Project F.O.C.US Review: DEAD DAY #2. Pre-Order by JULY 27

EDITOR’S NOTE: Once things return to normal following the coronavirus crisis, most of us are going to be on limited budgets. I seriously doubt real comics fans are going to give up their hobby, but they’ll need to be more selective and will probably pass up some books they might normally pick up. 

That’s probably going to hurt the smaller indie publishers more than the Big Two, and that would be a shame. 

   As a comics blogger, I sometimes get advance review copies of upcoming books. I’m going to try to review as many as possible and post them here early enough that readers can then make informed decisions about their purchase choices. Even more important, comic shops are going to need their customer base to step up and pre-order as much as possible. I’m concerned that many books that deserve an audience won’t benefit because comic shops are going to cut back on quantity, and probably not going to bring in a book they have no pre-orders for. 

    I'll be using the PROJECT F.O.C.US header to draw attention to these pre-release reviews. I hope you'll come to trust my opinions, and will use these to make informed choices about what books to pre-order and assist your local comic shop in managing their assets. The F.O.C. in F.O.C.US stands for Final Order Cutoff.  I just love acronyms that allow me to make a pun at the same time. 

 In Aftershock Comics’ DEAD DAY series, the dead return to life for one day from sundown to sunset. Some intend to reunite with family. Some intend to seek revenge or justice for past offenses. Some intend to murder. The populace seems to accept this irregular event, and plan accordingly. Some organize picnics or family reunions. Others board up their homes and prepare to defend themselves.

DEAD DAY #2 (Aftershock Comics, August 19 release date - - Final Order Cut-Off is Monday, July 27)  Ryan Parrot, writer. Evgeny Bornyakov, artist. Junacho, colorist. Charles Prtichett, letterer. Andy Clarke with Jose Villarrubia, main cover. Simon Kudranski, incentive cover.

     The description on the Aftershock Comics website summarizes Issue #2 very well, but maybe with too many of the thrills and scares removed: 

     “As the dead begin to rise, Melissa follows a mysterious rider on a journey back into a life that could have been while Brandon witnesses how both the faithful and faithless deal with the undead walking the earth.”

     What readers learn in Issue #2 is that the past life of Mel’s former lover Jeremy was full of risk and danger. Their relationship might not have survived, probably not even close to the fifteen years since Jeremy’s death that Mel’s enjoyed the company of her husband and two children.

     And one of those children, Brandon, has ducked out of his home to join his friend Zack in an invitation to join a Revivalist meeting in a dark area that seems to resemble a walled-in private cemetery where a strange ritual is underway.

     Issue #2 follows the paths of both Mel and her son as they both seem to be entering into a strange and dangerous situation. During the proceedings, readers learn more about the new tradition of Dead Day and how governments prepare for it. 

   The opening page depicts an odd scenario at a cemetery: The dead have just risen from their graves. They proceed towards the gated exit, only to be greeted by an official-looking female and two armored bodyguards. This is Amber, from the Bureau of Post-Life Affairs to inform the dead that under the policies of the Deceased Information Act, she will help them reconnect with friends and family. Just get in line and be ready to provide your full name and social security number. 

   However, not all the arisen dead are treated so kindly. Brandon and his friend witness a roadblock by armed “Lifers”, an apparent police force that apprehend runaway undead, gun them down and burn them. 

  

   Not all the undead are docile and friendly, either. Mel’s former lover Jeremy shows his dark side as they track down the whereabouts of the former partner-in-crime who betrayed him and caused his death. Why doesn’t Jeremy take off his biker helmet and show his face to his former lover?

   This is not your typical zombie/undead story.

Recommended.  Four out of a possible Five Stars.