Return Of The Living Dead #1 (2025) cover a

1984/85 were banner years for a certain kind of movie at a certain kind of age. There were two highlights to usher me into 'bigger kid' films and music between Repo Man and ROTLD. Two great movies, two spectacular soundtracks. It was a perfect time to be 15. Cut to October of 2024, and my Scream Factory account shows that I just bought my 6th? upgrade of Return Of The Living Dead. Some things stick with you.

That's my preface, in case you need bonifides to trust this review.


But what about comics? Darn it, you're right. Well, my bonfides there are as follows- I've been vocal, aggitated, and profane for over a dozen years in person and in writing that licensed comics nearly every time get nearly everything wrong by repeating the same events we've seen, with the same characters, using the same dialogue, which cheapens the entire experience. It really helps the outliers stand out, like the first two 'Vader' series at Marvel, and (finally!) the current Army of Darkness Forever. I say finally, because there's been close to 20 years of 'writers' making Ash do and say the same things as he's already done.


Try and write the NEXT classic dialogue, not repeat what people have already heard, and yeah, I'm also looking at YOU, Alien Romulus' second half.

The AOD books really got under my skin for this reason, and maybe most notorious behind them was writer James Kuhoric.


Who is the co-writer on this book.


Now we can begin.


Is this just a rehash of the classic original movie?

Yes.

Does it follow the plot points note for note?

Yes.

Are there good adults, and bad kids, but maybe the bad kids aren't so bad? And maybe the adults won't have all or even any answers to the questions they're all facing with a zombie outbreak?

Yes.

Super surprised to say, after all that, I didn't hate this. Set at what is essentially Cedar Point built on a Civil War graveyard, we have skate punks instead of punk punks, we have park staff instead of warehouse staff, and we have an industrial ventilation system instead of a creamatorium. You can pretty much line up the movie character/comic character replacement straight thru the book. It all comes out in the wash, and we have zombies before the end of the first issue. The art by Andrea Arcari is pretty much straight cartooning, but the style is consistent, and it grew on me. It keeps things moving and peppy, as does the coloring by Giovanni Caputo. I might not agree with the pallette, but you can SEE everything clearly, a big win for an indy book.


This is an incredibly long review to say that this book is slightly better than 'ok at best'. Is it worth YOUR time? "It's not a bad question, Bert..."