Webcomic review – Cadaverific! 1-7

This is my first foray into web comics. I’ve read a few before, but have never reviewed any on this blog. Full disclosure before I get into the review. This comic is made locally by someone I’ve met, although only twice. I don’t know her well, but it needs to be mentioned. It’s both written and drawn by Becka Kinzie, and can be read at www.thebeckacomics.com. She’s had seven issues printed so far, and that’s what I’m reviewing, but the web series has gone further than that.

Cadaverific is about an accidental resurrection, which is totally the best kind. It starts at a house party that’s invaded by unwanted guests. A fight ensues, which results in the death of Corey. One month later, he is somehow resurrected with his full intelligence, and so far, the rest of the series is about the various shenanigans that happen with his resurrection.

Because she doesn’t have an editor, of course this isn’t going to be as good as the best professional comics out there. That said, this was a fun read. There are so many opportunities for bizarre situations. The different reactions people have to seeing a re-animated corpse who talks like a normal person is always entertaining. Corey is also one of those zombies whose body and limbs still move even after he’s decapitated, which only adds to the hilarity. The dialogue is mostly well written and feels very conversational, although maybe a little too much at times with the frequent changes in subject in the earlier issues.

The art is black and white, and it’s pretty good for an amateur comic. At times in the first few issues, it’s a bit hard to tell what’s going on. The fight where Corey dies is a bit awkward looking. There are some inconsistencies, like logo shirts and tattoos that spontaneously change. But the art improves with every issue. Body shapes improve over time, and hair noticeably improves even in the middle of the second issue. Corey always looks like a rotting corpse, and there are nice touches with the flies constantly surrounding him and the bones showing through his rotting flesh. The facial work is usually well done. Even with the variety of expressions, there’s a sense of subtlety to them. Every character is easily recognizable.

Probably my favourite feature of the printed version of the comic is on the inside of the back cover. Starting with issue 2, Becka openly talks about her drawing mistakes with a sense of humour. It makes witnessing her artwork improvement all the more enjoyable. There are also helpful tips for other aspiring artists

This isn’t a professional quality series, but it’s more enjoyable than some professional comics nonetheless. As always, I read a comic twice before posting a full review, and I enjoyed reading this comic both times. I haven’t read anything past issue 7, but I’ve taken a quick look at some of the more recent pages posted online. Her art seems to continue improving further. I’m not all that experienced with web comics, nor am I any kind of talent scout, but I can see a lot of potential in Becka of TheBeckaComics as both a writer and an artist.

If the idea of a comedic story of an accidental resurrection sounds fun, why not check this out. It’s a free webcomic, so what do you have to lose?