A number of years ago, Marvel hit it big with a mini-series called Marvel Zombies. The story arose from an arc in Ultimate Fantastic Four, but it morphed into it's own mini-phenomenon. It was dark, twisted, cynical, and nihilistic. It was a chance to take the stable of Marvel characters out and do disturbing things with them.
Needless to say, I hated it.
So when writer Tom Taylor brought us his take on a similar premise with DCeased, I assumed I was in for the same treatment.
I could not have been more wrong.
This was one of the best mini-series that DC has produced in a while. At first it started as standard zombie fare. In this story, the Anti-Life Equation has destroyed Darkseid and the planet of Apocalypse, but it has also infected the digital parts of the hero Cyborg. When Cyborg returns to Earth, the virus is spread via the internet. Anyone who looks at a digital screen is turned into a zombie. This includes anyone with super powers. The world immediately begins to collapse. It is up to the heroes to band together in a losing fight to save humanity.
While the story was decent most of the way through, it was the final two issues that put it over the top. It is difficult to review without giving away any major spoilers. But what Tom Taylor was able to do was create situation so dire that you honestly get the impression that the heroes may not pull through this time. While some stories do this simply intentionally subvert expectations, Taylor never lets you give up hope, even though you start to get a sinking feeling that the end is just around the corner.
On top of that, it has some of the funniest lines I've read all year. And the humor does not feel forced. It comes as a much needed relief from the darkness and is driven by character. In the fifth issue, Lex Luthor says something that I am going to remember for a long, long time. It was hysterical and completely in keeping with his character. Green Arrow also has a great bit towards the end.
The best moments from the series come from Superman and his family. Superman has always been the symbol of hope for the DCU. To watch him slowly lose his grip on that is harrowing. You watch him make a mistake that is so forgivable that you want to ignore the horror that it unleashes. But watching his son Jonathan step up in the final issue was emotional in a way that I was not expecting.
This story was better than I was expecting. What might have been simple gory schlock for the sake of shocking the audience, Taylor told an incredibly moving and human story about sacrifice against impossible odds. Artists Trevor Harisine and Neil Edwards capture the darkness of the situation while not tarnishing the shine on our heroes.
If you weren't sure about picking up this book, I'd definitely recommend it.
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