Bleeding Hearts #1
/1.webp "Bleeding Hearts #1")
| Writer | Deniz Camp |
| Artist | Stipan Morian |
| Cover Price | $3.99 |
The zombies won-and ten years after the fall of humanity, they're the dominant form of life (or not-life) on Earth. They've developed their own cultural practices, their own language, their own society. Mouse-Pokes-Golf-Ball-Through-Hole-In-Head ("Poke" for short) is a beloved member of his community, and with his brother-in-arm Mush, he's happy to shamble along through the only world he can remember...until the day his heart mysteriously starts beating again. And in a blink, the first humans he sees have stopped looking like food and have started looking like...friends...? The team behind 20th Century Men, the bold mission statement that la more
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Kabooooom - Matt Morrison
Feb 12, 2026Bleeding Hearts #1 is a fantastic way opener for the new Vertigo Comics line. This is old-school Vertigo, with all the dark humor, gorgeous art, and unique ideas from the good old days. As I write this on the eve of the book’s release, the first printing has already sold out. I strong suggest you do not sleep on this, because this book is a must read whether or not you’re a fan of zombies. Read Full Review
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10
The Comic Book Spot - beastfire
Feb 13, 2026Bleeding Hearts #1 is an entertaining (and possibly even thought-provoking) perspective flip on the ever-classic zombie apocalypse, Bleeding Hearts #1 is already looking to be a fun story with a lot of heart. Read Full Review
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9.6
You Don't Read Comics - Russ Bickerstaff
Feb 11, 2026Poke comes across as a sparkly compelling character. There's a lot of subtlety and nuance in his characterization both in his inner monologue and and the emotion written across his face. There is a great deal of intensity in it all. Read Full Review
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9.5
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
Feb 11, 2026This is a darkly funny book that has a lot on its mind, but also works as just a bizarre new take on zombies that’s unlike anything else on the stands. Read Full Review
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9.5
Nerd Initiative - Matthew Roth
Feb 11, 2026Bleeding Hearts #1 is a fun twist on a story of zombies roaming the Earth. It's full of silly moments that have hidden emotional beats within every panel. I cannot wait to read more. Read Full Review
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9.5
Comic Book Clique - Jack Richardson
Feb 11, 2026Bleeding Hearts #1 is a really fun zombie satire that takes the overdone zombie genre and reheats it in fun and interesting ways. I feel that it's still too early to say whether this series will knock it out of the park, but, in my opinion, with Deniz Camp in the driving seat, we are in safe hands. Read Full Review
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9.3
Fanlight Zone - Ken M.
Feb 11, 2026Is it possible to have a heart in the world of Zombies? That is the question Camp and Morian throw at readers in this very fresh look at the classic undead. Strong writing with impeccable imagery equals your new favorite zombie tale. DC Vertigo is back in a monster way! Don’t miss it! Read Full Review
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9.0
Comic Watch - Anthony Bergamini
Feb 11, 2026Bleeding Hearts #1 is an excellent start for Vertigo’s newest book. Read Full Review
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8.5
AIPT - Maxwell Majernik
Feb 11, 2026Bleeding Hearts #1 is a very fun opening chapter with a killer splash page to make sure there isn’t a drop in sales for issue #2. I’m just excited. I want to see where the story goes, what new characters are going to pop up, and what else in this world as Deniz Camp begins to turn over more rocks. A good issue one should make you excited for what’s next, and Bleeding Hearts #1 does exactly that. Read Full Review
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8.5
KPB Comics - Stan West
Feb 13, 2026Bleeding Hearts #1 proves Camp understands that great horror uses monsters to explore our own humanity. The zombie horde isn’t disturbing because of their actions; it’s because they mirror our own society. Poke’s heartbeat gets louder as his world grows more complicated, while Morian and Hollingsworth’s art makes each beat visually stunning. It’s a promising debut for DC Vertigo and a genuinely fresh take on an over-saturated genre. Read Full Review
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8.5
Graphic Policy - Logan Dalton
Feb 15, 2026Usually, mindless cannon fodder, Camp and Morian humanize the living dead while not giving them the Warm Bodies relationship and much of this issue is dedicated to world-building and a worm’s eye view of zombie society, how their names are constructed, and different cliques and relationships. Read Full Review
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8.0
Get Your Comic On - Aaron Gillingham
Feb 11, 2026With its darkly comedic tone and instantly memorable characters, Bleeding Hearts is a great sign of things to come for DC Vertigo's original titles. This series also offers a refreshing take on the tired tropes of zombie stories, bringing new life to this rather saturated subgenre that I can only imagine will get more creative with future issues. Read Full Review
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6.5
Weird Science - Gabe Hernandez
Feb 11, 2026Bleeding Hearts #1 is a smart, nasty little thought experiment about what happens when the monsters finally notice the weight of what they have done, and whether that realization matters. The issue gives you dense worldbuilding, vivid art, and a lead whose sudden heartbeat pushes him toward the same moral territory Warm Bodies (2013) walked, only with a colder, more satirical grin. What it does not give you yet is a lot of concrete plot movement or emotionally explosive moments, since it is still busy setting the table and labeling every grotesque dish. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
If this is the true start of Vertigo Comics , then I am all in for the future. Extremely funny horror with so much going on it will take a few reads to immerse into the sublime universe. Oh and as for the art....totally breathtaking. This is one of the few times when 10/10 is an undervalued score. I look forward to more like this please from Vertigo......JM
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9.5
Emotions and Zombies, not new but never done well. This might be different and you got what you want from a first issue. The table is set, the vibe is felt, the message is delivered and now it needs to confirm and (over)deliver. You think Denniz Camp can deliver?
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9.0
Loving the concept, basically, we see the story from the zombies point of view. They talk amongst themselves about being a zombie and about eating brains. One of them is Poke, the main character, who suddenly starts hearing his heart beating again! Could he be becoming human again? The artwork by Stipan Morian is amazing, it reminds me of Sam Kieths artwork, so yeah, I kept thinking of The Maxx while reading this one. Loved the first issue, can't wait to see where this one goes.
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8.5
I enjoyed it. Not sure I’m hooked yet but I’m in for the next issue.
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8.5
A lot of this is establishing the context and world around Poke, but it's good and interesting. The last few pages are what really hooked me, though. Really hoping this dives deep into the realization that the society you've been surrounded by for so long may not be as good as it's made out to be. Camp has been killing it with just about every title he's working on, so I have high hopes for this going forward. Also, Morian is a great choice for this book. His style fits the world very well.
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7.0
While the premise is very unoriginal, the socially conscious context in which Deniz is framing it seems promising. That said, I still found this to be a pretty slow start. None of the characters are really compelling and despite all the world building, I can’t say I find this take on the zombie apocalypse to be particularly memorable.
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8.5
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8.0
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7.5
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7.0
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