War is some Nasty Stuff
Image's new book, Graveyard of Empires is about the military in Afghanistan. Well, it is about that until the last three pages.
The Good
I love a good war book, especially one involving the current conflicts we are involved with, and this book, up until the last three pages, if exactly what I was looking for. For the most part, it feels real (even if I've never seen a day of conflict in my life and have no idea what it's really like), and the book flows from scene to scene very well.
There's quite a bit of swearing in the book, but if you've ever talked to anyone in the military, you'll understand why it's there. This book isn't for kids. However, it's about war and has a skull on the cover, so hopefully, you realize that right away. I really loved Paul Azaceta's art on this book. He reminds me of a very gritty Mike Allred. Combine that art with war, and frankly, it's a whole new look at military life. The panels and dialogue can get a bit dense at times, but Sable's writing flows incredibly well throughout the issue, so you never feel overwhelmed by what's happening on the page. Also, the issue is 32 pages long for $2.99. Nice price for a lot of comic book.
The Bad
I knew nothing about this book going into it, and in this case, it's a bad thing. While I really loved this book, I hated the last few pages when it was revealed the book will be about zombies. Yes, there's a third zombie book at Image comics, home of the Walking Dead. This is such a good war book on its own, and adding zombies is just a bit too much. I don't know how I would have felt if I knew this book had zombies in it though. It stands out as such a good war book that the last three pages are a huge disappointment.
The Verdict
Yes, this sounds like an overly positive review, but takes a hit on the 3.5 rating. Honestly, I did like the book, and believe it or not, I actually like zombies. The art is beautiful and unique. The writing is solid and realistic, but the end of the story is a huge bummer. It's a great war story that takes a huge twist which we've seen before. If you love zombie books and war books, then this book will be the perfect fit for you. Even if you just love war books, pick this one up, but at your own risk. I recommend Graveyard of Empires #1, but be warned, it turns into a zombie book.