The last of us American dreams. Issue 1-4 Issue 1-4.

Druckmann (creative director, The Last of Us video game) and Hicks (webcomic Demonology 101) have penned a prequel to The Last of Us video game, which takes place in a postapocalyptic world inhabited by zombies known as the "infected," victims of a parasitic fungal outbreak. The reader is introduced to a younger Ellie, a personality known from the video game, attending her first day at a military boarding school. Early on, Ellie befriends the adventurous Riley, who sneaks out of school on covert excursions into the city. During Ellie and Riley's first foray outside the institution walls, they run into a rogue group known as the Fireflies roaming the city. Unexpectedly, Ellie discovers the Fireflies' leader Marlene knows Ellie, knew Ellie's mother, and reveals guardian-like responsibility for orchestrating events in Ellie's life. Hicks also contributes the artwork, which emotes an unsettled edge, with dark tones and close-ups that show the characters' emotion. Verdict Familiarity with the video game is going to clarify some of the details of this prequel. Likewise, readers will find the abrupt ending frustrating unless they pick up the electronic game. Recommended to fans of this popular video game.-Scott Vieira, Sam Houston State Univ. Lib., Huntsville, TX (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.