Rotting Reads: 2015’s Decayed Delights

2015 shuffled in some entertaining undead tales, ranging from pulpy manga spin-offs to a gritty apocalyptic novel that really stood above the pack. Here’s how the year’s zombie reads stack up:

3. Resident Evil: Heavenly Island, Vol. 1 – by Naoki Serizawa

The franchise dives into tropical terror with zombies, action, and a dose of fan service. While the setup is exciting, the first volume feels more like spectacle than substance, offering little beyond visual thrills.

2. Resident Evil: Heavenly Island, Vol. 2 – by Naoki Serizawa

Picking up steam, Volume 2 brings tighter pacing and delivers more of the Resident Evil energy fans crave. It’s bloodier, bolder, and better, though it still leans heavily on style over story.

1. Deadland Rising – by Rachel Aukes

The finale of Aukes’ Deadland Saga blends The Divine Comedy with a brutal zombie apocalypse, sending survivors on a dangerous journey through hellish landscapes both literal and figurative. It’s an emotional, action-packed conclusion that gives real depth to the year’s zombie offerings.

Final Word: 2015’s rotted reads leaned on familiar Resident Evil pulp, but Rachel Aukes’ Deadland Rising elevated the year — a fittingly epic conclusion to a saga about survival, sacrifice, and the cost of humanity when the dead won’t stay buried.