New art book explores how Treyarch creates Call of Duty zombies

Call of Duty has been one of the biggest video game franchises for three decades, thanks in large part to the popularity of its recurring Zombies mode, which has been a staple of the series since 2008's Call of Duty: World at War. The mode has since appeared in 13 Call of Duty games, including this year's upcoming Black Ops 7 (which will launch on consoles and PC on November 7). To celebrate its enduring popularity, Call of Duty Zombies is getting its own dedicated hardcover art book, Call of Duty Zombies: The Art of Treyarchwhich will explore the evolution of Call of Duty: Zombies from a novel bonus mode to a fan-favorite game mode. The book will be available on June 16, 2026, with a pre-order price of $50 on Amazon.

$50 | Published June 16, 2026

This 256-page hardcover book explores the origins of this cyclical pattern starting in early 2008. You can expect to find exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with the development team, art that's been locked away in the Call of Duty vaults for years, and details on what goes into making this core part of the Call of Duty franchise. The book is written by James Asmus, who has extensive writing experience in books, comic books, video games, and television.

Several Call of Duty books have been printed over the years, including other behind-the-scenes art books such as Making Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. This 192-page hardcover book provides an in-depth look at the development of this groundbreaking game, including the creation of characters, maps, and weapons. While this isn't technically an art book, you can also opt for the official Call of Duty: WWII Collector's Edition Guide This was published by Prima a few years ago. This 304-page hardcover book contains a wealth of detailed information about the campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies modes. It might be a bit of an odd purchase for an older COD game, but it's a cool piece of CoD history that's perfect for collectors and hardcore fans alike.

In addition to these art books, there are also stories based on recent Call of Duty games. If you were a fan of 2017's Call of Duty: WWII, you'll definitely want to check out this build. this Call of Duty: WWII Field Manual This book is a battle manual owned by Private Ronald “Red” Daniels. Filled with original illustrations and information about the game's units, vehicles, weapons, and battlefields, it provides first-hand accounts of the various events that occurred during the campaign in Axis-occupied France.

Several Call of Duty games have also received official graphic novels created by talented teams of artists and writers, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Graphics Node Written by Larry Hama and illustrated by Marcelo Ferreira and Dan Jackson. this Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Official Comic Collection The 240-page book features contributions from Greg Rucka, Chris Roberson, Jeremy Barlow, KA McDonald, Aaron Duran, Matthew Robinson, and Tony Shasteen, and is available in hardcover for $19.18 (originally $30). You can also read the full article “Call of Duty: Vanguard” supporting comic series Thanks for the 112 page hardcover comprehensive edition.

More Call of Duty books and graphic novels

Next month, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will also launch on PC and consoles. The game is available for pre-order ahead of its release on November 14, with early adopters receiving bonus content for Call of Duty: Warzone. As in previous years, there will be several different editions to choose from, ranging from the standard edition to the digital-only Vault edition that includes exclusive DLC and early unlocks. For more information you can check out our Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Pre-Order Guide Learn more about what each version offers you.

“Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” pre-order

Sign up for GameSpot's weekly deals newsletter: