2012 was a strange year for zombie media — blending big-screen spectacle with manga tie-ins and the ever-reliable Walking Dead novels. The results were uneven, but each entry carved out its own niche.
4. Resident Evil: Retribution by John Shirley
By this point, the Resident Evil film series was deep into its over-the-top, video-game-on-caffeine style. Retribution delivered flashy action and some fan-service character returns, but it lacked emotional weight and struggled to rise above popcorn entertainment.
3. Resident Evil: Marhawa Desire Vol. 1 by Naoki Serizawa
This manga offered a fresh perspective on the Resident Evil universe, set in an elite academy besieged by infection. Vol. 1 laid the groundwork well — introducing new characters, a sinister setting, and the creeping dread of outbreak.
2. Resident Evil: Marhawa Desire Vol. 2 by Naoki Serizawa
The follow-up tightened the action and pushed the horror forward. Tying the manga into the events of Resident Evil 6, Vol. 2 brought urgency and bigger stakes, marking it as one of the stronger franchise tie-in works.
1. The Walking Dead: The Road to Woodbury by Robert Kirkman & Jay Bonansinga
This novel expanded the mythos of The Walking Dead, chronicling Lilly Caul’s path into the infamous Governor’s orbit. It was grim, compelling, and carried the same bleak survivalist tone that defined the series’ best storytelling.
Outro:
2012 highlighted the many directions zombie media could go. Hollywood doubled down on style with Retribution, while manga like Marhawa Desire deepened lore with chilling side stories. Meanwhile, Kirkman’s universe proved it still had the emotional firepower to lead the genre. Looking back, this year wasn’t about groundbreaking innovation — it was about branching paths, each audience finding their flavor of the undead. From spectacle to story, manga to novel, 2012 made one thing clear: the zombie apocalypse is always evolving, never staying dead for long.
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