All New Underground Comix #5
Published by Last Gasp and © the Veitch Bros., 1973
Title: “Death’s World – A World of Terror!”
Synopsis: In a dystopic future, warring factions fueled by black arts and souls of the dead lead to a zombie apocalypse.
Writers (story): Tom and Rick Veitch
Writer (script): Tom Veitch
Artist: Rick Veitch
Review: Despite a cover seeming to promise fairly typical zombie horror, this early effort from Tom and Rick Veitch is actually more big-concept sci-fi. Both story and art seem heavily influenced by Jack Kirby, albeit with an underground flavor. The Brothers Veitch show a lot of potential here, but their actual execution is clunky and hard to follow. The art is an odd mix of underground cartooning and Kirby, with a little Gene Colan page design thrown. It’s already a recognizable style, though – one that Rick Veitch would master with future projects, such as the 1990’s Brat Pack and Maximortal.
Grade: C
Second opinion: “… this is an amusing curiosity, but no more.” – The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003
Cool factor: Early work from Rick Veitch, who would go on to do some pretty cool projects.
Collector’s note: Sometimes listed as Two-Fisted Zombies #1.
Character quotable: “We must reap a good harvest on this dismal Earth, for the hour of our death is the hour of our liberation!” – Flogiston, leader of more than a million enslaved souls
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Oct. 29, 2010.
