What could be worse than zombie’s? How about being trapped with zombie’s on a spaceship, years away from help, which is running out of oxygen; and, where a crazed former crew member might hit an airlock release at any moment? Yeah, that sounds pretty good right there.

Containment is about a crew on their way to Saturn in cryogenic sleep that get rudely awakened when their ship springs an oxygen leak. Unfortunately, there is a problem with the “unfreezing process” and most of the crew get a dose of cryo-fluid straight to the brain. Naturally, this shuts of all conscious functions, and the deranged vegetables are reduced to an animal-like state in which they crave the undamaged blood of the remaining sane crewmembers, but I’m sure you already pieced that together.

Well, I personally would probably jettison myself into space, but not the badass, and somewhat sexy, Captain Stark. She gathers the crew and attempts tom make it to the bridge to see if they can stop the leak before they suffocate, but the odds are against her. It seems that when the “zombies” bite you, the fluid gets into your blood and causes the same kind of brain damage, thus you become a zombie. Big surprise. And on top of that, the Medical Officer, Trumbo, has decided that there isn’t enough oxygen for everyone, and attempts to seal the other crewmembers in with some of the crazies. It’s only too bad that they can’t kill Trumbo because only he can make a serum that would counteract the cryo-fluid, theoretically returning them to their normal state. (Though unhappily, as most of them are grievously injured in one way or another and several are missing limbs or faces).

Eric Red (writer) has given a breath or life to the zombie genre in this unique story. Red has a style of writing that really puts some tension in the reading experience, but he also gets a lot of help from Nick Stakal (artist). Stakal’s art is all ink and charcoal which produces surreal and disturbing images fitting perfectly with Red’s creepy story. I especially love the cell where the evil medical officer, Trumbo, sneers at his captors. (See below).

It doesn’t get much creepier than this. Fans of all types should enjoy this series, but horror fans will adore it. This series is falling a bit under the radar though, so those who are interested had better get it quick before it is too late.

-Fumanchu