Review: Infection #1-3

How about a zombie apocalypse story focused on four mostly likeable survivors as they attempt to navigate of all places Peterborough with an art style utilising frantic sketch lines that add drama to the action? Then welcome to the new world in Infection by H.L Roberts and Samanta de La Rosa Batllori.

H.L Roberts is a comic book writer from Peterborough. His previous work includes Sticker Knight, BloodyWeen, Tournament Tour Fighter and the recently fully funded autobiographical Hello! My Name is Robert Latham. He has also created some excellent short comics like My Time with Fighting Games! And The Green Man Returns!. He is also a one man charity machine as the creator of The Latham Project, which, by supporting Indie comic book stores, donates comic books to small charities local to Huntingdonshire. An admirable endeavour indeed.

Samanta de La Rosa Batllori is a freelance artist from Mexico City. Samanta has illustrated all three issues of Infection as well as all issues of BloodyWeen. Right bloody well talented creatives introduced, it's time for the next bit.

So, let's start with the art. Samanta de La Rosa Batllori is a skilled artist whose work really grows with ability and confidence across the three issues. The rough sketch lines, bold shading and dark wash do a great job at selling this grim apocalyptic world. Those rough lines are also utilised to great effect in the high-action moments, adding a frantic desperation to proceedings.

There is a really strong sense of bleakness to the art, sold strongly by the colour work that uses a grim colour palette. There's something really nice about watching an artist's work refine and expand with confidence, and that adds a special quality to the art on display, which culminates in some stellar final panels. The character work in emotion, particularly, is solid throughout, bolstered by strong technical lighting ability.

Perfectly pleasurable art, then what's the story?

H.L Roberts brings us a zombie apocalypse story with a very unique origin and a pretty unique setting in issue one. Shampoo and Peterborough. Definite firsts for me, that. Unique beginnings aside, Infection is a story focused on four individuals trying to navigate this new reality. It's a race to safety for these four trying to dodge the zombies and the variations they can be, while also handling outside interference.

The characters are compelling, even the deliberately unlikable one, and there is some really strong emotional storytelling. It's a grim, dark world in Infection, not for the faint-hearted or even the optimistic. This is an entertaining comic, just don't go looking for fairytale endings and be prepared for the bleak realities of a zombie apocalypse in a PG-13 sort of way, but with plenty of graphic violence. It's a rough ride, and sometimes that's what you need.

It's another brief interruption to ask if you're enjoying this or any of our content here, please consider donating to our Ko-Fi page. It would be deeply appreciated. If you can't, we still love you just for being here and taking the time to check out some awesome comics, you're good people, we can tell. Back to the formulaic content.

For fans of Horror, zombies, apocalypse action, Peterborough, Broccoli loving artists, an almost certain Batman The Animated Series reference by way of the license plate on the Limo I'm sure of it, graphic violence, gritty colour palettes and accomplished art that grows with confidence and nails the action then the series Infection and its three books will entertain you, just don't expect feeling by the end. Unless it's your scalp.

To get your copies of all three issues try Globalcomix here. Or check out H.L Roberts website here to track down physical copies and stay up to date on the latest happenings. For more Samanta check out the Instagram here.

Review: 4/5 Thanks to the ending