BADLAND

“Crossed Badlands” #117 is an intensely gripping tough-as-nails thriller. The Crossed plague has changed the major population into violent, insatiable killers, scattering the last remaining survivors of humanity. Writer Jamie Delano is able to captivate with these hard-edged characters through tough-talking dialogue and vibrant personalities. Though the protagonists come alive, each page consists of truly unlikable characters. Readers will find it very difficult to root for these protagonists like Leon, a drug dealer who would raise the dosage to kill his users, rather than have repeat customers. Delano consistently stays the same with the harsh and unforgiving tone, never using abrupt humor to relieve the escalating tension. None of the characters stop in the middle of their tracks to tell a witty joke. Though Leon acts despicably, he clearly has his own reasons to betray others. How long you survive in this apocalypse actually depends on how useful you will be to Leon. Aimed at pur

As I approached the counter at my local comic book shop with “Crossed: Badlands” #1 in my hand, the vendor felt compelled to issue a warning. This series is not for the faint of heart. Heck, you could argue that it’s not even meant for the well-adjusted among us. During his first run on “Crossed,” Garth Ennis delivered depths of violence, sadism and gore making “The Walking Dead” look like a Disney production; my comic shop owner wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting myself into. The gleeful grin stuck on my face as he spoke to me not only informed him that I am already a fan of the previous series, but also seemed to frighten him a little. Okay, maybe a lot. For those unfamiliar with Ennis’ work or any of the “Crossed” publications to date, the need for discretion cannot be stressed enough. Centering on a different take on the apocalyptic virus genre, “Crossed: Badlands” #1 is not populated with the living dead, moaning as they scuttle ever-closer; rather, “Crossed” is a wor