This is it! After four weeks of reviewing, week #5 brings the final installment in this zombie epic. The first issue completely took me off guard, it took the usual zombie formula and added great characters and a really gritty tone to make a compelling story. It has been receiving 5/5s every time. I have to admit that I’m a little sad to see it go, it was one of the few comics where I expect quality every time. With the final installment, we have some closure but at the same time it doesn’t truly end. Sadly, I have to break its streak of perfect scores. It’s still very good, but not a great conclusion.

Here’s the official description from IDW:

King Zombie makes his ultimate gambit as he decides that what every great King needs… is a great queen, in the form of Donna. Dan, stunned by the humans’ passive acceptance of their fate, knows that to defeat an army, you must cut off its head. In a world of death, even characters that have been around since the very first issue of Deadworld will not survive this catastrophic conclusion.

The main problem with this issue is the way King Zombie was handled. He was by far the greatest character, and he doesn’t even get to be there for the final confrontation! Donna makes a very interesting ‘villain.’ She seems rather evil, but at the same time, has some humility. However, one questionable piece of dialogue was when she yelled “Wha? ….No……NOOOOOO!” after King Zombie saying “You don’t need her anymore.” It was cheesy, and wasn’t really a dramatic moment, you’re left thinking of Darth Vader from Revenge of the Sith. Mike also doesn’t get adequate page-time, by the end, you’re left feeling unsatisfied. That’s not to say the writing is bad, it’s really great for the most part. My favorite line was near the beginning, “I know that we’ve all felt safe here, but deep down, you had to know we couldn’t stay here forever.” Good stuff. This really needs to be made into a movie.

The art still doesn’t fail to impress. I have never read a comic with more gritty art. Like I said in past reviews, if done the wrong way, the art could really hinder the book. Not here, it compliments the story extremely well. Deake appears, but doesn’t really do anything outside of having questionable dialogue. Another disappointing appearance for one of the more potential-filled characters.

Overall, a disappointing conclusion to War of the Dead. It doesn’t really end. If there’s no sequel, you’re going to feel a little cheated since the story is not resolved. The majority of the main characters do not get an adequate ending, really only Donna is given development. Still, it’s a very good issue, don’t get me wrong. Just not the satisfying conclusion I was expecting.

4/5