RABID WORLD #3 – Review

In RABID WORLD #3, available from Scout Comics on August 25th, 2021, soldiers from Ft. Levine make a desperate attempt to retrieve research samples that could lead to a cure, while the crew of The Jibberish takes a risk for supplies.

The Details

• Written By: Todd Cinani
• Art By: Oleg Okunev
• Colors By: Oleg Okunev
• Letters By: Lucas Gattoni
• Cover Art By: Oleg Okunev
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: August 25, 2021

Wait! Don’t Forget To Sign Up For The Comical Opinions Newsletter.

Was It Good?

This issue is one of the better zombie offerings out in comics (or any other medium) right now. I know that sounds like a bold statement, but the results speak for themselves.

As with the previous issue, the story follows two plots that aren’t (or are they?) connected in any clear way. Hop on down to the next section for the details. Cinani excels in writing a zombie survival story with nearly non-stop action and tension while still infusing punctuated moments of emotion to make you feel what the survivors are going through.

I also noted in the last issue’s review this series sets itself apart by having all the characters act with sense and smarts in a seemingly impossible situation. None of the characters that die (and there are several here) do so due to wildly panicked mistakes or outright dumb decisions. Every character feels like a real person just trying to do the right thing(s) to survive, and that authenticity comes across loud and clear.

Okunev’s artwork is grim and gory but not gratuitous. Sometimes a gore scene can be so over the top it verges into black comedy. There’s nothing funny about the gore here as every death scene works in service to the story, and that makes the deaths that much more meaningful.

In all, the writing is tight and unendingly tense, and the artwork hits that sweet spot of effective gore.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

Before you lose your guts, check out our RABID WORLD #2 review to get caught up.

Soldiers at Ft. Levine received word that a doctor has samples from the first infected, increasing chances that a cure or vaccine could be found. The best soldiers on base are gathered from a search & retrieve mission to bring back the doctor and the samples with the understanding the doctor is expendable if a choice has to be made.

Cut to the survivors on The Jibberish. It appears everyone is okay after enduring a rainstorm of zombies leaping off a bridge to get to them. Unfortunately, extended time at sea has depleted their food and fuel. They have no choice but to try and find a spot on shore with the fewest people possible to look for supplies. They identify an abandoned beach resort that has a chance of being lightly populated.

Back to the soldiers arriving at Mercy Hospital in Frederick, MD. All is quiet but they’re soon spotted by a zombie, and then we get confirmation that when one zombie knows, they all know. What follows is a desperate firefight to get to the doctor and the samples and get out.

Meanwhile, the crew of The Jibberish comes ashore near the abandoned resort, achieving some success in finding what they need. Unfortunately, the success is short-lived. We conclude the issue with a race to get back to the boat, a surprising revelation about the nature of the zombie disease, and a risky request that may hint at how the two plots come together.,

Final Thoughts

RABID WORLD #3 is a tense and exciting entry in the zombie genre with exceptional characters that act like real people. The art doesn’t shy away from gore but does it in a practical way to elevate the storytelling. This is a must-have series for any zombie horror fan.

Score: 9.5/10