Review: Dead by 30 #2 - 'Road to Ruin' by Andrei Buters.

Picked up this self-published Australian comic at the same time as Nemesis as is my want for periodically sampling Oz Comic fare.

As I hadn't read the first issue, the sock puppet re-enactment of "the story so far" was welcome if not completely enlightening.

The story follows Phoebe Kestler, who is the target of the same killer who murdered Hess, the best musician in Dylan, and turned into one of the zombie hordes that roam the surrounding countryside. Jenseit 'death-priest' Reuben Carver has been given the job of escorting Phoebe to the safer spaces of, The Capital, which also houses the musical 'Inspiration Project' which Phoebe has been invited to join. But along the way Hess makes an appearance and it seems he's not as completely zombie-fied as first thought.

Not sure what I was expecting with Dead by 30, but certainly not something in the fantasy genre. I found myself being drawn into the story seeded as it is with a number of little intrigues of which I'm keen to find our more. Reuben and Phoebe's conflicting ideals and it seems, sexual tension, pushes the story along nicely.These characters are well-developed with distinct personalities.

There's a lot of work gone into the production of the comic itself but it's also readily apparent that Buters has created a whole world for his characters; a place where they really exist.

If there's any down side it's some of the dialogue slides into exposition at times but it's not particularly distracting.

This is a really well-produced comic with a semi-gloss full colour cover and sharply printed black and white interiors. At 56 pages it's a goddamn bargain providing a much longer reading experience than Nemesis! The artwork isn't generally what I'd go for but it's accomplished and well executed leaning towards the cartoonish with a manga influence.

I'm going to be looking for the first issue and keeping an eye out for further installments.

For a little more about Andrei Buters you can go to his Comics Lifestyle Page.

This: Recommended. Forthcoming: Hopefully soon.