DEAD KINGDOM #1, from Red 5 Comics on September 28th, 2022, imagines a plague-ravaged kingdom in Europe during the Middle Ages. When a military Captain enlists a former soldier to accompany his men in the investigation, they find much more than a simple plague.
The Details
- Written by: Etienne Derepentigny
- Art by: Etienne Derepentigny
- Colors by: Etienne Derepentigny
- Letters by: Jerome Gagnon
- Cover art by: Etienne Derepentigny
- Cover price: $3.95
- Release date: September 28, 2022
Is It Good?
DEAD KINGDOM #1 is a simple yet effective horror story about a European kingdom fighting against a mysterious plague. There’s not much to spoil when you look at the cover, so know that the plague is turning the villagers into flesh-eating zombies. Zombie stories are nothing new, but this comic gets high marks for strong art and for the introduction of a character mystery that elevates the story beyond just a vanilla zombie survival tale.
Derepentigny’s story smartly uses the zombie outbreak as a catalyst for a deeper mystery surrounding Kain the peacekeeper’s past. Little bits of dialog and quick flashes of the past suggest Kain went through a horrific experience in an infamous battle, so you’re immediately drawn into Kain’s story.
The captain’s order to enlist Kain’s help generates more curiosity because they’re might be more to Kain’s past that hasn’t been revealed. Have zombie outbreaks happened before? What happened to Kain during the Battle of the King’s Hill? As the story progresses, Derepentigny peppers in little intriguing hints to get you hooked. When the zombie shenanigans kick in, the reaction of the captain, Kain, and the soldiers immediately crank up the threat level.
The minor down point is the lack of clarity about the zombie’s speed. Are they runners or walkers? There are a few panels where a zombie magically appears behind a soldier, and it doesn’t seem to make sense how a zombie could sneak up on a group of men without anyone noticing.
Derepentigny’s art is, likewise, excellent. The characters’ facial acting is expressive, the panel compositions are practically perfect, and the coloring is bold without being gaudy. The human character designs are distinctive, and the zombie designs are intimidating.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a couple running through swampy woods, pursued by an unseen attacker. Soon, the attackers are revealed to be zombies, and the slow-moving couple is horrifically killed.
Later, a captain in Field Valley coordinates the evacuation of the city after receiving reports of a plague outbreak. The captain intends to investigate the villages that fell and rumors that there’s more to the outbreak than a simple plague. He enlists a local peacekeeper, Kain, for his background as a survivor of the infamous Battle of the King’s Hill.
When the men reach their first village, they find the town in shambles and everyone missing. When the soldiers fan out to look for survivors, they find everyone in the nearby field. We conclude the issue with an unwelcoming party, the price of curiosity, and Kain’s last message.
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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DEAD KINGDOM #1 is a surprisingly effective start to a zombie thriller with a unique setting, memorable characters, and a mystery about the protagonist brimming with intrigue.
Related Information
What does zombies stand for?
The broadest definition for the word ‘zombie’ stands for any person or system that is not in control of itself.
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