Nerds! Geeks! Fanboys! Comics! Pop Culture references! Video Game shootouts! Zombies! Zombie Rhinos!? It’s the latest issue of Fanboys vs. Zombies and Major Spoilers has your review!
FANBOYS VS. ZOMBIES #6
Writer: Sam Humphries
Artist: Jerry Gaylord
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Colorist: Mirka Andolfo
Editor: Bryce Carlson
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in Fanboys vs. Zombies: It’s been one month since the zombies overtook San Diego and the Wrecking Crew has taken refuge in a building dubbed Fort Awesome. But two of their members, Rob and Burger, have gone missing. The group must decide whether to continue looking for their missing friends or leave San Diego.
ENOUGH TO SATISFY MOST OF GEEKDOM
This issue consists of a shootout and the rescue of Kyle, who has gone out on his own to seek revenge for his friends, Rob and Burger. It’s action packed and moves so quickly that you almost don’t have time to catch your breath. I’ve found that’s the case with this series as a whole. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s a simple premise with action and a breakneck pace that’s worked in the title’s favor. The humor is still here (some of it works more than others) along with the references that will satisfy many a geek. If you’ve ever played a video game like Left 4 Dead, you’ll enjoy the scene that puts the reader in the center of the action as Player One, while Kyle screams at you for the mistakes that you’re making. Animals are set loose, buildings fall, and zombies are set on fire and beheaded. Then there’s the zombie rhino. Man I liked zombie rhino. It’s so utterly ridiculous and comes out of left field, but it worked for me and earned a good chuckle.
My minor nitpick with this issue is that even with everything going on, it’s still a quick read. For $3.99 you’re getting maybe 10 minutes of reading time. The plot is moved forward very little, and it’s all action, action, action. Still, the last few pages have me interested as it looks to be returning to the Comic-Con roots of the book. All in all, the lighthearted nature of the book works in its favor and its appeal has yet to wear off. It doesn’t do much to change the zombie genre and that’s okay, but it also does nothing new to bring in readers who are not fans of the genre.
FITS ITS NATURE
The art is as light-hearted and enjoyable as the nature of the book itself. Characters have an animated look and the style seems anime like. Blood and gore are on display, but it’s done in such a gleeful and fun way that it’s not a turn off. For every panel or page that has great detail, there is also one that doesn’t. We get great drawings of the Wrecking Crew running away from a collapsing building, but also get panels that seem like there is almost no background at all. It’s not distracting or a deterrent, but those looking for heavily detailed work won’t necessarily find it here. The art works and fits with the story and tone, making the two a good match.
BOTTOM LINE: DID I MENTION A ZOMBIE RHINO?
Fanboys vs. Zombies has been nothing but gleeful fun since the start. It doesn’t do much to change the zombie genre, but I don’t know that it was ever meant to. It has humor, geekish references, and action that make it a great book for anyone just looking for a good time. This issue is light on plot and heavy on action, but does have a zombie rhino. That all may not justify the $3.99 price tag, but it still makes this a book for nerds, geeks and fanboys that are fans of the genre. Fanboys vs. Zombies #6 earns 3 out of 5 stars.
4 Comments
I have a question: when do we think that comics and the current fanboy/geek chic trend will suffocate each other by this constant recycling content and ideas back and forth? Now fanboys are becoming the stars? I remember when comics strived to live up to higher forms of art.
You have a point though recycling of ideas is nothing new to any art form in my opinion. Sometimes I think there are no new ideas.
Sometimes I think there are no new ideas.
That, itself, is not a new idea. :)
Truer words were never spoken :)