Zombies Hi - part 5 out now!

The much anticipated fifth issue of the "Zombies Hi" series has been released as of Friday the 13th April and is now available from our online Uproar Store, or from one of our stockists across the UK and Ireland. Please check their blog page for stockist info.

http://www.uproarcomics.co.uk/shopping/Uproarcomicscouk-server/index.php

 They also offer an "Intro" pack of the first five issues at a reduced price with some complimentary Zombies Hi merchandise.

Uproar Comics are a small press Derry/Londonderry based collective. They have combined their efforts into producing a monthly comic titled "Zombies Hi". Based within the local area, the collection of stories reflects on alot of current issues including identity, cultural heritage and the occasional zombie decapatation. The over arching story focuses on the culmination of events which takes place after the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Here's a link to a blogpost with pics of issue 5:  http://www.uproarcomics.co.uk/blog/?p=119 


In addition to this, they are also releasing a book about Derry's Prize hero, Ameilia Earhart! The Earhart Book will be getting launched in the Tower Museum Derry and will be available for online purchase later that Day. Everyone is welcome to join us between 1-2pm and meet the writer, artist and the Uproar team and pick up a signed copy. Heres a link to some pages-  http://www.uproarcomics.co.uk/blog/?p=260

And if you're a writer or artist, and you want to submit your derry stories or a picture of that lovely undead couple from down the road...then get in touch as they are always looking for new talent! You can find out more about their open submissions policy here. http://www.uproarcomics.co.uk/submissions.html

Fever review

I reviewed Wayne Simmons’ previous zombie novel Flu here, and now it is the turn of the sequel.
Well, it’s kind of a sequel. The first section of the book is actually set before the events in the previous novel, and they go a long way towards explaining the origins of the flu virus that’s currently sweeping across the world. This whole section is a tight and tautly written one, with a real sense of claustrophobia in places although I did feel a bit cheated at the end of it.
The rest of the book though, sees the reader in more familiar territory. Simmons does a clever thing in not making this a straight sequel. He spends time introducing us to some new characters, and even has them encounter scenes from the previous book. This is a nice idea, as it gives returning readers something to feel good about while not alienating new readers who have not read the previous volume.
I’m actually finding it difficult to talk about the novel too much, for fear of spoilering anything. I will say that we eventually have some questions that were posed towards the end of the first book answered, but are left with different ones at the climax of this one. We meet some familiar faces from Flu as they intersect on their journey of survival with the new characters we have met.
As with his previous novels, Simmons shows here his admirable lack of sentimentality and his willingness to kill off characters at the drop of a hat.
I suspect that there will be at least one more volume in this series. Certainly Simmons has left enough unanswered questions and seems to be enjoying exploring them enough to have him pop back to zombie ravaged Northern Ireland (not the actual one, the one in this book) hopefully sooner rather than later.

Fever is published by Snowbooks.

Dredd vs Zombies game review

Yes! We're spoiling you folks! After too long with no reviews, here's a second one for today!

Even though 2000AD, the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, is owned by Rebellion, a games company, there have been precious few games based on characters from the comic released.
Until now we have had the FPS Dredd Vs Death and the (I think it can be argued) criminally overlooked and possibly groundbreaking Rogue Trooper. Now though, we have another game to add to the list: Dredd Vs Zombies.
This is a budget iPhone release, and by budget we mean FREE, and what you get for your (no) money is really quite remarkable.

The story, for what there is of it, is about an outbreak of zombies in Mega City One, and Dredd has to get in there are sort them out. And by ‘sort them out’ I of course mean ‘shoot them with a variety of guns’, which is something he does very well, it has to be said. This is thanks to the rather nicely automatic aiming system in the game, so the player is not reduced to spinning on their heel in a circle frantically trying to hit something.
The levels are somewhat samey, but they include a nice range of different zombie types, some of which, like the fatty zombie, are uniquely Mega City One creations, and contain a nasty surprise for the unwary.
What is very impressive though is the learning curve in the game – it is pitched just about perfectly, well, for me at least. I found myself getting just that little bit further every time I tried a level, not so far as to make it feel easy, or not far enough to  make me want to give up.
The graphics are splendid too. They are crisp and clear and for a free game, impressively detailed.
There is some great fun to be had here, and each level has good replay value as you must return to gain that oh so important but elusive extra star so as to unlock some later level.
Just one thing though, Dredd. When you say, ‘No back-up required’, I feel that you’re being a tad over-confident, arrogant almost. There is a zombie invasion! Back-up would have been brilliant!

The Walking Dead season two trailer.

Wow.
That is all.





(Love the The Searchers bit at the end!)

Viking Dead review

Zombies, eh?

I don’t know about you, but I am of the opinion that they have been, of late, somewhat over exposed. So it takes something special to make me sit up and take notice.

Thankfully, Abaddon have been managing to do this, with books like Way of the Barefoot Zombie and I, Zombie both taking the genre in original and interesting directions.

And you’d have to be dead inside not to think the prospect of Viking zombies was very cool indeed.

So… does this book live up to the hopes I had for it..?

Things start off well. I love having my expectations subverted, and this book does that very early on, as the reader thinks it is going to be about one thing and it quickly becomes apparent it is not.

Now, I’m not an expert in Vikings and their lore and lifestyle, but I get the impression that author Toby Venables is. Or if not an expert, it feels like he has done his research and he doesn’t allow the research to swamp the story.

And the story is, I’m happy to report, a good one. I have to say, that while he has assembled a great cast of characters, the story is not, for the most part, particularly original, with nods to things like The Magnificent Seven and a few other classics in there. This is not to say that it is not well told, however.

Venables tells the tale in short chapters that make this an easy read and has the reader hanging on for just one-more-chapter…

I mentioned characters- and yes, they are well realised, but I had a minor problem with the names. They are, I’m sure, authentic Viking monikers, but the trouble is I have no idea how to pronounce them, so was recognising characters by a collection of letters on a page rather then a name.

The other good things: the pacing is great and the plentiful action scenes are well written. And there are the zombies. We don’t see many of them for the first part of the book. Their presence is hinted at and they are genuinely spooky when we do encounter them.

And then there is the ending…

I had an inkling about what was going on earlier in the book, and was kind of correct when we got to the final chapters. Now, initially, I did not think the ending was going to work But by the gods it does.

I mean literally right up until the final paragraph I thought Venables had dropped the ball on the final stretch, but as he reveals his true intentions in the closing words, I could not help punching the air in glee.

Obviously I will not spoiler anything here… but if you think that Zombie Vikings are cool, well…

Coming Soon: Viking Dead

TOMES OF THE DEAD:

The Viking Dead

They come to raid, pillage ... and devour!

They were feared throughout Europe as an unstoppable, bloodthirsty and merciless pestilence. But now the Vikings may have met their match – their own undead!

In the latest stand-alone tale from the acclaimed Tomes of the Dead series, it's Vikings versus zombies as Bjólf and his crew encounter terrifying draugr – undead berserkers who feed on the flesh of their kin. Bjólf has no choice but to overcome his own fear, fight his way through forests infested with axe-wielding zombies – and more terrible things – and reach a dark castle where he hopes to find the secret behind this accursed plague.

A blisteringly thrilling debut from the winner of the 2001 Keats-Shelley Memorial Prize, Venables has crafted a heart-stopping tale full of unexpected twists, brutal Dark Age violence, and chilling zombie action!

“Toby Venables wields his pen all sword-like and delivers quirky flashes of fearless text.”

– BBC.co.uk

Toby Venables is a writer and lecturer in Cambridge, England. He developed a liking for horror early, watching old Universal movies when his parents thought he was asleep. He has written for various media and in 2001 won the Keats-Shelley Memorial Prize (and spent the proceeds on a Fender Telecaster). He now lives in a secure location with his wife, where he is preparing for the coming zombie apocalypse. The Viking Dead is his debut novel.

14 April 2011 • £7.99 (UK)

ISBN 978-1-907519-68-0

12 April 2011 • $9.99/$12.99 (US & CAN)

ISBN 978-1-907519-69-7

Also Available as an eBook

Walking Dead gets a second season!

We didn't get around to reviewing the first episode, so here's a brief one (with spoilers!):
It was brilliant. The opening scene- a long silent section that ending with the hero shooting a child (albeit a dead one) in the face- certainly set the scene for the grimness that was to follow.
There were many highlights- Morgan's terrible heartbreak as he watches his dead wife through the sights of a gun and the astonishingly tense sequence where Rick was caught below a tank and feeling pity for half a corpse as it dragged itself across the grass to name but a few. It's great to see scenes from a comic come to life in such a perfect fashion, and equally as pleasurable to see scenes changed- but for the better.
Roll on the rest of the season.

And more good news follows, as The Hollywood Reporter, er, reports that it has been given a second season!