Comics for 2010 – ZVR Adventure (2010)

IDW Publishing returns to the post-human world with a new Zombies vs Robots series, coming in February. Zombies vs Robots Aventure is a continuation of the original series from the Eisner-losing team of Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood that explored a world in which a group of robots try to protect the final remaining human from a planet full of zombies. The new four-issue Zombies vs Robots Aventure will feature three serialized eight-page stories per issue, each one offering a different take on the war between these two forces.

“The original Zombies vs Robots started after the war had already begun,” said Ryall. “This new series more fully fleshes out that world, so to speak. Before, we looked more at the battle between robots and zombies. In Aventure, we delve into how this fighting affected humans across the world. A couple of the stories take a darker turn than we’ve done in ZvR so far, but that undercurrent of gallows humor is never far from any of the tales we tell in this world.”

Ryall will pen each tale, continually developing the war between zombies and robots, and the role that human hubris played in the downfall of the world. The stories in Zombies vs Robots Aventure will feature new interior artists for the first time, with design and covers coming from co-creator Wood.

The stories serialized in Aventure #1 are:

* “Kampf,” featuring art by Mention Matthews III, is set in the early days of the struggle, where the military has developed its own resistance to fight the zombie threat alongside their robot army

* “Masques,” with art by Paul McCaffrey, follows up the earlier “origin” story of Zombies vs Robots and explores a non-combatant’s efforts to join the fight, with disastrous results.

* “Zuvembies,” by Ryall and Gabriel Hernandez, shifts the battle to Haiti, where resistance fighters are trying to develop their own undead army as a means of defenses

Issue #1 also features a different incentive cover by Wood, plus a bonus art gallery including pinups and sketches from all three interior artists.

Zombies vs Robots Aventure #1 (of 4, $3.99, 32 pages) will be available in February 2010. Diamond order code DEC09 0922.

Zombies vs Robots – An appreciation of the IDW comic book (2007) Plus – ZVR Adventures (2009)

Zombies Vs Robots (IDW, 2007) An Appreciation.

Written by Chris Ryall, Art by Ashley Wood

Three scientists, Throckmorton, Winterbottom and Satterfield are the orchestrator’s of this titanic battle for Earth and the survival of Mankind. After creating a portal for time travel, a test of its capabilities brings one of the scientists back as a heap of flesh. Sentient robots are then designed and used to exploit time travel, as human bodies could not deal with its rigours (but the robots could). It is during these explorations through time (whether in the past or future is unclear) that the robots inadvertently bring back a zombie plague. Soon, and with the human race decimated, it is the sentient robots that are all that are standing between the future survival of mankind (which hinges on keeping a baby alive) and a seething mass of the undead. The robots are protecting the baby until such a time as they can clone the child, thus ensuring mankind’s continuation.

What you get is exactly what the title describes – Zombies versus Robots, in an epic and apocalyptic setting, the protection of the child paramount, the Robots calm and analytical against the mindless Zombie hunger and rage.

The finale is literally apocalyptic, but with a twist at the end (there is a follow-up called Zombies vs Robots vs Amazons, which gives you an idea where the story is headed).

Zombies vs Robots is all about broad strokes – robots fight zombies to protect mankind so in essence what you see is what you get – because I believe this title is all about the art. It has some of the most thrilling and intense artwork I have seen, and the design of the robots is amazing. I urge you to investigate this unique and effective sci-fi / horror tale.

Published by IDW, ‘Zombies vs Robots’ is available as a Hardcover, as a softcover that also includes ‘Zombies vs Robots vs Amazons’ and you may even still pick up the original comics on ebay etc

The good news is that they are now are returning with a bi-monthly serial, ZVR Adventures (and issue 1 is a nice tribute to Warrens ‘Blazing Combat’);

Cover to ZVR Adventures #1

Cover to Blazing Combat #1

see here for more on ZVR Adventures #1, and the solicitation reads like this;

Written by Chris Ryall, art and cover by Ashley Wood.

Zombies vs Robots returns in an all-new bi-monthly series. And this time around, you get three serials in one. Beginning in this issue, the war story of “Kampf,” the human resistance grows in “Masques” and a voodoo curse leads to new zombies in “Zuvembies.”

Due in June 2009. Looks like another one for my pull list.
http://ashleybambaland.blogspot.com/ – check out the Ashley Wood website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Wood – Ashley Wood wiki entry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Ryall – Chris Ryall / IDW entry on Wiki

http://www.idwpublishing.com/ – IDW home