Bleeding Hearts #2 takes the intriguing premise of issue one and raises the stakes. After initially focusing on zombie protagonist Poke, writer Deniz Camp shifts the perspective to a surviving mother and daughter duo. This change of view gives the story depth and shines a light on what’s really worth fighting for in a hostile world.
Is There Still A Place For The Living In A Zombie’s World?
The mother narrates this story, giving us a look at her and her daughter’s journey through the desolation. It hasn’t been an easy one. Artist Stipan Morian portrays dark scenes of them avoiding flesh-eating toddlers, dodging a cannibal commune, and fleeing ravenous undead. Colorist Matt Hollingsworth washes these panels in a sickly grey, reflecting the zombies’ dominance in the world.
Camp’s writing shines as he highlights the mother’s voice. She’s still fighting, but she’s no fool. The life she and her daughter are living is bleak. It’s heartbreaking to read her assert that their life is no better than death given the circumstances. She gives birth in the back of the car with no medical help and watches her lover be consumed by a horde of zombies, all while fighting tooth and nail to keep her daughter safe. Letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou makes you hear the action, as dynamic SLAM, RIIIP, or WHACK sound effects dance across the panels. It’s enough to make you wonder if survival is really worth it.
Deniz Camp Explores The Importance Of Humanity
Despite the horrors, Camp wisely shows moments of humanity. The daughter’s name is Rabbit, and she’s lived her whole life surrounded by zombies. She doesn’t let it get her down though. Quieter moments show her catching fish or starting her first fire, while also learning to defend herself and find moments of happiness in the gloom. They meet fellow survivors on the road, and Rabbit makes genuine connections, even though she knows they likely won’t last long. The apocalypse may be here, but the eternal optimism of a child is more important than ever.
Poke decides not to eat the duo, going against his zombie nature. While he knocks the mother out, he only does so to take them to a safe place. He even gathers them food and finds Rabbit’s lost stuffed animal, Flip. The mother is rightfully skeptical, but Rabbit sees something in Poke. She recognizes he may be more than the standard zombie. He may even be a friend. This burgeoning dynamic promises to explore fresh territory as we get closer to a human/zombie alliance.
Morian’s Art Makes Each Character Unique
Morian’s detail is fantastic, whether he’s portraying the wide-eyed innocence on the face of Rabbit or the doom of their run-down world. The issue ends with a fantastic splash on page twenty-four, showcasing Rabbit and Poke side by side. The youngster’s eyes are large, expressive, and full of life, while Poke’s brow slumps over milky irises. Dark lines are etched into his face, showing decomposition taking hold. It’s a stark contrast to the smooth skin on Rabbit’s face, and drives home the physical differences between the two.
Verdict?
Bleeding Hearts #2 succeeds by asking a tough question: Is survival really worth it in a dying world? Camp shows a mother’s pessimism, contrasting with her daughter’s optimism, while also positioning Poke as a unique type of zombie protagonist. The team of Morian, Hollingsworth, and Otsmane-Elhaou comes together to create a terrifying yet beautiful dystopian world. Two issues in, and this series is already special.
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‘Bleeding Hearts’ #2 Review: Life in a Dead World
Bleeding Hearts #2 succeeds by asking a tough question: is survival really worth it in a dying world? Camp shows a mother’s pessimism contrasting with her daughter’s optimism, while also positioning Poke as a unique type of zombie protagonist. The art team of Morian, Hollingsworth, and Otsmane-Elhaou comes together to create a terrifying yet beautiful dystopian world. Two issues in, and this series is already special.
