Night of the Living Dead - The Beginning #2
	Story: John Russo Sequential Adaptation: Mike Wolfer Artwork: Sebastian Fiumara Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse Cover (regular): Sebastian Fiumara Editor in Chief: William Christensen Published by: Avatar Press
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

Yet another retelling of the whole NotLD story. That is what this seems. However, for someone who hasn’t read any other print retelling or for that matter, seen any of the movies, Avatar Press’s Night of the Living Dead - The Beginning is pretty much my first exposure to, well, to this franchise. I say ‘pretty much’ because before this series, I have read the NotLD - Back From the Grave one-shot special preceding this.

Having gone all dead-n’-back (as flesh eating zombies) in the first issue, this time around the zombies get on with the, well, with the fleshing eating. Along with Thelma (waitress Christine’s grandmother), and the man that had come to her door (running from the zombies), a couple of more victims (at or near the diner) fall to the Living Dead brigade. Even Christine almost gets chomped on, saved just in time thanks to the timely intervention of her boyfriend and a couple of other diner patrons, one of whom gets his dues soon enough.

Not quite certain what exactly is wrong with the ‘people’ outside, the people in the diner stay indoors in part due to their own presence of mind and due to the broadcast from the radio about the funeral home killing from the last issue. With no means to get to safety, they have to settle to waiting out for the arrival of the town sheriff, (who has a daily schedule of coming to the diner for a quick caffeine hit.)

On the art front, artist Sebastian Fiumara is joined by colorist Andrew Dalhouse, their combination making for some interesting visuals. Starting with Lady Death (and her various crossovers, e.g. Lady Death vs. War Angel) I have become familiar with Dalhouse’s style, and as much I would like him to inject some flash and grandeur into those bad-girl titles, I found his full yet sometimes a bit too dark coloring style a perfect here. Sure, they could go with an all gory n’ noir scheme and while that would make for better zombies, it wouldn’t quite work for the still alive characters…at least not for me.

Conclusion: Although more for the core zombie-horror, uh, zombie, this story will also work for/interest the passing reader, even if they don’t have background knowledge of the Living Dead.

RATING: 7.5/10 (Almost 8)