Home - Reviews - Comics - Review of "Crossed"

Review of "Crossed" from Avatar Press
By: Terry Bunch
Date: Sept 5th, 2009

Publisher: Avatar Press
Writer: Garth Ennis
Art: Jacen Burrows
Genre: Horror, Zombie
Audience: Mature only
Issues Reviewed: #0 through #8
Review Rating: 9/10

In a normal zombie story, the dead come back to life to eat the living and if you are only bitten and not eaten, then you become a zombie. This cycle repeats while a small group of survivors run, hide and fight to survive. "Crossed" is NOT a normal zombie story...

In "Crossed", the infected are not dead, they are infected. The "crossed" are easy to identify in two ways. One, they have a cross shape on their face where the flesh is almost completely missing; two, they are homicidal, sexually deviant, perverse, and exhibit all the behaviors that "civilized" humans are not supposed to. There are scenes of rape, there are scenes of cannibalism, there are scenes of both at the same time. This comic is so awesomely twisted, there is even a scene where a "crossed" is so obsessed with sex, that he is fucking the lower portion of a victim's leg ... simply because there is a hole in it. Depravity rules in this comic. If you love to read the lyrics of Cannibal Corpse songs, you will love this comic.

Now that you know what to expect, let's take a look at the story. There is a small group of survivors (that part of the zombie genre is the same) who are travelling North to try to reach lesser populated areas hoping that there will be less "crossed" there. Along the way, they lose some, they gain some. They are forced into decisions that most people would not be able to make, but if they are going to survive, they must make those decisions. They continue to move North encountering more "crossed" as they go. Each encounter brings new dangers and even more perverse behavior from the "crossed".

As in all survival stories, there is a strong character that is able to make the tough decisions and takes no crap from anyone as she does. In this series, that character is Cindy and she will do what needs to be done to protect her child and to survive. A victim of spousal abuse herself, she has been able to turn off her feelings as she deals with the horrors of the "crossed". The rest of the survivors often look to Cindy for guidance and she is thanked for the survival of the group on numerous occaisons.

Of course, the "crossed" come up with new ways to infect others including "tainting" bullets before firing them at the uninfected. As the story progresses, the "crossed" get better organized, they begin to play more and more games with their victims. Each time you turn the page of the comics in this series, you will see and encounter new horrors, new sick and twisted images and ever more "crossed" doing things that should just not be done.

I can recommend this comic series for all fans of horror comics and gore art. The story line draws you in and the dialog keeps your attention as the characters continue from issue to issue. The artwork of Jacen Burrows brings the twisted story to vivid life and help make "Crossed" a must own comic series. To put it bluntly, you must buy this series, you will not be disappointed.

You may be disturbed, but not disappointed.

Buy "Crossed" Here
Alternate covers, signed copies, etc are available as well.