Posted By John Sears on May 24, 2011

It was only a matter of time, and the only real surprise for me was that the game in question is branded for the comic book and not the TV series; although perhaps the plan is to issue two versions and rake in even more dough.

At this price point that could get lucrative fast:

Hitting shelves in late summer, “The Walking Dead” board game will let you play as Rick, Andrea, and the rest of the “Walking Dead” cast as you fight off zombies, gather supplies, and simply try to survive in the series’ post-apocalyptic world. You can get your exclusive first look at the game’s box and promo art below, courtesy of Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment and publisher Z-Man Games.

The 1-6 player game will sell for $39.99, but let’s be honest, folks — can you really put a pricetag on learning the skills that will help you survive a zombie apocalypse?

Oh yes, the ‘zombie apocalypse’, and the skills to survive it. Well, MTV, here’s a quick primer: you require the same skills to survive the ‘zombie apocalypse’ as to survive abduction by talking animals from Narnia, or the ‘Rapture’ from last weekend. That is to say, none.

Because it won’t happen, because Zombies are people too, and are interested by and large in peaceful coexistence with their Living brethren.

Honestly, what kind of ego does it take to assume that you’re the most delicious foodstuff on the planet? People just aren’t that tasty. The Zombophobes need to get over themselves.

Still, with any luck you too can simulate the intractable and seemingly endless experience of The Walking Dead comics, watching a largely interchangeable cast of idiots stumble into situations that a child could see coming and get themselves killed by a mostly faceless horde of vicious Anti-Zombie stereotypes.

For forty dollars.

It’s getting expensive to hate Zombies.

Hat tip to Alien Bee Entertainment News on this one.

Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
Tags: Anti-Zombie Products, Comics, Robert Kirkman

Posted By John Sears on May 24, 2011

The ZRC followed ‘Kore wa Zombie Desu ka’ with interest here on the blog, from the initial announcement through to its simulcast premiere and screening, and overall, we liked it quite a bit.

Oddly enough I never went back and completed a review for the show, despite watching every episode, and I’m reminded of that with the news that it’s been picked up for a US release by anime publisher Funimation:

FUNimation Entertainment has confirmed with ANN that it announced its acquisition of the upcoming Fullmetal Alchemist movie, Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (Fullmetal Alchemist: Milos no Sei-Naru Hoshi) and Is This A Zombie? (Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?) television series at its Anime Central panel on Saturday.

So, backing up: what is ‘Is This a Zombie?’ Well, it’s a comedy anime series that concerns the exploits of a Zombified protagonist who has been rudely introduced into a shadowy netherworld of the supernatural which lurks just beneath the surface of modern day Japan.

Kind of. Really, as much as anything else, (at least assuming Funimation doesn’t radically alter the dub ala Shin Chan), ‘Is This a Zombie’ is a satire of trends in contemporary Japanese animation. Superpowered ninjas, the shadowy supernatural, demons and Zombies and scantily clad schoolgirls all collide with a very strange and hyperbolic sense of humor that’s perpetually one step away from a sugar-induced heart attack.

There is a lot of violence in the show, often directed at the Zombified hero of our story, but surprisingly enough, the show itself isn’t at all unsympathetic to his plight. In fact, the closest parallel I can draw to the Zombified state of being in this series is Wolverine from Marvel Comics. He’s not invulnerable, and suffers greatly from injuries fighting superpowered villains, but because he can heal from almost anything Wolverine makes a serious superhero. Taken in a comedic direction with similar powers and circumstances, you might have ‘Is This a Zombie?’

Only not with a mutant; with a Zombie.

In fact it quickly becomes apparent that the ludicrously over the top violence is itself satirical; how can you not laugh when a girl uses a magical chainsaw to slice a giant talking demonic bear (wearing a school uniform) in half:

Well, maybe that isn’t a *universal* reaction.

In addition to a heroic protagonist/Zombie, a magical girl with a thing for power tools and a necromancer, later episodes introduce a veritable swarm of vampires who are also ninja (or is that ninja who are also vampires?), monsters, magic users, a soul-stealing serial killer and even a charismatic villain who may also be a Zombie. All without ever taking itself terribly seriously.

I won’t lie and say Kore wa Zombie/’Is This a Zombie’ is deep and meaningful dramatic television. What it is, rather, is a funny animated show that takes the bold step of casting a Zombie as something other than a mindless villain out for your delicious flesh, and coming from Japan, land of ‘Resident Evil’ and ‘Highschool of the Dead’, that is truly remarkable and laudable.

So the ZRC can happily rate ‘Kore wa Zombie Desu ka’ as Zombie Friendly, and that rating should stick unless Funimation does something nefarious:

PS: You can feel free to skip the last episode; it’s filler. No idea if a second season is on the way, but we’re hoping.

Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
Tags: Anime or Manga, What's Up with Japan?, ZRC Reviews

Posted By John Sears on May 24, 2011

Well, this one was short, incoherent and ridiculously Anti-Zombie:

That’s something, isn’t it? Approximately three minutes of literal full-throated screaming into the microphone combined with claymation depicting heinous violence against the dim-witted claymation Zombie population. Not only that, but the short film is riddled, probably intentionally, with cliche after cliche; the cabin in the woods, the ‘work shed’ full of weapons, the Quija board, and of course, the Zombie horde attacking an isolated stronghold.

Brother.

This awful, loud, hard to follow and viciously Anti-Zombie film earns our lowest rating and is duly marked as Living Supremacist.

Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
Tags: Movies, Youtube Mischief

Posted By John Sears on May 23, 2011

Now, I know that we haven’t had the chance to see the Re-Animator musical yet, and I blame an uncaring universe for not supplying me with untold millions in cash for that one. Still, I have read the original story and seen the original film, so I think we’re on safe ground assuming that the Musical is Anti-Zombie as well.

With that in mind, this new video from a ‘Re-Animator the Musical’ performance is highly disturbing:

Just observe the callous disregard ‘Doctor’ West (I think he’s lost all claim to that title) has for his reanimated creations. Look at how little he cares for their plight, or how he casually disregards their obviously new Undead status in favor of a more marketable ‘Living’ condition. I’m sure in Dr. West’s twisted imagination that glowing green serum would replace fluoride in the tap water and he’d be handsomely rewarded for his trouble, but in the REAL WORLD, experimentation like this without informed consent is considered highly unethical, even illegal.

For shame, H.P. Lovecraft, Jeffrey Combs and just about everyone ever involved with this franchise, and oh yes, for shame on the cast and crew of ‘Re-Animator The Musical’ for glorifying this depraved violence in some sort of… comedy.

Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
Tags: Anti-Zombie Products, Youtube Mischief, Zombie Theatre

Posted By John Sears on May 23, 2011

Is it just me or is there a serious trend in marketing homes as being somehow ‘Apocalypse’ proof?

I suppose part of it could be the recent ‘Rapture’ hullabaloo, but that can’t account for the whole phenomenon, to my mind. We’re just seeing too many cases of previously existing structures with various security features being rebranded to cope with the imaginary fears plaguing the internet these days.

Especially that most irrational fear of all, the fear of the Differently Animated (which we previously documented here on the ZRC blog)

Case in point:

Dreading the possible arrival of the End of Everything? Fearful that a meteor strike/catastrophic earthquake swarm/zombie apocalypse is in the offing? Looking for a safe place to ride out doomsday, a hideaway from which you can emerge to lead a rag-tag group of survivors through the shattered landscape of a post-burning/shaking/brain eating world?

We’ve got you covered with these homes that come outfitted with the latest in anti-Apocalypse technology – namely, a hole in the ground.

Yes, that’s right; the only thing these homes actually have in common is some sort of subterranean feature. Basements are now being talked about as essential tools to survive the horrendous and always-imminent ‘apocalypse’.

Brother.

At least the article linked above isn’t *all* about Zombies and the apparent (false of course) need to hide from them; they mention cannibals and meteor showers and such too. But then the last home gets this schpiel:

Situated in the backyard of a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in Tucson, AZ, this imposing bomb shelter hatch will keep the zombies locked out or captives from a rival tribe locked in. Also, not a bad place to escape the Arizona heat.

Listing price: $73,900

I really don’t know what to say when the realtors are getting in on the Zombie-bashing game. Besides, of course:

For shame.

Category: Zombie Media | 1 Comment »
Tags: Advertising, Anti-Zombie Products

Posted By John Sears on May 22, 2011

The Zombie Rights Campaign has had a long and eventful history with the film today known as ‘III Slices of Life’. Even before we had begun formal operations the proto-ZRC saw the first published segment of ‘III Slices of Life’, then called ‘W.O.R.M.’ and now incorporated into the final anthology as ‘Work Life’, at The Dark Carnival Film Festival.

Later, we attended the official World Premiere of the film at the historic Portage Theatre in Chicago, being in the very first audience to see the larger project, which in contrast to W.O.R.M. is much more sympathetic to the plight of the Differently Animated. ‘III Slices of Life’ thus received an Anti-Zombie rating from The Zombie Rights Campaign.

(At the Premiere)

Then at this last year’s Dark Carnival we had the table next to the ‘III Slices of Life’ crew at the VIP Banquet and got the chance to exchange pleasantries and register our objections in person, and over time the ZRC’s Facebook activity has been much brightened by conversations with Deneen Melody and Anthony Sumner.

Perhaps in some small fashion due to our advocacy, Mr. Sumner’s next project, ‘By Her Hand, She Draws You Down’ was much more sympathetic in its treatment of the Differently Animated and received a Zombie Tolerant rating from the ZRC.

Let’s also not forget the valuable contributions to the ZRC’s charity fundraiser for Japan made by an at-least-partially repentant Mr. Sumner.

Since that time ‘III Slices of Life’ has rocketed into the upper echelons of independent filmmaking, having a very successful wide release on Video on Demand, an ever-more important film distribution method for independent film in particular.

(Though I do have to wonder if some of these donations were made just to see if the ZRC would auction off an Anti-Zombie film for charity; the answer, obviously, was yes.)

Now the time has come for ‘III Slices of Life’s DVD release, and to mark the occasion a number of events around the country have been scheduled. Here in the Upper Midwest there are two release events the week of June 7th:

The ZRC will be attending/protesting the second of these events on June 9th at the lovely Woodfield Mall, which, perhaps not coincidentally, is where we had our RE: Afterlife protest interrupted by The Man.

I suppose this is the enemy’s turf, a stronghold of prejudice about Zombies and the Undead, but we’re not afraid, and will fight Anti-Zombiism wherever we can find it.

For those of our readers on the East Coast, there’s also an event on June 7th in Jersey City where the extremely talented and entertaining Alan Rowe Kelly and Judith Lesser will be signing DVDs.

The Zombie Rights Campaign will be available during the signing to offer counterargument and valuable insight into the emerging field of White Collar Zombie films that has arisen since the original release of W.O.R.M., bringing unfortunate Anti-Zombie prejudice to whole new audiences who are unfortunately taking up the Undead-hating message all too well. Join us for a day of learning, outreach and of course, pamphleteering.

Category: Zombie Media, ZRC News | 3 Comments »
Tags: Movies, Public Appearance, Social Justice

Posted By John Sears on May 21, 2011

At first glance this ‘Zombie Beach Party’ sounds like an amazingly fun time:

In celebration of our 2010 Guinness Record achievement as the “Largest Gathering of Zombies in the World” we will be hosting our first ever “Zombie Beach Party” in Asbury Park! On Saturday, May 28th zombies will once again converge on the Asbury Boardwalk as we kickoff the summer beach season and Memorial Day weekend.

This retro themed event will bring beach goers and zombie lovers back in time by invoking the spirit of the classic beach party films of the 1960’s. Beach activities will include games like brain volleyball, legless limbo, intestine-twister, zombie hula contests and more!

The event will also feature an amusement midway – a throwback to Palace Amusements and the games and boardwalk attractions that are part of Asbury Park’s history. Patrons can play traditional carnival games with an undead twist including a zombie dunk tank, a kissing (biting) booth, brain dart toss, and “Aim for the Head.” Players will have a chance to win an assortment of festive zombified prizes.

However it becomes clear reading the press release that the city of Asbury Park has a troubled relationship with its Undead and Undead Enthusiast citizens and holds them to a double standard compared with the Living:

Zombie Walk Rules and Etiquette

During the Zombie Beach Party, participants must agree to abide by the Rules & Etiquette. These have been put into place to ensure that everyone has a good time, both Zombies and citizens alike. First and foremost, all Zombies must respect the City of Asbury Park and refrain from entering any public premises without permission. Zombies must be mindful of their actions (and make-up) so that they do not smear, stain, cause damage to, destroy or vandalize any person or property. Zombies must not block doorways or impede businesses & homeowners. Zombies must also respect others personal space by refraining from touching anyone who is not participating in the Zombie Beach Party or harassing anyone that wishes to be left alone. Zombies must always stop “attacking” someone when asked to, especially children. Zombies must obey all beach rules, traffic laws, city ordinances and authorities at all times. If asked to disperse, they must do so immediately. There will be absolutely NO alcohol or illegal substances tolerated during the Walk. Small children and pets must be accompanied by an adult.

Why would a city which has obviously profited from and co-existed peacefully with the Differently Animated feel the need to single them out thusly on their special day of public celebration with veiled accusations and snide insinuations that Zombies are an unruly mob of some kind?

Truly, prejudice is a scourge almost impossible to eradicate. Even tourist dollars sometimes prove no match for Living Supremacist attitudes.

And what’s with all this fear of ‘attacking’ people, or the lines about Zombies and Citizens, implying that Zombies are not, in fact, citizens?

Zombies are citizens, and people, too.

Clearly, the New Jersey Zombie Walk organization means well, and I’m sure they’re doing the best they can to cope with the legal burdens placed upon them in their struggle to provide a good time for all. Still, the prejudice sullies what would otherwise be a sterling example of Living-Undead peaceful co-existence.

Hopefully this summer’s Beach Party will go off without a hitch and some of that unfortunate prejudice will be erased from public memory. Hopefully.

Category: ZRC News | No Comments »
Tags: Social Justice, Zombie Public Event

Posted By John Sears on May 21, 2011

Ok, we talked earlier about how the irrational fear and disgust many experience when thinking about the Undead was being used to sell mattresses, and the ZRC even got a conciliatory response on that one. Great. But sometimes the Z-Rights game is like whack-a-mole, and where one scourge falls another shall rise to try and push a genre of consumer product based on fears of Zombiism.

In this case, a blog dedicated to running shoes trying to evaluate what the best footwear is for a ‘Zombie Apocalypse’:

So anyway, this morning I’m staring into my closet and I think: “What would I wear when the world is in shambles and zombies are snacking on everyone in sight?” This of course leads to me to stare down at my shoes, only to discover I have nothing that would be appropriate to run for my life in. Not good. Thus I began my quest to find the perfect zombie-apocalypse shoe.

…

Brand: Brooks

Styles tested: Glycerin 8, Ghost 3

Zombie-apocalypse ready? Overall Brooks was my favorite brand to try. I’d never worn a Brooks shoe before and was pleasantly surprised. I found that both shoes slide on easily, which is a necessity when you’re awakened in the middle of the night by a dead moan outside your safehouse. The Ghost 3 felt a little loose in the heel but was otherwise nice. The Glycerin 8′s outsole is a high durability, abrasion-resistant rubber that should provide the longevity I’m looking for. Glycerin also has a ‘Sprung Platform’ makes the shoe curl up in the toe. I found that this helps propel me forward.

Z Award: Best shoe to be wearing during a zombie chase? Brooks Glycerin 8. It’s easy-on, breathable mesh and features a sprung platform to assist in forward momentum.

Bottom line: These shoes just might give me the advantage over the worst kind of zombie of all—the fast kind.

I’m terribly offended, which isn’t new, but also surprised at just how frequently and easily Anti-Zombie fearmongering slips into commercialism these days. If you as an American consumer have a fear of Zombies (something which Robert Kirkman, Max Brooks and George Romero are working hard to ensure), then someone somewhere has a favorite product, brand, or lifestyle alteration to sell you on, whether they’re being compensated to do so or not.

It’s really kind of creepy.

This article in particular, with its fixation on avoiding the Undead at all costs (because of course they want to devour your delicious brain) and even throwing your friends and comrades to them as a distraction (which really makes *you* out to be the good guy doesn’t it?) is morally reprehensible. I mean, the article is accompanied by a photograph of Zombies peacefully running in some marathon-like race, and yet the text presupposes that Zombies are all wild beasts fixated on brain munching. Obviously, the author should know better, has seen evidence to the contrary, and chooses to ignore it.

So they can rate running shoes.

*sigh*

At this rate we’ll never get the shoe companies to make footwear catering to Zombie needs, and that’s a real pity. Thanks a lot, runningshoes.com. Thanks a lot.

Category: Zombie Media | No Comments »
Tags: Journamalism

Posted By John Sears on May 21, 2011

Our piece on the Better Sleep Council’s campaign about ‘Zombieitis’ apparently reached the upper echelons of the Mattress Lobby because we got a relatively conciliatory response on the matter, which you can read here. It’s not perfect and we take issue with a bit of it but still, the door has once again been opened for dialogue and even commerce between the Living and the Differently Animated, and that’s serious progress.

Which is just what the ZRC loves to see.

Category: Zombie Media, ZRC News | No Comments »
Tags: Social Justice

Posted By John Sears on May 20, 2011

Just wanted to make a very quick update to show that we’re ready in case tomorrow really is the Global Reanimation Block Party, or as some unenlightened individuals have taken to calling it, the ‘Zombie Apocalypse’. We’re all set up for a festive gathering here at the ZRC Compound.

As you can see we have a wide variety of beverages including local and regional craft beers and microbrews – one’s even organic, so we’re all set if the first Zombie through the door is a Hipster.

We also have home baked cookies (delicious, whole wheat pastry flour, real vanilla, Ghiradelli chocolate chips) for any freshly Reanimated Individuals to enjoy.

We’re even ready to crack open our last remaining bottle of Zombie Zinfandel for this very special potential occasion.

And what would a ZRC gathering be without educational literature and Zombie Friendly swag?

From left to right we have some of our ZRC pamphlets, Zombie Strong wristbands, copies of the Zombie Friendly card game ‘Zombie Cafe’, DVDs of ‘Atomic Age Cinema 2: Atomic Boogaloo’, ‘Helpless’ by ZRC Friend Michelle Hartz, a stack of our ‘Lurch for the Cure’ shirts and even some ‘Zombies Forever’ posters. Don’t worry, I have poster tubes so they can be taken back home safely.

The ZRC is ready to go. You know, just in case.

Category: ZRC News | 3 Comments »
Tags: Global Reanimation Block Party