• Comics

by LargeMarge67 on 02.03.12

When I first learned of this new title from Image Comics, my interest was immediately piqued. My current infatuation with zombie comics has caused me to keep an ever-vigilant eye out for books featuring flesh-eaters. Alpha Girl takes a stab at the genre while offering a new perspective, which I found quite refreshing. The story follows Judith Meyers, a teenage girl educated in the School of Hard Knocks, who finds herself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse circa 1984. (The fact that her name is a nod to the Halloween films made her instantly appealing, by the way!) She and her younger brother, Buddy, were split up and placed in foster homes as children and reuniting with him will likely be a driving force in future issues.

What is most unique about the story is how the zombies, who are all female, come to be. Once a cosmetics company, Moujou, decides to add pheromones to its perfume, the feast of flesh is off and running, literally! These undead eating machines don’t shuffle around like psych patients on thorazine, either. They run, jump, pounce and consume, baby! And isn’t mass consumption what capitalism is all about?

Alpha Girl has a definite sense of humor throughout and the artwork is fantastic. The funny tone juxtaposed with the dark subject matter really works well and the pacing is perfect. The only complaint I have is how the story is split into two separate narratives; Judith’s backstory and the creation of the perfume. If this tale had been bookended with a final word from Judith, I would have been much more satisfied with its conclusion.

I must admit that I am sick and tired of commending Image Comics for churning out one great title after another. It’s exhausting work and I need something that sucks to clear the palate. So how ‘bout it? Could you help a brother ou…wait…what the hell am I talking about?! Keep ‘em coming, guys! I’ll have to sell more blood to afford all these books you’re adding to my stack and that’s just fine. I recommend that all you comic book addicts out there add Alpha Girl to yours, as well. Now I have to go. Gotta find another blood bank that doesn’t know me…