Written by: Jonathan Maberry
Art by: Tony Vargas
Publisher: IDW
After a zombie apocalypse where the humans whom survived are now corrupt, can they still be trusted?
Issue two begins where issue one leaves off; in the zombie infested hospital the group broke into to hide. Along the way, they were attacked by zombie babies, ran away from a hoard of zombies that barged into the hospital and were rescued by a pregnant woman named Abby. Abby leads them to a small camping space where she and other survivors live, but not before they are mistakenly betrayed by the survivors Abby introduced them to.
I like that this is different take on living after the zombie apocalypse focusing on teens growing up during this time while learning to trust humans and survive. It may not be completely unique, but it is when zombies share the storyline. But, although I enjoy Maberry’s vision, his storytelling falls a little flat in this issue. I’m left wondering how Abby knew that these four teens were in that abandoned hospital; it was as if she was watching (or stalking) them.
Vargas’ art is still hauntingly beautiful, whether its humans being drawn in a nerve racking predicament or zombies drawn stalking their pray. There are several pages that have one large panel, each drawn so beautifully it can tell its own story.
The first two issues of Rot & Ruin have me roped in. I’m a big fan of many of the comics revolving around the zombie apocalypse anyway, but I love that this takes place after it happens. Hopefully next issue we can actually find out more about each teens personality, instead of witnessing the constant zombie fighting.
