Death Falcon vs. The Zombie Slug Lords [Paperback]

William Bitner (Author), Daniel Boyd (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 21, 2008

Death Falcon Zero, a disgraced former masked wrestler is released from prison by the governor of West Virginia (WWE Hall of Fame member, Johnny Valiant) and promised a pardon if he can put an end to the problem of zombies plaguing Charleston’s West Side. DFZ realizes the zombies are created by a new form of crystal meth, funded by Senator Joe E. Legend, himself a former wrestler, and his backers, wrestlers-gone-bad (Samu Anoa'i, Bobby Blaze, Sol de Oriente) drug dealers, yuppie elite, slum lords, and corrupt local officials. When it becomes apparent that Legend's plan is to "infect locally, plague globally," DFZ is forced to reunite his former tag team, the Grapes of Wrath, to assist him in bringing down the slug lords. The only other problems are Raw Talent is a destitute crack head; and Professor Danger, once believed dead, is being hidden by the witness protection program - and has no interest in being found. That and the fact that the three of them now hate one another.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

When I was a kid in West Virginia, I grew up on a fine diet of professional wrestling on TV. And the only things I loved more than wrestling, was horror and sci-fi films. Enter Danny Boyd: one of my first mentors into the world of filmmaking and now, purveyor of the finest illustrated novel marriage in years! Death Falcon Zero vs. The Zombie Slug Lords is what I've been waiting for, a Reese's Cup combination of chocolate wrestling power and finesse with the peanutty goodness of Zombies! George Romero would be proud.

About the Author

William Bitner is a fan of comic books and professional wrestling. At 46 he decided to become a professional wrestler, and has dragged his himself through more than 300 matches, and a dozen title belts. Bitner, author of a short story collection, M Is for Monster, resides in Charleston, W.Va. Daniel Boyd is an acclaimed filmmaker with dozens of films, including three features, Chillers, Strangest Dreams: Invasion of the Space Preachers, and Heroes of the Heart to his credit. A professor at West Virginia State University, Boyd also has taught around the world. A pro wrestler late in life, Boyd first entering the ring at 48. Brendon and Brian Fraim made their mark on Kenzer & Company's Knights of the Dinner Table comics and HackMaster role-playing game. They illustrated America Jr., the Harvey Award nominated Antiques: The Comic Strip, The ODD Squad from Devil's Due Publishing, and the novel Wolf Boy. In their 30s, they are not old enough to start a pro-wrestling career.

Product Details

• Paperback: 142 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (November 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439216932
• ISBN-13: 978-1439216934
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,274,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Old Mexican Wrestling Book, January 25, 2009

By 

C. Baskerville - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death Falcon vs. The Zombie Slug Lords (Paperback)

"Death Falcon Zero vs. The Zombie Slug Lords" is a very good read made in the tradition of the old Mexican wrestling films. The team of Daniel Boyd and William Bitner deliver a fast paced, engaging, story with great unforgettable anti-hero characters. It's very entertaining and includes some very important social commentary about the drug problems and corruption that plagues many cities and communities today. Brendan and Brian Fraim's dark, stark artwork blends perfectly with Bitner's vivid, descriptive writing and brings the story and characters to life. Comic book lover or not I highly recommend picking up a copy of "Death Falcon Zero vs. The Zombie Slug Lords" and strapping yourself in for a crude, raunchy, zombie busting, good time!

5.0 out of 5 stars The thinking man's pro wrestlers vs. flesh eating zombie book., January 22, 2009

By 

R. D. Calhoun (Daly City, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death Falcon vs. The Zombie Slug Lords (Paperback)

"Death Falcon Zero vs. the Zombie Slug Lords" is the thinking man's pro wrestlers vs. flesh eating zombie book. Not only are we repeatedly treated to swinging neckbreakers applied to reanimated corpses and baseball bats crashing into many a maggot encrusted dome, but all of the surreal carnage is delivered to us with page turning political intrigue. Death Falcon Zero, the book's title character, is given a temporary reprieve from prison (a la Snake Plissken in "Escape from New York") to stop a meth induced and politically connected plague of zombies from overrunning West Virginia. To do this, he has to reunite his disgraced six man tag team, called the Grapes of Wrath. Shaking off ring rust is hard enough when you're pitted against your garden variety grapplers, but when you have to go up against hordes of lumbering ghouls, it's deadly. "Death Falcon Zero vs. the Zombie Slug Lords" fleshes out the indie wrestler bios only hinted at by screaming pre-match interviews, grand entrances, lucha masks and ring attire. As WWE Films continues to give us unimaginative potboilers like "The Marine" and "Behind Enemy Lines," one can hope that Vince McMahon and his Hollywood division pick up DFZVTZSL and use it as a blueprint for future offerings.

5.0 out of 5 stars Death Falcon Zero vs. The Zombie Slug Lords is a wild twisted ride, January 6, 2009

By 

Lisa Bragg "Lisa Bragg" (St. Albans, West Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death Falcon vs. The Zombie Slug Lords (Paperback)

I haven't read a graphic novel since I was a kid. After years of watching the extreme tag team of Boyd and Bitner battle evil in the ring, I was anxious to read their new book, Death Falcon Zero vs. The Zombie Slug Lords. I eagerly dove into the novel quickly finding I couldn't put it down! With more twists and turns than a West Virginia country road, this story is designed to thrill and entertain. Within the first few pages I found myself on the West Side of Charleston, West Virginia, in the dark twisted world of corrupt government officials, psycho professional wrestlers and drug-induced zombies. It wasn't long after reading the first few chapters that I began developing a strange uncanny connection to the main characters. They appear to be cocky dynamic antihero's simply flawed misfits with a gritty real world appeal. To me, these little imperfections are what make these characters so appealing. Brilliantly written, I found the cutting edge story of zombies plagued by meth quite compelling. In my opinion the corruption, desperation, and devastation surrounding the meth epidemic is rarely given attention by the media and should be explored more often. Bitner and Boyd creatively weave these dark elements with imaginative care and understanding into a well-crafted humorous novel. The artwork adds another layer of genius that blew me away. Black and white graphics throughout the novel are phenomenal, reminiscent of Marvel Comics silver age. Genuine illustrations, with lifelike details, create dynamic energy between the characters. I can easily see the novel as a film someday.