Double Take Universe

[whovian]

I don't see a thread for these, so is anyone else reading any of the first issues? I have to admit I'm one of the people who scoffed at the lineup when it was announced all ten books would be set in the Night of the Living Dead realm. I had no intention of touching these, but when I saw the full-page Super Pack ad in the Valiant titles the price and idea of launching all ten series in one handy pack drove me to order a couple of packs. I've read five of them and think this is the coolest comic book launch since, well, the new Valiant at least -- I'm damn excited about Double Take!

I think this is comparable to what Jim Shooter tried to do with Defiant in that Double Take is using an unusual spring board (Warriors of Plasm in Defiant's case) to kick off a universe, but it will be months before they reveal just what all this is building up to. Sadly, Defiant folded just as they were hitting that point. I'm really hoping Double Take makes it there. And I'm hoping I love where they go.

There's a bit of sameness to the art of the books, but they all seem story-boarded and have a cinematic feel. The writing is slice-of-life stuff -- it's very character driven. While anyone who likes Night of the Living Dead should check these out, I would recommend them to anyone who's tired of watching characters in costumes duke it out. Fans of Valiant, Vertigo, Dark Circle and Archie Horror should at least give DT a peek. It's not going to be for everyone, but I think some readers will be pleasantly surprised.

[kjjohanson]

All ten issues were available to read for free digitally (on Comixology, I think). I read them that way. It feels a little thrown together. I'm not particularly fond of the lettering, and it looks like the panels were drawn individually and then maybe sized to make a full-page layout, because the line weights aren't consistent. It seems a little amateurish, as if people that know how to tell stories but aren't familiar with comics are taking a stab at it.

I did get a kick out of the little girl in "Home" though

[whovian]

Having communicated with Double Take over the past few days, their creative process is apparently different from most companies. Without directly quoting the response I got from a staff member, they draw their stories as digital storyboards and then composite them into the print comics. Apparently some of the panels they used for the first issue of various series were too low resolution, and they have learned from this experience.

So maybe all the panels were originally drawn the same size and shrunk or enlarged from there -- that's just a theory on my part. But I do get the impression that Double Take may be anticipating comic books becoming a full-blown digital experience and that they want to put some emphasis there. And, again, that's just a theory of mine. This is a company spinning out from a game company, so maybe their processes have been devised to be incorporated into some future games or other electronic media.

I won't lie that the books feel amateurish, and I think that's part of the appeal for me. The much cheaper price also reflects that. These are books that are exploring the world of the original Night of the Living Dead (which is typically viewed as an amateurish production) and since I found that film so enjoyable, I'm liking these comics.

I had never seen Night of the Living Dead until I bought these comics and just saw it last week, for the first time, right before starting on Double Take's comics. I do feel like the books evoke the feel of the film. So this may be a group of some inexperienced folks assembling these books, but I think that echoes the production of the film that inspired them. Whether or not that's intentional....

[kjjohanson]

Having communicated with Double Take over the past few days, their creative process is apparently different from most companies. Without directly quoting the response I got from a staff member, they draw their stories as digital storyboards and then composite them into the print comics. Apparently some of the panels they used for the first issue of various series were too low resolution, and they have learned from this experience.

So maybe all the panels were originally drawn the same size and shrunk or enlarged from there -- that's just a theory on my part. But I do get the impression that Double Take may be anticipating comic books becoming a full-blown digital experience and that they want to put some emphasis there. And, again, that's just a theory of mine. This is a company spinning out from a game company, so maybe their processes have been devised to be incorporated into some future games or other electronic media.

I won't lie that the books feel amateurish, and I think that's part of the appeal for me. The much cheaper price also reflects that. These are books that are exploring the world of the original Night of the Living Dead (which is typically viewed as an amateurish production) and since I found that film so enjoyable, I'm liking these comics.

I had never seen Night of the Living Dead until I bought these comics and just saw it last week, for the first time, right before starting on Double Take's comics. I do feel like the books evoke the feel of the film. So this may be a group of some inexperienced folks assembling these books, but I think that echoes the production of the film that inspired them. Whether or not that's intentional....

If it's intentional, I think it has to be clear that it's intentional. As it is, it just seems like they don't have a problem putting out a subpar product as their premiere offering.

[jeremycoe]

Thanks for the heads up about these being free on Comixology. I've read a few so far, but honestly I'm not too impressed. It does feel amateurish.

[Cyberstrike]

I wouldn't read it because I HATE zombies.

[kjjohanson]

I wouldn't read it because I HATE zombies.

I don't think it's going to be all zombies. I think that's just where they're spinning off from.

[jeremycoe]

I did get a kick out of the little girl in "Home" though

The little girl was way more annoying than Warmonger - to me.

The only aspect that intrigued me in all of these issues was that flesh might not be the "ghouls" food of choice.

[Chiclo]

I wouldn't read it because I HATE zombies.

It amazes me how much we agree on comics sometimes.

[Keith]

As a huge fan on Night of the Living Dead, I went into these with some skepticism based on what I was seeing from the early previews. After reading the first issues, I'm glad to see I was justified in that attitude.

Not only are they extremely amateurish, with the wording placement making for a poor experience digitally (I.e sometimes the digital control bar covers the text), but the stories were just dumb. And I get they are trying to twist things away from the original NotLD, but some of the choices were just nonsensical. Candy? Really?

Sorry, don't want to sound like a jerk and if others like these then so be it. For this fan, I am not going to invest in these.

[whovian]

I wouldn't read it because I HATE zombies.

Before Double Take I didn't care much for zombies. 28 Days Later, Zombieland and the remake of Dawn of the Dead were the only such films I liked. I had never even seen Night of the Living Dead, but I bought it to go with the first DT Super Pack.

Next year DT is supposed to leap 50 years forward to the present for ten new titles which introduce characters with super-powers. I'm curious to see how this universe pulls together.

[whovian]

All ten issues were available to read for free digitally (on Comixology, I think). I read them that way. It feels a little thrown together. I'm not particularly fond of the lettering, and it looks like the panels were drawn individually and then maybe sized to make a full-page layout, because the line weights aren't consistent. It seems a little amateurish, as if people that know how to tell stories but aren't familiar with comics are taking a stab at it.

If the Comixology digital versions you refer to are anything like the ones on the Double Take site I can understand some of the problems you describe. Their site has all the words at the bottom of each panel with no actual comic balloons -- not a good presentation at all. The printed comics are more like traditional comics, though the lettering in the balloons is in a CAPS/lowercase font like in this message rather than CAPS (JUST LIKE THIS) which is the norm.

I have received e-mails from Writer Matthew Summo, Business Manager Lillian Tan, and Sales & Marketing Coordinator Gabe Yokum (who was even kind enough to ask me to call him when I inquired about purchasing a Hundy) and these folks are genuinely interested in what readers like and dislike about their books. Gabe took the time to ask me about my history in collecting comics (which surprised me and was kind of awkward because I expected to make a simple business transaction) and gave me some snippets of info about what's happening next year. I've never had communication like that from any comic book company. It's been quite a pleasant surprise.

[Keith]

Double Take has been making the #2 issues of these titles available for free on their website on a day by day basis. So I have had an opportunity to check these out some more after an underwhelming experience with the #1s.

Unfortunately, consider me still underwhelmed. These titles just don't make any sense.

[jeremycoe]

Double Take has been making the #2 issues of these titles available for free on their website on a day by day basis. So I have had an opportunity to check these out some more after an underwhelming experience with the #1s.

Unfortunately, consider me still underwhelmed. These titles just don't make any sense.

I agree. I've been checking out the #2 issues and still nothing to hook me.

[Keith]

And there we go. Off to the Dead Universe boards with ye:

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/11/02/ ... end-month/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[dornwolf]

Supposedly this was supposed to be based off of 2k Game franchises, Civilization, X-Com, and Bioshock.

[jeremycoe]

Supposedly this was supposed to be based off of 2k Game franchises, Civilization, X-Com, and Bioshock.

All the articles I read about this universe said it was a continuation of original Night of the Living Dead.

[dornwolf]

Supposedly this was supposed to be based off of 2k Game franchises, Civilization, X-Com, and Bioshock.

All the articles I read about this universe said it was a continuation of original Night of the Living Dead.

My mistake. I worded it wrong. The original idea was the one I had posted. Apparently the game studios didn't take to the idea at all. Which is why they went with such an odd idea that they did

[armlessphelan]

I read one of the freebies. Didn't like it and ignored the rest. Seemed poorly thought out.

[wokuya]

And there we go. Off to the Dead Universe boards with ye

Any chance DT will shamble on?

Or will it rise again?



Thanks a lot folks! Don't forget to tip your waiters!

[grendeljd]

And there we go. Off to the Dead Universe boards with ye

Any chance DT will shamble on?

Or will it rise again?



Thanks a lot folks! Don't forget to tip your waiters!

Sounds like it shuffled off for good.

[whovian]

I'll miss Double Take. They had some of the best books of the past year; best publisher second only to Valiant in my opinion. Admittedly, launching with ten titles based on Night of the Living Dead was a bad idea, particularly for a super-hero universe. These were strong, cohesive stories and I would like to have seen what their world would have looked like today, 50 years after the events of those 50 issues. Still, I'll continue to enjoy all the floppies and 10 collections of those they produced for years to come.

Here's hoping Vault Comics will have a much brighter future than Double Take!

[Draco]

One of my staff members took them all and i did wonder what they were like being a 70's Zombie fan, but looked very badly put together and a bit of madness