Review - Zombie Tramp Saves XXX-Mas #1 (@ActionLabDanger)


"Maybe I'll get lucky this year and Santa will bring me exactly what I want--"

Zombies have typically been associated with two things: Halloween and Michael Jackson's Thriller video. Now, thanks to The Walking Dead, they're everywhere, invading all forms of media at any time of the year. Zombie Tramp is one of the more unique takes on the genre and Action Lab Danger Zone is putting her to work over the holidays in Zombie Tramp Saves XXX-Mas #1. The issue is written by Jason Martin and Dan Mendoza, illustrated by Marcelo Trom, colored by Marcelo Costa and lettered by Adam Wollet.

When a fat old man dressed as Santa throws Christmas raves to drug select young women to ship to the “North Pole”, only Zombie Tramp’s undead blood can stop the potent cocktail and turn the tables on him and his perverted “elves."

Fans of Zombie Tramp should have an idea of what to expect at this point from the series and Zombie Tramp Saves XXX-Mas #1 is no exception. In fact, it seems as if both Martin and Mendoza rather gleefully adapted their character in the holiday setting. The writers spin Santa as a criminal dressed as the jolly old elf who's into human trafficking and has an affinity for blondes. That alone gives the reader enough reason to despise the character, with Martin and Mendoza using that to their advantage as Zombie Tramp rips her way through his crew. It helps to have some knowledge of the character prior to reading Zombie Tramp Saves XXX-Mas #1, as there are some instances where Zombie Tramp relies on powers that seemingly come out of nowhere, but fans of hers know that she's capable of quite a bit.

The artwork in Zombie Tramp Saves XXX-Mas #1 is anything but family-inspired as Trom focuses on Zombie Tramp's savage combat prowess to carry most of the issue. It's only fitting that her targets get brutalized in such a visceral way and Trom doesn't pull any punches in illustrating that rawness. Once you get past the intestines being pulled from victims, there's an obvious Bruce Timm influence in Trom's illustrations, as characters sport sharp, angular faces and body shapes. The blackened gutters add a level of darkness to the issue that further emphasize this design style in that the characters stand out much more boldly. The colors by Costa are largely reds and pinks which--again--fit well with the type of fighter Zombie Tramp is.

Zombie Tramp Saves XXX-Mas #1 is a very violent take on a traditionally peaceful holiday. Zombie Tramp doesn't let that work as an excuse for holding back, relying on every tool in her arsenal to achieve her objective of ridding the world of one more completely sadistic individual. Martin and Mendoza infuse Zombie Tramp with almost as much sadism throughout the issue. And Trom's illustrations are clean and match the story itself very well. Zombie Tramp Saves XXX-Mas #1 is an interesting issue that reminds the reader that for every tree that needs to be trimmed there's a baddie who also needs to be cut down to size.

Zombie Tramp Saves XXX-Mas #1 is in stores now.

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