The Wilds #1 Review

Writer: Vita Ayala / Artists: Emily Pearson and Marissa Louise /Letterer: Jim Campbell Black Mask Studios The market of post-apocalyptic, zombie infused comics/graphic novels is full of options. This week brought us The Wilds from Black Mask Studios, a visually unique comic that could shape up to be a real stand out in a crowded field. Written by Vita Ayala (she’s written for Bitch Planet and Suicide Squad), with art by Emily Pearson (artist for Vault Comic’s Cult Classic: Zero Short) and Marissa Louise (colorist for Boom! Studio’s Escape From New York), The Wilds features complex queer characters, menacing “friends”, and hints of twist right from the first few pages. We are immediately treated to the backstory — the usual flu that turns people into shambling zombies, but every panel is filled with flowers, not the usual background for a book of this type. After that, we’re introduced to runners — people who leave the safety of walled compounds to make deliveries, or to scavenge locations for goods. Quickly, however, the liberty of runners is brought into question. How easy is it to leave the job? How voluntary is it, really? The suspense of the setting grows steadily through the issue as we zoom in on the main character: Daisy Walker. She’s one of those responsible types, she does the job because it needs doing. She risks her life for strangers. She’s “Good” capital G. Then you meet her girlfriend, Heather, and the rest of her friends, all of whom are encouraging her to g…