Everything Dead & Dying #1
Creative Team
writers: TATE BROMBRAL
artist: JACOB PHILLIPS
colorist: PIP MARTIN
letterer: ADITYA BIDIKAR
publisher: IMAGE COMICS
Reviewed by Rossano D’Angelo
Everything Dead & Dying #1 marks the debut of a new zombie story by Image Comics, written by Tate Brombal with artwork by Jacob Phillips.
The story opens with Jack, a farmer living with his family on a hill near the town of Caverton. His life seems simple yet happy: husband to a kind man and father to a beautiful daughter, he takes care of both the land and the community that once viewed him with hate and prejudice.
Through a macabre dualism of storytelling that shifts between reality and dream, readers soon discover Jack’s life is anything but happy. Everyone he has ever cared about has become a zombie—something Brombal leaves largely unexplained. All we know, for now, is that Jack is immune to whatever infected the whole town, and the zombies tolerate his presence so long as he feeds them and allows them to continue their endless routine of everyday life.
This fragile equilibrium is not meant to last. One morning, a group of strangers arrives at his doorstep, threatening to destroy everything he has built.
Jacob Phillips’ artwork complements the story, enriching it with gruesome detail through his realistic style. His powerful imagery heightens the impact, especially in the unsettling scenes where Jack visits town to feed what were once his neighbors. The effect is further enhanced by the intense colours, masterfully handled by Phillips himself alongside Pip Martin.
Final Verdict
The comparison between Everything Dead & Dying and The Walking Dead feels inevitable, yet what sets this story apart is its delicate exploration of themes such as diversity, family, and parenthood. With such a strong foundation, this debut is nothing short of masterful.
| Criteria | Score |
|---|---|
| Writing | 10 |
| Story/Plot | 10 |
| Art/Line Work | 10 |
| Colors | 10 |
| Final Score | 10/10 |