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Dead Day

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YOU JUST CAN’T KEEP A GOOD CORPSE DOWN

If the dead could come back for just one night, would we want them to?

Meet the Haskins, a seemingly normal suburban family, as they prepare for the annual macabre holiday known as “Dead Day" – when the deceased rise from the grave from sunset to sunrise. Some come back to reunite with family and friends, others for one last night of debauchery, still others with only one thing on their decomposing minds: revenge.

From writer Ryan Parrott (OBERON, VOLITION, Power Rangers) and artist Evgeniy Bornyakov (DESCENDENT, YOU ARE OBSOLETE) comes an unnerving tale of existential horror with grave consequences.

120 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2021

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Ryan Parrott

313 books38 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Melki.
6,660 reviews2,509 followers
March 9, 2021
What if the dead could return for just one night -not in a flesh-ripping, brain-eating, shambling-zombie way, but to reconnect with loved ones, right old wrongs, or possibly even track down their own killers?

The idea for this book came to the author while he was mourning the loss of his grandparents who were killed in a violent home invasion. His wish, "to have them back for just one night . . . to say goodbye" - led to this, of all things - a thought-provoking zombie graphic novel.

We meet a nice family with their mom on a secret (and dangerous) mission, a strange cult called the Revivalists, who greet the return of the dead as an almost religious experience, and a group of extremists looking to permanently destroy the reanimated corpses. Plenty of drama, plenty of thrills. Though there are none of the "eating-scenes" associated with most zombie fiction, there is still plenty of violence, and bloodshed, all featured in brilliant technicolor, so the squeamish should be warned. Otherwise, this was an engaging, interesting, and unusual read.

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*My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this title.
Profile Image for Chad.
9,112 reviews994 followers
February 28, 2021
On Dead Day, the dead return to their families for the night. They are not traditional zombies per se. They still have their memories and aren't thirsting for brains. The story revolves around one family and how a dead loved one is looking for revenge.

There's a lot still unexplored with this concept. There's the Revivalists, a cult that reveres the dead. There's the Lifers who think all the dead need to be put down permanently. There's the police officer waiting at a grave to question a murder victim about her unsolved murder. There's the vengeful dead storming a prison. Maybe one day we'll get a followup series to explore some of these other stories.
Profile Image for jenny✨.
585 reviews894 followers
February 2, 2021
I’m drawn to any and all zombie content, be it shows or films, books or graphic novels. So when I saw Dead Day on NetGalley, smashing that READ NOW button was a no-brainer—pun intended!

I think what fascinates me about the undead is their relentlessness, their seemingly unstoppable drive (to shamble—or sprint, depending on whose worldbuilding we're talking—to consume, to persist). There is also something about survival in a zombie apocalypse that has always profoundly thrilled even as it terrified me. And through it all, I’ve come to expect certain tropes, hunger for brain/flesh being first and foremost; I’ve enjoyed reading all variations on these themes.

So you can imagine my surprise and delight when, in the Introduction, Ryan Parrott writes that Dead Day—despite its undead characters—isn’t a zombie story.

Via several online sources, Parrott describes the inspiration behind this unconventional series:
“I think the inspiration came from the fact that getting older means you start to lose the people you love. I never got a chance to say goodbye to my grandparents before they passed and, I remember for months after their deaths, I would have these insanely vivid dreams were I simply got to talk with them for a few minutes, and then I'd wake up and they were gone. So I thought, what if that actually happened... but worldwide? Television shows like THE PURGE and THE LEFTOVERS have done a wonderful job highlighting how entire societies can change politically or emotionally based on a single moment, and I think I liked the idea of exploring that idea in relationship to death.”

A version of this statement is included in the Introduction, and I thought it framed the graphic novel very, very well. I was impressed with the storytelling, witty dialogue, and character development: Dead Day’s first volume follows the Haskin family as they navigate the eponymous Dead Day—one night that occurs every few years when certain members of the deceased return to the living. It isn’t a night for gore and mayhem, though there definitely still is some of that in this graphic novel.

Rather, this is a story of family, devotion, and the different ways in which we make peace with our dead.




Thank you NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Alexander Peterhans.
Author 2 books266 followers
February 28, 2021
Dead Day! Every few years, the dead come back for 24 hours as undead, and nobody knows why this happens. Most dead want to reconnect with their still living families, others have more nefarious ideas.

This feels like a concept that hasn't been thought through enough. It has become a national holiday of sorts, but then parts of it seems regulated in a controlled way, but other parts don't seem to be at all. I mean, why are people still being buried in graveyards? That seems illogical.

I like that there are 'revivalists', a religious cult around Death Day, of sorts. But what about all major religions? People coming back to life should be a world shattering event to all major religions. It should have huge repercussions.

Besides practical questions, this seems like a nice chance for some emotional storytelling. But our main story turns out to be a run of the mill revenge story, with violence, and goons, and guns. Sure, there's some emotional stuff, but it feels forced in there, it feels unearned.

The other, smaller main story about teenagers going to a revivalist ritual is more interesting. It asks more questions about the nature of death, and how humans relate to it. You know, more thoughtful stuff, not just crime-y gunny stuff.

And there are hints of other, smaller, more interesting stories - a police detective waiting for a murder victim to crawl out of her grave, to help him nab her murderer (again, why is he just standing there waiting, why not exhume her body beforehand). I would've liked to read their story, not some dumb crime revenge thing.

A lot of missed potential.

(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
Profile Image for Kadi P.
810 reviews136 followers
February 8, 2021
*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

The intro to this comic warns the reader that this isn't a zombie comic, and that couldn't be a more apt description. This is not a zombie comic. And it's all the better for it!

This was a fantastic exploration of a family with a twist. The premise of Dead Day may be cliche and the explanation behind it may be non-existent, but this comic sets out to tell the somewhat simple, somewhat complicated story of a family and it succeeds in doing so.

With wonderful art from Evgeny Bornyakov (I follow him on Instagram so it was awesome to see his art in this!) and lovely colours too, this is a solid comic that is definitely worth a read!
Profile Image for Rachael.
199 reviews45 followers
June 21, 2021
Thank you so much to NetGalley and AfterShock Comics for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this wonderful Graphic Novel. I very much prefer my GNs dark and DEAD DAY definitely delivers. The concept here appealed to me - One night of the year the Dead come back to life, and return to walk among the living. Some of the returned having sentimental reasons to visit friends and family, others... not so much.

This could have been just another Zombie tale, and I suppose on the face of it that's exactly what it is, but it is also so much more than that. It is cleverer than that. It subverts some of the tropes you would expect from the Zombie genre, which makes this feel fresh and interesting.

I enjoyed the premise very much, and the characters all seemed believable enough to keep me invested in their choices. I feel this could have benefitted from another couple of chapters to fully flesh out the ending, but otherwise, the pacing really worked for me. I read this in a single afternoon and it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to pass a couple of hours.

I also enjoyed the artwork here. It felt appropriate for the story, and it has a fairly 'clean line' appeal.

All in all a very solid GN and one I would happily recommend to lovers of light horror and the zombie genre.

4 engrossing stars!
Profile Image for Shirin ≽^•⩊•^≼ t..
571 reviews96 followers
February 11, 2021
One day in the year Deads come alive, for some people is a dream and for others is a nightmare because it's time to revenge, AND this is the story of 15 years old revenge.
The story was good, about a few families in one day, BUT I'm not really a horror, creepy and bloody graphic reader, prefer the comedy one. Recommended to dark comics reader.

Thanks to Netgalley, I have given an honest review of DEAD DAY by Ryan Parrott.
Profile Image for Michael J..
875 reviews26 followers
February 14, 2021
Note: I read this in the original monthly Issues #1-5.

    Just when it seemed safe to assume that no one is going to come up with a fresh take on zombies, DEAD DAY arrived. 

     However, it would be incorrect to refer to them as “zombies”, as some younger characters help prolong an urban myth that they’re coming to eat you. "Undead” is closer, but "Undead For 24 Hours" is spot on. Because on Dead Day, for one day that occurs when the celestial bodies align correctly, the dead return “for fun and family visits” (as the helpful Dead Day guide in the extra back-pages content explains for our education).

  The opening page uses a classic poem in the captions as a framing device along with night-time scenes of deserted highways, cemeteries, and empty streets, save for one shrouded figure in the shadows. The first line from “On Death” by John Keats serves as foreshadow for what will come: “Can death be sleep when life is but a dream?”
  
    Some will greet their departed loved ones and celebrate; others will shun them by staying indoors and securing their homes. Some buy party favors, others buy weapons to defend themselves. Don’t forget the revived criminals out for a night of revenge and/or retribution. If your loved one was cremated, you probably don’t have to prepare for a visit. 

   The story focuses on the activities of this years’ Dead Day as father Daniel plans to stay home with teenage son Brandon and younger daughter Jewel while mother Melissa hooks up with an old flame. Apparently, this was planned and Daniel has reluctantly agreed.  Brandon wants to sneak out of the house to party with a girl who’s part of the Revivalists, a cult with mixed views on the meaning of it all. 

   There’s a lot of ground covered here (and not shoveled over) in the first issue. I found it all very engaging, especially the last page which serves as a cliffhanger to whet our appetite for the next issue. The art is perfectly suited to the tone of the story. Some of the scenes and backdrops are perfectly rendered, like a still life painting. More importantly, Bornyakov matches the facial expressions to the story events. That tells a lot. 

 There’s enough zombie fans out there missing The Walking Dead who might enjoy DEAD DAY. While this is definitely not the same, they should find this appealing.  I love a good horror comic, and think this will hit the spot.

The main story center around two events: 1) Melissa re-uniting with former lover Jeremy, who was killed following an armed robbery when his accomplice turned on him. Jeremy seeks revenge on those who wronged him, and 2) Young Brandon’s introduction to the Revivalists and the secrets they reveal to him. As these two events play out, writer Parrott intersperses the story with short vignettes that focus on other activities during Dead Day. These open up the possibility of more, as there is fertile ground to be explored beyond the main story. Here’s hoping the title is popular enough to merit a sequel.

The final issue was a surprise. Many zombie tales do not end well for the protagnoists. Some zombie tales end with a group of people or the key individuals surviving the event, the day, the conflict, etc. DEAD DAY actually ends on a happy note (for most of the characters, but not all) and actually concludes with a warm message about the importance of family, sacrifice, trust, and responsibility. Well done.
Profile Image for Matthew Ward.
936 reviews17 followers
July 23, 2023
I didn’t need this book to tell me that Ryan Parrott was a good writer, but this book definitely solidified that opinion for me. Having only read his Power Rangers comics, I was curious to see what Parrott would do with his own creation and man, did he just kill this one (and brought it back to life, but only for one night every now and then). I’m a sucker for a good zombie story and while your typical survival from a flesh-eating horde story was what I was expecting with this one, it isn’t what I got. While this is technically considered a zombie story, this can be more accurately and importantly described as a story about life, death, and family and to no surprise to myself, when it comes to telling stories about people, Ryan Parrott always delivers excellently.
7,614 reviews102 followers
February 3, 2021
"The Purge" meets the Day of the Dead here, in this well-crafted comic. For some unknown reason, one day of the year some of the dead come to life, and from sun-down to sun-up have a corporeal existence in which to do whatever they want, whether it be reconnect with their living family, get that great lay they missed out on while alive, or get revenge. Us living differ in our thoughts about this, especially those of us with a religious or culty bent, and even within families opinions are split. Our family has the wife wanting to see her old flame get closure, while the husband is stuck at home with his jealousies – oh, but not with their son, who's absconded for some culty gathering in honour of the bizarre festival. But what would happen when the wife, guns, bullets and murderous semi-zombie-like ex, brings all the baggage from the grave home with her?

Of course, as the introduction correctly protests, these are not zombies. Nor are they ghosts here for one last flap around and walk through walls. But consider if they were, for a moment – because the problem with this book is the husband character suddenly threatening to turn all Ash Williams. It's not a problem that makes this book a fail, but it's obvious the arc the character gets is too uneven. And it's only a noticeable problem because the rest of things are so good – the artwork and direction is fine, the filling out of the world is great, and the core plot gets to be really emotional. Stuck at times in cheesy criminality, but ultimately emotional. A strong four stars.
Profile Image for Mehsi.
13.5k reviews411 followers
March 17, 2021
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.


I was very curious about this one, zombies? Dead Day? Dead returning? The cover looked good and so I decided to get this one when I saw it up on Netgalley. And while it was a times a bit disjointed, I am still very happy I tried this graphic novel.

Dead Day, the day the dead come back alive. For many reasons, and some dead you just don’t want to get on earth again (like criminals for instance). It can be a chance for the families to say goodbye to family members who died. Yes, the zombies, I am sorry I am going to call them that, can often talk and do all the things they could do in life before death. Talk, walk, sing, and act revenge.

The story is split up in multiple POV. We have mom and her ex who has come back from the dead, her son, her husband. Then there are POVs for others as well. At times it got a bit confusing and it quite often feel a bit disjointed. However, with the ending I can tell you that it does tie up all nicely and that is what I loved.

I really liked seeing how each person reacted to Dead Day. From the old neighbour who was in the military and who rubbed his doors in blood and keeps guard on the front porch with a gun, to families having parties with their dead loved ones, to police men finding murdered victims and help them out, to prison guards/soldiers trying to not get murdered by dead inmates, to several mercenaries (I would call them that) who kill and burn anyone who has resurrected no matter what. I have to say I wasn’t a fan of those last ones. I mean there is no need to murder the returning dead unless they are harmful (like murderers and that like). I mean they murder innocent people.

The revenge story.. I just wasn’t a big fan of that. Sorry. It was just too much and I frankly just wanted to enjoy the story as it is. Because as it is, without the revenge, it was a good story.

I liked that we learned so much about various things, like mom’s relationship with our biker dude, or why the revenge was needed. And we also get some interesting revelations. Oh yes.

The art was pretty good. I loved the sketch pages at the end.

Oh, and I love the extra information on Dead Day. What to do, and what not to do and some other things. I always love it when stuff like this is added.

All in all, this was an interesting book with a great twist on zombies/dead returning from the grave.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Profile Image for Devon Munn.
451 reviews81 followers
June 19, 2021
4.1 stars

While it wasn't a very investing story it still was pretty solid and interesting and I laughed quite a few times

Profile Image for Syeda Sumayya Tariq.
310 reviews67 followers
February 6, 2021
The Walking Dead but with a twist! Sometimes they come back for unfinished business!

Super good, loved it. The graphics are awesome, attention to details, and the colour palette, amazing. I just really loved how all the dead were different in appearance, you can see how they died, and for how long they have been dead, so unlike TWD, and full marks for that.

I also really appreciate how the clear the writing print was, for most, the writing gets so lost somewhere in the graphics. The story was great too, I would have liked a bit more into the origins of the “Dead” but still, it was a very enjoyable read, even for adults. Much recommended.

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley, and publishers. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Mandy.
383 reviews37 followers
November 13, 2021
I'm a proud zombie fan and lover of the dead. I feel it necessary to get that out the way because I was always going to like Ryan Parrott' and Evgeniy Bornyakov's Dead Day, the question was simply: how much. The thing about the genre is that you can make the rules up as you go along and that is done brilliantly in this latest graphic novel about the dead rising again. To be clear, Parrott states up from that this is not a zombie story.

The Story

The inspiration for Dead Day came from extremely painful events in Parrott's own life: the murder of his grandparents. In the aftermath, he asked himself what he would say to them if they could gone back for just one night. And what would that night look like? What if it happened the whole world over?

Dead Day is set in that world where the dead come back - every now and again - for just one night and loose ends are tied up. The only problem? Dead things are best left as they are.

The Art and Letters

Dead Day is gorgeous and I was drawn in immediately by the cover and concept. Evgeniy Bornyakov (Descendent, You Are Obsolete) is the artist and Juancho! is responsible for the vibrant, lush colours. Letterers often go unmentioned but I really liked Charles Pritchett's letters and the manner in which he distinguished between narration and story.

Stan Zone

Recommended if you like: The Walking Dead, The Purge

Verdict

I liked Dead Day a lot and will definitely be keeping an eye on what Parrott, Bornyakov, Juancho! and Pritchett do next. Will be great if they work together again.

I received an electronic copy of this graphic novel from Netgalley. I will always provide an honest review, whether books are provided to me or purchased by me.

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Profile Image for April Gray.
1,364 reviews8 followers
March 1, 2021
This was not what I was expecting exactly, so if you normally avoid zombie stuff, don't worry- no zombies here. There are dead people walking around, but they are coherent and remember their lives, and they don't want to eat you. They *might* want to kill you, but only if you wronged them when they were alive, and frankly, that makes sense. Basically, this is Parrott's riff on "what if we could spend a day/evening/night/whatever with [deceased love one]?" In the story, for reasons that no one knows, the dead around the world will occasionally rise on a certain day (there's no set timing, but when a Dead Day happens, the date of the next Dead Day is revealed by an oracle) from sundown till sunrise the next morning, with several years in between events. The Dead Day happening in the story is the fifth time this has happened, so it's happened enough for people to be used to it, for a cult to have sprung up around it, a militant religious group bent on permanently killing the dead to be formed, and for a sort of holiday status for the event to be established. Not every dead person rises, or doesn't show up every time; no one knows why. Only corpses come back- cremated bodies can't return, which makes sense. If you want to see your dead loved one, you need to be within walking (or shambling) distance of their body, Grandma buried in Chicago can't make it to your home in L.A. in time. Some dead just want to spend time with their loved ones, some want to party and have fun again, and some want vengeance. This story is a vengeance tale, with a married mother of two venturing out to fulfill a promise she made to her fiance, a biker double-crossed in a heist gone wrong. This story was okay, but just didn't have as much oomph as I would've liked it to have. The pacing felt off, going between dragging and hey-this-is-getting-good. The more interesting story for me was the woman's 13-14 year old son, sneaking out to go to a cult ceremony because the girl he likes invited him. We get some hints at what's going on with the dead, and get to meet their oracle, a dead woman who knows all about everyone, and who the cult essentially worships. She tells our boy something about his family, a secret that makes him head home, just in time to get in the middle of the vengeance thing going really wrong (I'm trying to be vague and not give details so I don't spoil anything, but honestly, you'll likely figure it out or get an idea of what's going to happen). The cult and the religious militia group were the best part I thought, but that might just be me. The woman's and her family's story gets wrapped up, but there are still loose ends to be tied up, making me wonder if there will be more. If there isn't then I'm annoyed about the story with the retired police detective seeking out the murder victim to find out who killed her, because seriously, there was no point in adding that in if you're not gonna finish it, Parrott my man. Overall, a good story with a little bit of awkwardness, nothing major, good art, nice and moody, and makes you think about how you'd handle the situation.
Profile Image for D.K. Hundt.
701 reviews27 followers
February 23, 2021
‘From writer RYAN PARROTT (OBERON, VOLITION, Power Rangers) and artist EVGENIY BORNYAKOV (DESCENDENT, YOU ARE OBSOLETE) comes an unnerving tale of existential horror with grave consequences…’

About:

DEAD DAY, a comic book that centers around both the living and the dead, isn’t a Zombie storyline in the traditional cannibalistic-run-for-your-lives narrative but rather one that asks the question…

‘What would you do if the dead could come back for one day?’

‘[W]hen the deceased rise from the grave from sunset to sunrise. Some come back to reunite with family and friends, others for one last night of debauchery.’

My Thoughts:

The story centers around the Haskin’s, a family of four who live in Pewter Falls, are preparing for the annual holiday know as ‘Dead Day’. Unbeknownst to the suburbanites, there is a man connected to the family whose one goal is to enact revenge against the formidable foes who had a hand in sending him six feet under, putting said family in peril.

It’s not a surprise that I am a HUGE fangirl of all things walking dead—be it by way of flesh eaters, revenge seekers, or just reminiscing with the dearly departed—I AM ALL IN!

So, when I saw DEAD DAY available on NetGalley, my finger could not hit that request button fast enough, let me tell yah.

As a lover of Comic Books since my younger years and later Graphic Novels, the one constant that sucks me in has always been the Artwork with the hopes of a storyline that holds my interest.

In the case of DEAD DAY? Most Definitely!

Highly Recommend!

One of my favorite scenes, heartbreaking, but gave me a giggle at the very end:

Location: Cemetery in Pewter Falls
Time: Evening of Dead Day
Scene: Retired Homicide Detective patiently waits as a female corpse rises from the grave.

Corpse:

‘What’s going—Who are—‘

Detective:

‘Okay. There’s nothing to be afraid of.’

‘Tiffany, I’m sorry to be the one to have to tell you this, if you haven’t figured it out already, but…’

You’re Dead. Have been for a little over three years now. But I’m here to help you do something about it.’

‘Oh, and I brought you your favorite Latte.’

Thank you, NetGalley and Aftershock Comics, for loaning me a eGalley Comic Book of DEAD DAY in the request of an honest review.

In Closing:

‘Dead Day is an exciting and family-oriented holiday that can be enjoyed by all ages with just a little forethought and planning. Also, please remember to be kind and courteous to your neighbors who may not be lucky enough to participate in the event.’

Scheduled For Release – eBook/March 3, 2021 & Paperback/March 16, 2021 (Subject To Change)
Available Now For Pre-order
***Note - This volume contains the entire series, issues #1-5.
Reading Age – 16 years and up
Profile Image for MissJLovesReading.
193 reviews8 followers
February 19, 2021
Dead Day by Ryan Parrott was a very confusing and weird read for me, because at the end of the read, I felt kind of conflicted. The start of the book had me confused, the middle had me grossed out and creeped out too, and the end had me feeling like this was a well-finished and well-rounded story.

I expected this to be a zombie story and whilst I haven't read many graphic novels in my time, the ones I have read I have enjoyed. I can't say whether I have enjoyed Dead Day just yet. This is one of those reads that I think I need to sit with and think about over the next few days to properly digest it and come to a more concrete feeling of whether it was a hit or miss for me.

At the moment, I didn't dislike it, but I didn't really enjoy it either. What I did enjoy was the ending and how it may not have been a positive or happy ending per se, it was still one that I think was done well and left me with enough hope for the characters overall.

As someone that can't watch horror movies, quite often has to sleep with the light on at night and can easily scare myself into pure terror from hearing a thump outside or reading a scary story or accidentally flicking across a scary show or movie on television, this probably wasn't the graphic novel for me. The illustrations were pretty yuck and would definitely not be something I would be showing children any younger than mid-teens. I would compare it to maybe the Walking Dead television show, so there is some unpleasant illustrations each chapter.

This wasn't a long read and I managed to finish it in about 30 minutes so if you're after a well-rounded story that is quick and easy to read, and don't mind some horror or enjoy it, even, then this may very well be a great choice for you. I'm more a sunshine and unicorn girl, but I can see that overall this was a nicely wrapped-up story with interesting characters, fast-pacing and I particularly enjoyed the ending. .
Profile Image for Raychel.
215 reviews10 followers
February 20, 2021
**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

I love zombie media in any form. Ryan Parrott's author's note at the beginning was a really smart decision. He took the time to explain where he got his inspiration and delve a little bit into the idea of "zombies" as a genre. I agree with him that zombie media is often not about the zombies themselves. It *is* about the survivors and the ability for the reader to step inside the character's shoes, to see if they would survive against these monsters. Apocalyptic worlds are often ultimately about human endurance and it is that much poignant when they are up against the former remnants of humanity itself.

With that being said, I loved the premise of this graphic novel. One day out of the year, the dead will rise with sentience. They can rejoin family, fulfill last wishes, seek revenge, or anything else imaginable. That's a take I haven't seen before. I also really enjoyed the idea of the Revivalist religion. I like cults, I enjoyed the imagery of the Widow Mother, and I was interested to see how the other characters were going to interact with the Revivalists.

There were some strong aspects to this story but ultimately I just felt like nothing was this holding this together. There was a plot, sure. And I could describe it...but it feels like just bare bones held together with some solid, gory illustrations. The characterizations are inconsistent and all over the place, there isn't any follow through, and I felt like nothing was answered. For example,

So, overall disappointing for me. Some good parts but not enough to interest me any further.
Profile Image for Paul Decker.
753 reviews17 followers
March 4, 2021
*I received this book as an eARC from Aftershock Comics via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I've really enjoyed Ryan Parrott's Power Rangers comic series so when I saw he wrote a zombie-focused book, I had to check it out. As this book makes clear in the forward, this book is not solely about zombies being zombies. It's about the relationships between people, both dead and alive.

There's a special day when some of those dead and buried rise from the grave. Obviously, such an unusual change in the norm of life has led to extremists. Cults! There's the gun-toting mock militia bent on re-killing the dead. There's the veiled cult who guide the dead and have a spiritual connection.

Then there's the family we focus on. What appears to be a traditional family with a mother, father, son, and daughter is a little bit more complex. I definitely wanted it to be more divergent from the assumed American family, though. This book is very White-centric and hetero-normative. I'm always looking for queer representation in everything I read. There's one mention of the Day of the Dead, but it's just a one-off comment. With a concept so close to a Latinx cultural day, I was surprised there wasn't more of a connection. There's definitely room for more worldbuilding reveals in this world, though.

I liked seeing the bureaucracy of America dealing with this concept. This book is very much about revenge. There's a lot of violence in this book. And violence is often used as a way for a character to solve a problem.

I didn't connect too much with the characters in this book. I really dig the concept, but the family members and their priorities aren't things I directly relate to. I give this book a 3/5.
Profile Image for Jesse.
101 reviews5 followers
February 27, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Aftershock Comics for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Dead Day is scheduled for release on March 16th, 2021.

Despite what you may think, Dead Day is not a zombie story or an apocalyptic tale, but it is reminiscent of both in terms of its illustration style and its motivations.

Dead Day (the holiday, so to speak) is a fairly new occurrence that happens once every year or so; it is when the deceased may come back to life for one night to reconnect with loved ones, take care of any unfinished business, or get drunk off 65 cent beers, dealer’s choice.

This graphic novel follows Melissa Haskin as she reconnects with an old friend for one last ride that quickly goes south which puts her and her family in danger.

I had a great time reading this book; I thought it was well written, the art was beautiful, and the story kept an excellent pace; I never felt like I was being dragged along or left behind.

The concept of the dead becoming temporarily undead is always fun in and of itself, but Dead Day is more than that; it is also about love and family and the lengths that people will go to prove their love and to take care of those closest to them.
Profile Image for Chris.
472 reviews3 followers
June 12, 2022
I picked this up when I heard that it was being developed into a TV series by the creators of ‘The Vampire Diaries’. It’s an interesting concept - What if the dead could return for just one night, not in the usual brain eating zombie way, but as themselves to spent time with loved ones, right old wrongs, or possibly even track down their own killers?
There is quite a bit of basic worldbuilding where we are introduced to a cult that worships the dead, a paramilitary group on a ‘religious’ mission to protect the living and burn the dead and of course the perfect all American family living in suburbia with lots of secrets.
There is so much that a TV series can build on. I loved the retired police detective waiting at the grave of a victim to interview them over who killed them. Lets face it coming from the makers of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ it’s going to be a lot of unrealistically beautiful people doing increasingly unrealistic and bloody things and I will be there binging it every dateless Saturday night (by which I mean every Saturday night).
The story is a good introduction to the world but it could have been so much more and I hope that we get further graphic novels as well as the TV series.
2,034 reviews33 followers
February 19, 2021
In this graphic novel is what appears to be a normal family. However when “dead day” happens, secrets and surprise are revealed. The holiday “dead day” is when the dead rise from their graves and seek love, revenge and knowledge of what happened. A mother talks to a former boyfriend that has risen and ends up at her home. Why? A boy goes to meet a girl he has a crush on in secret. They are both alive but the girl with the boy goes to a group that seems to be a cult which scares him. He is given a message that upsets him. What is it? These are my favorites. I do want to say there is more and it is excellent too.

The story is more than a zombie story as the dead are aware and not brain dead or “hungry.” It is the chance to get answere between the living and the dead. I enjoyed reading this graphic novel because it surprised me. The story is well written. The illustrations are perfect for this story.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Profile Image for Angela.
328 reviews
February 28, 2021
I received this and as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for giving me access.

When you think dead coming back to life, you probably jump to zombies...and while these technically are a relation to zombies, they are far from it.

I loved the concept of this. The dead coming back to life and you can spend a night with them like old times. This is great, especially for those that didn't get the time they wanted or the chance to say good by. It would have been nicer to have more background on this day instead of the random people coming back that literally had no meaning to the story.

We have flashbacks of the past to better understand Jermey coming back. I was confused for the first portion because I had no idea what was really going, why was this lady leaving her husband and children for this man that may or may not show up? Well we do get out answer and truth bombs are dropped. Surprisingly, the ones to be shocked the most handles the situation of the matter quite well.

I am interested in more since it seems like a second death isn't a finality.
Profile Image for AbigailMarie007.
23 reviews3 followers
March 2, 2021
The arc was kindly provided through NetGalley! This book was a fun take on the classic zombie story. What is new about this book is that it's not a survival story! Essentially, Dead Day happens every so often (not once a year- and not to be confused with Dia De Los Muertos), the dead are allowed to come back for one evening. The are reanimated in whatever form the died in, so as you can imagine, some are a sight to see. This story follows a family who is just sort of trying to get through the evening, each with their own unique plot line. The story jumps around between individual story lines just enough to keep the story moving along and keeping you hooked. The is sort of hell bent on revenge, the Dad is just trying to keep it together. The son is not interested in being kept in and the daughter, well she wants ice cream! I finished this book in one sitting and I enjoyed every second of it!
Profile Image for Aryn O'Connor.
93 reviews24 followers
February 15, 2021
I'm not usually one for zombie content and sometimes adult graphic novels tend to be a little too much gore/shock factor and not enough plot. However, I really enjoyed this one and its take. The art was really good - gore in necessary increments given that it is a zombie story, but nothing that seemed overly gratuitous or unnecessary for the plot points. I really enjoyed the plot overall. I am fascinated by "Dead Day" and would love to find out more about it's history or what started it. Definitely also want to know more about the Widow Mother and her part in everything. I even felt like the family's plot line was strong as well - it didn't take too much of a back seat to all of the action and the elements going on around it. Really strong and I am anxious to read more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC!
Profile Image for Wayne McCoy.
4,098 reviews27 followers
March 22, 2021
'Dead Day' by Ryan Parrott with art by Evgeniy Bornyakov is a graphic novel about a day when the dead come back to life, but it's not a zombie story.

Once every year or so, the dead come back to life, but not necessarily all of them. Some of them want revenge, and some want to reunite with loved ones. There are those who welcome them and those who want to stop them. This book deals with a family and a wife who wants to reunite with her dead husband. The dead husband just wants revenge for a crime that went wrong.

I really liked the concept and it feels like there is a lot here to work with. The worldbuilding and concepts are solid. The art was pretty good too.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from AfterShock Comics, Diamond Book Distributors, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,279 reviews18 followers
February 24, 2021
I received an eARC courtesy of Aftershock Comics via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Hmmm....

I enjoy the premise-the dead come back for one random night every few years or so. But some parts of the story are a bit abrupt and perplexing (as a parent, I cannot see putting my children at risk making some of the decisions the parents in this story make). The illustrations are great-appropriately gross.

Overall, I think this is intriguing, but perhaps raises too many questions for me about the choices characters made. Then again, perhaps that was the intent.

For Libraries: Fans of the darker side of graphics will find something interesting here.
Profile Image for Shazia.
259 reviews16 followers
March 15, 2022
Seeing a comic with dead people on the cover, you expect it to be about Zombies, with survivors fighting for their lives. But Dead Day was totally original in that the dead don't come back to feast on the living. In this alternate universe, there is now a new "holiday" called Dead Day in which the dead come back to life for one night. Some want to spend the night with their families while some just want revenge.

This is a good standalone comic, but the Dead Day concept is interesting enough that if Parrott did come out with another volume (whether it's a continuation or another character's storyline in this world), I would probably give it a read.
Profile Image for Giovanna Pohli.
30 reviews
February 6, 2021
Interessante a proposta porém a lógica é questionável, como pode uma sociedade preparada para tal acontecimento deixar os mortos andarem na rua sem nenhum preparo estrutural, mandarem policiais para matar os mortos??? Por que não evitar a fadiga antes mesmo deles resolverem matar os vivos.
Com essa sinopse o autor poderia ter entregado algo realmente intrigante e envolvente, mas foi para um lado totalmente desinteressante e sem adereços.
A arte não é nada memorável embora não seja ruim, entregou um bom trabalho para criação visual dos personagens.
Profile Image for Jennifer T..
780 reviews14 followers
February 10, 2021
What a horrifying yet interesting concept Dead Day is, like a mix of Romero’s zombies with The Purge. This was an excellent graphic novel, really original and entertaining story. Personally I’d like more background about when/why/how it started, who the Widow Mother is, more about the new revivalists, etc. but maybe there will be more books coming where that could be explained. I’ll definitely read them if they come out.
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