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Column:
Devolution the Column
Welcome
By Matt Yocum
Published: 2007-04-04
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Welcome to a new column and the release of my first
webcomic
to be
hosted by ComicCritique.com. You are about to witness the birth of a
new comic book, Devolution. However, the thing being birthed is dead
even as it emerges.
Why do I say that? Because Devolution is a zombie comic. I
state that right up front, and I know some of the reactions it will
generate.
When some hear this is a zombie story, they will say,
“Please. Not another zombie story. That market is
flooded.” Granted, there are numerous zombie movies (Dawn of
the Dead, debatably 28 Days Later) and books (World War
Z, The Cell) and a ton of zombie comics (The Walking
Dead, Marvel Zombies, etc.).
You could also say there is a flood of superhero comics and no one
should attempt to create a new superhero story. The racks in comic
shops are filled with superheroes. But I say if you have a great
story with characters that people care about told in a unique,
creative way, no matter how saturated, the market will accommodate and
people will come. Witness Robert Kirkman’s Invincible at Image
Comics.
The same is true with zombie comics. If you find yourself with a
great zombie story with characters people care about told in a
creative way, people will come. The market will grow for it.
When others hear this is a zombie story they will say, “A
zombie story? Those are only filled with evil. No good, redeeming
thing can come from this.” To those who think this, I can only
say it is not the genre that makes something dark but how it is used.
Certainly people have used zombie stories for evil intent. However
people in the past (and some still today) also said the same thing
about rock music, that it was of the devil. But we have seen today
the form and “genre” of rock music has led some to a
deeper understanding of their faith and others to similarly positive
steps in their lives. Again I say, it’s not the genre that
makes something evil but how people use that genre.
Even though evil things happen in this story, Devolution is
not a story of evil but of grief. It is ultimately a story about how
we handle losing someone. The fact is when someone passes away, they
are not “lost” to you. They stay with you, sometimes
lingering for months or years to come. I know this personally.
But this is not my story. This is the story of Kristy and Rick
Noble and how they handle loss. Who they lose, how that loss happens,
and the adventure that forces them to confront their loss will all be
within the pages of Devolution.
In addition to the comic, within ComicCritique.com you’ll
find a column dealing with the story developments of Devolution. And
in www.MattYocumComics.com you’ll find a column
dedicated to the making of Devolution (its origin, how the
creative team formed, and so on) as well as information on my work for
Marvel Comics.
I hope you come to enjoy the story of Devolution as much as
I’m enjoying creating it. It’s an adventurous story, a
horrific story, a heroic story. And I hope it’s a compelling
story.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment at DevolutionComic@gmail.com
—CCdC—
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