Indiana Jones And The Army Of The Dead

Indiana Jones and the Army of the Dead – Review
📖 Yes, I know—zombies. But hold up a sec.

🧟 This isn’t your usual flesh-munching, virus-spreading, Romero-inspired undead horde. These are Haitian zombies—steeped in folklore, voodoo, and cultural significance that Hollywood often overlooks. Haitian zombie lore is rooted in Vodou traditions where a bokor (a dark sorcerer) can reanimate a corpse or suppress a person’s soul to turn them into a mindless servant. It’s terrifying not because the zombie wants to eat you, but because it used to be you. That’s where the real horror lies—loss of identity, autonomy, and spiritual freedom. 😵‍💫📿

And honestly? I prefer Haitian zombies over the usual Romero types. I wish we had more stories like this—where the origin leans into mythology, cultural fear, and moral ambiguity instead of just “BRAAAINS.” That’s partly why I’m more lenient on this book than I probably should be… and you’ll see why once I get to the rating. 🧳📚🗺️

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🧭 Plot Rundown (Non-Spoilers)

Indiana Jones and the Army of the Dead by Steve Perry throws Indy into a zombie-infested Caribbean mystery with Nazis, ancient relics, and voodoo curses. Set before Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, this tale begins with a plane crash in Peru and escalates quickly to Haiti, where Jones and his companion Mac are in search of the Zile Muryō—a mysterious black pearl tied to dark magic and resurrection. 🌴💀🌊

But of course, the Nazis want it too. Because if you can turn corpses into soldiers who don’t tire, don’t sleep, and don’t question orders… well, that’s a military wet dream. Indy has to outwit the undead and the living, all while deciphering the real cost of the treasure he’s chasing. 🗿🔍🔥

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👥 Character Breakdown

Indiana Jones – Classic Indy. Witty, tired of everyone’s nonsense, and not a fan of planes (shocking no one). He gives historical lectures mid-peril and still somehow finds time to reflect on past loves—including a few the movies pretend never existed. His dynamic with Mac is more lighthearted here than in Crystal Skull, giving them more of a banter-based buddy vibe.

Mac – Surprisingly likable here, considering what we know about him later. He plays the skeptic, often mocking Indy’s obsession with artifacts and myths. At least he’s not a double agent yet.

Dr. Gruber – Our Nazi villain. He’s ruthless, blindly devoted to the Führer, and dangerously curious about the occult. Doesn’t know who Indiana Jones is at first—which is honestly hilarious—and becomes increasingly obsessed once he finds out.

Marie – A woman with crooked teeth who helps Indy and Mac get to the Island of the Dead. She’s mysterious, potentially has ties to voodoo herself, and serves as a sort of spiritual guide, although not much is fully explored about her.

Joe Admonds – An old colleague of Indy’s. He’s only briefly mentioned in the early chapters, but his presence signals government interest in the black pearl, raising the stakes.

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✅ Pros

💀 Focuses on Haitian zombie lore over Hollywood-style Romero zombies. This was a huge win for me personally.

🧳 Classic Indy tone: banter, pulp-style narration, and globe-trotting mystery.

🗺️ The Caribbean setting is atmospheric, eerie, and refreshing—especially compared to the more desert-heavy Indy stories.

🔥 Gruesome but clever zombie encounters, with the added tension of voodoo being rooted in culture rather than just “science gone wrong.”

📚 A nice use of historical mythology mixed with dark fantasy, even if it goes a bit off-rails later.

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❌ Cons

🧟 The zombies are barely a threat for much of the book. They’re teased, hyped, and then shelved until later.

🧃 The pacing sometimes drags with lots of over-explaining—especially plant lore and flashbacks that don’t fully matter.

🎭 Many characters feel half-baked or forgotten after a few chapters.

🎬 The third act gets silly fast—like “Saturday morning cartoon meets pulp novel” silly.

🧩 Voodoo is treated with some respect, but occasionally dips into cliché.

💤 If you’re tired of zombie stories, this one’s not gonna reignite your interest—it doesn’t do anything new, just something different.

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🧮 Final Rating: 5/10

Half of this book? I genuinely liked on paper (metaphorically and literally). The idea of Indiana Jones vs Haitian zombies is a slam-dunk concept. But the execution? Meh. Still, the cultural angle, eerie Caribbean atmosphere, and a few classic Indy moments make it just good enough to recommend if you’re morbidly curious like me. 🗿📚

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🧨 Spoilers – Proceed If You Dare 🧨

So let’s talk about the Black Pearl, a.k.a. the Zile Muryō. It’s not just a magical MacGuffin—it’s a resurrection tool, granting the wielder control over the dead. Dr. Gruber wants to create an unstoppable undead army for the Nazis. He succeeds… for about 10 minutes. 🧟‍♂️💢

The zombies? They don’t stay under control. Shocker. They revolt. Indy realizes the pearl corrupts everyone who uses it—and decides it must be destroyed. During the final showdown, the zombies turn on Gruber and rip him apart. He dies screaming, abandoned by the very army he thought would make him invincible. ⚰️🔥

Meanwhile, Indy causes a collapse inside the cave housing the pearl. He and Mac narrowly escape. Marie vanishes mysteriously (because of course she does), and the island is left in ruins. Indy tosses out a final “maybe some things aren’t meant to be found” and walks off into the tropical fog like a proper pulp hero. 🗺️📿