being infected by some randomly conceived “Zombie Virus”. Indeed this novel “blend of science fiction, horror and action” actually portrays the rather colourful extra-terrestrial crew of a large spaceship in the role of the planet’s potential saviours… At least up until the point where Air Force One catastrophically collides into the low orbiting alien vessel and forces it to make a crash-landing smack in the middle of the walking dead.

Admittedly the infection’s actual origin, which consists of a fallen meteor overpowering the New Jersey farming locals who first discover it, is at least partially inspired by author H.G. Wells’ novel “The War Of The Worlds”. But company co-founders Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco’s premise that creatures from outer space are routinely patrolling ‘heavily populated planets’ for such ‘signs of contagion’ makes “Aliens Verses Zombies” a refreshingly original narrative, especially when the disciplined well-drilled star-farers appear to represent so many different intergalactic species.

Fortunately the Pennsylvania-based publishers have also taken into account those potential purchasers who may be somewhat sceptical at such a strong science fiction theme pervading the storyline, by also filling this periodical’s twenty-three pages with plenty of gruesomely bloody, brain-feasting Zeds. In fact the magazine’s impressive summarisation of the living corpses taking only a “day to spread to every major population center on the planet” is one of the highlights of this opening edition. As is the depiction of the claustrophobically confined pilots of the President’s plane being swiftly devoured by one of their very own whilst in mid-flight; “Tower is gone. We’re on our own up here.”

Equally as impressive as Brusha’s script is the incredible artwork of Vincenzo Riccardi. The fumettista’s opaque-eyed carnivorous cadavers are both wonderfully animated and ghoulishly ‘alive’ as they relentlessly stalk both the last few remaining survivors on the city streets or ravenously press upon the failing fences of a military base.

The regular cover art of "ALIENS VS. ZOMBIES" No. 1 by Sean Chen and Ivan Nunes