Bleeding Hearts #4: What Am I Becoming?

Bleeding Hearts #4 picks up with Poke continuing to explore his relationship with Rabbit and her mother, all while constantly contemplating his new status in the world among the other zombies. The issue is split between a segment narrated by Rabbit’s mother and a second half narrated by Poke. This structure creates a compelling dichotomy between the two distinct worlds they inhabit, helping to round out the universe in psychologically rich ways. As Poke’s internal crisis reaches a boiling point, the issue delivers a cliffhanger that promises to shift the stakes in a bold and exciting direction.

One of the most delightful aspects of this comic is the way Deniz Camp writes these characters. No one feels like a one-note caricature pulled from a typical zombie story, and that gives the series a unique identity. Camp’s writing also carries a sharp wit that fleshes out the world in subtle, nuanced ways, especially during Poke’s narration. Because of this, the worldbuilding feels organic and woven naturally into the story rather than relying on the heavy-handed exposition readers often grow tired of.

Stipan Morian’s artwork adds a gritty charm that sharply contrasts with the state of the world itself. This is a universe where zombies have their own society, culture, and methods of communication, meaning they must emote in ways readers can still recognize. What makes this especially effective is how Morian visually separates the internal world of the zombies from that of the humans. When Rabbit’s mother narrates, Poke appears far less expressive than he does during his own narration. This distinction reinforces the divide between humans and zombies, illustrating that zombie expression may not register the same way to humans. It also ties neatly into the previous issue’s exploration of how human speech sounds like a strange, specific noise to zombies.

As the issue closes, the somber yet intriguing arrival of the Out-Break holiday is teased as the backdrop for the next chapter. The holiday is discussed almost like a zombie-world equivalent of Thanksgiving, which creates an interesting conflict for Poke, who is becoming increasingly unhappy with his existence as a zombie. Most exciting of all is the sense that this story could go absolutely anywhere from here. By taking familiar zombie tropes and reshaping them into something wholly original, the creative team has given this series a distinctive energy that stands out in today’s comic book landscape.