The New Deadwardians

[O Lucky Stevie!]

http://vertigo.blog.dccomics.com/2011/12/09/announcing-the-new-deadwardians/

Dan Abnett plus INJ Culbard!?

That's going straight onto Stevie's pull list lickettyspit.

[IAMTHESYSTEM]

Great idea and the Artwork looks top notch.

[Dark Jimbo]

Set in post-Victorian England...

Er, that would be Edwardian England, then? Surely the clue's in the title. Lor...

[Emperor]

Fin-de-siecle zombies and vampires? Glad I got in there first

Anyway this looks and sounds great, count me solidly in on this.

[Emperor]

Out today:

http://strangeplanetstories.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/d-day-new-deadwardians-have-landed.html

A bit of news, interviews and a previews:

www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-03-28/The-New-Deadwardians-comic-book-series/53826286/1
www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35996
http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/08/the-new-deadwardians-if-vampires-zombies-visited-downton-abbey/

I'm in a quandary - if it pisses on my chips, I'll want to know about it, but I suspect I'll want to get my ideas down on paper before taking a peek at this, so I can't say it has influenced me. Or can I resist??

[Davek]

A bit of news, interviews and a previews:

www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-03-28/The-New-Deadwardians-comic-book-series/53826286/1

Had this ordered and am really looking forward to picking up on Saturday.  Bit in the preview on link above about some 'undead Downton' sounds great.

[Evil Pants]

I hate to say that I was underwhelmed by this. The overall concept was ok, but didn't contain nearly enough big moments (or even one) that would make me want to continue this. Oh Vertigo...I miss you very much.

[Ancient Otter]

Issue one got a great review on Comic Book Resources:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=4593

[gdwessel]

Out today:

http://strangeplanetstories.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/d-day-new-deadwardians-have-landed.html

A bit of news, interviews and a previews:

www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-03-28/The-New-Deadwardians-comic-book-series/53826286/1
www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35996
http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/08/the-new-deadwardians-if-vampires-zombies-visited-downton-abbey/

I'm in a quandary - if it pisses on my chips, I'll want to know about it, but I suspect I'll want to get my ideas down on paper before taking a peek at this, so I can't say it has influenced me. Or can I resist??

Soooooo what'd you end up doing??

Anyhoo.

I enjoyed it. INJ's art was fantastic, I thought.

[Daveycandlish]

I think it's one of those comics that would benefit from being pared down to 2000AD size episodes - it's a great idea but 20 pages is too long for the amount of story within it's covers. Nice art though.

I'll certainly buy issue 2 just to see how it progresses

[Mardroid]

I've yet to read it, but from the promo and description, I think it'll be up my street.

I think I'll wait for the trade, though.

[Emperor]

Out today:

http://strangeplanetstories.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/d-day-new-deadwardians-have-landed.html

A bit of news, interviews and a previews:

www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-03-28/The-New-Deadwardians-comic-book-series/53826286/1
www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=35996
http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/02/08/the-new-deadwardians-if-vampires-zombies-visited-downton-abbey/

I'm in a quandary - if it pisses on my chips, I'll want to know about it, but I suspect I'll want to get my ideas down on paper before taking a peek at this, so I can't say it has influenced me. Or can I resist??

Soooooo what'd you end up doing??

I'll tradewait it, which is not too risky (I was wrongfooted over Philip Bond's Red Herring, but that was at Wildstorm when they were shifting publishing priorities).

[Emperor]

A few reviews:

Abnett's writing is deliciously understated and reserved, capturing just the right tone for both the period feel and detective genre. That subtle tone also proves to be a nice match for this tale, contrasting with the usual high and more frantic zombie and vampire stories, making for a genteel, nuanced and surprisingly refreshing change of pace.

Newcomer Culbard absolutely nails the visuals here and making for an expertly chosen creative team. If this book had a more superhero comic look to it or something less deliberate and subtle, it could have thrown the whole delicate balance off. The results, including Culbard and Patricia Mulvihill's desaturated and gloomy palette are perfection. Some of the backgrounds seem a bit light on detail, but the book is otherwise lovely.

Vertigo has been making a big push with their four new books launching this month and this is easily the best of the bunch. Unique and highly enjoyable, "The New Deadwardians'" fresh take on vampires and zombies will make you rethink all you thought you knew.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=4593

As an opening issue, The New Deadwardians relies heavily on Abnett's ability to make George Suttle into a compelling, distinct, charismatic presence. Luckily for everybody involved, that's exactly what happens, and the surrounding ideas about zombies and vampires take a backseat to Suttle's central plod through life. There's a charm in the book, but thus far Suttle is the main reason for anybody to pick it up next month. Culbard's art is well-pitched for a book like this, and he and Abnett seem to be taking great relish in the details of Edwardian society. As long as they can continue to build on Suttle, and move outwards to a supporting cast and compelling murder mystery for him to solve, The New Deadwardians looks it could be a unique and superior take on an age-old formula.

http://www.comicsbulletin.com/main/reviews/new-deadwardians-1

And Colin Smith has taken a long hard look at the first issue and flagged up the big flaw:

There's one shocking, despicable moment to be found in the first issue of Dan Abnett and I.N.J. Culbard's The New Deadwardians. In fact, it's one of the most inexplicable and dispiriting things that I've come across in a comic for a long, long while, and that's saying something. How much lower, you might ask upon catching sight of this aberration, can DC/Vertigo go? Because, and you'll no doubt find this as difficult to sympathise with as I do, the cover to The New Deadwardians declares – deep breath, brace yourself – that this is the first of just eight issues. Yet if  ever there was a comic which demanded year upon year of uninterrupted publication, then this is it. Eight issues and nothing more is a scandal.

See what he did there?

http://toobusythinkingboutcomics.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/on-new-deadwardians.html

[Davek]

Agree with the comicbookresources review that lack of detail on the background art was noticeable. Was set up well in this first issue.

[PreacherCain]

I love the artwork. Very clean and crisp, lent itself well to the kind of atmosphere Abnett creates.

This was definitely the strongest of the new batch of Vertigo series, I must say.