Hey, horror fans! New York Comic Con 2026 might have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean October is lacking in the availability of comics—especially ones tailored for horror readers.

Are you into zombies? How about comic books featuring zombies? If so, then here’s a suggestion if you’re looking for an unusual type of zombie tale—one published by the US’s Centers for Disease Control!

Back in October 2021, the CDC released the downloadable comic Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic—based on their most popular blog post, from May of that year—as a way to make folks aware of how to prepare for a disaster with emergency kits, whether it’s for an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, pandemic (remember, we were still in the middle of the Covid pandemic at the time), fire…or a zombie apocalypse! As the CDC describes it:

“Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic” demonstrates the importance of being prepared in an entertaining way that people of all ages will enjoy. Readers follow Todd, Julie, and their dog Max as a strange new disease begins spreading, turning ordinary people into zombies. Stick around to the end for a surprising twist that will drive home the importance of being prepared for any emergency. Included in the novel is a Preparedness Checklist so that readers can get their family, workplace, or school ready before disaster strikes.

The 42-page graphic novella by writer Maggie Silver and artist Bob Hobbs is absolutely free and still available for download from their site.

You can also snag the agency’s creeptastic “Don’t Be a Zombie” poster, also free to download.

So, if you’re looking for a free treat to add to your zombie comic collection, head on over and download the comic, and related documents, for some unique Halloween reading—it’s eduterrifying!