Only the Savage Are Left #1
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| Writer | Zack Kaplan |
| Artist | Stefano Raffaele |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
A strange virus has spread across the world, transforming its victims into monsters. The only cure is to kill another infected soul. When a nonviolent young man sets out from the safety of his settlement to find his missing true love, he must face the corrupted world of monsters and monster-killers. A dramatic survival adventure that dares to ask what we should stand for in the monster apocalypse.
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Capes & Tights - Justin Soderberg
May 25, 2026Only the Savage are Left delivered everything I wanted from this post-apocalyptic horror story with terrifying monsters and emotional states, all while giving us a fresh perspective on survival in a broken world. Zack Kaplan and Stefano Raffaele assemble a story that is brutal, deeply human and balances shocking horror with heartfelt emotion that never lets up. Only the Savage are Left is a bold and terrifying reinvention of the zombie apocalypse story. Read Full Review
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10
Fanlight Zone - Richard Coryell
Jun 03, 2026Only The Savage Are Left #1 kicks off this story in a perfect way. You get enough backstory to know what’s going on, well also getting the table set for the series ahead. The horror and monsters aren’t just on the page, as this story will surely make you question if you would be a monster too. This introspective look into oneself makes this story much more effective. This is a must-have series and should be added to your Pull List ASAP if it isn’t already there. Don’t get left behind and miss out on what promises to be one of the best series of the year. Read Full Review
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10
Nerd Initiative - Matthew Roth
Jun 03, 2026Only The Savage Are Left #1 is the comic of the week. It injects a flurry of emotion and fear into a world where humanity is a thing of the past. The only choices left are to become as savage as those who are infected or join their ranks. Read Full Review
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9.5
Comic Book Clique - Frank Jarome
Jun 03, 2026Only the Savage Are Left #1 took me by surprise—it's not just another take on a zombie story, but rather a nuanced, thought-provoking tale with more than enough heart to get you invested in the love story first, and the post-apocalyptic horror second. This is the kind of book that everyone should take a look at, even if you're usually not a fan of the genre. The creative team wants to use the pandemic setting as a tool for telling a story that makes us think and feel about not only Ryder and Oaklynn's story, but also how we would react if we were in the same situations. I can't wait to see what else they have up their sleeves as this series progresses. Read Full Review
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9.0
Comic Crusaders - Al Mega
May 30, 2026Only The Savage Are Left #1 is a sharp, soulful, brutal debut from Dark Horse Comics that takes the monster-apocalypse genre and injects it with moral dread, romance, and a whole lot of “nah, humanity, we need to talk.” Zack Kaplan brings the big thematic swing, Stefano Raffaele gives the world raw cinematic menace, Thiago Rocha paints the collapse with haunted restraint, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou gives the pages rhythm and impact, and Tom Muller wraps the whole thing in a visual identity that feels instantly memorable. This is not just another infected-world survival comic. This is love versus savagery, compassion versus convenience, and one young man trying not to lose his soul while the world keeps handing him a knife. Read Full Review
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9.0
The Comic Book Spot - Jeremy Bonnette
Jun 03, 2026Only the Savage Are Left #1 is filled with virus-created monsters and brutal human behavior. Featuring beautiful artwork, this one should be on your pull list if you love horror and end of the world tales. Read Full Review
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8.9
The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally
Jun 03, 2026Raffaele creates beautifully detailed and visually exciting art throughout the issue. I love the imagery as well as the character designs a lot. Read Full Review
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7.7
Comic Watch - Theron Couch
Jun 03, 2026Only The Savage Are Left #1 creates a world not unlike many other zombie and monster dystopian stories. The few differences do elevate the story somewhat, but what makes the story work here is the limited insight Kaplan provides on the main characters. Raffaele’s art is the real star here, though. It humanizes Ryder and Oaklynn considerably and fleshes out the world. Fans of horror dystopian stories, especially zombie and monster, should definitely give this series a look. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Plot
A terrible virus unleashes people's most basic and savage instincts, becoming a global pandemic within days. The cure, according to the original plan, is to burn the corpses of the infected; inhaling the smoke cures you. This method of treatment quickly escalates into a worldwide massacre.
The story revolves around Ryder and Oaklynn, a pair of friends who have known each other since adolescence and were separated by the pandemic. When they reunite, Ryder lives in an organized and protected community, while Oaklynn lived among these "wild zombies."
Oaklynn and her father are invited to live in this community, but she must find an antibiotic for him. Ryder doesn't want to go with her, but he regrets it when she does more+ Like • Comment -
10
This is one of the best first issues I've read in 2026. Really captivating, great art and composition,... it has something unique but in a very well know concept. And this time, it is not a bad thing, trust me.
Funny thing is that communinism is a solution in people survival, but at the end prob never is. Guess we've learned that lesson from the walking dead.
I'm in and infected. -
6.0
This might be an unpopular opinion, but Only Savages Are Left #1 didn't quite work for me.
The premise is interesting, and I can see why many readers are excited about where Zack Kaplan is taking the story. However, I struggled with several aspects of the execution.
My biggest issue was the emotional connection between Ryder and Oaklynn. The comic clearly wants the reader to invest in their relationship, but I never felt I was given enough information to understand why Ryder was so attached to her. As a result, many of the emotional beats didn't land for me.
I also felt that several major plot developments relied heavily on coincidence. Ryder leaves the settlement and quickly his journey leads him directly to more
2025 In Review:
