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Published by: Image Comics
Released on: May 7, 2014
Writer: Mark Kidwell
Artist: Jeff Zornov
Cover artist: Nat Jones
Purchase at Amazon
Issue #2 in the latest story arc in the series '68, a zombie apocalypse story during the Vietnam War era, moves along four stories of survivors in zombie hell. This mini-series has its main focus on Lieutenant Declan Rule, a CIA agent looking for his son's murderer in Cambodia. His dog of only a few days, Nero, is his new buddy and protector, and now he's picked up a photographer for a “Hanoi Jane†type who bit the dust last issue. The two make battle with a mechanized zombie, controlled remotely by a handful of Viet Cong.
Yam and his group stole a plane last time and flew out of a hot zone, but not without taking some slugs in the side of the plane, one of which punched a hole in the fuel tank. They need to land, and before they do they notice signs of fighter jets and believe that may be their salvation: an aircraft carrier off the coast somewhere. But first they need to land, fix the fuel tank, and find fuel. They spot an airstrip, occupied by flesh-eaters of course, but maybe even some humans.
Meanwhile, back in the states, Yam's parents are creeping down the coast line of New Jersey in a small boat, looking to make their way to an island in the hopes of safety and time to think of their next course of action in this new world of non-stop horrors. And meanwhile still, a familiar face, a face of stitched together pieces of skin and painted in the colors of the American flag, makes an appearance and reveals a new trick he's figured out…
Continuing its nastiness in the form of gut-munching, splattering head shots, and redneck fence maintenance tips, '68: Rule of War jumps around from tale to tale with ease, never getting confusing unless you've never read any of the other books. Kidwell's use of facts from the war and the jargon used by the soldiers helps keep the book in the realm of realism (as realistic as zombie stuff goes), and his use of multiple story lines keeps things interesting as well as chaotic.
Jeff Zarnov's artwork in the series, combined with Jay Fotos' awesome colors, aim for the nut punch every time and manage to put up some horrific images, both with the human-on-human violence depicted and the blue corpses ripping up the world. A number of artists come to mind instantly when talking about zombie art: Corben, Wrightson, Tim Vigil, William Stout…Jeff Zornov should be added to the list. It's some of the best zombie comic art to come around for quite a while.
If the maggot-ridden brain cover by Nat Jones doesn't snag you by the short hairs, this is probably not a book for you. It's incredibly violent, has no socially redeeming value, and even old ladies get ripped apart. But it's a blast from start to finish, as you can well imagine from that description, and who would want it any other way?
