ALMOST DEAD #1, from Ablaze Publishing on 11/1/23, begins a new post-apocalyptic adventure when a woman flies home to visit with family only to find the world has turned upside down.
The Details
- Written by: Galaxy
- Art by: Ryan Benjamin, John Livesay
- Colors by: Sivakami M
- Letters by: Saida Temofonte
- Cover art by: Tyler Kirkham
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: November 1, 2023
Is ALMOST DEAD #1 Good?
ALMOST DEAD #1 is billed in the solicit description as “a new post-apocalyptic horror-drama adventure about triumph, growth and the resiliency of the human spirit.” Well, ALMOST DEAD #1 certainly qualifies as a new post-apocalyptic horror drama, but it remains to be seen if we get the rest of that description in the following issues. What you do get is a perfectly serviceable and standard zombie story.
Galaxy’s story centers on Sara, a young woman headed home to visit her family in Maryland. After Sara’s plan lands, a bathroom mishap leaves her unconscious with a concussion for three days. When Sara wakes up, she finds the airport and surrounding area in shambles, not realizing the world has been overrun by a zombie infection.
How would a character not know the world is ending? Read through to the next session for a little more detail. However, interested readers who want to be surprised can take comfort in knowing Sara’s lack of awareness makes sense and not in a silly or comedic way.
What’s great about ALMOST DEAD #1? Galxy’s introduction to the main character and the world she inhabits is exceptionally detailed. you could easily picture the sequence of events playing out in real-time and in real life, so readers who want to feel pulled into an imaginary world will have an easy time here.
What’s not so great about ALMOST DEAD #1? So far, this is a standard start to a standard zombie apocalypse story. If there’s a hook or special twist that sets this story apart from other stories in the same sub-genre, it’s not evident in this first issue. What’s missing is a hook and a wow moment, so Galaxy is relying on the patience of the reader to pick up the next issue.
How’s the art? The art is where this issue shines. Benjamin, Livesay, and M deliver crystal clear character designs, outstanding sets and backgrounds, and exceptional coloring. There isn’t anything special about the writing (yet), but the comic looks great.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s ALMOST DEAD #1 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with Sara flying to Maryland for a visit with her little brother Jake and her Uncle Owen. The flight is uneventful, so Sara decides to freshen up in the airport bathroom before obtaining a rental car for the last leg of her trip. While Sara uses the restroom, a commotion breaks out in the hallway outside. When Sara tries to leave the restroom, she falls, hits her head, and passes out.
Days later, Sara wakes up with a concussion that leaves her foggy-brained and disoriented. She manages to leave the trash-strewn airport, only spotting people from a distance. Cars outside the exit are abandoned and almost all are out of gas. Sara manages to find a taxi that still runs but passes out before she can drive anywhere. She’s oblivious to a nearby woman screaming for help as the woman is attacked by a flesh-eating zombie.
Hours later, Sara wakes up and manages to drive herself in a concussed haze to her Uncle Owen’s home, assuming the absence of lights and running cars is due to a power outage. We conclude the issue with wrong houses, closed windows, and shadowy figures.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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ALMOST DEAD #1 is a gorgeously rendered, structurally well-crafted start to a fairly standard zombie apocalypse story. The world- and character-building are excellent, but the story lacks a hook or unique twist to help it stand apart from other zombie stories.
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