Editor's Note: Marvel Zombies 4 #3 arrives in stores tomorrow, June 17.

"Midnight Sons, Part 3"

First off, that cover is a bit misleading. While it does accurately represent something that happens this issue, there are no appearances by Doctor Strange's cape or Klaw's sonic-blaster hand or anyone's bendy-stretchy arm. But Man-Thing shows up, so at least Greg Land got that part right.

Anyway, last issue, when the zombie virus mutated into an airborne strain, it sounded like it was going to be bad news for our heroes. Well, guess what? It's worse than you could have imagined.

This series just keeps getting better and better.

One of the best parts of the series is the characterizations. Van Lente has a nice ear for these characters, giving each one a distinct personality and sound. If you aren't sure what I mean by this, take a look at the very recent New Avengers #53, where Bendis writes an interaction/battle between The Hood and Daimon Hellstrom, The Son of Satan, both of whom are central to this series.

Go on. I'll wait.

Okay, notice how in that comic, both characters sound interchangeable; how Hellstrom speaks casually, saying things like "I want to cast you out all polite-like" and "@#%$ you. You're in my world now, bitch!" and the ever-stylish "put a cork in it, demon." Also note how Bendis is sure to fit "hell" into as much of Hellstrom's dialogue as humanly possible ("who the hell," "what the hell," "my hell," and "get the hell out," all in a four-page span). I guess that's one way of telling who's speaking if someone were reading it to you.

Sigh. Bendis doesn't even try anymore, does he?

In Marvel Zombies 4, Van Lente is careful to make sure that only The Hood, Zombie Deadpool, and Werewolf By Night (when he's in his human form) speak in a more casual mode, using slang and cursing to distinguish them. Hellstrom speaks in a slightly more formal manner, as does Morbius, who also gets some guilt and self-doubt thrown in this issue. And Van Lente's Dormammu dialogue is calm, regally condescending, and a little creepy.

I can't wait for Dormammu to show up in a Bendis book and start cursing and calling people bitches.

But the characterizations are only one part of the whole. So far as the writing goes, Van Lente's plotting and pacing are superb. This comic is one long series of attempts to stem a rising tide, and nothing seems to help. Some things look like they're going to help, only to collapse under the pressure of impending doom. I really don't see how they're going to get out of this. Especially after what happens to two members of the team (along with this issue's guest-star, Man-Thing).

That's what I love to see in a comic!

The twists and turns grow and develop organically, never feeling forced and always ratcheting up the tension even higher than it already was. And the new modifications that Van Lente has introduced to the Marvel Zombies concept are even more effectively horrifying when paired with Kev Walker's grotesque illustrations.

I don't want to spoil too much, but the result of the Zombie Virus going airborne is much more severe than the simple zombification that this issue's solicits mention. MUCH more severe. Especially when the infected has his two children by their hands, trying to lead them to cover. Very effectively done, Mr. Walker. Not overdone, but horrific, just the same.

With each passing issue, Van Lente and Walker are eclipsing all previous creative teams' work with this concept, and are making Marvel Zombies 4 the high water mark against which all previous and future installments will be judged. This is the good stuff.

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