Kingdom of Zombie by Nojeok

So I learned from the Zombie Research Society that May is Zombie Awareness Month, so to prepare myself I decided to read some zombie manga. I hope these perspectives on zombies will help you be more aware of the potential for zombie outbreaks happening in your life time. Remember, always aim for the head, that is the quickest way to kill one!


Kingdom of Zombie by Nojeok

Art and story (c) Nojeok

Genre: Horror Shonen
Length: 1 Volume (sort of) – 11 Chapters

            Art is distinctive, it reminds me of something but I can't think of what, the eyes have a lot of personality and the character designs are all dissimilar. There is a 'realistic' feel it it, despite the chunky and gravity defying hair, and it has a very European palate to the structures as well as the clothes. Body types and movement is natural, and the clothes fit perfectly with detail enough to be looked at. The action sequences are also easy to follow. Backgrounds were good, too, with a few blank backgrounds. The zombies are done in a very cliched way, with tattered clothes and blank eyes, though they hold up well with the rest of the art.
           Van is tired of his day-to-day life working with the blacksmith who took him in and dreams of making something of himself and at least he has the tournament of champions to give him something too look forward to. So, when he is banned from going he sneaks out to watch it anyway. Waylaid by a noble offering him to go meet last year's winner by way of giving him a letter, Van rushes to the Gate so he can also catch the end of the tourney while he is at it. The Northern Gate has been the city's defense against the zombie horde outside ever since the plague started twenty years ago. When Van arrives, though, before his very eyes that protection is opened and a swarm of zombies surrounds him!

Good advice, Van.

           This is the first 'manhwa ' I have reviewed so I'd like to explain its difference from a manga, a manhwa is a comic that comes from Korea, as such it is read left to right instead of right to left. Why haven't I reviewed a manhwa before this? Well, I've not had a good experience with them in the past and so have avoided them in the last couple of years, this comic's cancellation doesn't really help that, but I haven't been ignoring them or anything but I've just been... wary. The saying 'once bitten, twice shy' comes to mind, but I've noticed an upswing with them lately, mostly thanks to lots of full color web comics, but some of the translations of theses are spotty, too, so only time will tell if any of those get reviewed here. I actually went into this fully aware of its canceled status, still the end crept up on me as I went. This manga had good potential, and even though it ends in the worst way (i.e. no discernible ending at all) I still really enjoyed it. Despite my misgivings, there isn't really anything to complain about in this manhwa, the art is very good and the story progresses in a natural, if a bit rushed, way. In fact things were just getting good, but I can't find any information beyond rumor as to why this was canceled so as a warning, you will get really into this and then be cut off so completely you will rage. Its a good ride, though, Van is interesting as a main character, despite the dopey vs. bad-ass personality trope. There could have been more character development for some of his friends, true, but there was potential for it for sure. The zombie parts were really typical, bordering on predictable, but not in an annoying way. In fact it was just getting around to the zombie stuff when it cuts off. Shame, I was looking forward to understanding some of the multitudinous mysteries laid down here. 

3.5/5 Cancelled, but still a good read.  




          As far as being a guide for keeping someone aware of zombies, though, it isn't very helpful. The characters are told to go for the head but they don't seem to understand it until it is almost too late. Still, a good point is brought up that everyone should abide by: Zombies mostly navigate by sound, so stay quiet when zombies are about and you may just get away with out them swarming you!

Well, I guess you can breathe.