From the Tomb's Review for Contagion #1

Contagion #1 – Review


Issue: Contagion #1
Writer: Z.M. Thomas
Pencils: Cliff Richards
Colors: Mike Bartollo
Letters: Zach Matheny
Cover: Chris Bolson
Publisher: Trepidation Comics
Release Date: February 2010
Pages: 24
Price: $4.99

“TREPIDATION COMICS’ brand new Zombie graphic novel featuring a brand new story from Z.M.Thomas, artwork from Cliff Richards and colors from Mike Bartolo.”

Artwork: 3.5 out of 5.0
This is good looking comic book. From panel to panel the characters stay true to each other and the zombies have a great look to them. The story takes place at night so it is a little dark, and I kinda get thrown off when there isn’t a lot of background detail, but the characters have a good amount. Just a small thing that gets me. Overall though it comes together great and the final page is Gore-geous.

Story: 4.0 out of 5.0
For what I will say starts off as a typical zombie story, this one has a great feel to it. It is fast paced, but it does consist of what I look for in a first issue. A nice plot to keep me going, a good introduction to the main cast and an ending that makes you want to come back for more. I really liked that all of those were covered in this one, it just felt to move a little too fast.

Dying Breath: 3.5 out of 5.0
The story is really great and an ending like that just screams I need to read more. The artwork was really nice but a tad dark, which is expected for a story taking place a night, but maybe a little too dark. However this issue was really great and while it does present a traditional zombie start to this series I still find myself wanting to know more and more. Worth checking out and hopefully the quality stays just like this and we will have another great zombie book on our hands.

If you would like to buy or know more about Contagion #1 please check out http://www.trepidation-comics.com/

Revenant Media's Review of Contagion #1

CONTAGION#1 REVIEW
BY ADAM TIBBOTT

Z.M. Thomas and Cliff Richards have breathed new life into the zombie/horror genre. What I had initially thought to was going to be a Dawn Of The Dead knock-off turned out to be a refreshing new take on a genre that has been beaten to death, literally. Maybe Thomas needs to hook-up with Romero on his next Dead flick. After seeing Richards' art on the last page, you'll understand why.

Richards really captured the dark mood of this horror story. Having this story set in Minneapolis is more reason to invest. With the first issue, we're introduced to 3 of the main characters, Ryan, Tyler and Kate; and all hell is breaking loose.

Can the market handle another zombie apocalypse series? Depends on how this one is handled. Is it worth the $4.99 cover price. Yes. Richards' art is top notch and Thomas is finding his niche in this genre. With the obvious initial comparison being to Kirkman's Walking Dead, CONTAGION takes the outbreak to a whole new level. Contagion doesn't pick up a few weeks after the initial outbreak, we're thrown into the midst of the first few days, something that's not been well documented since the 2004 remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD.

Contagion now at Comixpress.com

Contagion "Preview Issue" is now available for sale at Comixpress.com for $4.95. My first zombie story which is becoming a bit of a pet project for me. Check out the preview pages at http://www.trepidation-comics.com/Contagion.html

Available Now At:Comixpress & Ka-blam


Standard Comic
Full Color
Page Count: 24

The dead have come back to life and are destroying everything and everyone in their path. Unfortunately, this isn't the worst part of the night for Minneapolis Police Officer Ryan Gavin... When his brother in-law is bit by one of the undead, Ryan is forced to make a decision that could either save one life, or end them all.

From the creative team of Echoes of Dawn featuring:
Story: Z.M.Thomas (Abe the Aborted Fetus)
Pencils: Cliff Richards (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Colors: Mike Bartollo (Echoes of Dawn)
Letters: Zach Matheny (Red Sonja)
Cover: Cris Bolson (Battlestar Galatica)

Also Available At: www.Trepidation-Comics.com

Zombie Stuff

With all this recent talk about Abe the Aborted Fetus, one would think I have completely forgotten about my little zombie adventure, "Contagion." That is a mistake however! I have not forgotten about it, but have instead been vigorously working on the next installments. Yes, plural. This is becoming a bit of a pet project for me as I have had a HUGE love for the walking dead for as long as I can remember.

You might be saying "The market is over saturated with zombie comics," and I will have to be inclined to agree with you. And not just in comics, but as well as movies and other books. Far be it for me to complain necessarily, however I must say that the majority of which refuse to step out from the very cookie-cutter structure they are made from. BUT NOT I! I refuse. I absolutely refuse, and not because I have anything against the 50 year redundancy of movies that seem to blur all together as one... But rather because if I was going to go about remaking the same product that has been remade to death (pun not intended), than I wouldn't bother wasting my time. However, I refuse to create another George A. Romero inspired cash cow based on the same principal that every other story is based on.

Now, before you get all in a tizzy, I am a HUGE Romero fan, and I have been in love with both Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead since as long as I can remember. Sure, I enjoyed his other films as well, but let's face it... They pale in comparison. And to that point, Tom Savini's 1991 remake of Night of the Living Dead, and Zach Snyder's 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead are also on my top list of favorite films. It's no secret that I have an obsessive compulsion with these creatures of the undead, especially since it's now become a huge hobby of mine to collect even the most obscure film. And to my benefit, not all have been as much of a disappointment as I would be lead to believe, looking at budget and synopsis. Among one of my all time favorite finds of the Indy Zombie films is a little movie called "Severed." Sure it involves loggers and tree hugging hippies and a genetically altered trees, and while that my sound absolutely ridiculous... It works, and so much so that it is definitely included into my top 10 zombie films of all time.

Another gem is the Italian made "City of the Dead" by Lucio Fulci. Sure, that's one of the movie's BILLION titles, but it's getting too late for me to rummage through my thoughts to recall the rest of them. Boyle's reinvention of the zombies in 28 Days Later is another top on my list, as the idea was fresh and horrifying. 28 Weeks Later had the potential, but much like Land of the Dead really never got there for me as any move that revolves an entire plot point on a single zombie in a world of billions loses much of its credibility.

But back to the main point, I am choosing to make my book unlike the majority of zombie stories ahead of me. I don't want to make another Robert Kirkman's "Walking Dead" series (as much as his story has inspired me throughout the years). Instead, I want to tread down a different path, a path not often traveled. I can't say exactly, however I do intend to ad something both familiar, something new and also very real. The preview issue of Contagion that was released in November was a small taste of what I have in store, but doesn't even scratch the surface of my intentions of what I plan on doing to the world I'm creating. I will however work diligently on this project so that you will not be disappointed. However, I CAN say that Cliff Richards is still attached to the project, and it will not disappoint.