☣️ Apocalyptic

Comedy of the Dead

✍️ Anthony Giangregorio
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$14.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A darkly comic novel about four survivors trapped in a zombie-infested shopping mall.

The story centers on Dodger, Pete, Pam, and Kevin who escape Boston to find refuge in a suburban mall. Their journey is cut short by fuel shortages, leaving them stranded among the undead. The group discovers unexpected resources like pornographic videos and ample food, yet their safety remains precarious. A bite incident introduces internal tension alongside external threats from animated corpses and hostile groups like Shriner bikers. Giangregorio uses this setting to explore themes of desperation and absurdity in the face of death. The narrative avoids traditional heroic arcs, instead focusing on the grim reality that survival is often a matter of chance. The book does not resolve all conflicts neatly, leaving the characters’ fates intertwined with their environment. This approach distinguishes it from standard genre fare by emphasizing the ridiculousness of their situation over action sequences.

Key Themes
zombie apocalypse survival suburban mall setting dark comedic horror
Literary Context

Published in 2014 by Living Dead Press, this work engages with the enduring American fascination with consumer culture and its collapse. The shopping mall serves as a potent symbol of suburban life turned nightmare, reflecting anxieties about safety and community in post-modern America.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Max Brooks · Joe Hill · Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright
☣️
Apocalyptic
🏛 Living Dead Press 📅 2014 📖 212 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781611990843

📝 Description: Comedy of the Dead

Anthony Giangregorio presents a darkly comic take on the zombie genre in Comedy of the Dead. The narrative follows four survivors named Dodger, Pete, Pam, and Kevin as they flee Boston during its collapse into chaos. Their escape leads them to a suburban shopping mall west of the city, where low fuel forces a stop that becomes their temporary sanctuary. Inside this hidden haven on the top floor, the group faces immediate peril when one member sustains a bite from an undead attacker. The setting offers strange comforts, including a video store stocked with adult films and abundant food supplies within the shops. However, safety is illusory as walking dead roam the premises. The survivors must contend with hostile obstacles such as undead clowns and Shriner biker gangs while navigating the threat of animated corpses. Giangregorio’s work blends horror tropes with satirical elements, suggesting that life itself is a joke in this context. This title suits readers who enjoy apocalyptic fiction with a humorous edge rather than those seeking pure terror or serious literary analysis. It does not offer extensive historical data or scientific explanations for the outbreak. The story focuses on character dynamics and survival within a confined, overrun commercial space. Readers looking for traditional zombie narratives may find the comedic tone unexpected. Those interested in subversions of classic horror settings will likely appreciate the specific challenges posed by the mall environment and its unique inhabitants.

💎 Our verdict on Comedy of the Dead

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Giangregorio delivers a distinctively satirical take on the zombie apocalypse, utilizing a suburban mall as a claustrophobic stage for dark humor. The narrative succeeds in highlighting the absurdity of survival, eschewing neat resolutions for a gritty examination of chance and desperation. While it lacks the scientific rigor or historical depth of other genre entries, its strength lies in its comedic tone and focus on interpersonal tension among stranded survivors. This work is best suited for readers who enjoy horror with a humorous edge and appreciate subversions of traditional zombie tropes. It may disappoint those seeking pure terror or serious literary analysis but will delight fans of dark comedy.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking an unconventional entry into the zombie genre will find this title refreshing. It appeals to those tired of standard heroic tropes who prefer narratives emphasizing the ridiculousness of survival over action sequences. Fans of dark comedy and satire will appreciate the exploration of desperation within a mundane setting like a shopping mall. Those interested in character dynamics amidst chaos, rather than scientific explanations or historical data, will find value here. The book offers a humorous edge to apocalyptic fiction, making it ideal for audiences who enjoy subversions of horror norms and prefer grim reality over pure terror.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Giangregorio delivers a distinctively satirical take on the zombie apocalypse, utilizing a suburban mall as a claustrophobic stage for dark humor. The narrative succeeds in highlighting the absurdity of survival, eschewing neat resolutions for a gritty examination of chance and desperation. While it lacks the scientific rigor or historical depth of other genre entries, its strength lies in its comedic tone and focus on interpersonal tension among stranded survivors. This work is best suited for readers who enjoy horror with a humorous edge and appreciate subversions of traditional zombie tropes. It may disappoint those seeking pure terror or serious literary analysis but will delight fans of dark comedy.

✍️ More books by this author Anthony Giangregorio

Christmas Of the Dead
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
Christmas Of the Dead
$14.99
78
Read →
A Very Dead Christmas: A Zombie Anthology
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
A Very Dead Christmas: A Zombie Anthology
$14.99
78
Read →
Clowns of Terror: An Evil Anthology
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
Clowns of Terror: An Evil Anthology
$14.99
81
Read →
Dark Holocaust (Warriors of the Apocalypse Book 2)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
Dark Holocaust (Warriors of the Apocalypse Book 2)
$14.99
78
Read →
Sunset of the Dead: A Zombie Novel
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
Sunset of the Dead: A Zombie Novel
$14.99
78
Read →
Curse of the Beetle
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
Curse of the Beetle
$14.99
78
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Living Dead Press

Dead Offerings
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
Dead Offerings
$39.99
81
Read →
End of Days 2: An Apocalyptic Anthology
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
End of Days 2: An Apocalyptic Anthology
$14.99
78
Read →
Deadwater (Deadwater Series: Book 1)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.3
Anthony Giangregorio
Deadwater (Deadwater Series: Book 1)
$14.99
69
Read →
Kingdom of the Dead
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
Kingdom of the Dead
$14.99
78
Read →
Dead Rage
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
Dead Rage
$14.99
78
Read →
Dead End: A Zombie Novel
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Anthony Giangregorio
Dead End: A Zombie Novel
$14.99
81
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Dead History: A Zombie Anthology
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Anthony Giangregorio
Dead History: A Zombie Anthology
$14.99
86
Read →
Dead Worlds: Undead Stories (A Zombie Anthology) Volume 1
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Anthony Giangregorio
Dead Worlds: Undead Stories (A Zombie Anthology) Volume 1
$14.99
86
Read →
Women of the Living Dead: A Zombie Anthology
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Rebecca Snow
Women of the Living Dead: A Zombie Anthology
$14.99
81
Read →
Horror Carnival
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
David Bernstein
Horror Carnival
$14.99
81
Read →
Book of the Dead 5: Back to the Grave
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
David Renfrow
Book of the Dead 5: Back to the Grave
$14.99
81
Read →
Dead Worlds: Undead Stories ( a Zombie Anthology) Volume 2
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Eric S Brown
Dead Worlds: Undead Stories ( a Zombie Anthology) Volume 2
$14.99
81
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist