300 HORROR COMICS
depiction of Custer’s relationship with an imaginary John Wayne informing his own
personal ethics and character; while Arseface, a deformed character who, in visual terms,
seems to be the typical type monster in the horror genre, actually embodies a criticism
of the media and the impermanence and shallowness of celebrity, being a young man
who is inspired to shoot himself like Kurt Cobain, but survives and becomes a media
celebrity, until a series of misfortunes ends his career.
Horror continues to be a popular genre in the 21st century. Th e Walking Dead,
published by Image Comics , is a black-and-white comic created by writer Robert
Kirkman and artist Tony Moore in 2003, with Charlie Adlard replacing Moore from
issue seven onwards. It focuses on a group of people who are trying to survive an
apocalypse where zombies are the primary danger. Th e comic is an ongoing monthly
series that has been reprinted in trade paperback collections. Kirkman has stated
that his intention is to write the series for as long as he can, as he is a fan of zombie
fi lms and wants to continue to follow the development of characters’ lives after a fi lm’s
conclusion.
Th e protagonist is Rick Grimes, a police offi cer, who is shot by an escaped convict
at the start of the series. He awakens from a coma in the hospital and soon discovers
that zombies, the walking dead of the series’ title, are roaming Earth. He bands together
with a group of survivors, including his wife Lori and son Carl, becoming their reluctant
leader. Th e series focuses on their struggle to survive. Along the way they encounter
more zombies, and more survivors (both friendly and dangerous). Th e series is a pow-
erful combination of horror and soap opera in its combination of visceral danger and
engaging character interaction.
Marvel Zombies was a fi ve-issue limited series published from 2005 to 2006, also
written by Kirkman, with art by Sean Phillips and Arthur Suydam. Its popularity
has led to a number of sequels. Th e idea was fi rst presented in Ultimate Fantastic Four
issues #21–23, by writer Mark Millar and artist Greg Land. Th e central idea is that the
superheroes in an alternative universe have become infected by a virus that has turned
them into zombie cannibals.
Th e fi rst series tells how the Silver Surfer arrives on an alternative Earth ahead
of Galactus (the eater and destroyer of planets) and is overpowered by zombie ver-
sions of Captain America (or Colonel America in this universe), Hulk , Wolverine,
Luke Cage , Giant Man, Spider-Man , and Iron Man , who then ultimately over-
power Galactus until they are stopped by Reed Richards’ Ultimate Doctor Doom.
Two sequels, a graphic novel entitled Marvel Zombies: Dead Days , and a crossover
with Th e Army of Darkness (Dynamite Entertainment) have appeared as of the time
of this writing.
Kirkman’s interest in horror is also evident in Th e Astounding Wolfman , an
ongoing monthly series he created, which has been published by Image Comics since
- Art is provided by Jason Howard. Th e story focuses on the adventures of Gary
Hampton, who tries to use the powers he gains from becoming werewolf to become a
superhero. He soon meets Zechariah, a vampire who becomes his mentor. Th e series
