Bizarre Adventures #33 (1982)

Simon Garth, also known as the Zombie, wanders through the Louisiana swamps. After wrestling with an alligator, he senses a strange presence within the Amulet of Damballah that hangs at his throat. He begins to answer an unearthly summons that compels him to stow away on board a ship bound for New York. In New York City, Frank Lukaikas discovers that he has a serious heart condition and only has six months left to live. His wife, Myrna, decides that they should not waste any of Frank's remaining time, so she brings him to an occult curio shop. The proprietor, Gideon Starr, shows Myrna one of the Amulets of Damballah and tells her that it has the ability to control the dead. Frank scoffs at the idea, but Myrna is entranced. She purchases the medallion, as well as a book on voodoo practices. That night, Myrna becomes completely absorbed by her newfound passion, and Frank derides her for her self-absorbed nature. Myrna asks Frank to act as a witness while she tries to conduct her own voodoo ritual. Frank is angry, but concedes to his wife's desires. She performs the ritual in the backyard and unwittingly summons a zombie that comes burrowing up from underground. The shock is too much for Frank's weak heart and he falls over, dead. The "zombie" then removes a latex mask, revealing the face of Gideon Starr. Gideon and Myrna conspired together to create an elaborate voodoo ritual in order to frighten Frank Lukaikas to death. Now, Myrna stands to inherit Frank's fortune. Myrna reveals that Frank was going to change his will, leaving all of his money to his niece, so Gideon and she had to act quickly before he could contact his lawyer again. With a sneer, Gideon removes the phony Amulet of Damballah and pitches it into the fireplace. Gideon thinks that he is going to share in Myrna's newfound wealth, but Myrna betrays him. She poisons his drink and Gideon falls over, dead. What Myrna failed to realize is that the Amulet of Damballah (which she believed to be phony), was, in fact, the genuine twin to the medallion worn by the Zombie, Simon Garth. The Zombie crashes through the window of the house and attacks Myrna. He recovers the medallion and throws Myrna into the fireplace, where she burns to death. The Zombie believes that once he had collected both medallions, his soul would be free and he could finally die. This is not to be, however, and the Zombie shambles off into the night.