While I am an avid fan of the zombie horror genre, it’s fairly rare to find anything of substance or sophistication in the vastly overused subject matter.

One of the exception to the rule is the comic series “The Walking Dead.”    The ongoing series is created and written by Robert Kirkman and details the experiences of post-apocalyptic survivors after a worldwide zombie outbreak.  Yes, the premise is not original by any means, but “The Walking Dead” has several uniquely strong elements.

Serialized Zombies

It is the only serialized zombie story I know of (aside from Marvel Zombies, also by Kirkman).  With this, readers get a different perspective on the survival genre.  First of all, it details the experience long after the initial outbreak.  Usually, storytellers focus only on the beginning and leave the story at a convenient climax.  Rarely do we get to see survivors truly surviving a life filled with zombies.  With this story, loyal readers can follow the story for years (since 2003 to be exact) and truly understand what it means to be in a zombie world.

Ensemble Cast

Again, with a serialized zombie story, it naturally gives room for a large roster of characters.  For the most part, the characters come and go–by that, I mean die–while the main core of survivors encounter new characters across their journey.  In that, the story feels broader and more realistic in portraying the experience.  A lot of main characters die, but the story continues.

I don’t necessarily categorize the writing as smart, but it is starkly realistic.  There is plenty of gore but also a lot of humanistic drama that deals with adaptation.  There’s enough to entertain any comic book fan.

With the wild success of “World War Z,” this series is a different approach to the genre that I find to be just as successful.  A zombie story with a point, now that’s a rare find.

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