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Night of the Living Dead #1
Night of the Living Dead, Volume 1
The official prequel to the cult-classic 1968 zombie film, Night of the Living Dead!
You've heard the eyewitness accounts and were shocked by the television reports, but now for the first time you'll experience the horrifying events which led to that first Night of the Living Dead! John Russo, the co-writer of the 1968 cult classic film, joins horror comics scribe Mike Wolfer in presenting the official prequel to NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, featuring the first chronological appearances and origin of the Cemetery Zombie, Sheriff McClellan, the murderous little girl named Karen, and the strong-willed hero of George A. Romero's first LIVING DEAD film, Ben!
You've heard the eyewitness accounts and were shocked by the television reports, but now for the first time you'll experience the horrifying events which led to that first Night of the Living Dead! John Russo, the co-writer of the 1968 cult classic film, joins horror comics scribe Mike Wolfer in presenting the official prequel to NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, featuring the first chronological appearances and origin of the Cemetery Zombie, Sheriff McClellan, the murderous little girl named Karen, and the strong-willed hero of George A. Romero's first LIVING DEAD film, Ben!
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
John A. Russo
208 books103 followersJohn A. Russo, sometimes credited as Jack Russo or John Russo, is an American screenwriter and film director most commonly associated with the 1968 horror classic film Night of the Living Dead. As a screenwriter, his credits include Night of the Living Dead, The Majorettes, Midnight, and Santa Claws. The latter two, he also directed. He has performed small roles as an actor, most notably the first ghoul who is stabbed in the head in Night of the Living Dead.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 12, 2018
Excellent graphic treatment of the classic Night Of The Living Dead movie, including some decent backstory of the characters trapped in the farmhouse. Very highly recommended!
September 3, 2017
Prequel stories leading up to the original Night of the Living Dead film. Graphic violence and nudity, much moreso than the original movie of course. Still not bad for fans of the series.
August 26, 2013
I think my expectations for this were way too high (especially since I'm a horror fan, and the original movie is firmly in my top 10)...
Anyway, it's high on intestines, low on plot.
Almost every zombie attack scene featured some poor woman having her clothes torn off, and there are *way* too many boobs all over the place for no reason (okay, I lie, there's a reason - it's called the younger male demographic...).
The art quality really takes a nosedive in chapter 6 too, no idea why...I almost put it down then, because I couldn't tell the humans from the zombies anymore.
...on second thoughts, maybe three stars is a bit generous. Hmm.
On the plus side, I liked the chapter written from the little girl's point of view. It was surprisingly evocative, and the only reason I carried on reading.
Anyway, it's high on intestines, low on plot.
Almost every zombie attack scene featured some poor woman having her clothes torn off, and there are *way* too many boobs all over the place for no reason (okay, I lie, there's a reason - it's called the younger male demographic...).
The art quality really takes a nosedive in chapter 6 too, no idea why...I almost put it down then, because I couldn't tell the humans from the zombies anymore.
...on second thoughts, maybe three stars is a bit generous. Hmm.
On the plus side, I liked the chapter written from the little girl's point of view. It was surprisingly evocative, and the only reason I carried on reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2011
A sleazy prequel, sequel, etc., that expands the world of the NotLD film. I read this because I had heard it shows Ben's story before he arrived at the farmhouse, and that was the best part of the book. The rest of it was devoid of what made Romero's films special: commentary on society (issues of race, class, consumerism, etc.), but it had gratuitous gore and nudity in spades (I've seen enough eye-gougings for two lifetimes now, thanks). One issue's entire purpose was to create a morbid, ironic punchline for the centipede-eating zombie from the film...seriously.
This book only takes away from my favorite horror movie. :(
This book only takes away from my favorite horror movie. :(
January 3, 2025
This was an extra book I picked up on a facebook marketplace ad… I knew it wouldn’t take long to finish… thought, hey, why not?
This was a weird book. I’m all for zombies and stuff… but honestly, this book was way to horny for me😂
I thought that the graphics were well done, but yeah… this one wasn’t for me.
2/5
This was a weird book. I’m all for zombies and stuff… but honestly, this book was way to horny for me😂
I thought that the graphics were well done, but yeah… this one wasn’t for me.
2/5
May 1, 2021
(Zero spoiler review)
I haven't seen the original Night of the Living Dead movie. Sacrilegious I know, but its true. So, as far as this goes as a prequel to the cult classic, I cannot offer any insight as to its entertainment, accuracy or effectiveness. As a graphic novel, based on its own merit, its a bloody fun (pun intended) way to spend an hour of your day. Of course, you won't be getting anything deep and insightful. No meta commentary on our existential existence. Nothing revolutionary, or transcendental when it comes to the world of fiction. What you can expect though, is blood, boobs and brains. Brains more so hanging out of heads or splattered all over the pavement than anything cerebral on behalf of the author.
The art, whilst not being anything revolutionary or amazing, is right up my alley. Capturing rather perfectly something nostalgic, something quaint from decades past, and perfectly brings to life the dark, chaotic violence the script asks of it. The colours, likewise do exactly what is needed and further enhance the readers experience.
So, unless you are a bit of a prude who shies away from the aforementioned blood, brains and boobs, then you really should be read Night of the Living dead. 4/5
OmniBen.
I haven't seen the original Night of the Living Dead movie. Sacrilegious I know, but its true. So, as far as this goes as a prequel to the cult classic, I cannot offer any insight as to its entertainment, accuracy or effectiveness. As a graphic novel, based on its own merit, its a bloody fun (pun intended) way to spend an hour of your day. Of course, you won't be getting anything deep and insightful. No meta commentary on our existential existence. Nothing revolutionary, or transcendental when it comes to the world of fiction. What you can expect though, is blood, boobs and brains. Brains more so hanging out of heads or splattered all over the pavement than anything cerebral on behalf of the author.
The art, whilst not being anything revolutionary or amazing, is right up my alley. Capturing rather perfectly something nostalgic, something quaint from decades past, and perfectly brings to life the dark, chaotic violence the script asks of it. The colours, likewise do exactly what is needed and further enhance the readers experience.
So, unless you are a bit of a prude who shies away from the aforementioned blood, brains and boobs, then you really should be read Night of the Living dead. 4/5
OmniBen.
February 16, 2021
This is a prequel of the amazing movie Night of the Living Dead. It tells the story of how some of the characters from the movie found their way to the farm house. It also explains who owned the farm house and their experiences with the zombie outbreak. Overall all the stories are interesting and add to the original movie, except for the sixth chapter set in a drive-in movie theatre which seems to be random and is easily the weakest story and art in the movie. I also did not like the little girl Karen's story. It was very unnecessary depressing. Her step father Henry is a major dickhead in the movie and this just further cements it.
Is this trade as good as the movie? Not even close. The movie is a masterpiece of story telling with lots of tension and a brilliant study of human interactions. The stark black and white images in the movie are fantastic and sets the atmosphere perfectly.
This book will please Night of the Living Dead fans looking for more stories from the characters in the movie. It has plenty of violence and nudity which will please zombie fans looking for a modern b-movie vibe in their comic books.
Is this trade as good as the movie? Not even close. The movie is a masterpiece of story telling with lots of tension and a brilliant study of human interactions. The stark black and white images in the movie are fantastic and sets the atmosphere perfectly.
This book will please Night of the Living Dead fans looking for more stories from the characters in the movie. It has plenty of violence and nudity which will please zombie fans looking for a modern b-movie vibe in their comic books.
July 2, 2024
Avatar Press continually produces quality material, and this is another fine offering from them. These issues take place before and after the original movie, and are co-written by original creator and movie script co-writer John Russo. The artwork is serviceable if unremarkable (see cover image above), with the exceptions being the issues done by Fabio Janses and Edison George. All of the variant covers are included as DVD-style extras, and the Jacen Burrows ones are my favorites. On the OCD side of things, the book has sewn binding and is printed on high-quality paper. A nice package and a good read.
January 3, 2025
This was an extra book I picked up on a facebook marketplace ad… I knew it wouldn’t take long to finish… thought, hey, why not?
This was a weird book. I’m all for zombies and stuff… but honestly, this book was way to horny for me😂
I thought that the graphics were well done, but yeah… this one wasn’t for me.
2/5
This was a weird book. I’m all for zombies and stuff… but honestly, this book was way to horny for me😂
I thought that the graphics were well done, but yeah… this one wasn’t for me.
2/5
September 6, 2025
Return To The Night It All Happened. This volume goes into stories that happened before the events of the first movie. You get to see how certain events happened from the Orginal movoe from Karen being bitten to what happened at the diner Ben was at before. If you can find a copy of the volume I would highly recommend.
June 17, 2020
La primera parte, precuela de la peli homónima, mola mucho. Luego son historias sueltas que ya tal, pero al menos entretienen. Hay un par de esos relatos que tienen su gracia, una sobre la niña del sótano de la peli, y otra que es una especie de secuela directa. En general bien.
June 26, 2020
Super graphic but straight to the point. The art has really good moments but sometimes the photos tend to blend together. Quick little stories of everyone during the outbreak. I’m excited to read the next.
January 26, 2020
A good read for zombie fans. The art work was a little up and down though. Also, they build up too many characters just to kill them off. But overall pretty decent!
September 29, 2020
I throughly enjoyed it! Easy to read and the art was phenomenal!
March 1, 2025
Absolutely loved this, and I adored the gory illustrations. Absolute blast!
March 14, 2021
Lazy review time: Russo + Nudity + Zombies = Pretty much this entire series of prequel/sequels. I have said enough about them already, but I always like to write reviews so people get an idea of what I am looking at from inside my wee little head.
January 29, 2012
This volume explores the backstory of the characters from the Night of the Living Dead feature film. Opening with a campfire zombie attack, we are introduced to a few of the film characters arriving at Beekman's Diner. Readers discover the fate of the elderly woman in her townhouse, the young girl zombie, an attack at a drive-in, the fall of the radio station, and the New York City infection. Having seen the film in bits and pieces, I understand that this volume is supposed to explore the film characters. Sadly, this books does little more than expound on scenes of torn intestines and violent deaths, with shots of female nudity designed to titillate the younger male readers. This Night of the Living Dead is just lifeless.
August 27, 2010
I wanted the story to be stronger - live up to the now-classic tale's larger-than-life reputation. Don't get me wrong - it's still good stuff and it fills in fun details (e.g. what happened to Ben before the farmhouse was a tale worthy of the NotLD zombiverse). Other chapters were pretty much generic zombie fare, nothing exceptional, no particular reason why these improve or complement the Living Dead story that makes the combined whole better.
December 13, 2012
Not gory enough for me :P
Seriously, the story was violent but I didn't get the rush I usually get when something bad is about to happen. It was more like: Look! There is a zombie. It's coming toward us...slowly. Should we run?
When I read the word prequel, I thought it would finally explain how zombies became zombies.
Seriously, the story was violent but I didn't get the rush I usually get when something bad is about to happen. It was more like: Look! There is a zombie. It's coming toward us...slowly. Should we run?
When I read the word prequel, I thought it would finally explain how zombies became zombies.
April 26, 2013
Has a great art and drawing in the the way that one can't put down.The story it self is good enough to get your mind into the story.If you expect something like the walking dead you might find it here but has more of action and gore then what the walking dead would show you not saying the walking dead has lot of gore and violence.This comic is recommended greatly.
March 22, 2012
Hyperviolent graphic novel giving the "backstory" to the threads of the George Romero movie "Night of the Living Dead" in 1968; set again in 1968, it's explained how the characters got to the remote Pennsylvania farmhouse. Great for zombie fans but definitely not for the squeamish.
June 13, 2011
just another zombie book a little creepy but it's still good.
March 4, 2012
I always enjoy zombie books....
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews