But the story has no real tone of its own, and the two-page excerpts from the four franchises’ individual “Infestation” stories that appear at the back of this thing make all of them look like generic “let’s shoot some zombies until we run out of pages” stuff. I’m guessing we’re not going to get to see the crossover series’ characters interact with each other, either. Bummer.
(More on TIME.com: The Comic Book Club: Batman: The Dark Knight and Hellboy)
GRAEME: See, this is where I clearly have far lower tastes, because I really enjoyed this issue. It’s completely dumb, it doesn’t try and do anything new or original, and I kind of love it all the more for that: It’s a “zombies cause trouble in a sci-fi world” story, and that’s all I really wanted it to be. I was sad that we didn’t really get to see more crossover between the various universes – or even appearances, beyond the previews in the back – but I found myself more involved in the story (if not exactly rooting for the good guys as much as “I wonder how horribly all of them are going to die… It is the set-up issue, so they all have to fail somehow, after all) than I’d expected, and the McGuffin was cute enough to make me not hate the flimsiness of the crossover premise. Maybe I was just ready for something this gleefully stupid, and because it was an opener rather than a final chapter, more ready to forgive the lack of plot and/or weight?
Part of the charm for me is the art, I have to admit: I’ve really, really liked David Messina’s work elsewhere in the IDW line over the last few years (he’s done a lot of their Star Trek books, and some Angel ones, too, I think), and I’m surprised DC or Marvel haven’t grabbed him yet. His stuff is clear and attractive and just cartoony enough to appeal to mainstream fans, if y’ask me. He’s one of the selling points of this book, and I’m sad that he won’t be doing all of the crossover issues.
Hmm. Feeling disappointed by Fantastic Four and loving Infestation. I think people may be wondering where my critical faculties went this week.
DOUGLAS: Graeme, you ignorant slut, etc.
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EVAN: I’d’ve rather have had less set-up and more crossover in this first issue. If you give me a cover with Snake Eyes, Spock, Optimus Prime and a guy who’s supposed to be Bill Murray all facing off against zombies, then zombies need to be getting sliced, phasered, stomped and quipped against. I really felt like this book was trying to sell me on the coolness of the CVO title, which I neither needed nor cared about. Also, sooooo much time was spent on setting up the McGuffin that I resented parts of the story that I otherwise would’ve had fun with. I mean, I know it’s cheese. Just give me the cheese. Don’t tell me where the cows were raised, what they were fed and how long it was aged for. Just give me the cheese. Too much explaining leads me to roll my eyes at scenes where robots become zombies. All the buttressing of the concept inside the text makes the whole affair feel insecure. “I am the Gateway and the Opener of Paths. I am of two worlds and therefore of all worlds. I take the Eternal Hunger where it needs to go.” Really? All of that? It’s a lot of pedaling to barely get to the front porch of where I wanted the story to start.