Dead of Winter continues to prove itself as one of those comics you need to buy as soon as possible. Not only is it original, but it takes the concept of a survival tale and sends it in an interesting direction. Kyle Starks (writer) and Gabriel Bautista (artist) make very deliberate decisions with the story that continue to pay off in spades. The writing and artistry in this story are so good that they end up leading to fun, new events in every issue.

In this issue, we see all of the characters in the middle of the snow (such as one in a Santa suit) keeping an eye out for any potential zombies that might cause them harm. It’s quite notable to see just how these characters refuse to allow their situation to get the best of them.

One of the best things about this book is how the characters remain themselves throughout all of the stuff going on.

  One of the characters ends up having to sit in a cell while watching zombies as they attempt to leave their cells. He’s trapped there, it seems. It’s humorous when the character remarks how the situation is almost a joke for him. The characters attempting to clear their car off and get it working represents a potentially futile attempt to survive since the likelihood of seeing more zombies is quite possible. The fear of what may come next is certainly there while the humor and banter is also present. Sparky the dog receives the following remark from Forest, the man aforementioned who is dressed as Santa: “We have John McClane the dog here,” he states. 



The book and its characters are meta in their realization of exactly what they are going through and its connections to other prominent stories in film and other mediums. The characters, including Forest, are able to get back inside before a security guard calls them thieves and trespassers. That is, until Sparky comes to the rescue. This is proof of how difficult situations can cause people to make bad decisions. A security guard firing on other humans because he wants to protect a building does not make much sense.



The necessity to protect a building could be helped by receiving the assistance from other human beings rather than limiting the number out there. Luckily, Sparky saves the day and corrects the situation. The cliché of the hero coming right in time is definitely played up here, as Sparky comes right in time. With the John McClane reference made early on, the reader understands all of this is done to be self-referential to exactly what the story is about. It’s quite comedic to an extent but also serves the story well.



Our hero trapped in the jail cells is freed luckily. It demonstrates how decent some humans can continue to be in the difficulties of extreme situations. Unfortunately, the security guard returns to cause havoc. Sparky comes in again to save the day. The hero of this story is revealed at the end. It’s obviously Sparky. Starks and Bautista build a great tribute to the dog and just how much love there is for him.



And Starks and Bautista probably love him a great deal. With the story thus far, Starks seems to be telling us that no matter what happens, man’s best friend will always be exactly what he is: a loyal hero that stays the same regardless of difficult event after difficult event.



Tommy Zimmer is a writer whose work has appeared online and in print. His work covers a variety of topics, including politics, economics, health and wellness, addiction and recovery, and the entertainment industry.