Rotting Reads: 2009’s Undead Onslaught

2009 was an eclectic year for zombie media, with Marvel diving deeper into its twisted alt-universe, DC Comics raising the stakes with cosmic corpses, and even Star Wars dabbling in undead horror. Here’s how the year stacks up:

5. Marvel Zombies 3 – by Fred Van Lente & Kev Walker

The shambling Marvel alternate universe tried to inject new life with Machine Man leading a rescue mission, but by the third outing, the concept was starting to lose its bite. Fun for diehards, but not essential.

4. Marvel Zombies 4 – by Fred Van Lente & Kev Walker

Slightly stronger than its predecessor, Marvel Zombies 4 follows the Midnight Sons battling a spreading virus. It blends horror and superheroics better but still feels like diminishing returns.

3. The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks – by Max Brooks & Ibraim Roberson

This graphic novel expansion of Brooks’ Survival Guide delivers illustrated zombie outbreaks throughout history. A clever concept, but more a companion piece than a standalone powerhouse.

2. Death Troopers (Star Wars) – by Joe Schreiber

A bold experiment in mashing zombies with Star Wars. A prison barge, stormtroopers, and an outbreak in space — what’s not to love? It’s pulpy fun that surprised fans with its creepy atmosphere.

1. Blackest Night – by Geoff Johns & Ivan Reis

DC’s event book wasn’t “zombies” in the traditional sense, but its reanimated heroes and villains captured the horror perfectly. With emotional stakes, cosmic scale, and haunting visuals, it redefined what superhero horror could be.

Final Word: 2009 gave us diminishing Marvel returns, a clever Brooks experiment, and a galaxy far, far infected. But it was DC’s Blackest Night that made death itself feel terrifying — and unforgettable.