Few comics have earned the reputation that Crossed has.
Created by Garth Ennis and illustrated by Jacen Burrows, the series quickly became infamous for pushing the boundaries of horror storytelling. Extreme violence, moral collapse, and a world stripped of hope make Crossed one of the most unsettling comics ever published.
In this new episode of Page Chewing, we take a deep dive into the entire first run of the series (Issues 0–9)—breaking down the story issue by issue and exploring the themes that make it such a controversial but fascinating work of survival horror.
Themes Explored in This Episode
In this episode of Page Chewing, we analyze the first volume of Crossed and discuss:
- The origins of the Crossed contagion
- The collapse of civilization and the fragility of society
- Cindy as one of the strongest characters in the series
- The evolving behavior of the Crossed
- The brutal choices the survivors are forced to make
- The ambiguous ending of the story
We also discuss how real-world events, including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, helped shape the bleak worldview behind the series.
A Warning for New Readers
It’s important to note that Crossed is not for everyone.
The series contains extreme violence and disturbing subject matter, and its reputation as one of the most brutal comics ever published is well deserved.
But for readers interested in survival horror and boundary-pushing storytelling, it remains a fascinating and unforgettable series.
Listen to the Full Discussion
If you’ve read the series, we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Do you think Crossed goes too far, or is its brutality part of what makes the story so effective?
Join the discussion on the Page Chewing forums and share your perspective.
