As if plagues weren’t already horrifying enough, Jonathan Chance brings us new reasons to fear them. Cover the Dead with Lime, a phrase referring to the use of quicklime to prevent the spread of the plague and other diseases, is an even darker look into a historically dreadful period of time. While Jonathan weaves the start of what is sure to be an epic zombie horror story, Hernán González and Damián Felitte bombard our eyes with incredible and gruesome depictions of this plague-ridden world. Hernán’s line work is exactly what you want to see from a gritty and thrilling horror story and Damián’s colors complement the lines and transport you into the story. One very impressive scene for me was when we see the world from an infected dog’s point of view and see how warped and twisted his mind has become. Are you looking to be horrified? Are you looking to hold your breath as you turn the pages? Well, you’ve come to the right place then. Jonathan’s storytelling keeps you on the edge of your seat through the whole first issue as we get introduced to the plague’s beginnings and how it impacts the citizens of Wivensea, England in 1665. Plague doctors have always been a symbol of the horrors of the plague and still elicit feelings of dread and fear. Following the historical depictions of these doctors, Jonathan brings us a new horrifying story following one such doctor, Jack Teller. After issue one, I’m left wondering – what is more terrifying, the man who works to stop the spread of this plague by any means necessary or those who have been infected by the plague and are returning from the grave??! In addition to the team already mentioned, Drew Lenhart brings us tonally consistent lettering that amplifies the storytelling and immerses the reader further into the world. And let me just say – you are not ready for the creepy depictions of the plague-victims-turned-zombies that Hernán and Damián bring us. Prepare to enter a whole new world of horror that shows why Jonathan Chance is a writer to keep an eye on as he continues to create. Stellar storytelling, incredibly gritty and frightening artwork, and a twist on the zombie genre that will transport you into a world of plague and other horrors, while leaving you wondering if you could survive.

What would society do when the cure to everything, meant hunting an animal to extinction? Of course humanity would hunt that animal to extinction. Bakari, a man suffering his own problems, decides that it is his mission to not let the last of this special breed of albino rhinoceros, named Sabium, get killed. I am absolutely in love with this story and the animal rights theme behind it. It is an emotional start to the story, showing how far humanity will go to cure their ailments. On the other side, we see what Bakari will do to save Sabium. The depiction of the world during this time period is very intriguing too – people have replaced parts of their bodies with robotic parts, though it is unclear if this was out of necessity or choice. Bakari is certainly a protector of Sabium and will go to great lengths to not just protect Sabium, but also to calm the last albino rhino down. (Side note Albino Rhino is a cool band name). Ramiro Borallo’s art brings the oddities of this futuristic world to life and shows the depths of emotion that our rhino protagonist is feeling. Massimo Rosi excels at developing Bakari through just one issue and shows the impact that one person caring can have in a world where nobody else does. Rosi is already showing that there is so much more to Bakari’s story and that we will get to learn that as the story goes. Knowing that Bakari is suffering his own tragedies makes his connection to Sabium even more powerful. Our antagonist – only referred to as “boss” – plays the role of the hero in his own story, wanting to bring glory to his name and declaring himself the “Prometheus of this century,” for finding and going to hunt down Sabium. This type of villain is exactly the everyday villain we see in the world, always claiming they are doing good for humanity, but harming others, including animals, in the process. I hope to see more dimensions to the “boss” as the story continues and explore more of his delusions of grandeur while trying to become Sabium’s executioner. While I was already sold on the concept, Rosi and Borrallo knocked the execution out of the park and laid the groundwork for this beautifully important story to be told.