Slow Death Zero: The Comix Anthology of Ecological Horror

by Jon B Cooke (Editor), Ronald E. Turner (Editor)

A revival of the legendary underground horror comix anthology, this one-shot 50th anniversary edition includes all-new comix by 33 writers and artists, with one classic reprint by R. Crumb, 28 stories and pin-ups to chill the bones in our temperature-rising age of global warming. Inspired by the ecological advocacy of the original title, which debuted on the very first Earth Day in 1970, this edition features horrifying tales depicting the environmental calamity facing our world in this time of climate change. The book is headlined by a savage depiction of the implications of the melting polar ice cap in Antarctica, by award-winning cartoonist/illustrator William Stout, who provides the cover. Also included is work by Richard Corben, Rick Veitch, Drew Friedman, Bryan Talbot, Hunt Emerson, Peter Kuper, and many more, as well as unseen work by the late, great Greg Irons.

Genres: Comics, Anthologies, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Nature, Horror

128 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Moon Captain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed. I cried.
No, seriously--I cried. Watch out for that! whew!
Excellent from cover to cover. Dedicated to Greta Thunberg. I recommend this for anyone and everyone. I only wish it were longer.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good anthology of work from both underground comix masters (Crumb, Richard Corben, etc) and some of the best of the contemporary underground (Max Clotfelter, Cameron Forsely, etc) vaguely on the theme of the upcoming apocalypse. Some of the most affecting pieces are wordless; some of the weakest are by well known contributors, imo. They're short, at least.

[Bill Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good thing all our work back in the good old 70s resulted in the salvation of Earth's ecology! Oh, wait . . ..

I was an avid Slow Death reader 50 (really???) years ago and I can't say it's a good thing that we need a new volume today, but I suppose that this explosion of grimly focused talent is one of the few positive things I can think of among the ruins.

This splendidly produced book features color and black and white comix in the tradition of the original funnies and includes contributions by old-timers and new. William Stout's cover and his "Antarctica" are highlights, although some of the crazier contributions by the creative heirs of the late, great Rory Hayes are my favorite pieces here.

Dark, depressing as hell, and occasionally brilliant.

[Rob McMonigal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of classic creators, from R Crumb to Peter Bagge to Rick Veitch come together for horror stories that relate to the climate crisis. Some good stuff in here, especially Bagge's takedown of hypocrites, but overall the art's a little too messy at times and some of the stories are just too preachy to work for me.