Reading: UNDEAD MESSIAH VOL. 1 - Gin Zarbo

Tim Muley is a 15-year-old boy in Switzerland obsessed with zombies. So much so, beyond the many, many video games he's played over the years to hone his undead-killing skills, sometimes even his best friend M-Kay wonders if maybe Tim sometimes might be trading fantasy for reality. Meanwhile, an unidentified internet messiah with a bandaged face, along with his child-like female minion, stalk a pregnant woman newly-arrived in the country ... and when Tim's walking home from school one day he discovers a grisly scene at a neighbor's home that makes him even wonder if he is losing his own mind. To say more might give too much away, but suffice to say Tim's lifelong dream of being able to fight zombies comes horrifically true - but it's all just the beginning of this grisly, blood-red manga that I couldn't put down. Every time I thought I knew where the plot was going another surprise loomed, and beyond why things were happening there always hovered the spectre of the mysterious bandaged-faced guy, who seems to be on top of things but reveals nothing. Great writing, illustrated with both grisly horror and dark humor, Undead Messiah Vol. 1 was a surprise that kept me reading until I finished the entire manga in a single sitting. Been a long time since I did that with any book. 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.