Rotting Reads: Ranking the Zombie Books, Comics, and Manga of 2016

2016 gave us a fascinating mix of zombie stories — from pulpy fan-service tie-ins to one of the most unique and unsettling manga in the entire genre. Let’s see how they stack up.

4. Resident Evil: Heavenly Island, Vol. 3

Capcom’s island-set spin-off continues, but by this point, the story leans heavily into fan service rather than meaningful zombie horror. The action is there, but the stakes feel shallow, making it the weakest of this year’s reads.

3. Resident Evil: Heavenly Island, Vol. 4

A step up from Volume 3, this entry brings a bit more tension and fleshes out the survival aspects. Still, the balance between camp and horror never fully lands, and it lacks the impact of stronger zombie titles.

2. I Am a Hero, Vol. 1

Kengo Hanazawa’s series makes an unforgettable first impression. Volume 1 is unsettling, slow-burning, and deeply psychological, told through the eyes of an unreliable, mentally unstable protagonist. It’s not your typical outbreak story, and that’s exactly what makes it stand out.

1. I Am a Hero, Vol. 2

The second volume is where things escalate dramatically. The outbreak becomes undeniable, paranoia spikes, and the violence hits harder. It’s claustrophobic, terrifying, and brilliantly drawn. By this point, I Am a Hero cements itself as a must-read masterpiece of modern zombie fiction.

Final Word: 2016 was the year I Am a Hero showed just how versatile the zombie genre can be — mixing psychological horror with raw, apocalyptic dread. The Resident Evil spin-offs? Fun diversions, but they couldn’t compete with Hanazawa’s magnum opus.