iZombie #16

Written by Chris Roberson
Art by Michael Allred

Lately I've felt like this comic has been a little hampered by the way that it has to fit so many characters into each 20-page issue; often it feels like Roberson and Allred simply have time to check in on each individual, especially since the introduction of the Dead Presidents in their own back up feature.

This issue, however, is very nicely balanced, as we check in on everyone we need to, and still advance the plot of the series.  What makes this work is that so many of the groups of characters that have been kept separate lately are meeting up.  Gwen and Horatio finally find and (sort of) rescue Spot.  On their way out of the tunnels below Eugene, they run in to the Dead Presidents.  Scott's friends, looking for him on their own, run into his grandfather, who we should remember is a chimp now.  Amon and Ellie are still spending time together, and we learn a little more about Eugene's history, and how it's a little like Sunnydale in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

This comic feels like it's moving towards the types of stories it was always meant to tell, and that the first year or so were designed to develop and introduce characters.  It looks like almost everyone's secrets are being exposed, and that thinks in Oregon are not going to be boring anytime soon.