Learning the ABCs of the undead with ‘Z is for Zombie’

The undead craze continues with the recently released book, Z is for Zombie: An Illustrated Guide to the End of the World. The compendium serves as a clever comment on the zombie phenomenon, offering tips on everything from what the undead look like and what they are likely to do if they come shambling into your backyard. It takes its inspiration from zombie lore, but it treats the subject as a bona fide global threat.

Written by Adam-Troy Castro, with evocative art by Johnny Atomic, the 64-page book will mostly appeal to horror fans who already know the conventions of zombie films. Those children of the night who bow at the altar of George A. Romero will certainly get a lot out of Z is for Zombie. Others may find the finished product a little too lean to keep the interest.

Castro’s writing contains funny, spot-on commentary. For example, under the banner “D is for Decaying,” he writes, “Remember that basic rule of etiquette, that everybody should always wash up before they come to dinner? The walking dead have forgotten it.”

Like their similar title, V is for Vampire, the book continues through every letter in the alphabet, all the way from “A is for Apocalypse” to “Z is for Zombie.” In between, the obligation of going letter by letter becomes a little restrictive, especially when Castro comes to the letters that aren’t often used. But the author always finds the humor (such as “X Marks the Spot Where They Finally Catch Up With You” or “O is for Omigod Omigod Oh Jesus Get It Off Me, Get It Off, Get It … Aaaarrrrgggh”).

Although Castro’s words are carefully chosen and bring to life the zombie outbreak, Atomic’s visuals are the real treat here. Every single letter is accompanied by an original piece of art, and many of them are gorgeous.

The entire book is cast in a shadowy black and white; however, when blood is involved, Atomic lets the red stuff pulsate through the page. His rendering of a lifeless eye for “T is for Terrifying” certainly lives up to its name.

The book has no reoccurring characters or single storyline, but Z is for Zombie does an admirable job of staying largely chronological. It offers a few tips first on what zombies look like and how they became undead, and then it proceeds to go through the process of what the reader should do after falling victim to the virus. Spoiler alert: It ends badly!

Although not as detailed as The Zombie Survival Guide, the popular book from Max Brooks, Z is for Zombie offers readers a visually entertaining distraction from the real world. Just don’t get too enamored of the stories in this book, otherwise you may fail to notice the decaying body right over your shoulder.

• Z is for Zombie: An Illustrated Guide to the End of the World

• By Adam-Troy Castro with illustrations by Johnny Atomic

• Harper Voyager, 64 pages (softcover)

• Retail price: $14.99

• Bubble score: 3 out of 4

• Click here to purchase Z is for Zombie by Adam-Troy Castro.