Tag Archives: cold dead war

Cold Dead War #1 Gets a New Printing and Variants

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Heavy Metal has announced that Cold Dead War #1, the first issue of the WWII Horror-War zombie series, written by George C. Romero and illustrated by Germán Ponce, has sold out and is going back to press. Due to popular demand, Heavy Metal is releasing a second printing of the issue, featuring brand-new pinup variant covers by artists D•MINT•ID and Albert Alvarado. The new covers, taken straight from the B-17 war bunker, show off a bomb-straddling model in both her human and undead form.

Cold Dead War follows the zombie crew of a B-17 bomber who continue their mission to fight and kill enemies of American democracy and freedom, even long after they’ve already given their lives to the cause. In this epic Horror-War series set across the past, present and future, a freak occurrence reanimates an island of freshly killed soldiers in the wake of the Battle of Midway in World War 2. In Cold Dead War #1, Captain Howard hides away on a small farm, but he can’t shake the memories he has of his failed bombing mission in Japan during the war, which ended in disaster and death. He can’t hide from his past…especially when it’s not dead yet.

For this special second printing, Heavy Metal is offering a set of variant covers featuring the traditional bomber pinup and a non-traditional zombie version: both versions will be available topless, as only Heavy Metal would have the nerve to do.

All three variant covers, in both standard and virgin cover formats, are available for retailers to purchase from Heavy Metal Direct, and only Cover A will be solicited via Diamond Distributors. The topless version of Cover A will be wrapped in brown paper due to the adult content.

Individuals can also purchase their cover of choice from the Heavy Metal website and have an option to buy a bundle, which also includes issues #2-#4 and a discount code to use for the trade paperback pre-sale. Cold Dead War #1, with Cover A, will be available to purchase in stores on September 29, 2021, and Golden Apple will be exclusively selling the topless zombie variant cover.

Retailers can use the sign up form on Heavy Metal’s website to order this special second printing. The final order cut off for purchasing retailer issues is August 4, 2021. The in-store date is September 8, 2021.

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Robin #1

Wednesdays (and now Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.

20 Fists #1 (Source Point Press) – Described as a story about “fist fights and bad romance” that’s all we need to know to get us to read this first issue.

Beatnik Buenos Aires (Fantagraphics) – Set in 1963, this graphic novel celebrates a time in Argentine history when its art scene blossomed.

Beta Ray Bill #2 (Marvel) – The first issue was full of emotion and we’re hoping for more of the same with this as Beta Ray Bill really begins his journey to find himself.

Black Widow #6 (Marvel) – This series has been full of action and we expect more. Solid story and amazing art equals a must read for us!

BRZRKR #2 (BOOM! Studios) – The first issue was full of action and enough to get us to want to check out more. This is a summer popcorn film in comic form.

Cold Dead War #2 (Heavy Metal) – War action featuring zombies! Yeah, we’re in for it.

Friend of the Devil: A Reckless Book (Image Comics) – Ed Brubaker, Jacon Phillips, and Sean Phillips return for a new graphic novel featuring Ethan Reckless. The first was fantastic pulp noir entertainment and we’re expecting more of the same.

Harley Quinn #2 (DC Comics) – Future State delivered a new direction for Harley Quinn and this series is putting her in that direction. We really enjoyed the first issue that has Harley attempting to settle in her new role as hero.

Helm Greycastle #1 (Image Comics) – A new Latinx fantasy about a group of adventurers torn between saving a prince or helping the people.

The Marvels #1 (Marvel) – A journey through Marvel’s history spanning decades written by Kurt Busiek with art by Yildiray Cinar.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #25 (Marvel) – We’d be lying if we said we weren’t intrigued my the new take on “The Clone Saga”.

The Modern Frankenstein #1 (Heavy Metal/Magma Comix) – A new twist on the classic tale. A surgeon wants to further medical science by any means necessary. So how far will the young medical student attracted to him go?

My Little Pony/Transformers II #1 (IDW Publishing) – The concept might be silly but the first volume was a lot of fun bringing the Transformers to the Pony’s world. Now, they’re heading to Cybertron!

Nuclear Family #3 (AfterShock) – We think we know what’s going on with this alternate history story but we’re not totally sure, so we absolutely want to read this one!

Robin #1 (DC Comics) – Damian strikes out in his own series and we’re here for it. This is a character that grew on us and we want to see if he can do so more.

Shadow Doctor #3 (AfterShock) – Based on a true story, the series is about a Black Doctor who has to go to Al Capone for money to start his business. It’s been amazing so far.

Shadowman #1 (Valiant Entertainment) – We’ve read the first issue and the entire team has loved it. It’s a fantastic start for the new series and great introduction to the character.

Snatched #1 (Scout Comics) – If you thought the drug game was deadly, wait until you see what goes down in the hair trade. Wait… what!?

Stake #2 (Scout Comics) – The first issue was absolutely fantastic and a nice take on the vampire genre. Mixing social media with good action, this is a series that we want to sink our teeth in to.

Summoners War Legacy #1 (Image Comics) – The popular mobile game comes to comics.

Teen Titans Academy #2 (DC Comics) – Who is Red X? Lets face it, that’s what we all want to find out. The first issue was decent but followed a concept we’ve seen before with fun characters but not a lot new… so far.

Your Turn to Die Vol. 1 (Yen Press) – The concept is basically Saw with a group of people but it’s so damn good. Check it out if you like that concept of puzzle-solving where you die if you fail.

Review: Cold Dead War #1

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Cold Dead War #1

Cold Dead War #1 is an intriguing debut that goes in a direction I should have seen coming. Opening in 1950 Kentucky the story focuses on a World War II veteran haunted by his experiences and has a secret. It’s a small town story about a man trying to run from his past and struggling to move on with a normal life. Lance Howard was a pilot during World War II in the Pacific and experienced something while on a mission.

George C. Romero kicks Cold Dead War #1 off with an issue that eventually feels like something we’ve seen so many times. It’s the grizzled veteran being asked to complete one more mission for their country. It takes a while for the issue to get there, then it does. Then you find out more of what’s going on. That twist is something that’s not going to be spoiled. It’s part of the fun and charm of the debut and has me wanting to come back for more.

It’s a story and delivery that’s not surprising in the end but it’s done really well. There’s a quality in the writing and especially the slow build that sucks you in. And it feels like it has a pay off. Romero builds thing to the reveal so when that happens, and it’s unexpected, it feels like a big deal. There’s not really any hints or teases beyond something is troubling his main character.

German Ponce‘s art helps keep the secret. There’s something idyllic and peaceful about the Captain Howard and his small town life. It gets juxtaposed with his war experience and everything gets much more interesting as the war experience feels that much more shocking when we reflect on his now peaceful life. Ponce also handles ink along with Gabriel Rearte with Photobunker on color and lettering by Saida Temofonte. There’s three segments to the comic and the look of each really works as peace and horror are depicted.

Cold Dead War #1 comes together nicely. It’s a solid war debut with a setup that’s familiar but whose twists are unexpected. It has just enough that feels new and different to really pay off and keep things interesting. Overall, it sets up what feels like a entertaining B-movie action story.

Story: George C. Romero Art: German Ponce
Ink: German Ponce, Gabriel Rearte Color: Photobunker Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Heavy Metal provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics