Indie Comic Review: Memphis vs. Zombies #1

Standing out from the crowd is tough. So many stories try to play in a certain genre and honor the tropes that fans love. But stories also have to be original and unique. There has to be a hook that reels you in and keeps you reading. Zombies can especially fall victim to this trap as there have been so many zombie stories over the years. Memphis vs Zombies is a title that sounds fun and has a lot of potential. But the first issue takes too long to get going and doesn't have enough to stand out from the crowd. 

The first issue is actually pretty simple. It starts off with a bunch of Elvis impersonators about to start a race. The main character then gets pulled over by the cops. It appears as if he's going to be harassed, but the cops are actually pretty nice. But their interaction is cut short when the Elvis impersonators arrive already turned into a zombie horde. The issue ends as the protagonist and the cops who pulled him over escape. 

The issue also has a backup story about a guitar playing skeleton, who seems to be far more interesting than the main story. Maybe the two will come together at some point, but for now they appear separate. On the technical side, the art got the job done, even if the lettering could be improved upon. But pacing and leaning into the Memphis side of the title is what's most important. For a first issue, the action came in way too late. It was fun once the zombies arrived, and it's possible the second issue could pick up steam. But there still needs to be more of a hook to make the title really shine. It needs to move a lot quicker than this first issue was paced.