Days Gone Bye
Let’s just be straightforward and honest with each other: not a fan, no.
As I stood in the bookstore looking for something new for my eyes to chew on, I came across this wonderful cover. What can I say? I tend to judge books by their covers–at least initially. Zombies!? Blood on the cover!? What more could a girl ask for? I’m usually not one for making frivolous, out of the blue purchases. I am a researcher. I check reviews and comments from others, but this was the very first time I had seen this particular collection. And I had to have it now.
So I bought it. And later regretted it. And later returned it.
I was instantly turned off by the grey scale artwork. The actual skill of the artist is out of my league, but when I read a comic book I want both my eyes and mind stimulated and monochromatic grey just doesn’t do it for me. If the content turned out to be worth reading then this would all be easily forgivable. But it wasn’t.
The beginning storyline walked straight out of 28 Days Later. Love that movie! Make me a comic book that follows that movie to the “t” and I’ll read it, I’ll sit here and praise it. This was not it. I couldn’t follow the word bubbles at some points. There’s nothing more annoying than having an out-of-order conversation with someone. The sounds were sometimes illegible, but thank God for that because of the horrible choice of onomatopoeias. The storyline? Meh. Best friend goes crazy when he realizes he can’t fuck your wife behind your back anymore, oh wait, that’s because he thought you were dead, but now you’re back and he doesn’t care he still wants to fuck your wife so he wants to kill you, but what’s this? Your tiny-year-old son blows his brains out with a gun just in time to save your wimpy, somewhat-feminine ass. What?
I’ve read a lot of praise for this collection. And I’ve also heard that it gets better after this first volume. Maybe I’ll try this series again some other day, but at this time: I’m sorry, not for me.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:17 PM
I feel similar to this. I am a big fan of Tony Moore (the guy that draws those). I haven’t even bothered picking this up, and after this, I most likely won’t.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:11 PM
maybe doing things simpler is the message. you ever thought of that? the story isn’t supposed to be glitz and glam. if you want that go watch some jerry bruckheimer slockfest and try not to drool on the upholstry. the story is very human and natural, notice they don’t even have page numbers? they don’t need them. if they story is that hard to follow why not get a childrens book? this comic requires a little thought, yes, but it leaves so much up to the imagination. yea the story does get better but only because you grow to love and hate each and every character, for being just as stupid and human as we all are. but what do i know? i don’t have some degree, nor would i consider myself intelligent, i just think that any story that gives the oppurtunity to consider all sides of a very human reality and how we would cope with that situation without every philosophical point being spoonfed to us. now i don’t argue to change your mind, yours is quite well closed, and if you had actually understood the story, it is neigh on impossible to change it through force or reason, so i submit these flaws to the few who may read this page even enough to this part here: try something different and don’t just buy garbage at face value.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:01 AM
I respect the fact that everyone has their own opinion but for the record, after rereading my review I didn’t once notice myself saying anything to the effect of not being able to understand the storyline–I merely mentioned that I appreciate a well-laid-out comic that firmly leads your eye. At least we both agree, this was “garbage.” Laugh.