I’ve missed a few issues of Zombie Tramp, but it’s always a series that I like to check in on. It was in a rut for a while where the same thing was happening over and over, but now it’s finally gone back to a storyline it planted seeds for way back in issue 8. Fear not though there is a bit of recap in this issue as Janey remembers that issue. The gist is that a nerd with terrible plans uploaded Janey’s book on the internet and now others are using it. Including some high school mean girls that have an epub version of it. Janey discovers this as they kill a goth girl from their school by using the book. It’s pretty fucked up. Janey decides to go undercover as the deceased girl to stop her book from being used by girls that she would have hated in high school. If you’re a long time reader of the series, you know that high school shaped at least a part of Janey’s tragic past so this should be fairly interesting to see unfold.
I’m not so sure that Janey won’t use her same magic to get out of this situation, but I’m hopeful that she won’t. It’s possible that this is the set up for her to learn new spells and face challenges in a different way. Because even though I’m digging this direction of her being an anti-hero going around and killing people that are basically the scum of the earth. It’s like the 90s “bad girls”, but with a bit more depth and variety in the stories. Hopefully it won’t get lost in the heaven and hell bit that’s already been teased because then there never seems to be anything else that happens with a series.
It’s not surprising that there’s been an art change on the series. That seems to be how most comics keep their monthlies rolling these days. Victoria Harris joins the book and while I’m not head over heels for her style, it’s an okay match to the series. It really seems to be a touch of all the styles that have been successful on the series and I think with more time I could really grow to like it. It definitely wasn’t as jarring as other artists work on the series.
There’s a new colorist as well. Marcelo Costa joins this issue and my goodness, it makes a world of difference. The book looks vibrant when previously looking flat and dull. The coloring really adds that extra flair to the story that’s been missing in the past. I hope that Costa stays on and is given a chance to grow and manipulate the style of the book.
This is a solid issue. It’s a bit on the average side of the series which is where a lot of the latest issues are falling for me. I still enjoying reading the series, but as a reviewer I’ve basically run out of things to say about it. That is unless the scale tips more one way than the other. Really at this point you probably already know if this book is for you. Yes, it has a lot of fan service, but what’s always set it aside is Janey’s rich personality and her inability to take shit from others.
Score: 3/5
Zombie Tramp #17 Writers: Dan Mendoza, Jason Martin Artist: Victoria Harris Colorist: Marcelo Costa Publisher: Action Lab/Danger Zone Price: $3.99 Release Date: 11/25/15 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital