Rebel Blood
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Created and Written by: Riley Rossmo & Alex Link
Art by: Riley Rossmo
Reviewer: Michael Pruitt
Summary: Following an accident on the job as a firefighter, Chuck Neville took up a new job watching for fires in the forest. Chuck seems to prefer the isolation to his strained marriage and responsibilities that come with having a family. However, when when a mysterious infection breaks out that threatens the lives of his family, Chuck finally starts to take action.
Review: We’ve all read our share of zombie stories. The formula for your typical zombie story goes like this: 1) Guy is separated from family. 2) Zombies happen. 3) Guy attempts to save family from zombies. But Rebel Blood isn’t your typical zombie story. From the start, we are shown that Chuck isn’t too invested in saving every member of his family. While all the action is happening outwardly, we get to see glimpses of what’s going on in Chuck’s mind, which is a battlefield all its own. Chuck is the kind of protagonist we don’t get to see all too often in comics. His own motivations for returning to his family remain unclear even to himself.
Unlike the zombies in most other stories, the infected in Rebel Blood are unique in that they are capable of speech and rationale, which I think only adds to the creepiness of it all. They are grotesquely mutated, some with swollen, elongated limbs and heads, others with eyes and digits where there shouldn’t be any at all. I think the most intriguing aspect of the infection in Rebel Blood is that any animal could become infected as well. If the idea of zombie bunny rabbits is something you’ve always felt should be explored, (No? Just me?) then you’re in luck.
Image
Created and Written by: Riley Rossmo & Alex Link
Art by: Riley Rossmo
Reviewer: Michael Pruitt
Summary: Following an accident on the job as a firefighter, Chuck Neville took up a new job watching for fires in the forest. Chuck seems to prefer the isolation to his strained marriage and responsibilities that come with having a family. However, when when a mysterious infection breaks out that threatens the lives of his family, Chuck finally starts to take action.
Review: We’ve all read our share of zombie stories. The formula for your typical zombie story goes like this: 1) Guy is separated from family. 2) Zombies happen. 3) Guy attempts to save family from zombies. But Rebel Blood isn’t your typical zombie story. From the start, we are shown that Chuck isn’t too invested in saving every member of his family. While all the action is happening outwardly, we get to see glimpses of what’s going on in Chuck’s mind, which is a battlefield all its own. Chuck is the kind of protagonist we don’t get to see all too often in comics. His own motivations for returning to his family remain unclear even to himself.
Unlike the zombies in most other stories, the infected in Rebel Blood are unique in that they are capable of speech and rationale, which I think only adds to the creepiness of it all. They are grotesquely mutated, some with swollen, elongated limbs and heads, others with eyes and digits where there shouldn’t be any at all. I think the most intriguing aspect of the infection in Rebel Blood is that any animal could become infected as well. If the idea of zombie bunny rabbits is something you’ve always felt should be explored, (No? Just me?) then you’re in luck.
And we can’t forget the fantastic art by Riley Rossmo. I really don’t see any other art style working with the story quite as well as Rossmo’s does. The messy look and feel adds to the confusing and chaotic elements, especially during action scenes. The environments are full of life and details. The colors are blended in such a way that helps draw attention to the most important items of each scene. This is especially true during the bloody fights in the snow, in which the blood and gore is so greatly contrasted with the shades of white and blue in the setting.
Rebel Blood is just great all around. The story is intriguing and has a good deal of depth to it. The art is probably my favorite thing about it, as it’s beautifully done and great to look at. My only complaint would be that I found the ending a bit predictable. Even so, the plot twist was a good one and left me thinking for a while. It’s a good, somewhat short read at four issues and it’s a blast all the way through. I highly recommend it.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Rebel Blood is just great all around. The story is intriguing and has a good deal of depth to it. The art is probably my favorite thing about it, as it’s beautifully done and great to look at. My only complaint would be that I found the ending a bit predictable. Even so, the plot twist was a good one and left me thinking for a while. It’s a good, somewhat short read at four issues and it’s a blast all the way through. I highly recommend it.
4.5 out of 5 stars.