I was feeling a little sad last night -- it was the would-be 29th birthday of a friend of mine that died two years ago -- so I asked my husband if he'd like to make Halloween cookies with me. I looked forward to using my new zombie cookie cutters for the first time. So we got all the supplies together, busted out the cookie batter, dyed some icing a delicious shade of green and got down to business. Here's a taste of the finished product:
Hmm, I probably need to work on my pastry decorating skills. Anyway, after a while we got a bit more creative:
The heart was mine -- a gift for my husband. The spider was his creation, a tribute to his rampant arachnophobia. And then, to my great displeasure, I had to abandon my culinary creations and head out for a late night soccer game. I left him in charge of our "son" Freddy, a zombie toy I gave him when we first started dating. When my soccer game was over and I checked my phone, here's what I found waiting for me.
"Freddy getting started."
"Outline."
"The Skeleton."
"Freddy is good."
"Father and son watching Avengers post-cookies."
Needless to say, it cheered me greatly. My husband is the cutest! I hope you come up with some fun, Halloween related festivities to celebrate this spooktacular holiday!
I'm sad to say that this is the end of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Though undoubtedly half the bloggers still participating will choose this exact same topic, I've decided to post on one of today's most popular subjects – zombies. But since this is the final post, and I have a few too many zombie-related favorites,I've decided to do something special. Something . . . alphabetic. So for the last and final time, z is for:
Zombies from A to Z
A is for Apocalypse:
The Zombie Apocalypse. We all know it's coming. It's my hope that by studying all the following movies, books, TV shows, games and comic books, I'll be prepared.
B is for Max Brooks:
Max Brooks is the author of two of my favorite zombie books - The Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. Stay tuned, because both are headed for the big screen.
C is for the Center for Disease Control (CDC):
On May 16, 2011, the Center for Disease Control blog issued a warning about zombie apocalypses, advocating preparedness. In reality, it was a clever way to promote readiness for any potential disasters including the upcoming hurricane season), but the post became an instant hit zombie fans nation-wide. CDC representative Dave Daigle reportedly announced, "If you prepare for the zombie apocalypse, you'll be prepared for any hazard." Congrats to the CDC for having their priorities straight. If you're worried that you aren't prepared, check out the the site here.
D is for Dawn of the Dead:
Dawn of the Dead is the 1978 George A. Romero film featuring several survivors of a zombie pandemic who've barricaded themselves in an abandoned shopping mall. There was a 2004 Zack Snyder remake, also entitled Dawn of the Dead. It does not make my favorites list.
E is for Eat Me!:
Eat Me! is an independent film released in 2009 about a band who unwittingly survives the world's transformation into a zombie apocalypse, and then must battle their way out of the city. I think the tag line really says it all: "Sometimes you get the munchies. Sometimes they get you."
F is for Frankenstein:
I've been told, repeatedly, that Frankenstein doesn't count as a zombie novel. But hey, it's about a reanimated corpse (or, uh, corpses), so I say it counts. Plus, I wanted to mention it for my "F" post and didn't get a chance. We'll just call this one zombie-adjacent.
G is for Glee:
Though I've stopped watching Glee (it got a bit to dramatic for my taste), I occasionally tune in to interesting-looking episodes. And the zombie episode following the 2011 Super Bowl was definitely interesting. Great costumes. Great music selection. If you haven't checked out their mash-up of "Thriller" and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Heads Will Role", I'd recommend it.
H is for Horde:
Geese come in gaggles, birds come in flocks, and zombies . . . come in hordes. And if you see one coming at you, RUN.
I is for Inferi:
Harry Potter fans, this one's for you. Basically, the Inferi are corpses that have been re-animated by a dark witch or wizard to do their bidding. They are the zombie-esque creatures guarding Voldemort's locket horcrux in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The only defense against them is fire and/or light.
J is for Milla Jovovich:
Milla Jovovich famously portrays Alice, the zombie-hunting hero of the Resident Evil franchise. Though Alice isn't a member of the game series, she more than makes up for it in each of the four (soon to be five) films.
K is for Stephen King:
One of my favorite titans of terror, Stephen King's "Home Delivery" was one the short stories featured in the 1989 anthology, Book of the Dead (said to be the very first zombie-related anothology). As usual, King delivers a tale dark and gory.
L is for H. P. Lovecraft:
H. P. Lovecraft is another of my favorite horrors authors, and a master of the undead. His 1921 novelette, "Herbert West - Reanimator" is said to have defined zombies in popular culture. Inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (yet another reason her masterpiece made this list), Herbert West is a mad scientist who practices at reanimating dead bodies, unfortunately, into uncontrollable, violent beings.
M is for Marvel Zombies:
Marvel Zombies is a five-issue series of comic books published from 2005 to 2006. It features several famous Marvel superheroes, including Iron Man, The Fantastic Four and Captain America, who've all been turned into zombies. It's fantastic. Check out the cover:
N is for Night of the Living Dead:
Night of the Living Dead is the 1968 film directed by George A. Romero. It is the mac daddy of zombie movies. The progenitor of it's kind, the founding father of the zombie horror film genre. It redefined the term "zombie" to its present day meaning, aka. reanimated, cannibalistic corpse. It lead to countless sequels and remakes, but none can ever touch this cult classic.
O is for On Stranger Tides:
The fourth installment in the Pirates if the Caribbean franchise, On Stranger Tides boasts a number of seafaring zombies, all brought to life by the infamous and terrifying Blackbeard.
P is for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies:
I'll admit it, I bought this book for the title alone. It combines two of my favorite things – Jane Austen and zombies. Who would have thought the Bennett sisters would make such a good zombie-killing team? I'm looking forward to the future film adaptation.
Q is for Quarantine:
Quarantine is the 2008 zombie film about a reporter and camera man trapped in a building that's been quarantined by the CDC. Not the best movie I've ever seen, but I did like the ending.
R is for Resident Evil and the Redfields:
I already mentioned the Resident Evil film franchise under "J", but the game is, if possible, even better. And brother and sister team, Claire and Chris Redfield, are my favorite characters.
S is for Shaun of the Dead:
Shaun of the Dead is one of the few light-hearted zombie films, as well as one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. You just gotta love Simon Pegg.
T is for Thriller:
Finally, we get to "T" and my personal favorite of this list. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video is one of the most recognizable and remembered music videos of all time. It's not only a terrific song, but comes with a great dance as well. Check it out:
U is for the Umbrella Corporation:
The Umbrella Corporation is an international pharmaceutical company from Resident Evil, responsible for the development of the T-virus, a powerful drug responsible for the creation of a zombie epidemic.
V is for Virus:
There are many theories surrounding the creation of zombies. Magical interference, like the Inferi in Harry Potter, is one. Viruses are another. Like the T-Virus. Or the "Rage" virus from 28 Days Later. With modern biological experimentation, I vote virus.
W is for The Walking Dead:
The Walking Dead is a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore. It follows Rick Grimes and several other survivors of a zombie apocalypse as they make their way through a grim world populated by flesh-hungry zombies, and even more dangerous human beings. The comic books spawned an AMC television series of the same name. It's great, but seriously dark.
X is for Xombies:
Written by Walter Greatshell, the Xombies series centers around a world where the Agent X virus has turned most of the world into mindless zombies. I haven't read any of Greatshell's novels yet, but they're next up on my to-read list.
Y is for Yikes! Zombies! Hide!:
I'd never heard of this game before I frantically began researching for something to put under the letter "Y". But I watched a few YouTube videos and it looks hilarious. From what I can tell, the basic premise involves digging in the ground to hide from zombies. Somehow . . . these zombies just don't seem so terrifying. Here, see what you think:
Z is for Zombieland:
Zombieland is possibly my favorite zombie film. It's comedic, a nerd who saves the day, and it has a zombie clown, which is doubly terrifying. Not to mention, the "rules". Forget the CDC's list. These are the rules to live by if you want to survive a zombie apocalypse. Though it's not a complete list, here's what we've got:
1. Cardio
2. Double Tap
3. Beware of Bathrooms
4. Seatbelts
6. Cast Iron Skillet
7. Travel Light
8. Get a kick-ass partner
12. Bounty Paper towles
15. Bowling ball
17. Don't be a hero
18. Limber up
21. Avoid strip clubs
22. When in doubt, know your way out
29. The buddy system
31. Check the back seat
32. Enjoy the little things
33. Swiss army knife
34. Clean socks
48. Hygiene
49. Always have backup
Well, that's all. I hope you enjoyed the A-Z of zombies. Thank you so much for all your interest and comments. This has been a great challenge and I can't wait to do it all over again next year. Happy A through Z blogging!
Last night my roommate and I were watching Halloween Wars on The Food Network and the challenge was Zombies vs. Vampires. I found really interesting since you most often see vampires in contention with werewolves rather than their flesh-eating brethren. This got me thinking – of the three species, who’d come out the victor in the Undead Battle Royal?
Let’s check out the contenders . . .
Vampires:
Over in the right corner of our triangular boxing ring we have the vampires. Now, there are many different myths about vampires, so there’s some debate when it comes to their strengths and weaknesses (Note: I will be referring to their traditional descriptions rather than their modern, occasionally sparkly counterparts). They are typically gifted with incredible strength, speed and a seductive quality that draws in their prey. Furthermore, in some mythologies (such as the progenitor of their species – Dracula), they can both scale walls and shape shift into other forms, something which would come in incredibly handy in the battle of the undead.
However, vampires do have several handicaps. Most notable is their sensitivity to the sun and inability to come our during daylight hours. They also need to feast on human blood to survive or they fall into a weakened state that would inhibit their fighting abilities. And while their seductive techniques might help them with werewolves when in their human forms, I highly doubt it would have any affect whatsoever on the mindless zombies.
References: Dracula, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Blade, Underworld, True Blood and The Vampire Chronicles.
Werewolves:
Next up are the anthropomorphic, shape-shifting werewolves. They are incredibly strong and savage beasts, and a match for any undead foe. Their superior sense of smell and tracking abilities would give them a distinct advantage were the fight to take place in the darkened woods. Though they are allergic to silver, that shouldn’t pose a problem as zombies aren’t cognizant enough to use it against them, and vampires are similarly affected, so it’s unlikely either species will use it as a weapon (other than the liquid bullet form seen in Underworld of course).
Unfortunately, werewolves do have one very unique shortcoming – they can only turn into their hair-covered, predatory form three nights a month when the moon is full. So unless the battle took place on one of those nights, the werewolves would be goners. However, considering that vampires are nocturnal creatures as well, the probability that the fight would occur during the necessary evenings greatly increases.
References: The Wolfman, And American Werewolf in London, The Howling, Underworld and True Blood
Zombies:
Last but not least are the zombies. Now, though they’re a member of the Homonus Undeadicus, they maintain more of their human weaknesses than their undead rivals. For example, zombies are not typically very fast, nor do they have superior strength or agility. They are typically mindless creatures searching for little more than human brains to consume, and therefore lack the cunning skills of either vampires of werewolves. And though they are able to walk in the daylight, neither of their adversaries can, making it unlikely that a battle would take place at such a time (and therefore nullifying this as an advantage). However, were to begin in the night and last until sunrise, zombies would of course emerge victorious.
Still, zombies do have two chief assets in their favor. One, they don’t really need anything to exist. Unlike vampires, who must feed on human blood, and werewolves, which need the same nourishment as ordinary humans when in their non-furry form, zombies do not require sustenance. They of course long for the tasty delight of flesh and brains, but don’t require it for survival. And second, they have but one singular drive or purpose – attaining the desired flesh and brains. Unlike vampires and werewolves, zombies do not crave power, dominance or companionship. They merely long for the taste of blood-soaked guts, whether they be male, female, vampire or werewolf. This single-minded devotion to their goal would prove a powerful advantage in the battle ring.
References: Zomieland, The Walking Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead, 28 Days Later and Resident Evil
When it comes to a Battle Royal between the living dead, it’s hard to say who’d emerge victorious. If I were a bookie taking bets, who would you place your money on???
For everyone who’s watched movies about aliens, dinosaurs, or vampires and thought to themselves ‘what if this really happened?’, here’s a list of your five common apocalypses to prepare for and the guides most appropriate for preparation.
1. Computers/Machines: Perhaps the most likely apocalypse, one should always be wary of modern technology. As countless movies and novels warn us, given too much power, computers are nothing if not capable of becoming self aware and exterminating us with our own weapons. The best defense is acute suspicion – beware of how much power you give your electronics. And in the event that our government makes the mistake of trusting computers with sensitive information capable of destroying mankind – as I suspect they will - the following are essential for preparation: - Terminator - Terminator 2: Judgment Day - iRobot - The Matrix - Battlestar Galactica - Transformers (Decepticons, not Autobots) - Eagle Eye
2. Vampires/Werewolves: Vampires and werewolves, also called Lycanthropes, are one of the most deadly threats to humanity. They’re often depicted in conflict with one another, as well as the human race. Occasionally seen as benevolent (like Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), they’re by no means a friend to mankind. Should a strain of either species break out, it’s better to be prepared with stakes, crossbows, silver bullets, crucifixes and holy water than to fall back on the unlikely chance that beneath their terrifying exterior lies a mortal soul. In the event that you spent last decade living under a rock, and therefore unaware of what it takes to defeat these immortals, the best guides include: - Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Underworld films - The Blade series (both film and Marvel comic) - John Carpenter’s Vampires - Daybreakers - Bram Stoker'sDracula - Dracula 2000 - The Wolf Man - Van Helsing (not a personal favorite, but worthy of mention) - Anne Rice’sThe Vampire Chronicles
- Note: Despite their popularity, the Twilight novels are NOT appropriate reading material when preparing to face vampires or werewolves in an end of the world showdown. However, if you’re looking for a guide on how to become involved in a love triangle consisting of a member of each, let Meyers be your guide. Similar guides for forming romantic attachments with vampires include the television shows True Blood and Moonlight. On the other hand, J. K. Rowling gives some exceptional advice for potions to help werewolves become more human-friendly.
3. Zombies:
A popular motif in horror films, the zombie apocalypse has become a recent pop culture favorite – perhaps influenced by recent outbreaks of the swine flu and mad cow diseases, etc. Furthermore, between germs, overcrowding, genetic testing, and questionable fast food products, a healthy fear of zombies seems more and more reasonable. Unlike vampires or machines, which use seduction techniques or a cold and calculating intelligent design to kill, zombies are usually depicted as mindless, though no less threatening. Beware, or they might turn you into a “human happy meal” faster than you can say “ahhhhh”.- Zombieland - 28 Days Later -The Zombie Survival Guide - Dawn of the Dead - Night of the Living Dead - Note: Zombieland suggests several rules for surviving in a post-zombie apocalypse world. I stipulate these rules are useful when facing all manner of apocalyptic horrors.
4. Aliens:
Considering the vastness of space, it’s naïve to assume that we’re alone in the universe; however, let me be clear. There is every possibility that aliens from outer space really are peaceful creatures with no intention of harming us (such as ET, the alien hotties from the show Roswell). And as much as I regret promoting an us/them, kill-the-aliens mindset, I still entertain the possibility that there could, one day, be an invasion where aliens wipe us out in order to take over the planet, steal our natural resources, etc. My general pessimism and phobias therefore insist that I prepare should such an event arise. So, guides to be used ONLY on vicious killer aliens and non-ET type personnel are:- Independence Day -War of the World - Alien - Aliens - Stargate SG1 -Invasion of the Body Snatchers - Men in Black
- Battle: Los Angeles
5. Prehistoric Creatures/Dragons: Though one of the less common and therefore less feared apocalypses, it should still be on your radar. Though we believe dragons non-existent and dinosaurs extinct, one should never underestimate how far modern science has come. They say birds, chickens and some species of frogs share common DNA with dinosaurs – and isn’t that something to keep you up a night? Better safe than sorry I say, so no matter how unlikely, the next time you have nothing to do on a Sunday evening, take a quick look at a few of the following: - Jurassic Park (novels and films) - Reign of Fire - How to Train Your Dragon - Godzilla
Disclaimer: There are many other novels, films and TV shows not mentioned in this article that are of the genre but not appropriate for battle preparations.
