Star Spangled War Stories featuring G.I. Zombie #4 Review

Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by: Scott Hampton
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

The Driving Dead

G.I. Zombie (which I will always call this book) is an odd egg.  It seems to exist somewhere outside of the New 52 and is mature in an in-your-face, rated R sort of way.  Violence, sexual innuendo, more violence and a little more than just innuendo is the order of the day.  Just like the book, my enjoyment lies somewhere just out of reach.  At points I think this book is a unique and refreshing change of pace while other times I find it cliched and generic.  Often times, this feeling changes back and forth on the same page.  This issue is no different.



This month begins with a little background for Carmen.  It's full of sexual innuendo (surprise), but  is the first bit of real information we get of her.  It shows her strength, but also loss that approaches what we already know about Jared.  Although it's brief, I liked what we got.

We get back to the present and the main event of the issue, Jared versus a town of zombies.  It seems the missle Jared rode into town was a biological weapon that turned every man, woman, child and dog into a zombie.  Palmiotti and Gray aren't interested in the how and why, they are interested in a kick ass zombie vs zombie battle.  Thankfully, it's pretty cool.

We then get a brief look at the real villain behind all of the trouble.  He comes off as a James Bond type evil mastermind which makes me wonder why he associates with the kind of sleaze he does.  I guess we will have to wait until at least next month because the book ends with Jared still in the infected town, but Carmen about to break bread with the enemy.  Han sitting down with Darth Vader comes to mind.  I hope Carmen doesn't get encased in carbonite.

I liked this issue for the most part.  It still feels a bit cliched, but it moves the story forward more than any other before it.  I just don't know if that's a good thing just yet.

I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of Scott Hampton's art and this issue doesn't change that.  It may be a personal thing, but I prefer a more detailed style.  Hampton's broad stroke, water color painting style tends to get confusing and just rubs me the wrong way.

Bits and Pieces:

This is a decent issue in a series that is trying desperately to gain it's footing.  Palmiotti and Gray push the story forward and give us some good character development, but I'm still not impressed.  I think there is room for a mature book in the New 52, but things better heat up quickly if this is going to be the one that lasts.

6.5/10