The tail end of a global pandemic is either the perfect time or the worst time to release a comic like “Rabid World” #1, Scout Comics’ latest title, which centers on a rapidly spreading, chaos inducing global disease that turns people into mindless killers. The central conceit: what if rabies affected humans like it did animals, and made them ravenous? In “Rabid World” #1 we’re in the dark as to how the sickness spreads, but it does so fast, leaving pandemonium in its wake. If you’re up for a The Walking Dead and I am Legend zombie survival romp, then “Rabid World” #1 will be your jam. If that thing’s less your style, you might struggle with the story more. However, it’s worth noting that despite the straightforward nature of “Rabid World” #1, there’s a lot going on here in terms of character that feels fresh — so give it a try.
Cover by Oleg OkunevWritten by Todd Cinani
Illustrated by Oleg Okunev
Lettered by Lucas Gattoni
Reviewed by Kobi BordoleyIt was like any other morning, until it wasn’t. Growing from the rural areas, it was a simple dog bite, but at the end of the day civilization was collapsing. The outbreak left people rabid, devoid of their humanity, left only with a violent rage. When an outbreak of a rabies-like virus devastates the world, it’s a fight for survival in a world gone mad. Two couples set off on disparate courses, one for survival and one to save the world. Will a vaccine be found? Will the survivors make it to a safe place to hole up?
“Rabid World” #1 follows the world ending pandemic rubric, and in the first issue we’ve got patient zero, the initial outbreak, the “this is nothing like we’ve ever seen before” doctor moment, as well as the “looks like society is falling apart” wide shot. While the tropes fall in lockstep, there’s nothing necessarily wrong with them. That’s mostly because Todd Cinani, who is relatively new to comics, seems to already have a mastery of the form. While the plot may be predictable, it’s still gripping. This is due to the fact that Cinani gives us characters with emotional depth, even when they’re throwaways or just there to develop the plot. For example, the first case of the super rabies (the exact parameters of the disease are unclear at this point in the narrative) comes from a lonely farmer and his. This character has no name, but his arguments over the phone with local government officials about chemical pesticides, the distance to the vet for his infected dog, and general demeanor are all so believable. This guy feels real, and we’re rooting for him, even though we know he’s destined for pestilence fodder. Rest well, grumpy Maryland farmer man. We hardly knew ye, yet we’ll mourn you greatly.
The main characters in “Rabid World” #1 are also noteworthy, don’t you worry. For most of its pages, “Rabid World” #1 follows Frank and Anne Oster, high-power biology researchers with expertise in viruses and animal behavior, respectively. As you can imagine, their relevance during a rabies-esque global pandemic are paramount. While it’s teased that these two will have a larger part in solving the global crisis, in top half of “Rabid World” #1 they’re more concerned with getting to dinner on time and clocking out of work. We’re looking forward to seeing how they cope with responsibility of the world on their shoulders. While Frank and Anne are one side of the coin in “Rabid World” #1, Kerry and Mike, their average joe friends, are the other. We don’t know much about Kerry and Mike, other than that they’re buddies with the Osters and that Mike helps his wealthy, bored neighbor Harvey operate his fancy boat. He has a knack for fishing as well. Remember, in a post apocalyptic world, the little things can count for a lot. The interesting thing is that “Rabid World” #1 promises the reader two major narrative points of view: the Osters, who will ostensibly tackle the science side of the story and act as its heroes, and Frank and Anne, whose arc will likely focus on simply surviving. The fun part is that at the end of “Rabid World” #1, Kerry and Mike narrowly escape a mob of rabid zombie-people by sailing out into Chesapeake Bay. These sorts of stories rarely set out to sea, so approaching a zombie story from the setting of a boat is exciting. Any geek who came of age in the early 2000s likely had the zombie survival guide conversation about the best place to weather a flesh eating apocalypse, and we can say that “Rabid World” #1 definitely elicits those kind of world building fantasies which make us giddy.
Continued belowOkunev’s art in “Rabid World” #1 is for the most part clear, and the only issues that come up are of composition, rather than illustrative precision. To start, Okunev has the difficult task of rending not just humans, but zombies and animals as well. There’s a lot of anatomy in “Rabid World” #1, and this is where Okunev excels. Our protagonists look realistic and expressive. Everyone in “Rabid World” #1 looks like your every day Marylander, except for the zombies, which look like your every day Marylander with a distended jaw who wants to crunch your bones. The only place where the art struggles are in large, introductory ensemble scenes. At the beginning of “Rabid World” #1 there are a few moments where a few people get introduced at once, or where one major characters gets introduced while in a group of others. Unfortunately, a few of these scenes are too crowded, and I had to re-read a few panels to figure out who was who. However, this fact only marginally detracts from the otherwise stellar visual characterizations in “Rabid World” #1.
The most unique aspect of “Rabid World” #1 by far is its color scheme, and I’m genuinely not sure how to feel about it. “Rabid World” #1 is almost entirely rendered in black and white, save for small spots of red, blue, and to a lesser extent green and yellow. Sometimes, it’s effective: a black and white dog, save for its red, bloody maw, as it bites down on its hapless owner. The color scheme here feels dramatic and intentional, focusing our attention on directly on the action. Other times, the color theory in “Rabid World” #1 feels a bit more random: an exterior shot of a rundown house, save for the bright red mailbox, or a conversation between friends, the only spot of a color a randomly red disposable coffee cup. In these latter examples, it’s unclear what the importance of the color symbolism is, and the reds feel more like a flourish or an accent, as opposed to an essential story piece. We’re also left wondering what the color choices in “Rabid World” #1 represent. Our first thought was perhaps the color scheme is an attempt at mimicking the kind of colors animals see in — they often have modulated color palettes. This would make sense in a story about rabies, and perhaps implies that the reader reads “Rabid World” #1 from the perspective of the virus itself, and from the eyes of the infected. This is a cool explanation, but itself feels like a reach. While the color palette in “Rabid World” #1 doesn’t detail the whole thing, it does feel like a distraction.
All in all, “Rabid World” #1 is a worthy entry into the zombie horror genre. Perhaps because of the times we live in, the themes feel raw and emotional. But outside of all that, “Rabid World” #1 is a well written, well envisioned story. This issue was billed as number one of four, but we’d certainly be happy with a full series in “Rabid World.” Todd Cinani, Oleg Okunev, and the team certainly have the chops for it.
Final Verdict: 7.8 – While a pandemic adjacent story about rabid zombies and survivors may be too soon for some, “Rabid World” #1 will reward those willing to take the plunge with solid thrills and expressive characters.
