An interesting take on the typical zombie apocalypse, an intriguing and grim observation that takes itself seriously and isn't too ridiculous and/or cheesy. However, what it makes up for in plot, it lacks in art, many of the characters look too similar and it was hard to differentiate between the different groups that featured.

While I am a lover of all things ZOMBIE-related and have read scores of ZOMBIE-themed books, I just could not get behind this edition of this book. I do not write negative reviews and didn't review it for that reason. I believe that with some professional editing, this story could make a fine book.

Originally published in French, Zombies: A Brief History of Decay was a graphic novel that sparked my interest when I came across it on Netgalley, even though I had recently read quite some zombie fiction already, and with different levels of success. But I found, when you don't stop to overthink this one, Zombies was actually a really nice read.

The art was nice and consistent while the story was also okay. It was a bit fast and felt a bit cramped at places, which made that I had to go back and read it again to make sure what had happened, but it didn't bother me too much. It's both a survival story and a father looking for his daughter, so to some extent you know what you'll be getting. If that's your cup of tea, try Zombies and you won't be disappointed.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

An okay graphic novel. The text was sometimes a little difficult to read, but on the whole, it was okay.

I enjoyed this graphic novel, its nice to see a Zombie comic that simply isnt a retread of the Walking dead. The characters were well written and the artwork was very well done

I liked the story, the desolate feel of it, and the graphics is quite well done. But there were two major issues that bothered me enough to consider it OK instead of GOOD: the changes of time/place/characters appear out of the blue, with no delimitation whatsoever, sometime making you turn back to re-read some passages; also, the story ended abrupt and very vague, and it doesn't even manages to really build up the suspense. 3+

I love zombie. I love the work of Olivier Peru. I don't need more to take pleasure to my reading. J'aime les zombies. J'aime le travail d'Olivier Peru. Je n'ai pas besoin de plus pour prendre du plaisir à ma lecture. Rien que pour la couverture cela vaut le coup.

A fresh take on the zombie genre. Zombies have taken over and humans are trying not only to survive but to reclaim parts of the world for themselves. Great art and characterization. I found myself really rooting for the characters to make it.

It's been awhile since I read a Zombie apocalypse that took itself seriously. The usual plot here but it is executed with style. This is an intelligent, grim and thoughtful take on teotwawki via a virus that turns people into the walking undead. Originally published in France as three bande desinees several years ago, I'm not surprised I enjoyed it so much as I'm quite fond of French "comics". Of interest is that the main character is Canadian and there are many Canadian references. I loved this as so many graphic novels are American centric. The story is powerful, dark and compelling. Nobody is safe from being bit though, so don't get attached to any certain characters! If you are looking for some new zombie fare to read this is a great one to pick up. The ending is ambiguous either leaving us with a message of "it's never really over" or could be a lead-in to a sequel.

A zombie story always has its appeal, but Sam's story left me indifferent. I didn't care much about him or his daughter, and once he found other survivors, he lost me completely. I tend to dislike post-apocalyptic new societies.

But the ending is great. The last few panels are everything.

Interesting plot but illustrations are not easy to interpret.

This is a graphic novel about a zombie apocalypse. I have read many books with this topic and 25 volumes of The Walking Dead graphic novels previously so I wasn't expecting much innovation. However, this book's plot surprised me with its setting in the Pacific Northwest and its simple but plausible zombie solution. I enjoyed the humor in having one of the heroes be basically a Canadian Bruce Campbell who tried to sound the alarm beforehand but was dismissed as being just an actor. I wasn't that happy about some of the stereotypical characters (I.e. crazy Montana rednecks and conceited scientists) but that didn't impact my enjoyment of the main plot.

My main concern was that the illustrations were very dark and many of the male characters looked similar. The third, and last, chapter alternated between several different groups of humans traveling and fighting their way across the United States. Rather than just labeling the state or city, the illustrator used different color palettes; green, blue and brown; for the different groups. Unfortunately, it took me a third of the chapter to figure this out so I ended up restarting the chapter so I could see the progress of each group.

The plot is complete within this single volume. I would recommend it to hard-core zombie apocalypse fans but not to most graphic novel readers due to the poor illustrations though the plot was interesting.

Thanks to the publisher, Insight Comics, and netgalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love reading zombie books but this one I just could not get interested in. Maybe I should have given it more time or maybe it was the formatting on a Kindle? I see many enjoyed this read, so I am thinking it might be me. I enjoy graphic novels, but again maybe it was viewing it on the Kindle? The formatting showed the images on one screen and then I had to go to the next for the words. I did give it 3 stars as I see it has potential and feel it deserves more reviews.

I’ve never been a big fan of Z fiction. Movies, books, videogames… Not the typ of content I’m used to enjoy, that’s it, but that doesn’t mean I’m not capable of see something good when it is in front of my. This comic was really good for sure.
“Zombies: A Brief History of Decay” is a graphic novel full of drama and emotions. Writer Olivier Peru isn’ afraid of playing with your feelings and killing every single character you start to like. It’s carnage at it’s primal look.
The story presented is far from being the most original: the world is about to end by the hands of the zombies, and human race is trying to survive the best way they can. Groups are formed, families search for each other, Friends try to protect themselves… I think you get the idea.
However, Peru plays with your feelings with no shame, putting all of his characters in different situations that make you wonder what is wrong with him, why wouldn’t he let things be just a little happier, but the truth is that life is not that pretty in these kind of situations, humans are not that simple, and “Zombies” is, first of al, a very human story.
Don’t expect to find a main character, they all have their own time and space in this comic, and each of them has something to add to the general plot. Because of this, depending on what kind of reader you are, you can either get lost among so many of them or see a bigger plot taking place on its pages. I must say I’m between both possibilities, ending with a love-hate relationship with this story.
What surprised me the most (besides the fact that this guy seems to be very friendly to have created something so cruel) is that even if you don’t fully understand everything in the beggining, the story is so light and fluent at that point that you just keep going on, page by page, until you’re so deep in this wretched world that you won’t stop until you’re done with it.
To say that the illustrations are perfect and match the plot is just not enough. Graphic, no censorship allowed and with a visceral style, artista Sophian Cholet and colorist SImon Champelovier take all the risks to create a world as interesting as this story, working (almost alway) with small panels that still have enough space for the dialogues and narrative.
I had a problem with this at first, as I strongly prefer the art to tell the story by itself, but with so many words and so detailed graphics, I felt overwhelmed more than just once. As I said before, this is not my kind of reading, and neither the style I’m used to in comics, but once you get into it, things become more enjoyable.
Teh last thing I have to say is a big thank you to the publisher for this ARC. I’m sure as heck will be keeping an eye on both the company and the author!
4/5 stars

This book seems like a typical zombie comic. So if that's what you're into, then you will love it! I am looking for new and updated zombie novels and comics so I will continue to hunt.

I was given this graphic novel for an honest review.  This graphic novel is a fresh new perspective on the zombie genre. Let me introduce you to Sam Coleman who is trying to get out of Seattle at the start of the apocalypse. Armed with only his smith & Wesson he has fought his way out but he has left someone important behind his daughter . Now that it has fallen silent he wonders is she still alive . He wrestles with his conscience and realizes what it is like to fight and still be human in his new grim reality
   Now I am a zombie lover and will read anything to do with them . So when I was offered this book I was so happy . I actually sat down and devoured this book in one sitting . The author takes us on a roller coaster ride . You cheer for our main character Sam and you pray that he will survive and find his daughter . He is a man that you can't help but want to cheer for . You can see how the guilt of him leaving he daughter behind . But you know that when it comes to the apocalypse its everyone for themselves .  Then you see him come to a realization that the grim new world he is the minority and he is going to find his daughter . Which I will tell you to read the book to find out . Yes I am just that mean .
    The author uses the Pacific North West as the setting of his zombie story . Which to me is a nice change cause it seems all the zombie stories seem to be based in New York or Los Angeles.    The author kept a steady pace through out the story and the action was good . There is gore when the zombies are blown up and shot but that is true in all zombie stories . But the characters are so much more human compared to some books . They are people trying to survive anyway they can . This was a nice good fast read for me the story was set a steady pace and the graphics are well drawn  and do the book justice .  I would recommend this book to anyone who loves zombies . If you love TWD  you will enjoy this book . So check it out . I have given it 5 stars .

As always, I enjoy the survival aspects of zombie apocalypse books.

Unlike many other graphic novels in the overloaded living dead genre, in spite of the loss, heavy challenges, and setbacks that the characters face, "Zombies" carries with it a strong theme of hope, community, shared humanity and fierce perseverance that sets it welcomingly apart from the array of cliched works where the undead prowl the earth, yet the human survivors appear more focused on tearing each other apart.

The story opens with a convict escaping prison after the end of the world. Zombies are everywhere. He makes it out, only to be run down by a man thinking the convict is one of the walking dead. So begins the history of decay. There isn't anything particularly special about this zombie story that hasn't been explored in other media: the desperation of humanity in a time of extreme strife, facing adversity and succeeding (or not), dealing with the aftermath of loss and despair. Maybe I've consumed too many zombie related materials, but this one just didn't grab me.

A new favorite! (5 stars)

It's been a while since I sat down and devoured anything zombie related. While I can't say I'm the type of fan who reads or watches all things zombies, I am ever interested in finding fresh takes on the genre. At first I didn't think ZOMBIES: A BRIEF HISTORY was going to be particularly unique, there's only so much one can do with an apocalyptic scenario after all. Somehow, it managed to maintain a steady story pace and develop some new (or at least, new to me) ideas and really tell a good story. I was particularly pleased to see the Pacific Northwest as a key setting for a lot of the story, Peru really used it well.

While some elements are certainly old hat I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down and actually read it from cover to cover in one sitting. If you're a fan of TWD or just love an engrossing graphic novel I would much recommend it.

Ok so I have two reviews on this...first off. This was hard to read. Not because it is a horrible read (it isn't) but the pages do not translate well to an electronic device. I know it can be done well, I just read two Mangas from Netgalley that were done beautifully and translated perfectly, but this was rough. Now, second review... I loved the story. It was gruesome and beautifully told. I loved all the artwork but I hurt my head trying to make sense of the pictures with the mixed up kindle text. I will be searching these out to buy in hard copy so I can get the full experience.