Everything Dead & Dying #1
Writer: Tate Brombal
Artist: Jacob Phillips, Pip Martin
Letters: Aditya Bidikar
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: September 3, 2025
Cover Price: $4.99
MINISERIES PREMIERE
Jack Chandler is the sole survivor of the zombie apocalypse in his rural farming community, but rather than eliminate them, he has chosen to continue living alongside the undead—including the husband and adopted daughter he fought so hard to have. But when his town is discovered by outsiders, Jack suddenly becomes the one thing standing in the way of those who hope to kill his family for good.
Eisner Award-nominated creators TATE BROMBAL (Barbalien, Batgirl) and JACOB PHILLIPS (THAT TEXAS BLOOD, NEWBURN) team up for a haunting rural character piece set during a zombie outbreak, best described as THE WALKING DEAD meets Essex County.
Score:
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Everything Dead and Dying #1 is a standout zombie comic that blends tragedy, hope, and strong character work. Tate Brombal crafts a fresh take on the genre through Jack Chandler, a farmer who continues tending his land even after the apocalypse. Unlike other survivalist heroes, Jack’s determination to keep farming and to hold onto the life he built with his husband and daughter which makes him both relatable and heartbreaking. Brombal structures the story across two timelines, shifting between Jack’s idyllic past and his grim present. This contrast deepens his characterization and makes the narrative both moving and memorable.
Visually, Jacob Phillips elevates the book with expressive character detail and atmospheric pacing. His art mirrors the emotional weight of Brombal’s script, using repeated poses and tonal shifts to highlight the parallels between the “before” and “after.” Pip Martin’s colors reinforce this structure, with warm sunlight bathing the pre-virus days and darker tones defining the aftermath until glimmers of light return as Jack accepts his fate. Aditya Bidikar’s lettering adds to the tension, enhancing both quiet moments and bursts of horror.
Altogether, Everything Dead and Dying #1 is a striking debut. Brombal proves himself one of today’s best character writers, while the visuals from Phillips and Martin make it one of the most polished horror comics of the year. Tragic, beautiful, and original, this is a must-read.

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