Zack The Zombie Exterminator… That better be just a lead into a story with Zane. So anyway, this one-shot comes from Coffin Comics, the current publisher of Lady Death. Naturally this is a co-pro by Brian Pulido and Mike Maclean, one of the mad geniuses behind paracinema’s Sharktopus. By combining the death metal look with campy B-Movie fun, you get to experience a hair metal song.
Why Zack The Zombie Exterminator Matters
In a corner of the comic scene full of demonic entities and constant world ending scenarios, a little levity goes a long way. Just look at the Zade family. These rednecks are in a real financial bind, taking whatever odd job comes their way. You’d almost want the world to end with conditions like there’s. But to sound like one of those broken records: it’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism. So when Zack and his brother Zane go viral when Zane takes down a zombie at one of their jobs, a lot can be read into that.
But this isn’t philosophical babbling! Readers don’t come for what they imprint on something that’s just for fun. They’re here to react to fun characters trying to make a living without taking it too seriously.
Making Zombie Control Look Easy
Like I said earlier, supernatural happenings in the… Coffinverse? Whatever… branding’s branding. What was I saying again?
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Right, right… For a lot of people, zombies are just another thing to deal with in this universe. Sure it still freaks people out, but they’re more like the deadliest pests than the witches who kickstart ’em.
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Or aliens. But really Zane, aliens feel out of place in your universe.
That’s why Zack The Zombie Exterminator is totally self-contained. That way characters and their arcs get the focus with some minor world building. I mean, this is still B-Movie schlock. But it’s a feeling you get from stuff like Tremors. Rednecks looking for something better in their lives, making them instantly relatable to anybody down-on-their-luck.
Plus the presentation with panels looking like a phone screen by Djibril Morissette-Phan and Ceci de la Cruz add to feeling like readers are looking at a livestream. The Zade’s even act natural, learning as they go and readers are joining them.
It’s what allows them to experience Zane’s lively body language to reenact something without much exposition. It gives a sense of authenticity to how much personality the Zade’s have.
Zack The Zombie Exterminator™
Especially when you contrast all of that with reality TV. The staff and actors look stiff and the quirky actions look like bad improv. Unlike Zane’s Thriller explanation, the sudden dance number on the show is all flashy service. And the characters are aware of how shallow such corporate practices can be. Even the gameshow-like recording sessions look like they’re farmed for some drama insurance.
Thankfully Zane manages to stay humble with Zack in the spotlight including his breakdowns.
In case you haven’t noticed, Zane is my favorite character in all of this. Unlike Zack who goes down a pretty typical journey of high life to crashing low, Zane has plenty going for him. He is the one who set everything off and built their equipment. Sure he’s a goofball who starts conspiracies, but I like to think it’s because he wants to look for wonders in blunders. Not to mention his loyalty to everybody who helps him and Zack get so far. Unlike the network who prefer Zack for some reason. Makes me wonder if Zane likes to play as Luigi.
High-Speed Satire
One thing to note is how the transitions are arranged. Everything feels like the reader is watching a playlist in relation to the Zade’s. From the reaction videos made by one of the Zade’s first fans foreshadowing a threat, to the ad breaks that become important later. All of which evokes the feeling of hype and anticipation made by a user’s own experience rather than expensive ads.
Then there are analog reactions in wide panels that don’t really change. But I’m kind of a sucker for recycling art for dramatic effect. Maybe it’s relief that the artists aren’t breaking their backs over deadlines. Why waste extra effort since these side characters don’t need to perform anyway?
Zack The Zombie Exterminator Overall Reaction
So yeah, while the Zade’s are mostly side characters everywhere else in Coffin Comics, that don’t mean squat. I mean Zane got a kid with my other favorite Coffinverse star. Coming soon to this blog! And he’s killed off panel!
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Multiverse?!
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Whatever! That doesn’t make this less lazy!
Ugh… point is, Zack The Zombie Exterminator is a fun time. The simple story is great for this to be someone’s first experience to Coffin Comics. Less chance of being labeled a gawker of women in their skivvies. But more importantly the presentation melds with how interactive comics can be compared to watching a video. It makes getting to know the Zade’s all the better.
Thanks for coming to the end, as always remember to look between the panels.
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Alright, alright, I’ll give it a rating: 8.5/10.
