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'68 Volume 4: Rule of War

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  •  
    Todd Jordan
    Smut is good.

  • '68 Volume 4: Rule of War



    Published by: Image Comics
    Released on: Jan. 28, 2015
    Writer: Mark Kidwell
    Artist: Jeff Zornov
    Cover artist: Nat Jones
    Purchase at Amazon

    Image reprints the '68 4-issue series “Rule of War” in this fourth volume of collected '68 zombie stories, set in 1968, taking place in Vietnam as well as stateside. A number of stories within the story occur simultaneously, with recurring characters from past four-issue arcs as well as past one-shots. Speaking of one-shots, this volume also contains the one-shot “Hallowed Ground”. The back of the book has a cover art gallery, featuring all the various versions of covers for each issue, including the one-shot (Bernie Wrightson contributes a cover for that and even though the finishes and coloring are not his, his style still punches right through). There is also an “Evolution Gallery”, which features some script pages and unfinished artwork.

    For those unfamiliar with the title, '68 is a bunch of mini-series and one-shots chronicling a zombie apocalypse that started in 1968, at the height of the American involvement in the Vietnam War (and the same year George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead was first released onto an unsuspecting public). It tells various stories taking place with American soldiers in the new living hell they need to endure: the war has ended, but no one told the zombies.'68 also tells of tales stories happening stateside, as the apocalypse is of course global. The focus is on the social turmoil in America involving attitudes and opinions of the public: arguments at home, protest rallies, and yes, hippie violence.

    Rule of War follows the exploits of CIA agent Lieutenant Declan Rule and his dog Nero, as they make their way into Cambodia in search of a man (as yet unnamed), dealing with enemy combatants still fighting the war as well as the zombies (called demons by the locals). He arrived in-country under the guise of being part of security for a Hanoi Jane type (Google it) and went rogue to find the man who killed his son. Meanwhile, another story takes place in Saigon, as a group of soldiers are at the airport making their way out of the city, and in the midst of an intense battle with the flesh-starved, rotting corpses. They manage to get a big plane started, but the Viet Cong aren't going to make it easy for them to get out of Dodge. The characters should seem familiar, as they were the focus of the series '68: Scars, published in early 2013. The very beginning of Rule of War takes place a couple of months before the outbreak, and sets up the quest of Lt. Rule with a wicked little tidbit of info he doesn't have. All he knows is that his son was killed, and when his body was found there were reports of his son fighting on the side of the enemy and able to leap a 10-foot barrier. You'll quickly understand what happened to his son, and if Lt. Rule finds out what that man he is looking for did to his son, then God help that man.




    In other adventures, 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…

    CIA agent/Lieutenant Declan Rule is a man desperate to punish the one who turned his son into zombie bomb and his mission of vengeance has taken him deep into the jungles of Cambodia. He manages to get himself captured by his newly acquired enemy Morneau, an insane doctor who relishes in torturing Rule, mentally and physically. With his dog Nero and the photographer left behind, but not far from him, Lt. Rule is on his own to figure out a way out of his captivity; or maybe his isn't entirely on his own. At any rate, enjoy that tiger pit, Lieutenant.

    Samson, Yam, Watson and their group of survivors have more than just flesh eaters to deal with when they land to fix the plane and fuel it up at an overrun airstrip. An unexpected visitor could lead them to salvation or death, but either way they have no choice but to follow. Meanwhile, Kierney, the skin-masked whack-job who is working on training zombies, has a bit of a run in with his former platoon mate Tremaine. The two don't see eye to eye on Kieney's plan and their discussion isn't exactly a friendly one. Over in the other story, taking place in New Jersey, Yam's parents continue on their voyage up the shoreline toward their destination: Pitt Island. What awaits them there? A Shirley Temple-type movie star named Ardelia Brower, now an old lady, is living in seclusion with a son. What kind of son? The kind who carries a butcher's knife and displays a tattoo the Zodiac symbol, that of the serial killer active during that time.




    After five weeks in the demented Morneau's tiger pit, it looks like Rule will meet the same fate suffered by his son. Surely the CIA agent has other ideas and so does a certain four-legged ally who has been watching the prison camp carefully. His story concludes, but it is a messy as you can imagine. It's truly twisted stuff and we thank the creators for that. In other news, Yam's family has found sanctuary at the Pitt Island, New Jersey home of Ardelia Brower, former child actress, and her son. Her son is either someone who in real life is/was an infamous criminal, or he is imitating said criminal. Think the letter “Z”. No one knows yet what he is, but the plentiful supply of pork on the island piques the curiosity of the new arrivals to the apparent haven. Back over is Southeast Asia, Yam's group of survivors meet someone they didn't expect to meet, and Jungle Jim makes an appearance. And don't forget about the dead skin mask-wearing Kierney. He makes some serious progress with training his zombie platoon.

    Those familiar with the '68 series will know what to expect from the creators: war violence of an extremely nasty nature, and lots of F-bombs. But the stories are fun reads, and this one is no exception. Creators Mark Kidwell and Jeff Zornov continue to deliver an intense collection of tales and pull no punches. No one is safe, no one is above killing off, and there is no telling where things will go in one of their story arcs, which continue their 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.

    Zarnov's artwork in the series, combined with Jay Fotos' awesome colors, aims for the nut punch every time and manage to put up some horrific images, both with the violence depicted and the 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. His art is so perfect for this book: it's dark, gory as can be, and his zombies are totally disgusting. There's certainly more to his work that that: his art contains great details and his inks really bring said detail out. And Jay Fotos coloring contribution is a big part of the success of the art, and the choice (his or someone else's) of making the zombie skin with a blue hue might make fans of the real Dawn of the Dead movie smile.

    The series continues to intrigue, disgust, and be totally insane. This is not zombie drama, this is all out zombie chaos and incredibly satisfying in the most visceral of ways.












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