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Everything Dead & Dying #1-5
Everything Dead & Dying Vol. 1
The Last of Us meets Yellowstone in this haunting, rural character piece set during the aftermath of a zombie outbreak. Jack Chandler is the sole survivor of the zombie apocalypse in his rural farming community, but rather than eliminate them, he has chosen to continue living alongside the undead—including the husband and adopted daughter he fought so hard to have. But when his town is discovered by outsiders, Jack suddenly becomes the one thing standing in the way of his family and those who hope to kill them for good. Eisner Award-nominated creators Tate Brombal (Barbalien, Batgirl) and Jacob Phillips (That Texas Blood, Newburn) team up for this unforgettable original story. Collects EVERYTHING DEAD & DYING #1-5.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
June 6, 2026
*1.5* The cover of this book is what captured my attention. Is that cowboy milking a zombie cow?
This is the story of Jack, who has a beautiful little girl with his husband.
This is also the story of Jack, who wakes up each morning, to feed his zombie family raw slop. Then he travels into town to feed the rest of the town zombies.
The story is told in flashbacks. How much I wished this entire story wasn’t so damn depressing. I hated the violence, the gay bashing, the animal cruelty, and the absolutely devastating ending. I guess the title should have clued me in.
This is the story of Jack, who has a beautiful little girl with his husband.
This is also the story of Jack, who wakes up each morning, to feed his zombie family raw slop. Then he travels into town to feed the rest of the town zombies.
The story is told in flashbacks. How much I wished this entire story wasn’t so damn depressing. I hated the violence, the gay bashing, the animal cruelty, and the absolutely devastating ending. I guess the title should have clued me in.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Your typical zombie story but at the same time a unique one. Jack grew up in a gay farmer in rural Canada. He's also the only living person left in his town. He's feeding the dead from livestock, keeping them fed also keeps them in their routines so they don't attack him and he can pretend everything is still fine. Then some survivors from far away show up and it all quickly goes to hell. Well done.
January 24, 2026
"I got a vow to keep. Ashes to ashes. And I’ll burn this whole damned world to the ground."
Most of you know this (hell, maybe no one does) but I love books about zombies. They are just so interesting and dead that I can’t help but be intrigued by them. I mean, obviously I have questions about how they came to be but let’s just enjoy their brain-eating joyfulness.
What got me was the unique spin on the zombie-verse. A man living with his living dead family and acting as if everything is normal. That same man taking care of the community that once turned their backs on him and his partner.
This was good and highly unique. The illustrations were amazing and very detailed. The gore and visceral of the zombies were perfection. The story was a decent one, there were parts where it dragged a little but it was still entertaining.
This is definitely the year of deep soul touching zombie stories.
Most of you know this (hell, maybe no one does) but I love books about zombies. They are just so interesting and dead that I can’t help but be intrigued by them. I mean, obviously I have questions about how they came to be but let’s just enjoy their brain-eating joyfulness.
What got me was the unique spin on the zombie-verse. A man living with his living dead family and acting as if everything is normal. That same man taking care of the community that once turned their backs on him and his partner.
This was good and highly unique. The illustrations were amazing and very detailed. The gore and visceral of the zombies were perfection. The story was a decent one, there were parts where it dragged a little but it was still entertaining.
This is definitely the year of deep soul touching zombie stories.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Maybe life ain't meant for living.”
Everything Dead & Dying by Tate Brombal follows Jack Chandler, the last living survivor in his small town after a zombie outbreak—but instead of killing the undead, he has been living alongside them for the past decade, including his husband and their daughter Daisy. He maintains their routines and feeds them, trying to preserve some version of the life they once had. When outsiders arrive and threaten to destroy what remains of his family, Jack has to decode how far he’s willing to go to protect the people he loves.
I'm not really sure what I expected from his one, but it was pretty sad. I liked how it focused on grief and love. It's definitely not a typical zombie survival story. I actually do feel like something was missing story-wise. I would have loved to learn more about the zombies themselves, why Jack is immune, and how the outbreak worked. But I also understand that this probably wasn’t the point of the story. The focus was on Jack and his relationships. I still think there could've been more.
Until the end, I wasn't really sure on which side I was. I didn't know what I wanted Jack to do. He loves his husband and daughter and would do everything to protect them, and I really hoped for an happy end tbh. 😭 But also, they're like ... dead. There are zombies. They got infected. They died. Is it okay to kill living humans just to protect you family that is already dead? Man, I don't know. He needs to let go. But I have no idea if I could this. They're dead, but still there ...
“Life is for living, I know that now. I only wish I learned it sooner. I wish I got to tell you all of this, too. And I wish I got to show you the world, 'cause for you it never got bigger.”
Overall, an interesting graphic novel with beautiful artwork and a very different take on the zombie genre. This was more emotional than I expected. I will definitely think about it, that's for sure.
This book comes out on May 5th, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Everything Dead & Dying by Tate Brombal follows Jack Chandler, the last living survivor in his small town after a zombie outbreak—but instead of killing the undead, he has been living alongside them for the past decade, including his husband and their daughter Daisy. He maintains their routines and feeds them, trying to preserve some version of the life they once had. When outsiders arrive and threaten to destroy what remains of his family, Jack has to decode how far he’s willing to go to protect the people he loves.
I'm not really sure what I expected from his one, but it was pretty sad. I liked how it focused on grief and love. It's definitely not a typical zombie survival story. I actually do feel like something was missing story-wise. I would have loved to learn more about the zombies themselves, why Jack is immune, and how the outbreak worked. But I also understand that this probably wasn’t the point of the story. The focus was on Jack and his relationships. I still think there could've been more.
Until the end, I wasn't really sure on which side I was. I didn't know what I wanted Jack to do. He loves his husband and daughter and would do everything to protect them, and I really hoped for an happy end tbh. 😭 But also, they're like ... dead. There are zombies. They got infected. They died. Is it okay to kill living humans just to protect you family that is already dead? Man, I don't know. He needs to let go. But I have no idea if I could this. They're dead, but still there ...
“Life is for living, I know that now. I only wish I learned it sooner. I wish I got to tell you all of this, too. And I wish I got to show you the world, 'cause for you it never got bigger.”
Overall, an interesting graphic novel with beautiful artwork and a very different take on the zombie genre. This was more emotional than I expected. I will definitely think about it, that's for sure.
This book comes out on May 5th, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2026
One of the most wild zombie comics that I've read in a long time!
September 24, 2026
This zombie story was really sad.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Everything Dead and Dying is a dark, wicked, fucked up tale of a man named Jack Chandler just trying to live out the rest of his days with his zombie daughter, Daisy, and his zombie husband, Luke.
This is a very bleak book, and it never really has a happy moment because everything you expect to happen does. Jack has spent years in the small town of Caverton, stubbornly maintaining a dreamland routine where he feeds the undead, even chopping up livestock to keep his former neighbors satisfied, so he can continue to walk among them without being attacked. It’s a grim, heart-wrenching look at a man who refuse to let go of the family he worked so hard to build.
So of course, it all goes to shit. The delicate balance Jack created is ripped apart when a group of outsiders arrives in town and immediately starts popping zombies, oblivious to the fact that they are killing Jack's family and neighbors all over again. As the town descends into chaos, the story forces you into a corner with heavy moral choices. It asks you straight up: what does it mean to be alive or dead?
For a story that finds humanity in the most rotting, hopeless places, it’s a solid 4 out of 5.
This is a very bleak book, and it never really has a happy moment because everything you expect to happen does. Jack has spent years in the small town of Caverton, stubbornly maintaining a dreamland routine where he feeds the undead, even chopping up livestock to keep his former neighbors satisfied, so he can continue to walk among them without being attacked. It’s a grim, heart-wrenching look at a man who refuse to let go of the family he worked so hard to build.
So of course, it all goes to shit. The delicate balance Jack created is ripped apart when a group of outsiders arrives in town and immediately starts popping zombies, oblivious to the fact that they are killing Jack's family and neighbors all over again. As the town descends into chaos, the story forces you into a corner with heavy moral choices. It asks you straight up: what does it mean to be alive or dead?
For a story that finds humanity in the most rotting, hopeless places, it’s a solid 4 out of 5.
January 21, 2026
I did not read the trade, I picked up the issues monthly, but since the trade will collect all 5 issues I’ll just type my review here:
Wowie! This is a story that grew on me. Originally didn’t really mean to keep at it every month, the first issue being rather slow, if cinematic, but I’m glad I kept going with this series because it got really good.
Is it doing anything groundbreaking? No, we’ve seen zombie stories before, and we’ve seen zombie stories that are centered around “humans are the real monsters” as a theme. But Everything Dead and Dying does this story really well especially for how short it is and how “zoomed in” it is. By this I mean that this isn’t about finding a cure, or a group of survivors going to a safe heaven, or a cross country trek like The Last of Us. This is a small scale, grounded story. It really boils down to just one meetup gone awry, and I fucking loved that.
The central conflict in these five issues arises from a series of tense, increasingly escalating, misunderstandings. But it never feels annoying. It makes sense that everyone is on edge in this situation and willing to act with extreme violence and prejudice at the slightest opportunity. The entire time you’re seeing the rubber band get pulled and pulled and pulled until it finally snaps. The whole story probably takes place over 1 day.
Having just watched 28 Years Later, the zombie genre has been swirling in my head, particularly the ones with more philosophical takes. This isn’t as grandiose as 28 Years Later, especially because you don’t really get to learn much about anyone other than Jack the protagonist. But that did not bother me too much. The other group of survivors were there to hold up a mirror to Jack and to topple his house of cards.
Also this has one of my favorite zombie tropes which is that sometimes zombies will just keep doing their routines out of muscle memory if left undisturbed for long enough. It’s just a cool concept that can make for some compelling commentary. Excited that Resident Evil 9 will apparently use that as a game mechanic…
Wowie! This is a story that grew on me. Originally didn’t really mean to keep at it every month, the first issue being rather slow, if cinematic, but I’m glad I kept going with this series because it got really good.
Is it doing anything groundbreaking? No, we’ve seen zombie stories before, and we’ve seen zombie stories that are centered around “humans are the real monsters” as a theme. But Everything Dead and Dying does this story really well especially for how short it is and how “zoomed in” it is. By this I mean that this isn’t about finding a cure, or a group of survivors going to a safe heaven, or a cross country trek like The Last of Us. This is a small scale, grounded story. It really boils down to just one meetup gone awry, and I fucking loved that.
The central conflict in these five issues arises from a series of tense, increasingly escalating, misunderstandings. But it never feels annoying. It makes sense that everyone is on edge in this situation and willing to act with extreme violence and prejudice at the slightest opportunity. The entire time you’re seeing the rubber band get pulled and pulled and pulled until it finally snaps. The whole story probably takes place over 1 day.
Having just watched 28 Years Later, the zombie genre has been swirling in my head, particularly the ones with more philosophical takes. This isn’t as grandiose as 28 Years Later, especially because you don’t really get to learn much about anyone other than Jack the protagonist. But that did not bother me too much. The other group of survivors were there to hold up a mirror to Jack and to topple his house of cards.
Also this has one of my favorite zombie tropes which is that sometimes zombies will just keep doing their routines out of muscle memory if left undisturbed for long enough. It’s just a cool concept that can make for some compelling commentary. Excited that Resident Evil 9 will apparently use that as a game mechanic…
February 6, 2026
I don’t read a ton of graphic novels these days so I didn’t know what to expect going into this one, but wow. My heart. Gorgeous art and story. I loved the non-linear style of the storytelling itself, especially when contrasting the past versus present in some of those more emotional scenes. I often think about what I’d do if the world really were to end in a zombie apocalypse style, and I do wonder if I’d be a lot like Jack. Grasping at my humanity, at connection, at love, at normalcy. This one’s going to have me thinking about life and death a lot this week.
Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!
Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!
June 28, 2026
One of the best zombie stories I’ve ever read. I loved the story and the art from Jacob Phillips is great. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Zombie graphic novel that creates empathy for the flesh eating creatures people have turned into. It was interesting to see Jack’s perspective and it flips the idea of who the monsters really are in this dystopian world.
I loved the cover and expected more visually stunning scenes, but there was a lot of dialogue actually that was crammed into the space, kind of crowding the actual artwork.
Thank you to NetGalley, the authors/illustrators, and Image Comics for a copy.
I loved the cover and expected more visually stunning scenes, but there was a lot of dialogue actually that was crammed into the space, kind of crowding the actual artwork.
Thank you to NetGalley, the authors/illustrators, and Image Comics for a copy.
March 6, 2026
A man who had made a life with his husband and adopted daughter wakes up one morning to find the world forever change. A look at how far one man will go in pandemic times to hold his life together and to keep his town going. And what happens when strangers arrive to take it all away from him? Tragic and beautiful, hopeful and ugly. I highly recommend this one.
April 7, 2026
3.5*, maybe. A slightly new twist on the zombie genre. Doesn’t reinvent the wheel — some people good, muddling along, outsiders come along and ruin everything. Solitude. Survival. Much trauma. But, an interesting twist on it.
May 13, 2026
This is for people who still think about season 1 episode 3 of the last of us. Perfection no notes.
June 27, 2026
This was so sad.
August 24, 2026
its just a bit of dust in my eye I swear ..
January 23, 2026
Eisner and GLAAD-Award nominated writer
Tate Brombal
and artist Jacob Edgar don't attempt to reinvent the zombie apocalypse with
Everything Dead & Dying
, and that simple fact works in its favor. Leaving out why and when the world ended, this series zeroes in on a smaller sliver of the painful world left behind. It's familiar territory, but a more intimate and harder hitting zombie story that stands out from the crowd.
Instead of getting bogged down in how the world ended or where the plague came from, the comic zeroes in on something much smaller and more painful: the people left behind. Tate Brombal tells a tight, focused story about one family in one moment, letting the emotional weight do the heavy lifting.
Jack Chandler is the sole survivor of the zombie apocalypse in his rural farming community, but rather than eliminate them, he has chosen to continue living alongside the undead — including the husband and adopted daughter he fought so hard to have. But when his town is discovered by outsiders, Jack suddenly becomes the one thing standing in the way of his family and those who hope to kill them for good.
I am a sucker for any sort of zombie story in comic, movie, tv, or book format. It doesn't really matter. Whether it's the likes of Night of the Living Dead , The Last of Us , or The Walking Dead , I am game. So when you add in the likes of Brombal and Phillips to the mix, Everything Dead & Dying was a must read.
As a huge The Walking Dead fan, I have been searching for that comic story to fill my the void left by the series ending with issue 193 in 2019. Everything Dead & Dying scratches that itch and while TWD will always sit high up for me, what this series does is step up certain spots and zooms way in on a particular story thread which makes it excel.
Everything Dead & Dying is not a groundbreaking comic, but what it does do is give us a short story in a small portion of the post apocalyptic world. Not focusing on the why and where this plague took over, but the human aspect of it all. Brombal purposely focuses on this specific family in this short period of time. This allows for less distractions and puts this story in the forefront.
Similar to some other stories, but still setting itself apart, is the fact that during a zombie apocalypse it's the humans who are the real monsters. This happens both in the past in present of this story, where never wait for tomorrow to show your love for someone when you can today.
What makes this book standout from the zombie horde is the beautifully horrific and disturbing illustrations from Phillips. But it's not just those visualizations, it's the way they go back-and-forth between a more serine past and the bleak and unsettling present.
Everything Dead & Dying is a dark, disturbing, and unsettling slice of the zombie apocalypse. Tate Brombal creates a story that is touching while also extremely sad, while Jacob Phillips beautifully illustrates a world after the fall. Everything Dead & Dying is a well crafted zombie tale in a well-worn path of zombie stories.
The collected edition of Everything Dead & Dying hits local comic shops on April 8, 2026 and May 5 at bookstores everywhere from Image Comics.
Instead of getting bogged down in how the world ended or where the plague came from, the comic zeroes in on something much smaller and more painful: the people left behind. Tate Brombal tells a tight, focused story about one family in one moment, letting the emotional weight do the heavy lifting.
Jack Chandler is the sole survivor of the zombie apocalypse in his rural farming community, but rather than eliminate them, he has chosen to continue living alongside the undead — including the husband and adopted daughter he fought so hard to have. But when his town is discovered by outsiders, Jack suddenly becomes the one thing standing in the way of his family and those who hope to kill them for good.
I am a sucker for any sort of zombie story in comic, movie, tv, or book format. It doesn't really matter. Whether it's the likes of Night of the Living Dead , The Last of Us , or The Walking Dead , I am game. So when you add in the likes of Brombal and Phillips to the mix, Everything Dead & Dying was a must read.
As a huge The Walking Dead fan, I have been searching for that comic story to fill my the void left by the series ending with issue 193 in 2019. Everything Dead & Dying scratches that itch and while TWD will always sit high up for me, what this series does is step up certain spots and zooms way in on a particular story thread which makes it excel.
Everything Dead & Dying is not a groundbreaking comic, but what it does do is give us a short story in a small portion of the post apocalyptic world. Not focusing on the why and where this plague took over, but the human aspect of it all. Brombal purposely focuses on this specific family in this short period of time. This allows for less distractions and puts this story in the forefront.
Similar to some other stories, but still setting itself apart, is the fact that during a zombie apocalypse it's the humans who are the real monsters. This happens both in the past in present of this story, where never wait for tomorrow to show your love for someone when you can today.
What makes this book standout from the zombie horde is the beautifully horrific and disturbing illustrations from Phillips. But it's not just those visualizations, it's the way they go back-and-forth between a more serine past and the bleak and unsettling present.
Everything Dead & Dying is a dark, disturbing, and unsettling slice of the zombie apocalypse. Tate Brombal creates a story that is touching while also extremely sad, while Jacob Phillips beautifully illustrates a world after the fall. Everything Dead & Dying is a well crafted zombie tale in a well-worn path of zombie stories.
The collected edition of Everything Dead & Dying hits local comic shops on April 8, 2026 and May 5 at bookstores everywhere from Image Comics.
August 27, 2026
4.5 Stars
February 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I love it when we get something fresh in the zombie genre. While the tragedy has been done for the longest time, I think there’s a certain special feeling that comes with a queer horror that centres the emotion above everything else.
It feels like this book was designed to showcase the impossible choice that would have to be made in this scenario, and it pulls it off beautifully. Jack is clearly a dedicated man, and the facets of his character are explored to the fullest.
I would have loved to see a little more from the apocalypse side of things, particularly the group who find Jack, but I understand it’s hard in short form to give everyone more context. More than anything, I think this is a great illustration of how, even in the worst possible case scenario, people are going to be the monsters.
The art for this book is also just stunning, and it has that really gritty 2000s quality about it that you don’t see in the world of comics anywhere near as much as you used to. It was really gorgeous, especially the landscape scenes, which were just beautiful.
I love it when we get something fresh in the zombie genre. While the tragedy has been done for the longest time, I think there’s a certain special feeling that comes with a queer horror that centres the emotion above everything else.
It feels like this book was designed to showcase the impossible choice that would have to be made in this scenario, and it pulls it off beautifully. Jack is clearly a dedicated man, and the facets of his character are explored to the fullest.
I would have loved to see a little more from the apocalypse side of things, particularly the group who find Jack, but I understand it’s hard in short form to give everyone more context. More than anything, I think this is a great illustration of how, even in the worst possible case scenario, people are going to be the monsters.
The art for this book is also just stunning, and it has that really gritty 2000s quality about it that you don’t see in the world of comics anywhere near as much as you used to. It was really gorgeous, especially the landscape scenes, which were just beautiful.
June 11, 2026
2026 Eisner Award finalist - Best Limited Series
Collects Everything Dead & Dying #1-5.
Wowee, I am so done with zombie stories and this didn't do anything to change my mind, even if it does put a slightly different spin on things. For you see, here zombies have the capability to coexist with living humans if they are kept fed. But other than that, this is a deeply depressing story where none of the human characters are likable, or listen to each other. They are acting on instinct in the most violent and cruel ways, much more so than the zombies. I get that this is a metaphor for the intolerance exhibited to minority groups, such as LGBTQ and people of color, all the time in the real world, but the inhumanity just never lets up. Add to this some graphic animal cruelty, along with a devastating ending, and I came away sad and certainly not entertained. The art by Jacob Phillips is good if a bit too explicit for my tastes.
Collects Everything Dead & Dying #1-5.
Wowee, I am so done with zombie stories and this didn't do anything to change my mind, even if it does put a slightly different spin on things. For you see, here zombies have the capability to coexist with living humans if they are kept fed. But other than that, this is a deeply depressing story where none of the human characters are likable, or listen to each other. They are acting on instinct in the most violent and cruel ways, much more so than the zombies. I get that this is a metaphor for the intolerance exhibited to minority groups, such as LGBTQ and people of color, all the time in the real world, but the inhumanity just never lets up. Add to this some graphic animal cruelty, along with a devastating ending, and I came away sad and certainly not entertained. The art by Jacob Phillips is good if a bit too explicit for my tastes.
June 9, 2026
One of the most original takes on zombies I’ve seen- long enough past the initial outbreak to actually see some major changes and no one is a gun crazed cowboy (other than that damned French woman). The characters behave like real people who are experiencing the most traumatic experiences imaginable and still trying to get up and go to work.
The zombies are unique without falling into the whole this one can run fast or this one explodes like Left 4 Dead (which is a classic game, no disrespect). Zombies are fed and cared for like farm animals, he’s a good farmer.
This was a wonderful read and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys bloody horror and love.
The zombies are unique without falling into the whole this one can run fast or this one explodes like Left 4 Dead (which is a classic game, no disrespect). Zombies are fed and cared for like farm animals, he’s a good farmer.
This was a wonderful read and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys bloody horror and love.
September 20, 2025
"It always starts the same..."
Jack, en bonde, som överlevt ett virus som drabbat alla i hans närhet och långsamt förvandlat byn till en öde plats full av zombier som fastnat i det sista friska muskelminnet, varför allt börjar som det alltid gör... tills det inte längre gör det..
Ooooo, my oh my! Brombal och Philips bygger upp till en riktig cliffhanger!
Ääääälskar hur berättelsen hoppar mellan nu- och dåtid och hur det flätas samman - så jäkla bra!
Längtar till nästa issue!
Jack, en bonde, som överlevt ett virus som drabbat alla i hans närhet och långsamt förvandlat byn till en öde plats full av zombier som fastnat i det sista friska muskelminnet, varför allt börjar som det alltid gör... tills det inte längre gör det..
Ooooo, my oh my! Brombal och Philips bygger upp till en riktig cliffhanger!
Ääääälskar hur berättelsen hoppar mellan nu- och dåtid och hur det flätas samman - så jäkla bra!
Längtar till nästa issue!
January 16, 2026
Shew that was a tough one.
I am so thankful to Image Comics, NetGalley, and the author/illustrator for advanced access before this piece hits shelves on May 5, 2026.
Jack and his family live a simple life is Caverton, isolated from big cities and making do with the lush farmland on the property. That is until a unique flu sickness rips through the world, turning its inhabitants into a flesh hungry zombies, but for Jack that just won’t do.
I am so thankful to Image Comics, NetGalley, and the author/illustrator for advanced access before this piece hits shelves on May 5, 2026.
Jack and his family live a simple life is Caverton, isolated from big cities and making do with the lush farmland on the property. That is until a unique flu sickness rips through the world, turning its inhabitants into a flesh hungry zombies, but for Jack that just won’t do.
Review of advance copy
tons of wasted potential here. absolute megatons. and it's a bloody shame because i was so excited to read it on account of the intriguing premise and simply gorgeous cover art. i'm so disappointed.
May 20, 2026
Everything Dead & Dying follows Jack, who in theory has everything he wants - a farm, a husband and a sweet daughter. However, Jack is the sole survivor of the zombie apocalypse that hit his farming community. But Jack fought so hard for his place there and to have his family, he is not about to give it up now. Even if that means keeping them as zombies, keeping them as well as the rest of the town running and fed. However, the entire life he has fought to create is threatened once his community is discovered by outsiders, who, unlike Jack, are not as forgiving of the undead.
This graphic novel was such an interesting take on surviving a zombie apocalypse, not perhaps because it was never done before, but how it managed to blend many stories into one and give a new perspective to the already existing trope. We encounter the usual existential dread, questions of morality, but also the question of can you forgive and protect for the town that made you an outcast for simply who being yourself?
The story is structured mostly through flashbacks, and it switched between the past and the present. It does a great job highlighting what led to Jack being who he is in the present day, dealing with the fallout of the pandemic. It really focused on how little it takes for your whole life to be turned upside down, how easy it is to lose everything. It puts emphasis on each situation, each emotion and the way Jack spiralled because of it. The art style was beautiful, even if very gory, and I enjoyed the contrast between the soft, more pastel color palette of the flashbacks and more harsh, darker one of the present day.
Jack's whole life was spent in this town, with the townspeople being incredibly rude and hostile towards him, and later his husband, how unwelcoming they are to someone who is one of them, just because Jack is gay. Despite that, once everyone but Jack has turned to zombies, Jack doesn't turn his back on them, as they once did on him. No, Jack, who was desperate for his family to have a place under the sun, does the absolute most to keep not only his family, but the whole community as safe as they can be. This was super interesting to read about, and I wish I knew a bit more about why he chose to protect the prejudiced community that would've put him in harm's way without hesitation. I understand his inability to let go of his family, however the other's were once a threat to said family and he still chose to put everything on the line for them as well.
As readers, we are aware the way Jack feeds his undead family and the whole town, the way he coexists with them is far from the norm. We see how the shock of the loss has twisted the way Jack sees everything, he would stop at nothing to keep the town 'alive'. But his top secret is discovered when people from a different community find him, and try to help him by saving him from the zombies. They are survivors who shoot the undead on sight, and feel they are monsters. It was also interesting to see how Jack justifies his actions to himself and others even though it is obvious these zombies are mere ghosts of the people they used to be.
The story is (as one could expect) incredibly sad, reading it you go through so many stages of grief. There is Jack, dealing with isolation and homophobia pre-pandemic, then Jack watching everything slipping through his fingers as both his husband and daughter are infected, the loneliness of being the only living survivor, and then his grief over the outsiders tearing apart everything he was protecting. The question of what is right is a big one, are the other survivors right, to want to destroy the shells of people who were once Jack's family and townsfolk, as they are no longer living? Or are they the real monsters, destroying a community that exists peacefully, for now at least? Was Jacks's grief over losing his family justifying potentially endangering the other living, as he couldn't guarantee what would happen if one day he was unable to care for everyone?
This was a very conflicting and captivating story that I devoured (no pun intended) in one sitting. It held my attention from start to finish, and I was right there with Jack and the other living, feeling so conflicted over what I thought was 'right'. If you are craving a visually beautiful, interesting read and maybe an existential crisis as a bonus, I would highly recommend this :)
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This graphic novel was such an interesting take on surviving a zombie apocalypse, not perhaps because it was never done before, but how it managed to blend many stories into one and give a new perspective to the already existing trope. We encounter the usual existential dread, questions of morality, but also the question of can you forgive and protect for the town that made you an outcast for simply who being yourself?
The story is structured mostly through flashbacks, and it switched between the past and the present. It does a great job highlighting what led to Jack being who he is in the present day, dealing with the fallout of the pandemic. It really focused on how little it takes for your whole life to be turned upside down, how easy it is to lose everything. It puts emphasis on each situation, each emotion and the way Jack spiralled because of it. The art style was beautiful, even if very gory, and I enjoyed the contrast between the soft, more pastel color palette of the flashbacks and more harsh, darker one of the present day.
Jack's whole life was spent in this town, with the townspeople being incredibly rude and hostile towards him, and later his husband, how unwelcoming they are to someone who is one of them, just because Jack is gay. Despite that, once everyone but Jack has turned to zombies, Jack doesn't turn his back on them, as they once did on him. No, Jack, who was desperate for his family to have a place under the sun, does the absolute most to keep not only his family, but the whole community as safe as they can be. This was super interesting to read about, and I wish I knew a bit more about why he chose to protect the prejudiced community that would've put him in harm's way without hesitation. I understand his inability to let go of his family, however the other's were once a threat to said family and he still chose to put everything on the line for them as well.
As readers, we are aware the way Jack feeds his undead family and the whole town, the way he coexists with them is far from the norm. We see how the shock of the loss has twisted the way Jack sees everything, he would stop at nothing to keep the town 'alive'. But his top secret is discovered when people from a different community find him, and try to help him by saving him from the zombies. They are survivors who shoot the undead on sight, and feel they are monsters. It was also interesting to see how Jack justifies his actions to himself and others even though it is obvious these zombies are mere ghosts of the people they used to be.
The story is (as one could expect) incredibly sad, reading it you go through so many stages of grief. There is Jack, dealing with isolation and homophobia pre-pandemic, then Jack watching everything slipping through his fingers as both his husband and daughter are infected, the loneliness of being the only living survivor, and then his grief over the outsiders tearing apart everything he was protecting. The question of what is right is a big one, are the other survivors right, to want to destroy the shells of people who were once Jack's family and townsfolk, as they are no longer living? Or are they the real monsters, destroying a community that exists peacefully, for now at least? Was Jacks's grief over losing his family justifying potentially endangering the other living, as he couldn't guarantee what would happen if one day he was unable to care for everyone?
This was a very conflicting and captivating story that I devoured (no pun intended) in one sitting. It held my attention from start to finish, and I was right there with Jack and the other living, feeling so conflicted over what I thought was 'right'. If you are craving a visually beautiful, interesting read and maybe an existential crisis as a bonus, I would highly recommend this :)
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
August 7, 2026
This is up there was Joe the barbarian as one of the best limited series comic I’ve ever read. I loved this book the art is stunning and some of the variant covers blew me away especially DANI’s Issue 2! The issue one cover was what drew me in though and the story lived up to it and then some
If I’m being honest I’d probably give it 4.5 stars just because I felt it was a little rushed at the end but I don’t think it could have done a sixth issue I’m not sure.
That being said the way this jumped back and forth between pre breakout to current day was cinematic and the first time I’ve really experienced it executed to perfection by the creative team. Chefs kiss.
All in all stunning writing stunning art and a really profound story about love and humanity. The tag line is the last of us meets the walking dead but I feel like it’s more the last of us meets 28 days later meets the walking dead.
If I’m being honest I’d probably give it 4.5 stars just because I felt it was a little rushed at the end but I don’t think it could have done a sixth issue I’m not sure.
That being said the way this jumped back and forth between pre breakout to current day was cinematic and the first time I’ve really experienced it executed to perfection by the creative team. Chefs kiss.
All in all stunning writing stunning art and a really profound story about love and humanity. The tag line is the last of us meets the walking dead but I feel like it’s more the last of us meets 28 days later meets the walking dead.
September 21, 2026
Una sangrienta y conmovedora historia de zombies. Increíble de principio a fin.
La destrucción de los humanos por un extraño virus fue inevitable. Jack pareciera ser el único sobreviviente y se empeña en mantener una vida normal cuidando a su esposo y a su hija que se convirtieron en muertos vivientes. La fantasiosa y frágil cotidianidad que lleva el granjero es interrumpida por unos forajidos que llegan a su granja intentando “salvar” a Jack, sin saber que él solo quiere continuar compartiendo con su familia zombie.
Entre los recuerdos de una vida lejana y la esperanza de mantener a su familia unida, la historia se desarrolla rápidamente, sin dar descanso visual ni emocional al lector, pues en cada viñeta se manifiestan las dimensiones más profundas de sus personajes.
Me encantó.
La destrucción de los humanos por un extraño virus fue inevitable. Jack pareciera ser el único sobreviviente y se empeña en mantener una vida normal cuidando a su esposo y a su hija que se convirtieron en muertos vivientes. La fantasiosa y frágil cotidianidad que lleva el granjero es interrumpida por unos forajidos que llegan a su granja intentando “salvar” a Jack, sin saber que él solo quiere continuar compartiendo con su familia zombie.
Entre los recuerdos de una vida lejana y la esperanza de mantener a su familia unida, la historia se desarrolla rápidamente, sin dar descanso visual ni emocional al lector, pues en cada viñeta se manifiestan las dimensiones más profundas de sus personajes.
Me encantó.
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May 20, 2026Shoot me. Take me out of this future.
Once again, I liked the concept and premise a LOT -- how gorgeously, terribly tragic, the Before and After arranged in a dizzying and impactful way -- but once a gun shows up in a zombie story, I zone out. I don't need nor want the shootouts, the Maybe Humans Were the Real Evil All Along, the Catholic villains. However, I will recommend to people who do like zombie stuff and who are looking for something more sentimental and surprisingly tender.
September 22, 2026
Everything Dead & Dying collects issues 1-5 of the Image Comic series written by Tate Brombal, art by Jacob Phillips, and colors by Pip Martin.
Jack Chandler grew up lonely and unsure of his future in a rural Canadian town and slowly built the life he always dreamed of: a farm and a house to call his own, a loving husband, and a child full of love and wonder. But when a virus outbreak turned everyone in town into zombies except for himself, Jack goes about securing the town and feeding the zombies, pretending his day-to-day life has never changed. When a group of explorers searching for supplies discovers the remote town, Jack’s world will turn upside down yet again.
Everything Dead & Dying is equal parts beautiful and tragic. I love the way the story was tackled and that the horror isn’t the zombies, the horror is what humanity does when they see something they believe is unnatural without taking the time to learn what is actually happening. The art is fantastic and this could easily be adapted in to a wonderful film. Zombie fans should definitely give this a read!
Jack Chandler grew up lonely and unsure of his future in a rural Canadian town and slowly built the life he always dreamed of: a farm and a house to call his own, a loving husband, and a child full of love and wonder. But when a virus outbreak turned everyone in town into zombies except for himself, Jack goes about securing the town and feeding the zombies, pretending his day-to-day life has never changed. When a group of explorers searching for supplies discovers the remote town, Jack’s world will turn upside down yet again.
Everything Dead & Dying is equal parts beautiful and tragic. I love the way the story was tackled and that the horror isn’t the zombies, the horror is what humanity does when they see something they believe is unnatural without taking the time to learn what is actually happening. The art is fantastic and this could easily be adapted in to a wonderful film. Zombie fans should definitely give this a read!
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