There’s a great one-shot comic I’ve been wanting to talk about for a while now, and it’s called Snow White: Zombie Apocalypse One Shot. So here goes!
Here’s how the book is described: Snow White awakens to True Love’s Kiss… twenty-eight days after the zombie apocalypse! With the Seven Dwarves dead, the quintessential fairytale princess must join forces with her polyamorous Prince Charming and his tough-as-nails paramour, Rapunzel, to wage a losing battle against death itself. Bound by love and driven apart by jealousy, can this unlikely trio find a way to put aside their differences, or will they be devoured by the reanimated denizens of their once enchanted kingdom? Based on the hit play by the same name, Snow White Zombie Apocalypse is a story of deep woods and old magic mixed with a healthy dollop of blood, sex, kung fu and gender politics. Y’know, fairy tales as usual.
A fairy tale with modern sensibilities
There’s a common conception that anything “old” isn’t “good.” If it has been around for more than, say, a year, it’s out of date and not worthy of our attention.
So, what happens when someone looks at fairy tales with a modern perspective? You get Snow White: Zombie Apocalypse One Shot!
This book came is an adaptation of a stage play that scripter Brenton Lengel put out in 2009. Basically, although the story considers Snow White the main character, the plot largely follows a modern Rapunzel, who isn’t shy about sharing her opinions, and Prince Charming, who isn’t quite the dashing leading man he’s previously been portrayed to be.
Now, take these characters and place them in a zombie event, and you get the chance to enjoy these fairy tales through fresh eyes.
A prime example of this is when Prince Charming comes across Snow White, dead and encased in glass. He does what we would expect him to do—he kisses her. Well, Rapunzel doesn’t find this to be a romantic gesture at all. Instead, she accuses him of necrophilia! Then, when Snow White appears before them apparently revived, Rapunzel considers her a zombie and wants to chop her head off!
This is obviously not your father’s fairy tales!
One of the great things this comic does is show just how different we look at things now, and how changed our expectations have become. We expect certain tropes, but we go different routes, which help us understand the characters better.
Prince Charming, for example, understands what that word polyamorous means. (Google it if you have to.) Just because he brought Snow White back to life by kissing her doesn’t mean he sees her as his only choice when it comes to the ladies. Even a zombie girl can get through his porous defenses very easily.
There’s an undercurrent of humor those familiar with the original stories will find funny. I particularly enjoyed it when Snow White is offered an apple to eat. She responds with horror! After all, that was part of her demise in the original tale.
The plot moves forward at a rapid pace, and there’s a cliffhanger ending that makes me want more! The characters are all very enchanting, if I can use that word, and easily understood by today’s standards.
While there is a good amount of dialogue among the three main characters, the art does a great job of displaying what is being said, and that adds to our interest in what’s going on. There is action, and much like good zombie fiction, the danger appears quickly and unexpectedly, and must be dealt with decisively. (Rapunzel, anyone?)
The art matches the intense plot
I always judge art in two categories: facial expressions and action sequences. While engaging both fairy tale and zombie events, the emotions of the characters are easily understood, particularly when someone feels something quite deeply and expresses that emotion very strongly. My favorite was when Rapunzel wants to Snow White, who she believes to be a zombie. “Let me kill it!” she hollers, and her face tells us just how badly she wants to take care of that.
When it comes to action sequences, I found them very compelling. A zombie attack early in the issue takes place at blinding speed, and we can feel the danger immediately! The art makes us move to the next page quickly, needing to know what happens next.
Great book, full of surprises
It’s one of those fun/dangerous stories that readers today will enjoy, particularly if you are familiar with these stories. It answers the question: What would this story be like if it were moved into today’s world? The reply? Awesome, funny, and risky.
Check with your local comics shop to see if they have any copies left. If not, you can always contact Scout Comics through their website at this link. You’ll be glad you did! Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Issue: Snow White: Zombie Apocalypse One Shot
Publisher: Scout Comics
Writer: Brenton Lengel
Artist: Hyeondo Park
Colors: Jio Butler
Cover price: $5.99
Release Date: October 30, 2019
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