Rabbit is on the verge of dying after a brutal Zombie encounter.
Poke makes a tough decision in trying to save her. Meanwhile, keeping his secret away from the Zombie community is becoming harder and harder.
The Sniffer is now trying to track down the feared “Zombie Killer.” Staying one step ahead just got tougher.
BLEEDING HEARTS #9 by Deniz Camp, Stipan Morian, Stjepan Bartolić & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (DC COMICS) pushes Poke into a corner he can’t escape.
Let’s take a closer look at events.
BLEEDING HEARTS #8 by Deniz Camp, Stipan Morian, Stjepan Bartolić & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
writing:
Camp plays into the growing paranoia amongst the zombie community with this latest chapter. The opening pages show the crowd en masse becoming more restless with the notion of a “Zombie Killer’ existing. Their plan on fixing this is the introduction of Sniffer and his handler. The writing plays up the folklore of the mysterious being. Once the true nature is revealed, the story becomes more grounded around the task at hand. Unfortunately, that puts a huge bullseye on Cara’s back.
Her inner monologue carries much pain and cyphering her thoughts. Readers can easily connect her anguish as her fight has been long building. It moves the story to a more combustible situation. Unveiling the “new” Rabbit sparks a less than welcoming response from the community. The writing shows how a good deed becomes punishable. It reflects the rising anger of a community growing more on edge. Its’ fallout leaves a tragic finish while providing a small glimmer of hope. Camp delves into the argument of perception vs. reality while cementing Poke’s stance. The issue concludes leaving a chilling vision of the future in its path with much room to expand on.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW!
art and lettering:
Morian & Bartolić dabble in the panicked looks as fear starts setting in the community. Reactions are mixed until a half panel of Stalker/Sniffer comes into view. Their true nature is revealed in a pair of smaller panels. By doing this, it gives a direct approach to the creative take involved with the character. This point is driven home with an excellent half panel showing the hunter at work. The image is simple by design but speaks volumes before transitioning.
Cara’s dismantling of a zombie horde is brutal in nature. Adding in the small emotional visions makes the act even more chilling. Panels build up Rabbit’s reveal to a fever pitch before a striking half panel presents the new version of the character. This leads to a series of smaller panels as all Hell breaks loose. The quiet mannerisms of Poke and Rabbit steal scenes as the violent confrontations take hold. A magnificent two page spread shows the valiant escape. This balances out the wild imagery of Sniffer’s growing “Theories”. The art teeters between another face-off and the theories coming into view before landing on a strong final space. Readers get a tale of two worlds where one has to eventually give.
FINAL GRADE: 8.8
Poke’s big gamble to save Rabbit falls apart as they become moving targets in the zombie community. Camp crafts some very imaginative takes with Poke and Sniffer’s stories. Morian & Bartolić take the visuals to new heights as the chaos ensues. A storytelling experience like no other!
Let me know your thoughts on BLEEDING HEARTS #9 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
