"If 'manga' is simply a graphic novel or series in paperback, then I suppose TOKYOPOP is really onto something. If it refers to anything that originated from Japan however, they haven't blurred the line; they've erased it."
~PLAY Magazine

When you're trying to fall in love, the dead can be a real drag.

The Abandoned is a tale of some very real people dealing with very real issues—jobs, family, romance, personal conflict, death... But it's that last one that really comes back to bite them in the ass—literally. After a big storm hits the small town of Buffalora, Georgia, its young residents find themselves picking up the pieces of not only their homes, but their elders as well! Join Rylie and the gang as they bludgeon their way through a sea of the undead on a desperate race to freedom. Along the way, don't forget to take some time to stop and admire Ross Campbell's beautiful ink-wash art—in two colors!

~Aaron Suhr, Senior Editor

Rylie has a crush on Naomi. Fortunately for Rylie, she's convinced Naomi to move into town, and now Rylie plans on making her move. But on one fateful, stormy night, things go afoul. Everyone aged 23 and older suddenly dies—and quickly rises from the dead!

The blood-and-guts-craving zombies seek out the only living left: their children, who are the last remnants of youth and hope. After Rylie escapes a nursing home full of undead senior citizens lusting for her young flesh, she makes her way out into the rain and through the swamps of her hometown to find Naomi before the dead find her first.

Ross Campbell
He is a nocturnal recluse who currently lives in an undisclosed location. His first published work was for White Wolf Publishing's Exalted RPG books, which he continues to do illustrations for today. He made his comic debut working on Too Much Hopeless Savages (Oni Press, 2003-04), and then illustrated and lettered volume 1 of Spooked (Oni Press, 2004), a graphic novel written by Antony Johnston. Volume one of his first solo creation, Wet Moon, was released January 2005, also from Oni.

Ross spends his time working and not much else. He gets some time off to watch one movie every Friday. Likes: teen drama, cats, horror movie monsters, Japanese giant monsters (monster of choice: Gamera), zombies, mystic warrior monks, the South, rednecks & hillbilly horror, African cultures, road warriors, David Lynch. Dislikes: ketchup, phone calls, family vacations, wizards, medieval Europe, frogs, salt & vinegar chips. www.greenoblivion.com

Rylie:
Rylie is cheerful and friendly, and is known by most throughout Buffalora. Even though she generally forgoes politeness in favor of a good humorous sex story, the conservative adults are quite fond of her. She volunteers at the local nursing home as well as the soup kitchen downtown, and has made friends with many homeless as well as crusty old folks. The old people in the home love her, and Rylie frequently spends off hours there. Several of the old men send lecherous glances Rylie's way, and even a few of them occasionally cop a feel. Rylie jokingly scolds them because it's never anything serious or truly offensive to her. Big-hearted volunteer worker by day, Rylie is an unruly death-rocker by night, haunting the downtown dives and clubs where the local bands play. She doesn't sleep very much, and gives herself frequent boosts of coffee and Flintstones vitamins (she likes Barney best).

Naomi:
After her parents died in an unfortunate dump-truck accident several months ago, Naomi has been living with her aunt in Atlanta. She and Rylie have been cultivating their long-distance friendship since they first met at a Young Werewolves show in Atlanta and exchanged e-mail addresses and phone numbers. Naomi is fairly impressionable, especially after her familial loss, and she was easily convinced by Rylie to move to Savannah, where rent was cheaper and the pedicabs plenty. Despite the little bit of direction now present, Naomi still feels lost and mired in life. Though she's interested in Rylie, she's unsure if she's ready for anything serious, considering herself to still be in mourning for her parents. She's emotionally fragile right now, and doesn't know if she's up for the perils of romance.

Ben:
A gentle soul, Ben is soft-spoken and mild, despite his great physical strength and stamina. An unlucky romantic, there are always broken hearts in Ben's vicinity, be it his or another's. Much like Naomi, Ben is usually doing the dumping: he either finds himself clinging too tightly to those he dates, or his high standards are simply not met. He's been burned in the past, and he's gotten to the point in his life where although he's attentive and caring toward his partner, if a reasonable amount of effort hasn't deterred any problems, he takes it upon himself to break it off. He'll give most anyone a chance, though, and he's generous when it comes to love, romance, and attention.

Nicole:
Nicole's father, Doug, was the former owner and manager of I Scream—until he was killed in the same dump truck accident that Naomi's parents were in. Now, Nicole (she also goes by Nicki) has taken over the business and runs it herself (along with her younger sister Cammie, who really doesn't do much), and she's proud of it, and manages the place with vigor and determination. It makes her feel important, even though most people would see it as just a menial serving job.

Cammie:
Nicole's younger sister, Cammie, had a much more difficult time with her father's dump truck death. She didn't speak for two months after it happened, and even now she's exceptionally quiet and only speaks when she feels she really has something to say (or a good joke). Cammie is not tenacious like Nicole; she's easily discouraged and will give up after an initial failure, getting self-deprecating quickly. Everything is always because she isn't strong enough, willful enough, skillful enough, pretty enough...and so forth. Most of this she keeps inside, though every so often she'll have an emotional outpouring to Nicole, and then start stockpiling everything all over again.

Mae:
Mae never knew her parents. For much of her early life she was raised in an orphanage in Columbus, South Carolina, until she was 12, when she ran away. She made her way southward, surviving on odd jobs, scraps, the rare generous stranger, and a small band of squatters. Mae set herself up in Buffalora at age 14 but was quickly nabbed by the police and thrown in with some foster parents (Uncle Ransom and Aunt Alicia). Mae lived with them for only one year before she declared she was moving out on her own. She got a job at the downtown Kroger grocery store and found herself a small apartment (owned by a cracked-out landlord who half the time forgets about rent payments; so much the better).