DCeased

DCeased, by Tom Taylor and various artists (DC Comics 2019).

In an alternate universe, the global pandemic occurred in 2019.

DCeased was a six-issue mini-series set in the DC Universe (Superman, Batman, et al). The plot involved a virus called the anti-life equation. Spread either by blood or transmitted through video screen, the virulent infection swiftly altered anyone who came in contact with it to flesh eating zombies. Even superheroes proved vulnerable to this infection. When the ravenous ghouls chasing you have flight and super strength, you can pretty much write the world off and start over somewhere else.

Given the more subtle and pervasive worldwide pandemic, with all it’s villains and heroes, you can be forgiven if the narrative of a world destroyed by virus does not sound all that appealing to you. However! Perhaps the four-color version will prove a positive distraction in it’s delight in mayhem and dire circumstances. Just ask psychiatrist Harleen Quinn:

The story starts the action from the first page and hits the accelerator from there. No character is sacred, all heroes are vulnerable. The only pauses in the action exist to raise the stakes even further. Dialogue is crisp, at times witty, and serves the story. Booze sodden mage John Constantine turns in a reluctant starring role on one side plot. A team of artists bring the undead to life, in gore soaked pages and vibrant action. Clearly everyone on the team had good fun taking down the world’s greatest heroes one by one.

An adult title for the gore alone. Still this was a fast paced enjoyable roller coaster ride through the apocalypse. A recommended title for fans of horror and heroes alike. Some knowledge of the DC Universe helps, but the dialogue carries the book regardless.

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