GEORGE A. ROMERO’S EMPIRE OF THE DEAD #1

Publisher: Marvel Comics | Writer: George A. Romero | Artist: Alex Maleev Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth

Welcome to New York City years after the undead plague has erupted. but just because Manhattan has been quarantined, don’t think that everyone inside is safe! Not only do flesh-eaters roam within Manhattan, but there’s another ancient predator about to take a bite out of the Big Apple!

The world of the Living Dead as we know it wouldn’t exist without the master of the macabre George A. Romero. This series combined everything you’ve come to expect from Romero plus so much more. The socio-economic themes present in every Romero outing is present here as well. Like the Big Daddy character from the Land of the Living Dead movie, the zombies in Empire of the Dead are showcasing skills such as sweeping and playing chess. Whether these skills are reflexes brought on by post-undead memories or signs of intelligence is yet to be determined in the first outing. Considering its release date of 2014, three years prior to Romero’s passing, it’s fair to say spoilers are allowed so I’m without guilt when I mention that vampires are an important part of Empire of the Dead. Two undead creatures for the price of one! Xavier aka X is introduced in this issue and presented as a zombie with a semblance of morality and intelligence. Maleev’s art is solid from start to finish. I loved his work on Daredevil which combined photo and digital art. This issue pays homage to Romero’s Night of the Living Dead while putting its own unique spin on it. I’m always interested in zombie stories that put their own mark on the zombie genre, which is an especially difficult endeavor as Romero is the granddaddy of it all. Empire of the Dead was split into three five issue acts. If you’re a fan of Romero you’re absolutely going to want to sink your teeth into this series.

8.5/10 VERDICT