A zombie comic for preteens. It's about a teenager who is murdered while trying to save someone. For some reason he remains in his body alive but can't move for a year in his coffin. Eventually for reasons he can start moving and starts playing the trumpet left in his coffin until his friend hears him and digs him up. Then not much happens other than Yan hiding his ugly zombie mug from everyone and seeing how poorly his family is doing. Other than solid art, this didn't have anything to keep me coming back for more.

'Dead and Unburied' by Jocelyn Boisvert with art by Pascal Colpron is a graphic novel about an unusual problem.

Yan is about to have a baby sister and school is almost out, but then tragedy hits. Yan finds himself dead and inside a coffin. The only problem is that he's still moving around. When one of his friends discovers he is still mobile, it causes quite a terror wherever Yan goes.

This was a fun take on the zombie genre. Yan is a likeable character. It's definitely a dark story, but written in a fun way. I liked the art too.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

(3,4 of 5 for kind of the nice story of one zombie boy for a younger audience)
The zombie genre is tackled last decade from all directions and all media. And this is one rather comedy but also an adventure take in comics. This comic looks like the main audience would be kids and teenagers and for that purpose, it works well - art is nice, the story is interesting, funny and simple enough, the fun and thrill is there. I like European comics, the tradition is strong here through all the countries and different from US/English one. But one thing is even worse for me in EU comics than in the US - fragmenting of the story. I have an issue with comics issues - usually the two-week, but more often month to months delay is annoying. But EU takes it further - if it's series, the waiting between next issue/book could be easily year or more. And in cases like this - I would easily read more, but with uncertain long waiting for next one, I will put it aside... for indefinitely.

Decided to read this when I was going through a phase of watching zombie tv shows. It was pretty engaging with a cute art style. A teenager turned zombie story that had funny moments but also moments on grief and love.

Yan was always supposed to turn into a zombie that summer – but it was for a home-made movie with his best mate, not for real. Yes, this teen-friendly, light-hearted look at being a zombie and what it means for your family life is just an origin story, so while there apparently is a full prose novel somewhere in the background to this we'll have to wait for further episodes to really get a view of how good the series is going to be. What we get here is a perfectly serviceable opener, with a cartoonish style, and a decent dose of likeability. I just hope in future editions the brashness that is hinted at doesn't come into play, and that the male lead is as strong and enjoyable as his female company is here. Three and a half stars, and a promise of even better to come.

Dead and Unburied was a beautiful example of a graphic novel and would be a great introduction for future fans of the genre. I'm personally just getting into graphic novels and am encouraging my students to enjoy the genre for appreciation of both art and storytelling.
I both wanted to race through this to find out what happened, but also slow down and linger over the illustrations. It was a quick read and left me wanting more! I went back through several times to appreciate the gorgeous artwork with so much movement and character.
I think my students, some of whom are learning English as a second language, would really enjoy this story.
It's spooky and funny at the same time, and would be perfect for reading around Halloween. Yan, the boy/zombie character is really animated and engaging.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Colorful artwork and well-drawn characters with a comic touch add greatly to this first-in-a-series graphic novel starring a young student named Yan who is enjoying all life has to offer, when suddenly that life is taken away. With school almost over for the summer, being on the verge of going into production on a new horror movie with his best friend, and a new baby sister on the way, the last thing Yan expected or wanted is to be the victim of violence. But while trying to help someone else, Yan is stabbed to death by a hoodlum - and unlike with most people, life doesn't stop there when a year later Yan wakes up in his coffin, now one of the undead. Once free of his grave, Yan decides that being green and half-rotten away shouldn't deter his friends or family from welcoming him back, and sure enough his best friend is quite accepting (once the shock wears off) - as is the girl, with her own issues, crushing on him - but when Yan makes his way home and learns how much his family has changed (not for the better) since his death, he leaves before being discovered, determined to find a way to put them back on the right path. As said, this is a first-in-a-series, charming and well-executed and darkly funny enough that this reader found himself a bit irritated at the abrupt ending of the book, eagerly wanting more and rooting for Yan all the way. 4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

While I think this is probably a great comic for teenagers, I wanted more.

I felt the story rushed into Yan's death, then rushed the ending. I would have liked to see a bit more characterisation, because all we got to see of Yan's personality was that he liked zombies. There was really little to show for the human he was, until he died.

There wasn't a clear concept of where the plot was heading or what might happen in future editions. Is it going to be all about Yan hiding from the public? If so, I won't be reading any more. Is it about how he helps mend his family, fix his friendships, and starts dating the goth girl? Fine. I might read the next edition, to find out how that works out.

The transformation of Mara was extreme for just one year, and the breakdown of Yan's family was intense. I get that his death was sudden and (apparently, to his entire network of friends and family) senseless, but the changes are extreme for a single year. And the fact that Mara is now tangled up with the guy who killed Yan feels forced. The sad part is that Yan doesn't even register the closure it might give him, or try to get Mara away from him.

I also didn't like the way that everyone kept harping on about how Yan shouldn't have died in such a stupid way. They act like trying to help someone else, and being stabbed for it, is shameful. That really bothered me, especially since Mara in particular said "I don't want to honor Yan's memory. He shouldn't have died. You don't have to be a goddamn genius to stay alive." How insulting! Not to mention, she could have stayed with him until his exam was over, to walk with him to the hospital, instead of going all the way to his school and then leaving without him.

While the artwork was realistic and really well done, the script was VERY difficult to read. I'm using a Kindle Fire to read it and it was IMPOSSIBLE to read the text without zooming in. I practically had to make each panel half-screen just to make out what it said. I think this was an issue with including too many panels on one page. While this might have worked in a paperback format, it made the e-book extremely difficult to follow. I mean, for example, the quote above came from a page that had ELEVEN panels on one page. The very next page had 14, and the page before that had 12. That's too many when you have script and intricate scenes included in nearly every panel.

For me, while there was great potential, the story kept avoiding the plot points I was hoping it would take, and seemed more about creating chaos and adventure for Yan rather than following the logical journey it should have taken. Add on the difficult-to-read text, and the other issues, and I just can't recommend it.

This is a fun graphic novel with an interesting storyline; about a teen who is the victim of a stabbing and comes back as a zombie one year on.

Weirdly, the story works and I was intrigued to see what happened to him after he climbed out of his grave! The themes of family, friendship, bereavement and even mental health are all touched on and I think it will be great if they are expanded upon in future volumes.

The illustrations are engaging and will appeal to teens/young adults as well as children. However, note that there is a little bad language so might not be suitable for younger children.

Thanks again to Europe Comics and Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

A wonderful quick read, beautifully illustrated and easy to read, as well as comedic in places. This was a great read. made even better with the wonderful artwork.

A legitimately funny and cute zombie story! On the last day of school, and the day of his baby sister's birth, regular teen Yan is stabbed to death trying to save someone's life. He assumes his soul will move on, but instead he lays in his grave for a year, with nothing but his trumpet to keep him occupied. That is, until someone hears his song, and frees him from the coffin. Of course, lots of things can change when you've been gone for a year, and life can be hard when you come back stinky and green.

This was cute, and funny. Loved the style of artwork, and the dialogue was solid and easy to follow. I thought the ending was a little bit abrupt, neither a cliffhanger or anything solid, just a really random ending. Look forward to reading part two though, given the subject, a fun little story.

I've read the novel in High School. I've read this in french too. Great title, loved the humour and great drawings.

I enjoyed the artwork and the story. I would like to see more stories like this. I liked the friendships in here as well.

A cleverly contrived story, full of humor and fun. Yan dies but somehow sticks with his body, still in his grave. He is able to emerge from six feet under, only to realize what went wrong with the family after his death. Good story. recommended.

**I received an e-copy of this via NetGalley from the publishers in exchange for an honest review**

This is a quick and short story about a young boy, Yan, who’s excited for the beginning of summer and the birth of his new baby sister. Instead, Yan finds himself losing out on his summer of fun and his new sister as he succumbs to death. Yan has been killed but instead of ascending to heaven, he becomes a zombie.

Overall, this a cute and fun story as you get to follow Yan’s family and friends deal with grief and loss as well as the escape of a zombie. The artwork is very well done and captivating. The only thing that I didn’t like about the story was the ending and that’s only because it just ends. The ending wasn’t even a cliffhanger to prepare you for the next comic strip and that was a bit disappointing. So, for that, I’m rating this 3.5 stars.

Yan had a lot of plans for summer and on his last day of school he just wanted to go see his newborn baby sister in the hospital, when things take a turn for the worse. He found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now Yan is dead, kind of. Take a journey through grief and friendship with this cute, short, graphic novel. Definitely would recommend if you are looking for a quick read.

A really fun and engaging graphic novel, great for teens or those just starting to get into the genre as well as those who already love it. The storyline follows Yan a teenager who is murdered on the last day of school and although he is buried he doesn't quite stay dead.
After being freed from his coffin he returns to his friends we see the beginning of a great interaction between Yan and his friends as well as some interesting insight into how his family have been dealing with his death.
This book is a great set up to a series and I would love to read more of Yan's adventures as a zombie.

A story for teens about a young man who is killed but returns to life as a zombie.

Yan is a fun loving teenager. He is looking forward to the end of the school year and the birth of a new baby sister but he tries to prevent an attack on someone and he is stabbed and dies. Yan spends a year in his coffin waiting for the next stage, only to return as a zombie. This is book one and sets the scene for what will probably be a series.

It is a good start, but rather sad as we see the impact of Yan's death on his family, but there is also hope as we see the love his friends have for him especially when they see him in his zombie form.

This first book introduces the story and the characters. The artwork is good with great drawings and really nice colouring. I guess we will have to wait and see what comes next and what adventures Yan has.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Yan is a sweet character, as are his friends. Their devotion to him is so strong. I really enjoyed seeing how deeply they cared for him, especially Alice, a classmate who had a crush on him before he died. When Yan returns to his family’s home, he sees how life has changed for them and for his friend Nico.

Colpron did an excellent job with the artwork of this first issue. The style is crisp and clear; I never looked at a panel and had to guess what was going on.

I also enjoyed the depiction of Yan as a zombie here. Don’t get me wrong, I can definitely be entertained by brain and flesh-eating zombies a la The Walking Dead, but Yan wasn’t like that at all. He just looked decayed and body parts can fall off and be popped back on. This lighter take on zombies was really refreshing.

The little hints (and the French description) indicate that as the series progresses, Yan will seek justice for his death and try to piece his family back together. I hope I can get my hands on the English translations for subsequent issues because this is a series I want to continue reading.