“It it doesn’t scare you, you’re already dead!”
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is the quintessential zombie story, the first exploration of what a world would be like overrun by ghouls with a bloodthirsty lust for human flesh. Though the tagline for the original film was, “Pits the dead against the living in a struggle for survival,” the real truth behind the success of George A. Romero and John Russo’s cult classic was that the real conflict comes from human beings in tense situations, turning against one another.
In NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3: DEATH VALLEY (due in stores today), Mike Wolfer — a man whose creative credits on horror comics exceeds the length of a torn-off arm — provides a terrifying glimpse of dangerous individuals who use the zombie plague to control and manipulate others. What if a cult (like the Manson family) used zombies as foot soldiers in their ‘Helter Skelter’ race war? And what if you were an innocent victim, trapped inside their compound among the chained undead?
The DEATH VALLEY storyline takes place in 1969, a year after the outbreak seen in the classic film. While the eastern seaboard was overrun by zombies and recaptured for humanity, California’s two thousand miles of distance bring comfort to a handful of young and carefree ?weekend warriors.? Eager to leave their tensions behind, they head out into the Baja sands for three days of hot sun, dune buggies, and skimpy bikinis. But the pristine white sands will soon run red, as a secret even more gut-wrenching than flesh-eating ghouls comes to light.
In addition to the gruesome DEATH VALLEY story, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3 includes an added bonus story set in the Louisiana bayou, where the psychological threat of the coming undead hordes pits survivor against survivor. As if the bayou swamplands weren’t dangerous enough with beastly carnivores like alligators and zombies, a dangerous group of delinquents callously choose who will survive or die at the hands of the undead.
Care to check out the book? Here’s a preview for your viewing enjoyment!
The NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3 graphic novel collects the entire five-issue “DEATH VALLEY” miniseries by Mike Wolfer and artist Dheeraj Verma, as well as the NOTLD 2011 ANNUAL, which featured Wolfer handling both the writing and artistic chores. The collection is available in both softcover and hardcover editions, both with fearsome cover images by Mr. Wolfer himself (you can find the softcover edition image at the top of this article, and the hardcover to the left).
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3: DEATH VALLEY Softcover
$19.99 Retail, Cover by Mike Wolfer (See Top)
Diamond Item Code: DEC110855
ISBN: 978-1-59291-147-9
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD VOLUME 3: DEATH VALLEY Hardcover
$27.99 Retail, Cover by Mike Wolfer (See Left)
Diamond Item Code: DEC110856
ISBN: 978-1-59291-148-6
Looking to snag a copy of NOTLD Vol. 3? Head to your local comic shop! The entire collection of Avatar Press NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD graphic novels is still in print, available for purchase.