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FVZA: The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency
In a world where a deadly disease transforms innocent victims into Zombies, a long dormant government task force is called into action: The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency. Throughout history, from the Civil War to World War II, the FVZA protected humanity from the blood-sucking and flesh-eating hordes - until a cure was discovered that sent the undead to their graves. When a new, incurable strain of the virus ravages a small town in America, Agent Landra Pecos must call upon her lethal skills to eradicate the threat. But as Landra delves deeper into her investigation of the undead menace, she uncovers shocking secrets that will change her life forever. Based on the popular website www.FVZA.org and written by comics superstar David Hine (Civil War: X-Men, Spider-Man Noir, Arkham Asylum).
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 24, 2024
To be honest... I didn't have high expectations for this book. The idea of zombies and vampires in the same book with an agency put together to eradicate them seemed kind of silly. At least, that was my thought but this book proved me wrong. It was actually done up well with a good story and backstory. The artwork was superb and it had great characters. I'm impressed!
April 9, 2011
4.5 stars. This totally KICKS ASS. Love the story, love the characters, love the graphic representations of the vampires and zombies. Gruesome and gory yet it all looked so gorgeous cast in deep reds, oranges, blacks and blues. I also thought the story carried well - not highly original mind you - but the delivery is filled with genuine moments of tension and terror. I was especially pleased and surprised by some of the more emotional aspects of the story.
These vampires are vicious and merciless yet with a style and intelligence that's intimidating. They can think and plan and execute. These are not brooding, pouting, "conflicted" emo vampires, yet I appreciated that some of the newly turned are haunted by their human memories and the memory of feelings they can no longer feel. Not so grandiosely tormented as Rice's never-ending "whining" Louis from Interview With the Vampire, but still, enough to make these vampires a little more complicated, a bit more rich, than your average blood-sucking creature of the night. There are clans, and rivals, and rogues, and plenty of innocents caught in the cross-fire. Drama!
The zombies are sad and heart-breaking (I always seem to find them so - except for Danny Boyle's zombies). The FVZA zombies are very similar to the ones I've seen in The Walking Dead series (I haven't read the graphic novels, so I'm only basing that on Darabont's interpretation). The zombies are shambling and starving, haunted and lost. They ramble and feed, yet there is a hint, always just a hint, of some long lost memory of what they used to be. Romero's zombies treat the mall like Mecca; these zombies hold onto music. It's a nice touch and plays very effective in the story.
Just read it! You won't regret it.
These vampires are vicious and merciless yet with a style and intelligence that's intimidating. They can think and plan and execute. These are not brooding, pouting, "conflicted" emo vampires, yet I appreciated that some of the newly turned are haunted by their human memories and the memory of feelings they can no longer feel. Not so grandiosely tormented as Rice's never-ending "whining" Louis from Interview With the Vampire, but still, enough to make these vampires a little more complicated, a bit more rich, than your average blood-sucking creature of the night. There are clans, and rivals, and rogues, and plenty of innocents caught in the cross-fire. Drama!
The zombies are sad and heart-breaking (I always seem to find them so - except for Danny Boyle's zombies). The FVZA zombies are very similar to the ones I've seen in The Walking Dead series (I haven't read the graphic novels, so I'm only basing that on Darabont's interpretation). The zombies are shambling and starving, haunted and lost. They ramble and feed, yet there is a hint, always just a hint, of some long lost memory of what they used to be. Romero's zombies treat the mall like Mecca; these zombies hold onto music. It's a nice touch and plays very effective in the story.
Just read it! You won't regret it.
June 20, 2011
The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency is revived when a new band of vampires threatens to release a mutated zombie virus.
When I first read this several years ago, I gave it three stars and decided to keep it. Re-reading it now, I'm bumping it to four stars. There was some clever worldbuilding in the story. I liked that there was a history of zombies as well as vampires that started with the first white settlers of the New World. It made it seem reasonable without a lot of info-dumping.
The four stars is largely due to the fantastic art. There are some truly beautiful grotesqueries in this volume. Hideous monsters, seeping wounds, blood and brain matter everywhere, and one of the most impressive 'human being torn apart by zombies' I've ever seen. Not everyone's cup of tea, but definitely mine!
I was disappointed to find there was not a sequel to this series. I would have definitely read it.
When I first read this several years ago, I gave it three stars and decided to keep it. Re-reading it now, I'm bumping it to four stars. There was some clever worldbuilding in the story. I liked that there was a history of zombies as well as vampires that started with the first white settlers of the New World. It made it seem reasonable without a lot of info-dumping.
The four stars is largely due to the fantastic art. There are some truly beautiful grotesqueries in this volume. Hideous monsters, seeping wounds, blood and brain matter everywhere, and one of the most impressive 'human being torn apart by zombies' I've ever seen. Not everyone's cup of tea, but definitely mine!
I was disappointed to find there was not a sequel to this series. I would have definitely read it.
February 12, 2013
This is comic writing at its best. David Hine took a web page and turned it into one kick-ass comic.
I read David Hine's "Spawn series" and was impressed with the writing and the added concept added to "Spawn" I may check out his "Spiderman Noir" jump off as well.
The artwork in this graphic novel is pure. All most real at some times. Highly Recommend to Vampire, Zombie and Horror Comic readers.
I read David Hine's "Spawn series" and was impressed with the writing and the added concept added to "Spawn" I may check out his "Spiderman Noir" jump off as well.
The artwork in this graphic novel is pure. All most real at some times. Highly Recommend to Vampire, Zombie and Horror Comic readers.
December 4, 2013
Amazing. Too bad it ends with just the one book. Been a while since I've cried reading a comic. Just go buy it already.
My only complaint is lack of background on our lead/ leads.
On a side note. Not a sparkly one in the bunch. For those who appreciate their monsters monstrous this will curb your insatiable love for the dark.
My only complaint is lack of background on our lead/ leads.
On a side note. Not a sparkly one in the bunch. For those who appreciate their monsters monstrous this will curb your insatiable love for the dark.
August 9, 2020
I don't know much about modern vampire and zombie stories, but this comic has a solid premise. It has a history for the outbreaks, an attempt to explain them scientifically, a story of love-hate and focus on family.
Vampires and zombies were a problem since the early 19th century. After the people organized themselves into the Vanguard to defend against this growing threat, Ulysees S. Grant created the Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency. Over the following century and a half, both diseases had vaccines. In 1975, when vampire and zombie sightings were little more than rumors, the FVZA was shut down. Dr. Hugo Pecose has vast experience with vampires and believes they will return. He teaches his grandchildren Landra and Vidal to be ready for this.
Vampires and zombies were a problem since the early 19th century. After the people organized themselves into the Vanguard to defend against this growing threat, Ulysees S. Grant created the Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency. Over the following century and a half, both diseases had vaccines. In 1975, when vampire and zombie sightings were little more than rumors, the FVZA was shut down. Dr. Hugo Pecose has vast experience with vampires and believes they will return. He teaches his grandchildren Landra and Vidal to be ready for this.
June 22, 2024
Remember what I said in my review for Time Bomb? About how creator owned comics seem to come in only four flavors these days? Vampires, zombies, time travel, and Nazis. Here, we have vampires and zombies. The writing, artwork, and especially the computer coloring are all top notch.
I enjoyed this so much that it pains me to write the following. This book is a total piece of crap. While it appears at first glance to be of the same high quality production values as the other Radical Books that I own, it soon became painfully apparent that it wasn't. While it has sewn binding, the signatures aren't glued to anything save the cover. I could hear creaking almost immediately after I started reading it, as the glue was obviously brittle. By the time I was a quarter way into the book, the signatures were already half separated from the cover. The top half looks solid, the bottom half arches upwards. By the end of the book, it was almost falling apart. Total, utter garbage. While the story was enjoyable, I cannot advise anyone to pick up this book.
I enjoyed this so much that it pains me to write the following. This book is a total piece of crap. While it appears at first glance to be of the same high quality production values as the other Radical Books that I own, it soon became painfully apparent that it wasn't. While it has sewn binding, the signatures aren't glued to anything save the cover. I could hear creaking almost immediately after I started reading it, as the glue was obviously brittle. By the time I was a quarter way into the book, the signatures were already half separated from the cover. The top half looks solid, the bottom half arches upwards. By the end of the book, it was almost falling apart. Total, utter garbage. While the story was enjoyable, I cannot advise anyone to pick up this book.
August 14, 2025
There was enough ingenuity to craft a relatively original take on vampires.
But thr whole thing felt more like a TV pilot than a comic series, and it ends up with a story that it's not remarkable enough to shine on its own and at the same time leaves you with the desire for a development that never happened.
But thr whole thing felt more like a TV pilot than a comic series, and it ends up with a story that it's not remarkable enough to shine on its own and at the same time leaves you with the desire for a development that never happened.
September 24, 2025
A good idea kneecapped when the 2nd and third acts are done in a speed run.
February 13, 2011
Hine portrays his vampires in FVZA as cruel ferocious killers with little to no regard for humanity. Unlike what you see on TV, Hine's vampires are deliberately ugly. My favorite line in this book was when the head vampire points out once a vampire is turned, he or she loses his/her physical beauty--meaning that the hair falls out, the skin turns ashen, the head starts to shrivel, etc. Gross!
Aside from the scary portrayal of vampires which is aided immensely by the terrific artwork, this graphic novel is also strengthen by a well-thought out storyline. The book opens with a FVZA (Federal Vampire Zombie Agency) agent named Landra Pecos ready to shoot her grandfather who has just been turned. In a series of flashbacks, we see her upbringing, her training and subsequent entry into the field, and the tragic deaths of both her brother and her lover which have brought her to this point. Intermingled with these scenes is the return of the vampires who were nearly wiped out by the FVZA in the 60s. This new wave of vampires is now plotting to utilize a zombie plague to bring society's to its knees by unleashing the virus into a small town. Ah, nothing like a little mayhem and chaos thrown in to amp up the adrenaline.
The story is obviously well-paced with a number of terrific plot twists at the very end. I won't reveal what happens with Landra and her grandfather but suffice it to say, you will be surprised. This was an enjoyable read from start to finish.
Aside from the scary portrayal of vampires which is aided immensely by the terrific artwork, this graphic novel is also strengthen by a well-thought out storyline. The book opens with a FVZA (Federal Vampire Zombie Agency) agent named Landra Pecos ready to shoot her grandfather who has just been turned. In a series of flashbacks, we see her upbringing, her training and subsequent entry into the field, and the tragic deaths of both her brother and her lover which have brought her to this point. Intermingled with these scenes is the return of the vampires who were nearly wiped out by the FVZA in the 60s. This new wave of vampires is now plotting to utilize a zombie plague to bring society's to its knees by unleashing the virus into a small town. Ah, nothing like a little mayhem and chaos thrown in to amp up the adrenaline.
The story is obviously well-paced with a number of terrific plot twists at the very end. I won't reveal what happens with Landra and her grandfather but suffice it to say, you will be surprised. This was an enjoyable read from start to finish.
July 9, 2019
You know, I really did not expect much from a company that sort of went belly up within 5 years and seemed to have mostly just one style of digital painting for all its titles (Aladdin, Hercules, Legends at al.). Furthermore, that style can get tiresome very fast.
I was pleasantly surprised. Although the plot was nothing terribly new, even at the time, once again going for the supernatural vs. military angle, the pacing was good, the plot never stalled and the illustration maintained a good balance between looking good and actually serving the story.
There is quite an amount of suspension of disbelief required (always referring to internal consistency, not in relation to the real world), but not enough to bother me.
All in all, a consistent, enjoyable read, one might even think a more contained version of American Vampire (in its root concept).
Re-read edit: It seems the pandemic has traumatized me enough that I completely forgot I had read this, so I re-read it and I would say I remain of the same opinion. I would only add that the vampire plan sort of seems a bit doomed from the get go. Still enjoyable.
I was pleasantly surprised. Although the plot was nothing terribly new, even at the time, once again going for the supernatural vs. military angle, the pacing was good, the plot never stalled and the illustration maintained a good balance between looking good and actually serving the story.
There is quite an amount of suspension of disbelief required (always referring to internal consistency, not in relation to the real world), but not enough to bother me.
All in all, a consistent, enjoyable read, one might even think a more contained version of American Vampire (in its root concept).
Re-read edit: It seems the pandemic has traumatized me enough that I completely forgot I had read this, so I re-read it and I would say I remain of the same opinion. I would only add that the vampire plan sort of seems a bit doomed from the get go. Still enjoyable.
April 24, 2011
Radical has been surprising me in these last months every time time a new title comes out.
Each title brigs something new to topics and stories already beaten, both in literature or comics.
FVZA is another of those titles, vampires, zombies, humanity in the verge of annihilation, and a group ready to deal with it. But as soon as you start reading you become immerse in a new world of vampires and zombies, different habits, different ideals, no self-love what-so-ever, and last but not least, the gothic beauty is an idea which does take part in this story, and you find it an exception rather than the rule.
The graphics are great, the script is very good, colouring amazing, a must read.
Each title brigs something new to topics and stories already beaten, both in literature or comics.
FVZA is another of those titles, vampires, zombies, humanity in the verge of annihilation, and a group ready to deal with it. But as soon as you start reading you become immerse in a new world of vampires and zombies, different habits, different ideals, no self-love what-so-ever, and last but not least, the gothic beauty is an idea which does take part in this story, and you find it an exception rather than the rule.
The graphics are great, the script is very good, colouring amazing, a must read.
February 15, 2014
It passed some time since I read a good story about vampires. I think, it is the first comic about vampires that I really liked. The characters are very complex, vampires, zombies, and humans. The art is amazing, really dark and with a creepy atmosphere. And, most of all, coming back to the characters, they seam real.
Really good comic. I want to read more, but there is only this book (I think ...)
Really good comic. I want to read more, but there is only this book (I think ...)
September 20, 2010
This was fantastic and the artwork was absolutely spectacular. I thought this was a very realistic portrayal of a world inhabited by vampires zombies and humans. I have yet to visit the website that this is based on, but I have no doubt I will really enjoy it. As another reviewer stated it's a well thought out story and I personally hope there will be more books.
September 7, 2010
This was fun - quite a deeply-thought-through world to explore, and evolves like a good, compressed sci-fi novel - seeing how this alternate universe would play out its circumstances. Art was fine but sometimes muddied the scene.
October 12, 2011
Really good art. Story was average.
May 8, 2012
Genuinely creepy, beautifully illustrated, and not at all cliched.
October 30, 2013
3.5 good art.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews