Posted By John Sears on September 28, 2010

Due to a complications from the ZRC headquarter’s recent move, this particular piece of good news got lost in the mail for quite a while, but here it is, at last:

So to any and all who donated to the auction, or purchased fine items from the auction, here’s the proof that The Zombie Rights Campaign saw the money to its proper recipients and did not, say, take a trip to the local casino instead.

Tempting as those one-armed bandits might be.

I wasn’t honestly expecting a kind thank you letter, even though as this one notes it’s also a receipt for tax purposes, so it’s not like we were necessarily singled out for special attention per se. Still, it’s a very nice response, clearly the letter accompanying our check was read and the auction was not found to be objectionable by the hard-working types at the Foundation.

This is of course merely Step 1 in our grand design, to do good work on behalf of the Differently Animated and by doing such work, spread the message that a Zombie isn’t a monster to be feared, but a Neighbor to be cooperated with and lived alongside. Or Unlived alongside. (The alongside part, together with the cooperation and implied lack of torch-wielding mobs, that’s the key).

One final round of thanks to all our donors, who made this possible, and to Jeffrey Channing Wells and Shaenon Garrity of Skin Horse, who contributed the original idea for the Lurch. The cause of Undead Equality has been advanced a very noteworthy step, but there is so much left to do, and that’s why we’re here.

Until next time!

(PS: I apologize for the scan looking a bit odd; our old address is, obviously, blacked out, because putting a physical address up on the internet is kind of asking for lots of very strange mail, but the pink smudges are part of a large pink ribbon design, and the scanner seems to have had a bit of a fit because this is printed on watermarked receipt paper, which is, err, specifically designed to resist scanning)

Category: Lurch for the Cure | No Comments »
Tags: Social Justice

Posted By John Sears on September 27, 2010

I was forwarded a link to this video from a Zombie Kickball event in 2008, and was struck by a couple of things.

First, the trend toward greater public participation and large social gatherings of Zombies has been growing for some time. While in some areas, particularly Chicago, it is now commonplace for there to be Zombie Friendly events, almost every weekend, I don’t believe that was the case a mere two years ago, when this video was shot of a Zombie Kickball game. So kudos to the organizers for being ahead of the curve.

Second, it has to be noted that in any population there are individuals who sadly feel the need to conform to the ugly stereotypes about them. Perhaps it’s just acting out, perhaps it’s rebelliousness, a passive-aggressive acquiesence to the treatment of one’s fellow citizens; I’m sure the reasons vary from individual to individual. Nevertheless, as a movement we need to strive to hold ourselves to high standards of decorum and dignity when amongst the living, especially Living people with videocameras there to get Zombie ‘antics’ on film.

Which brings me to the third and final point. The media, even the independent media, is not typically at these events to provide a balanced accounting, or a fair treatment of the plight of the Differently Animated, or even your usual puff piece that fills out the social events pages or makes for a routine blog update. Typically, they’re there to do a hatchet job; we’re just fortunate when it’s not a literal one. If you see someone filming, try to put your best foot forward. If they ask for an interview, and they’re not overtly steering it toward Zombie bashing stereotypes, then by all means, try to persuade and enlighten. But at all times be wary; what might be a harmless jest amongst Zombies and their living pals can be easily misconstrued, slapped up on Youtube or Blogspot, and be around the world before you have time to get back from the game and get a shower.

We need to be vigilant; open to conversation and dialogue, yes, but vigilant. The fight to improve the Zombie Public Image requires us to be on our best behavior, and on our guard for seedy operators, at all times.

Video below the cut.
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Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
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Posted By John Sears on September 26, 2010

Sorry about the lack of new updates the last couple of days; I had some serious cramming to do for a non-Zombie Rights project in my other life, and then tonight we had a social function, again not Zombie related. Shocking, I know.

The ZRC is of course getting excited for our Fall calendar of events. We have the Dark Carnival, of course, and we plan to attend at least part of the Horror Society’s upcoming 2 day film festival; I’ll be updating the front page when we finalize our plans. We also plan to take our shiny new camera and our tried and true picket signs to State Street here in Madison for the annual Halloween bash the city has rebranded as ‘Freakfest’ since it took control; over 40k people attending a costume party, that’s always great outreach.

I also have some comics reviews I have been sitting on for about a month now; other stuff just keeps coming up, it’s very exciting around here of late.

In addition, it’s almost time for the Second Annual Zombie of the Year awards. I’ve had a list of great nominees in my head for some time, so we’ll have to pick the finalists and put that up. It’s always so hard to pick one winner, but as we approach Halloween it’s important to highlight positive Zombie role models, in contrast to the glut of Anti-Zombie tripe that always spills out in time for the holiday.

Category: ZRC News | No Comments »
Tags: Comics, Public Appearance, Social Justice, Zombie of the Year 2010

Posted By John Sears on September 22, 2010

No, it’s not an official city government recognition of the contributions of the Undead to society, though we’re hoping that will come soon. Rather, it’s a day of Zombie Friendly events in and around the good old Portage Theatre, brought to you by the Chicago Horror Film Festival.

There’s going to be a Zombie Walk/Solidarity March, a Zombie Dance event, even a Zombie Pinup Contest, with Zombie Rights supporters from the Horror Society among the judges. We here at the ZRC trust that this will prevent any exploitation of the Undead, and allow everyone, living and dead, to have a good time.

Sadly, the ZRC cannot attend the Pinup contest at least, due to a prior engagement. We may be able to drop in a bit earlier in the day for the Walk, depending on the schedule; it’s up in the air a bit at the moment. We’re pleased however to see Chicago continue to develop its positive relationship with the Differently Animated community.

It’s nice living so close to such an enlightened urban population. Today, Zombie Pinup Contest. Tomorrow, who knows?

Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
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Posted By John Sears on September 20, 2010

Mr. Notley,

As a long-time reader of Bob the Angry Flower I can recall your announcement some time ago that you had obtained employment at PopCap Games, well known for their puzzle adventures involving jewels and what not. Perhaps the delightful insanity from your signature comic strip could even be captured in an interactive form someday; the sky seemed to be the limit.

Little did I know, however, that you would turn your considerable authorial talents against one of the most underserved and poorly understood minority populations by writing Plants vs. Zombies. Why, Mr. Notley? What made you turn on the Zombie community?

Maybe it wasn’t so much a turn as a long-simmering hatred. Searching the BtAF archives, it appears in 1998 you created a comic, ‘Brainstorming at Zombie City Hall’, in which Bob tries to get the elected representatives of a city, apparently a city of Zombies, to focus on something other than eating brains when determining civic policy. Simultaneously this comic perpetuates the stale ‘brain-eating’ stereotype about Zombies and expresses frustration with the whole Zombie community for acting according to the asserted stereotype. However, much like Plants vs. Zombies, it also assumes that Zombies possess the (comically under-utilized) ability to reason, making them less threats and more the butt of a joke.

Well, it assumes those things, and that Zombies reflexively want to raise your taxes, I guess. The comic poses a quandry for the Zombie Rights lobby: Is it better to be cast as hopeless automatons, or as stupid creatures just barely smart enough to have the potential for agency, but too dumb to use it to rise above their base instincts?

Where does this bitterness and prejudice toward the Undead come from, Mr. Notley? Did the proverbial Zombie run over your childhood pet? Perhaps a Zombie public figure let you down at some point? Was a Zombie relative less than loving and supportive in your formative years? I wonder.

I can only regret that this information crossed our desks here at the ZRC so recently, when we purchased the XBLA version of Plants vs. Zombies to review. Perhaps if we had been made aware of your fears and apprehension concerning the Differently Animated sooner, we could have helped, before you attempted to exorcise your personal demons in this harmful and counterproductive manner. Instead we have yet another media product defaming the Zombie community, reinforcing the harmful stereotypes held by the living about their Undead brethren, sowing discord and distrust that we must work to counteract.

Especially amongst the young, for Plants vs. Zombies, despite its disturbing and graphic violence against Zombies, somehow manages to receive an ESRB rating of E, stating that the game is ‘For Everyone’.

Everyone with a pulse and an axe to grind, maybe.

How many busy parents will purchase this tower defense travesty for their errant children, whose minds will harden against their Zombie schoolmates as they mow down the virtual Undead at home with peas, and potato mines, and cherry bombs? What will the next generation take away from your work, Mr. Notley? How will they treat the next generation of the Undead, having been weaned on this violence at home?

Won’t somebody please think of the Zombie children?

Signed,

John J Sears
President of The Zombie Rights Campaign
www.zombierightscampaign.org

Category: Zombie Media | 2 Comments »
Tags: Comics, Social Justice

Posted By John Sears on September 20, 2010

The Anti-Zombie products seem to be coming out of the Far East in waves lately:

The North American publisher Vertical has announced at its Anime Weekend Atlanta panel on Sunday that it licensed the Velveteen & Mandara (Becchin to Mandara) manga by Jiro Matsumoto. The story centers around Velveteen (Becchin), a high school girl who lives in a battle tank on a riverbed in Tokyo’s Suginami ward, and her friend Mandara. Together, the two exterminate the zombies of dead Suginami citizens.

So they ‘exterminate’ Zombies with a *tank*?

Wow. The game of one-upsmanship in Anti-Zom mayhem is getting seriously out of hand. At this rate you’ll use nuclear weapons in Resident Evil 6, and by Dead Rising 3 the goal will be to plunge an enormous asteroid from outer space down onto the Earth, eradicating all Unlife (along with living things of course). Doing that will get you the secret ending no doubt.

Yeesh.

Category: Zombie Media | 2 Comments »
Tags: Anime or Manga

Posted By John Sears on September 19, 2010

This is just a quick post to note something that came across the ZRC desk recently while doing research for the Resident Evil pamphlet: Resident Evil has arrived on cell-phones in Japan.

Capcom created a new Resident Evil game just for mobile phones. But, Biohazard: Survival Door is quite different from other Resident Evil games. This game is based on chance. You’re in a mansion and have to open doors by pressing 1, 2, or 3 on your phone. Zombies or other monsters may be lurking behind and you can shoot them by pushing keys, according to a screenshot.

This isn’t much of a ‘game’; it’s more akin to gambling, but without prizes. It also costs money:

Like many mobile games in Japan, Biohazard: Survival Door has a monthly fee. Capcom set this game at 315 yen ($3.50) per month. That’s the same price as the mobile phone version of Mega Man X3.

I can only assume that Capcom thinks that, after almost 15 years of peddling Zombie bashing to the masses, it has cultivated a population of Zombie haters so addicted to their virtual massacres that they’ll shell out money on a monthly basis just so they can fill the time going to and from work/school/what not with additional splattery mayhem.

A despicable thought, but I wouldn’t wager against it, myself.

Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
Tags: Videogames

Posted By John Sears on September 17, 2010

How do you define a group of people? By their achievements? By their failings? How about their hopes, dreams? Crude physical characteristics? The content of their character?

Apparently, if you’re talking about Zombies, it’s by an encyclopedic listing of the media’s disparaging depictions, dressed up as a poster no less:

Artist Freaking Aweso.me has created a work of art & research with his first poster appropriately titled Zombies. The website boasts that the poster is “filled with 978 zombie movies, books, and video games, this insanely detailed visual ode to the undead will blow your mind (or eat your brains!)

Haha, get it, ‘eat your brains’, hahaha. ‘Cause, see, that’s what zombies do, right? Eat… brains….

Hilarious.

Oh well. Another day, another Living-Supremacist treatment of the Zombie community.

Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
Tags:

Posted By John Sears on September 16, 2010

Big review behind the cut.
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Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
Tags: Movies, Review, Robert Kirkman, Romero, Videogames

Posted By John Sears on September 15, 2010

This one seems to have been lost to the dusty corners of history, but rather than being forgotten, it merely waits, dead but dreaming, for a budget and a direct to DVD release:

Rumors of this zombie movie called DIAMOND DEAD from GEORGE A ROMERO and Australian producer ANDREW GATY and co-written by BRIAN COOPER, have been floating around Hollywood for several years.

…

My opinion the idea of a rock band accidentally being killed then being brought back by a girl, then having to kill 365 people together… now thats a movie I can really appreciate.

…

There are a lot of talented people behind this film and lets be honest with ourselves… when has George been wrong about zombies…

How about *every single time*?

When has George Romero been RIGHT about Zombies, now that’s the question.

Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
Tags: Movies, Romero