Two people I know, who both have frequented my shop, Comics Unlimited, are the creators of a comic book series named “Living With Zombies,” which features me as a character. “Living With Zombies” is a comedy-horror series about the continuing exploits of two slacker pals who one day find that the world around them has become overrun by zombies.

 

The series was created by Matthew C. Billman and Christopher Herndon in 2003 as a web comic. The series was later published in 2004 by Frightworld Studios, and later by Goathead Publishing. There have been seven issues published, and a trade paperback was published in 2007 collecting all the issues up to date.

 

“Wizard” magazine has twice mentioned the series, once in an article about zombie comics where it was given a full page write-up, and later in an article about the top 40 Independent comics that “Wizard” suggested its readers should be reading.

 

The reason I bring all of this up is that there is a series being published by Dark Horse Comics, created by Dark Horse owner Mike Richardson. This series features stories about the continuing exploits of two slacker pals who one day find that the world around them has become overrun by zombies.

 

Sound familiar?

 

It is titled “Living With The Dead.”

 

What is particularly interesting is that Matthew Billman was contacted by Dark Horse Associated Editor, Mike Carriglitto over a year before “Living With The Dead” was published.  Carriglitto told Billman that he wanted to discuss the possibility of Dark Horse Comics publishing "Living with Zombies.“ Billman gave Mike a synopsis of what the title was going be like in future issues. Billman  never heard back from Carriglitto or Dark Horse.

 

The two comics share exactly the same premise, and very similar titles. On the Comic Book Resources website, in the "Lying In The Gutters" column, Mike Richardson explains, "...My only exposure to ("Living With Zombies") came when I was approached by one of my editors some time back about a possible resemblance to an on-line comic he was interested in publishing in comic form. Because of the possible similarities, I passed on the project and purposely have not EVER looked at it."

 

While Richardson denies taking anything from "Living With Zombies," I find it odd that Dark Horse would purposefully publish a series that, again, shares the same exact premise, with very similar titles. It's not just a zombie comic. It is a humor-driven zombie comic about two slacker buddies having the time of their lives fighting zombie hordes.

 

This part of Mike Richardson's description for "Living With The Dead" would exactly match any description for "Living With Zombies":

 

"...It seemed that if two buddies survived, they could make lemonade out of the lemon they were handed. First...

 

....Their success at blending in allows them build their own paradise. The best of friends."

 

The only differences is the eventual addition of a love interest, and the two main characters dressing up as zombies.

 

As noted, above, I am featured as a regular character in the series by Billman and Herndon. I mention this in the interest of full disclosure. While it can be leveled that I have some bias as a result, I do not  have any financial stake in the series, and I am not creatively involved with the series.

 

I do feel that Billman and Herndon are being wronged, based on what I know, though.

 

Do you agree?