I was going to review 'Threads' this week but I couldn't bring myself to watch it again.
Instead I've gone for something a little less disturbing, Garth Ennis's ten part "Crossed".
Yes nothing like a tale about psychotic, rapist, cannibals to help you unwind! Crossed is released through Avatar press, was written by the excellent Garth Ennis with artwork by Jacen Burrows.
It is essentially an 'end of life as we know it' survival story.
The 'crossed' of the title have been infected by a super plague which as well as marking them with a facial scar shaped liked a cross also turns them into homicidal lunatics with a penchant for rape and torture.
The story follows a group of survivors as they head across America looking for safety.
The twist here is that unlike your typical zombie story, the crossed can move and act just as quickly as the survivors, like the scary zombies in the new version of 'dawn of the dead'.
They also use weapons, plan attacks, and track their victims making them very dangerous adversaries.
In addition they are not just looking for food, they delight in torturing and murdering their victims in ever more inventive ways all graphically illustrated by Burrows brilliant artwork.
Its a good story and its well written as you would expect from a talented writer like Ennis and the artwork really brings home the lunacy and depravity of the 'crossed', but it has its flaws.
The 'good guys' are your typical bunch of survival stereotypes, we have the nerdy geek turned veteran warrior, the mysterious ice queen leader, the annoying part, the friendly old guy, the token black guy, the disabled cute chick who always stays upbeat, the kid, although not the usual vomit inducing little gobshite as well as the usual bunch of cannon fodder.
All they are missing is a dog, but don't worry they get one later! In fairness, over a ten part series it is difficult to develop characters and Ennis seems to have gone for ones which everyone will know to speed things along.
Those of you familiar with Garth Ennis will know he likes to shock and he doesn't disappoint here, however he has a tendency to overdo it.
"Preacher", which Ennis also wrote, was the first comic to print 'fuck' in its entirety and Ennis used it so often that it became extremely annoying and actually spoiled the story.
He does something similar here and by chapter seven the antics of the crossed become more 'yawn' than 'fuck me'.
Ennis still makes a good fist of it despite the lack of character development and the story and characters will keep you engaged right to the rather predictable ending.
He throws in a few plot twists along the way but it is Burrows artwork that gives the book its 'Bloody Hell' factor! Overall it is nice idea well executed but it could have done with a longer run to allow Ennis develop his characters.
Anyone who has read "Preacher" or "Hellblazer" will know that Ennis is capable of creating great characters.
The book itself comes in at a hefty 240 pages and the artwork is a real pleasure.
All of the artwork from the original series is included in a cover gallery and at the beginning of each chapter which really brings the story alive.
Well worth a look but if you are squeamish or easily offended then stay clear.