Resident Evil: Death Island, Volume 1
Writer: ZINO Kodakujii
Artist: ZINO Kodakujii
Letterer: Tom Williams
Translators: Motoko Tamamuro and Jonathan Clements
Publisher: Titan Manga
Price: $12.99
The Resident Evil series has been a staple in the Capcom library since the release of the first Resident Evil game in 1996. With multiple games, spin off movies and even a currently-in-theaters live action film, it feels as if you can’t go a day without seeing a mention of the survival horror franchise online or on billboards. Recently, publisher Titan Manga teamed up with writer and artist ZINO Kodakujii to adapt the 2023 CGI animated Resident Evil film Death Island into a manga volume.
Death Island
ZINO’s art style works beautifully for this story. The black and white imagery gives a realistic grittiness that manages to encapsulate the heart of the franchise.
While reading the manga, I found myself captivated by the way ZINO managed to accurately draw characters like Hunnigan and Leon. Additionally, I was enthralled by ZINO’s ability to draw the zombies and action sequences in this story.
The way ZINO is able to convey so much detail with such a simple palette of black and white whether it be the fear on characters faces or the grotesque monster designs kept me thoroughly invested into the story. From close up action panels to even small panels that consisted of nothing but background shots, ZINO’s artwork and their dedication to capturing the true core moments of Resident Evil makes for both an enjoyable read and an artistic masterpiece for the franchise.
This manga volume would be a great addition to any Resident Evil fan’s collection, whether they are just getting into the series as a whole or have been for years. The plot is standard for the Resident Evil cast; Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield and Rebecca Chambers have to stop a deadly outbreak in the Alcatraz prison.
Even for the newcomer Resident Evil fans, the explanations of the plot and the antagonist’s motivations that are given were simple and easy to follow without having to know the franchise as a whole. I also found myself chuckling at Leon’s occasional one liners, and I know more seasoned Resident Evil fans would appreciate the little quips every now and again.
As a standalone feature in the franchise, I truly think ZINO is able to integrate the readers into the world of Resident Evil the same way the games do. I hope that ZINO is able to adapt more stories in the Resident Evil franchise in the future because this adaptation is a nicely placed stepping stone for die hard and newer fans to sink their teeth into, especially with Halloween approaching.
Available now
Overall, I enjoyed my time reading this volume and can only hope Titan Manga and ZINO continue to collaborate together to provide more stories for the series. There is a very clear love and deep appreciation for the Resident Evil series from the cover to the translations, and the incredible artwork, of which the creators should be immensely proud.
Resident Evil Death Island Volume 1 is available from Titan Comics now.
