Cemetery Kids Don’t Die #1 Review

I remember when World of Warcraft came out and consumed so many of us, I’d imagine it’s how people in a Godzilla movie must feel. Frozen in awe as it comes bearing down on you. I also remember falling down the rabbit hole of lesser known MMORPGs like Tabula Rasa. These types of games can be all consuming and for a person with an obsessive personality, they can be a bit dangerous.

In CEMETERY KIDS DON’T DIE #1, Zac Thompson, Daniel Irizarri, Brittany Peer, and Andworld Design explore a story in which a character loses themselves inside a game. Multiple characters within the story inhabit this idea and it’s one that really spoke to me because I’ve lost myself to games before. It’s easy to spend half a day playing a game and look up and realize,  “Oh, I haven’t eaten today. Maybe I should take a break,” and then you don’t because something just came snarling up to you or your experience bar is so very close to the next level.

I became interested in this comic based on the art alone. I’d heard of Zac but never read any of his work prior to this. I wasn’t prepared for a story that literally cut at where I live. This thing was basically made for me, with the intriguing character designs (I’m a sucker for anything with a plague doctor) and the vicious artwork to the honest writing. It’s wonderful.

2024 is off to an excellent start for new comics and CEMETERY KIDS is at the forefront. It’s such a dense and rich read that I feel like I could live within this world for 16 issues. So please go buy it and then come back to this review after you’ve read it because I have to talk about specifics. The work in this comic has blown my mind repeatedly. Every time I read it, I find something new.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

The opening pages are narrated in this elaborate, maybe overly flowery style of voice that I think could hit a reader as too much and maybe it is but when you consider who is talking and where they are coming from, it makes perfect sense. The character narrating is inside this game world that makes them feel strong and capable and disconnects them from reality. It’s all too real for me because I understand how a person can be more honest and say what they really want to say when there’s a filter between.

The scene that follows is richly drawn by Daniel Irizarri. There is so much going on in this comic that every time I read it, I see something new. I’m itching to know more about the creature that Pik seems to be the only one who sees and then in the real world, does everyone see the mark on his neck?

This is exactly the kind of comic I love and have been longing for, something that is gripping and engaging and that I can’t stop thinking about. I’ve read it 4 times now and I have yet to stop thinking about it. It’s on my pull list and I can’t wait to read it physically and just pour over the pages again and again.

The backstory for the siblings is hinted at in such a great way, that I feel like I know what happened but I’m also expecting it to be a little more complicated than what’s in my head and I love that. There’s enough in this first issue to really feel like I have a clear picture of what’s going on and yet enough mystery to really have my full attention. It’s expertly crafted and absolutely packed to the gills but it never feels like it’s bursting at the seams.

Sometimes a first issue feels like too much was left on the cutting room floor or that there are too many things left dangling. This feels like the rare meal that really sticks in your memory. It’s not fast food that you’ll regret five minutes after eating. This is the kind of comic that after you read it, you’ll feel like you should have paid more for it because what a stunning work of art.