Zombie Powder #1 by Tito Kubo

Viz Media/Shonen Jump, 2006
ISBN: 978-1421501529
Available: New

Kubo’s first graphic novel, Zombie Powder, is a Western-flavored tale starring Gamma, a chainsaw sword wielding ultra-criminal (as the good guy), super shooter, suit wearer C.T. Smith, and Elwood, a kid who wants to bring his older sister back from the dead. The trio faces down the gangs who run the world in a quest to gather the 12 Rings of the Dead, which are said to create zombie powder, concentrated life force which can return the dead to life or make the living immortal.

What Zombie Powder has going for it are action and great characters. Gamma is a great “Robin Hood” type character, Smith is amusing and intimidating, and Elwood gives the story soul, with all three hitting perfect notes when it comes to compelling leads. The action is often hard to follow, and much of the story devolves into action in a “Matrix” style of storytelling, with ten pages of plot, then ten more of fighting. But Zombie Powder is a fun, wild ride through ink. Recommended for public collections that include manga or as a starter for those that don’t. Grades 9-12 or up.

Contains: Implied rape, torture and other criminal activity, implied gore