View source for IZombie (comic book)

{{short description|Comic book series published by Vertigo}}
{{distinguish|I, Zombie}}
{{for|the live-action series|iZombie (TV series)}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| title               = iZombie
| 2ndary_box          = Y
| image               = IZombie -1 cover.jpg
| imagesize           =
| caption             = Cover page of #1
| schedule            = Monthly
| format              =
| limited             =
| ongoing             = Completed
| 1shot               =
| genre               = [[Horror fiction|Horror]]
| publisher           = [[Vertigo Comics|Vertigo]]
| date                = 2010–2012
| startmo             = May
| startyr             = 2010
| endmo               = August
| endyr               = 2012
| issues              = 28
| main_char_team      = Gwen Dylan<br>Ellie Stuart<br>Scott "Spot"<br>Horatio
| writers             = [[Chris Roberson (author)|Chris Roberson]]
| artists             = [[Michael Allred]]<br>Jay Stephens<br>Jason Bone<br>James Rugg
| pencillers          =
| inkers              =
| letterers           = [[Todd Klein]]
| colorists           = [[Laura Allred]]
| editors             = [[Shelly Bond]]
| creative_team_month =
| creative_team_year  =
| creators            = [[Chris Roberson (author)|Roberson]] & [[Michael Allred|Allred]]
| TPB                 = Dead to the World
| ISBN                = 1-4012-2965-4
| TPB1                = uVampire
| ISBN1               = 1-4012-3296-5
| TPB2                = Six Feet Under & Rising
| ISBN2               = 1-4012-3370-8
| TPB3                = Repossession
| ISBN3               = 1-4012-3697-9
| subcat              = Vertigo
| altcat              =
| sort                = iZombie
| addpubcat#          =
| nonUS               = N
}}
'''''iZombie''''',<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Chris Roberson (author)|Roberson, Chris]]|penciller=[[Gilbert Hernandez|Hernàndez, Gilbert]]|inker=Hernàndez, Gilbert|colorist=[[Laura Allred|Allred, Laura]]|letterer=[[Todd Klein|Klein, Todd]]|editor=Lockard, Gregory, [[Shelly Bond|Bond, Shelly]]|story=Ghost Stories|title=iZombie|volume=1|issue=12|date=June 2011|publisher=[[Vertigo Comics|Vertigo]]|location=|page=18}} "The correct spelling of the title of our esteemed series is: (...) a lower case "i", sans comma, and the "ZOMBIE" in caps. In other words: iZombie."</ref> originally titled '''''I, Zombie''''', is a [[comic book]] series created by writer [[Chris Roberson (author)|Chris Roberson]] and artist [[Michael Allred]], published by [[DC Comics]]' [[Vertigo Comics|Vertigo]] imprint beginning in 2010. The series deals with Gwen Dylan ([[née]] Gwendolyn Price), a [[revenant]] gravedigger in [[Eugene, Oregon]] and her friends Ellie, a 1960s ghost, and Scott, a were-terrier. ''iZombie'' was nominated for the 2011 [[Eisner Award]] for Best New Series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_11nom.php |title=Nominees Announced for 2011 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards |publisher=[[San Diego Comic-Con]] |access-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513193750/http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_11nom.php |archive-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref>

Gwen Dylan can pass for a regular girl, but she needs to eat a brain once a month to keep from losing her memories and intelligence. As a gravedigger,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/mar/17/izombie-comic-adaptation-introduces-crime-solving-dead |title=iZombie: comic book's TV adaptation introduces the crime-solving dead |last=Moylan |first=Brian |date=March 17, 2015 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=May 2, 2015 }}</ref> she has plenty of access to recently deceased people; when she consumes their brains she "inherits" part of the deceased's thoughts.

The "monsters" in ''iZombie'' are explained via the concepts of over- and undersoul. The oversoul (as in [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]]'s "[[The Over-Soul]]") is "seated in the brain, contains the thoughts, memories, and personality",<ref name="overunder">{{Cite comic|writer=[[Chris Roberson (author)|Roberson, Chris]]|penciller=[[Mike Allred|Allred, Michael]]|inker=Allred, Michael|colorist=[[Laura Allred|Allred, Laura]]|letterer=[[Todd Klein|Klein, Todd]]|editor=Rufino, Angelo, [[Shelly Bond|Bond, Shelly]]|story=The Magical Memory Tour|title=iZombie|volume=1|issue=4|date=October 2010|publisher=[[Vertigo Comics|Vertigo]]|location=|page=11}}</ref> while the undersoul (as in [[Michael McClure]]'s poem "Dark Brown") is "seated in the heart, contains the appetites, emotions and fears".<ref name="overunder"/> Ghosts are thus bodiless oversouls; poltergeists, bodiless undersouls; vampires bodies without undersouls (thirsting for emotions); and zombies, bodies without oversouls. Revenants, like Gwen, are unique in that they possess both oversouls and undersouls. Souls can also "infect" the living, which accounts for the [[Spirit possession|possessed]], [[Shapeshifting|werewolves]] and the like.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Chris Roberson (author)|Roberson, Chris]]|penciller=[[Mike Allred|Allred, Michael]]|inker=Allred, Michael|colorist=[[Laura Allred|Allred, Laura]]|letterer=[[Todd Klein|Klein, Todd]]|editor=Rufino, Angelo, [[Shelly Bond|Bond, Shelly]]|story=The Magical Memory Tour|title=iZombie|volume=1|issue=4|date=October 2010|publisher=[[Vertigo Comics|Vertigo]]|location=|page=12-13}}</ref> The characters of ''iZombie'' first appeared in a short story in the first ''[[House of Mystery (Vertigo)|House of Mystery]]'' Halloween Annual (2009). An ''iZombie'' story was also included in the second ''House of Mystery'' Halloween Annual (2010).

The comic is notable for its use of real Eugene-area locations as settings, including the [[University of Oregon]] campus, the [[Shelton McMurphey Johnson House]], the [[McDonald Theater]], [[Eugene City Hall]], and [[Ya-Po-Ah Terrace]], as well as Portland's [[Oregon Convention Center]] and [[Oregon Zoo]], and [[Devils Lake (Lincoln County, Oregon)|Devils Lake]] in Lincoln City. The primary hangout spot, "Dixie's Firehouse", is also known as "Fins" and is located in Springfield, Oregon.

On April 1, 2012, at the [[Emerald City Comic Con|Emerald City Comicon]], Allred announced that ''iZombie'' would end as of #28 in August.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/04/01/eccc-the-vertigo-new-blood-panels-and-the-end-of-izombie/ |title=ECCC: The Vertigo New Blood Panels – And The End Of iZombie |last=Johnston |first=Richard |date=April 1, 2012 |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |access-date=April 1, 2012 }}</ref>

==Synopsis==
Various entities, some human, some not, battle various escalating threats in and around [[Eugene, Oregon]]. [[Vampire]]s, parental fights, zombies, romance triangles, cabin fever, delayed apocalyptic battles and technical support are just some of the situations under-prepared, heavily manipulated, not-quite-human twenty-somethings have to deal with.

==Characters==
{{main|List of iZombie characters}}
*'''Gwendolyn''' "'''Gwen'''" '''Dylan (née Price):''' The main protagonist, a revenant or main "zombie".
*'''Eleanor''' "'''Ellie'''" '''Stuart (née Roosevelt):''' A ghost who died in the 1960s and had never left Oregon.
*'''Scott "Spot":''' A were-terrier, friend to Gwen and Ellie.
*'''Gavin Price:''' Gwen's brother and Scott's prospective boyfriend (later husband as of ''iZombie #28'').
*'''Horatio:''' A monster hunter and Gwen's boyfriend.
*'''Vincent Tan:''' A friend and co-worker of Scott.
*'''Ashok Patel:''' A friend and co-worker of Scott and Vincent.
*'''John Amon:''' A mummy who was responsible for Gwen Dylan becoming a zombie.

==Adaptation==
{{main|iZombie (TV series)}}
In November 2013, The CW ordered a pilot episode named after the comic from writer/producers [[Rob Thomas (writer)|Rob Thomas]] and [[Diane Ruggiero|Diane Ruggiero-Wright]], who developed the property as a supernatural [[police procedural|procedural drama]] for the network.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/11/izombie-dc-comics-cw-rob-thomas-diane-ruggiero-629968/ |title=The CW Sets Drama Based On DC Comics' 'iZombie' With Rob Thomas, Diane Ruggiero |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=November 7, 2013 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=November 9, 2018 }}</ref> On February 25, 2014, Deadline reported that [[Malcolm Goodwin]], [[Aly Michalka]] and [[David Anders]] were cast as Clive, Peyton and Blaine.<ref>{{cite web|last= Andreeva |first= Nellie|title=Malcolm Goodwin To Star, Alex Krosney & David Anders To Co-Star In CW's 'iZombie'|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/izombie-cw-malcolm-goodwin-alex-krosney-david-anders-star-689067/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=February 25, 2014|access-date = February 25, 2014}}</ref> On March 7, 2014, actor [[Robert Buckley]] was cast as Major, the lead character's former fiancé, a social worker and former college football star who is extremely likable.<ref>{{cite web|last= Goldberg |first= Lesley|title='One Tree Hill's' Robert Buckley to Co-Star in CW's 'iZombie'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/one-tree-hills-robert-buckley-686924|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 7, 2014|access-date = March 7, 2014}}</ref> On March 12, 2014, actress [[Rose McIver]] was cast as the lead character Olivia "Liv" Moore.<ref>{{cite web|last= Goldberg|first= Lesley |title=Rose McIver to Star in Rob Thomas' 'iZombie'|url=http://hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/rose-mciver-star-rob-thomas-687888|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 12, 2014|access-date = March 13, 2014}}</ref>
iZombie had been picked up for the 2014-2015 fall season by [[The CW]] on May 8, 2014, but was pushed back to air as a mid-season replacement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2014/05/08/the-cw-new-series-fall-2014-the-flash/|title=The CW New Series For Fall 2014 – 'The Flash' and 'iZombie' - TVLine|last=Ausiello|first=Michael|work=[[TVLine]]|date=May 8, 2014|access-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref> It debuted on The CW on March 17, 2015 and concluded on August 1, 2019 with 71 episodes airing in total.

While the series retains the lead character's ability to absorb memories and abilities through eating brains, her backstory is substantially changed. Liv (changed from Gwen) is a medical intern in [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]] who is turned into a zombie after being scratched by one. The series picks up five months after the incident; Liv now works as a [[King County, Washington|King County]] morgue assistant, along with Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti played by [[Rahul Kohli]], which provides her with a steady supply of brains from murder victims which she must eat in order to retain her intelligence. A side effect of eating brains is that she experiences the deceased's memories in the form of visions, and temporarily absorbs their habits and abilities which she uses to assist in solving crimes.

Michael Allred, co-creator and lead artist for the comic book series, designed and drew the opening credits for the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a635241/izombie-opening-credits-reveal-michael-allred-art/ |title=iZombie opening credits reveal Michael Allred art |last=Armitage |first=Hugh |date=March 13, 2015 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=March 18, 2015 }}</ref>

==Collected editions==
The series has been collected into a number of [[trade paperback (comics)|trade paperbacks]]:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!#!!Title!!ISBN!!Release date!!Collected material
|-
|1
|''Dead to the World''
|{{ISBN|1-4012-2965-4}}
|March 22, 2011
|''iZombie'' #1–5, a story from ''[[House of Mystery (Vertigo)|House of Mystery]] Halloween Annual #1'' and about 11 additional sketches and covers
|-
|2
|''uVampire''
|{{ISBN|1-4012-3296-5}}
|September 7, 2011
|''iZombie'' #6–12 and a story from ''House of Mystery Halloween Annual #2''
|-
|3
|''Six Feet Under and Rising''
|{{ISBN|1-4012-3370-8}}
|February 14, 2012
|''iZombie'' #13–18
|-
|4
|''Repossession''
|{{ISBN|1-4012-3697-9}}
|December 11, 2012
|''iZombie'' #19–28
|}

As well as an [[Omnibus edition|omnibus]] collecting the entire run:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!#!!Title!!ISBN!!Release date!!Collected material
|-
|1
|''The iZombieOmnibus''
|{{ISBN|9781401262037}}
|December 8, 2015
|the full run
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Gcdb series|id=48349|title=I, Zombie}}
* {{Comicbookdb|type=title|id=28355|title=iZombie}}
{{refend}}

{{iZombie}}
{{Vertigo Comics Ongoing Series}}

[[Category:IZombie]]
[[Category:Zombies in comics]]
[[Category:2010 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Vertigo Comics titles]]
[[Category:DC Comics franchises]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into television series]]
[[Category:Fiction about human–zombie romance]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Abraham Lincoln]]
[[Category:DC Comics vampires]]
[[Category:Ghost comics]]
[[Category:Fiction about mummies]]
[[Category:Therianthropy]]
[[Category:Comics set in Oregon]]
[[Category:Paranormal romance comics]]