REVIEW: ‘Task Force Z,’ Issue #11

Task Force Z #11 is published by DC Comics, written by Matthew Rosenberg, pencils by Eddy Barrows, inks by Eber Ferrerira, colours by Adriano Lucas, and letters by Rob Leigh. After the revelation that the zombie Bane was not actually Bane, Red Hood storms off of the team and straight into Bloom’s headquarters.

In this issue, the series returns to its action roots in a huge way. The story splits into two very quickly as there are two attacks on the same building. Both of these scenarios are huge in their scale and relentless in their violence. Rosenberg wasn’t pulling any punches before, but Task Force Z #11 makes the other issues seem tame in comparison. Gone is the creepy horror and the slow laboratory scenes, in comes the fast pace and ultra brutality. The series has been building up to this for a long time, but it is incredibly surprising to see the level at which it explodes. The bravery to perform jaw-dropping moments leads to parts reminiscent of something like 28 Weeks Later, with sudden, breathtaking instances. 

The cast list in this series has always been huge, but it seems like that changes dramatically. It can’t exactly be claimed that the characters are easy to get attached to, as they are zombified versions of villains. But you get used to having them in the comic. And many of them are established Batman figures, so to see what happens to some of them is alarming. Red Hood’s battle with some of the recurring characters is exciting and full of great dialogue. But it is his relationship with Harvey Dent that has been the most unexpected part of this story.

These are two opposite sides of a coin. They have been foes for years, and yet at times, their partnership is almost adorable. They are the last part of the original company still on the same team. But it is always fraught, and Red Hood is not someone who trusts easily. Bloom levels up powers-wise in this issue, but his monologue at the end actually loses quite a bit of originality. He has been a disturbing monster but really fun due to how different he was, but his plan seems generic.

The artists revel in bringing the gore back to this series. There are several pages of nothing but extreme violence, yet the impact of each one is powerful. The invocation of events happening out of nowhere is difficult to achieve in comics, but Barrows and Ferreira give us a great impression of speed. This confuses both those reading the issue and the characters getting hit. Two new figures join the book and they look fantastic. The grotesque Gotham is now fully transformed, but is still possessing the intense scale of Bane. Bloom’s upgrade is also huge and epic, with a slight comical element to it. 

The colours carry that intensity that has been maintained throughout the series. There are bright lights and glowing neon that react brilliantly with the long shadows. Lucas is a great paring with Ferreira as an inker as the colours make the dramatic expressions and horrifying injuries look even more distressing. The lettering has been consistently brilliant and is so again in this issue, excellently implying voice and tone.

Task Force Z #11 is pure chaos. There have been parts of this story that has involved clever twists and circular storytelling, not exactly what was expected from a Halloween comic filled with zombies. But this issue is a glorious release of violence. Almost every page is filled with drama or brutality. This series might be one of the most hardcore comics DC has ever produced and is carnage from start to finish.

Task Force Z #11 is available where comics are sold.