Act Quick! It's a Zombie Shirt!

My friend, Mapman, from Gentle Giant Collectors was kind enough to give me a yell with news of a new zombie shirt. Tee Fury has this shirt for sale for a measly $9! Bad news? It's only on sale for 3 more hours!

Take a look and go buy one!

Night of the Living Kev - In Stock

Just a quick announcement that the Zombie Kevin Smith inaction figure appropriately called "Night of the Living Kev" is now in stock. I wanted to give you regular readers the heads-up as I will be attending a comic and toy convention in Monroeville next weekend. With Kev sporting his "Monroeville Zombies" shirt, I anticipate these selling quickly.

He is available in the Zombie Toy Store for a mere $12.99. While you're there, grab yourself a Monroeville Zombies shirt. You can pretend that you and Kev are BFFs!

Zombies Help Sell Cars

It seems like zombies are everywhere these days. Some of us old-school zombie fans could get upset at the current popularity of zombies. Just think of yourself as ahead of the curve and embrace the newcomers to the awesomeness of zombies. Sure we're going to see a bunch of garbage, but we also now have a better chance of getting great zombies. Something I never thought I'd see, however, are car ads featuring zombies.

Toyota has recently unleashed several ads in magazines for their Corolla. The selling points of which are geared toward the zombie survivalist. What I want to know is why isn't there shatter-proof glass? Or James Bond style auto inflating tires? Heck, there isn't even any guns or flamethrowers!

Regardless, I find the ads amusing. You and I both know that a Corolla is nowhere near the top of our zombie survival list of vehicles. What is causing a stir is the fact that these ads are being run in light of the news of 34 deaths caused by Toyota glitches. So your cars are killing people and your ads illustrate how they are good for avoiding the undead.

For your viewing pleasure...

'Zombies in Love' Art Exhibit

"The Bride and Groom" Chris Lane

Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, CA is hosting a celabration of love after undeath. The exhibit, "Zombies In Love" is a free exhibit whose undead time will lapse after Feb. 22.

"Discover the true meaning of undying love...
Gathering recognized names in the field of zombie culture and other zombie enthusiasts contributing paintings, sculptures, and live performance paying homage to the reanimated dead and true love that persists beyond the grave. Free Admission."

For more information, head over to the Gallery Nucleus. If you can't make it, view the gallery here. Great art and a great theme. If you live in the area how can you pass it up?

"Zombie Cupid" Tony Lombardo


"Happy Easter" William Stout

"Way Past First Base" Rodney Fuentebella

SkullyBoom Contest Update

I'm late per usual... but, as promised, this contest is now beginning to take form! As you may remember from the original announcement, winning this contest will take a little bit of effort on your part. But I'll get to that in a moment. First, let's see what you will have the chance of winning! Oh, there will be 3 prize packages!

First item in the prize package will be one of these Squidnik designed Skullys:

The first winner drawn will have first choice, second will have their choice from the remaining two, and the third will take the last one.

Each winner will also take home a set of the Zombies & Toys exclusive Z.O.M.B.I.E. toys from October Toys! This colorway is pink and glows red!

Each winner will also receive some Zombies & Toys swag including stickers, buttons, and magnets!

Grand Prize winner will also win one of the following (winner's choice): Putrid Pal, Night of the Living Kev, Tofu the Vegan Zombie, Night of the Living Gwin, Deady the Bear, Zombie Rubber Duckie, Cloth Head Kaniza, more Z.O.M.B.I.E. colors, or a Dismember-Me Plush Zombie!

The more entries I receive, the more items I will throw in.

Now, how to enter. It is possible to have multiple entries to enhance your chances of winning. First, you can email me a photograph of a Skully (or SkullyBoom) that you customized (yes, these are available in the Zombie Toy Store). Sending in a pic of your Skully will count as 5 entries.

Second, scattered throughout the posts on Zombies & Toys, are pictures of the Skully I made. Each time you find one, email me with the date and title of the post and you will earn one entry. Sorry, stand-alone pictures of the Skully in posts about Skullyboom or where the post involves Skully do not count. The majority of the posts will have Skully photoshopped in. Below is my Skully and one example pic where he has been inserted.

Tere are 5 posts where he is hidden in a pic and 3 where he is just "there" so far. I will be adding more as the contest deadline approaches. Finding Skully hidden within a picture will earn you 2 entries and finding just plain 'ol Skully in a post where he doesn't belong will earn you 1. You can email your finds in separate emails or all in one. Oh... Facebook fans and followers on Twitter will have an unfair advantage as I will be posting clues where he can be found.

Email your pics and finds to skully@zombiesandtoys.com. All entries must be received by March 31.

Win An Autographed Copy of 28 Days Later

Forbidden Planet is currently running a contest for an autographed copy of the 28 Days Later graphic novel. The book is signed by script writer Michael Alan Nelson and artist Declan Shalvey. The only downside, Forbidden Planet is a UK-based company and therefor the contest is only open to UK residents.

The graphic novel follows the story of Selena and connects the films "Days" and "Weeks".

Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing

Valve has released some screen shots and the poster for The Passing. This will be the long-rumoured content where the paths of both games' heroes cross. New zombies and new weapons will be heading our way in March.

Dead Rising: Case Zero

Microsoft announced at their X10 event that Dead Rising: Case Zero will be released prior to Dead Rising 2. Case Zero you ask? An Xbox Live Arcade exclusive that connects Dead Rising and Dead Rising 2. Oh yeah, Dead Rising 2 will be available August 31.

Casting Rumours for AMC's The Walking Dead

Big Shiny Robot! have "...talked to a few different sources..." about who could possibly be cast as Rick Grimes. Names being tossed around are Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Gallactica), Mark Pellegrino (Dexter), and Stuart Townsend (Queen of the Damned).

Jamie Bamber:

Mark Pelligrino:

Stuart Townsend:

Brains: A Zombie Memoir

The concept of self-aware zombies is becoming more and more common. It's odd that it has taken so long to really pick up. As campy as it was, I'm still a fan of Return of the Living Dead. Being one to always enjoy news about different types of zombies, I find myself excited yet again about an upcoming book.

Brains: A Zombie Memoir will be released May 25th by Harper Collins. The book chronicles the struggle former college professor Jack Barnes has towards self-acceptance...and his pursuit of Brains. Jack has something most other victims of the zombie apocalypse don’t have: sentience. In fact, he can even write. Brains is Jack's story as he sets out to meet his maker and search for equality.

I'll have more news as I come across it. In the meantime, you can keep up-to-date by keeping an eye on Robin Becker's site.

Logo Versions

My opinion is going to be biased when it comes to the Zombies & Toys logo. I've grown quite attached to the image of my favorite dead guy. The original image, and the one you see most often, was designed by Vince Rinaldo while we discussed what I had in mind over a few beers.

Now, one of my favorite things is to see how the logo can be re-imagined by creative minds. Reader, Timothy, sent me his digital interpretation of the version painted by Drew Falchetta. I thought I'd share it along with some of the other versions that have been done (be ready for a huge surprise to be announced later this month).

Timothy Carr:

Krystal Osborne from ZombieHead:

Armagardt Richter Rose from Abomination Nursery:

Drew Falchetta:

Jason Nagy:

Rock of the Dead

I am truly at a loss for words...

So you take Guitar Hero (or Rock Band), add zombies, throw in some gameplay from the likes of Typing of the Dead and House of the Dead and you have Rock of the Dead. The bottom line is you play your guitar to defeat zombies.

This intentionally cheesy game from Epicenter will be for the Wii with a "budget" price of $30 to $40. The main character will be voiced by Neil Patrick Harris and will also star Felicia Day as the love interest. Speaking of Neil and Felicia... go watch yourself some Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog.

We can expect to see Rock of the Dead late spring or early summer. For more details, head over to IGN.com. In the meantime, enjoy some pics and a clip:

Zombies & Toys on YouTube

New Premium Format From Sideshow Collectibles

Those familiar with the amazing work from Sideshow Collectibles are reading this with excitement. Some newer readers may just not quite get it. So, for the newer readers:

Sideshow Collectibles is a company that manufactures fine art collectibles. They have created an in-house line of zombie figures appropriately called The Dead. This line of collectibles started and continues with 12" figures featuring amazing detail. They have also released a trio of zombie head busts (review) and cartoonish vinyl (news) for The Dead. One item in particular that is impressive is their "Premium Format" Patient Zero zombie (review). Sideshow's Premium Format line consists of items that are 1/4 scale (approx 18 inches) and are composed of intricate details coupled with actual cloth material.

This Friday will see the pre-order window open for Sideshow's second Premium Format zombie. Called "Undying Carcass", we will be treated to what appears to be a reanimated hospital patient. At around $280, make sure you don't need to buy anything soon! The exclusive edition includes a bonus head that can be changed.

For full details on how you can order as well as more beautiful pitures, head over to Sideshow Collectibles.

Claymation Zombie Video

There are some things that I just don't have to write much about. This video, for instance...

It's a claymation video with zombies titled "Chainsaw Maid". You're welcome.



Zombie videos on Zombies & Toys' YouTube page

The Walking Dead Pilot Films This May

Bloody Disgusting has reported that filming of The Walking Dead will begin May 15th in Atlanta, GA. AMC is bringing us this new television series based off of the Image comics by Robert Kirkman.

Who knows when we'll be able to see it or when the decision to continue with the series will be made. I will tell you this... The Walking Dead books are a must for anyone who enjoys zombies. Seriously. The stories and character developement rival the best zombie movies. Read it!!

Zombie Kittens!

Some of you may recall the extremely catchy video, Meow, that showed us the kitten zombie apocalypse. Well, if you enjoyed that, I have more zombie kittens for you.

Charlie Mac Productions has a few videos featuring zombie kittens for your viewing pleasure. And they're not just any zombie kittens, they shoot lasers out of their eyes! Yup... zombie kittens that shoot lasers out of their eyes. Worth 3 minutes of your time and perfect after a day at work. Enjoy...




Zombies & Toys on You Tube

Words Wtih Isaac Marion About Warm Bodies

I'm excited to post a fun and informative follow-up with Isaac Marion. If you recall from a previous post, Isaac is the author of an upcoming zombie novel. Warm Bodies is the story of a zombie who befriends the girlfriend of one of his victims. This bizarre situation sets of a chain reaction that will change him and his fellow zombies.

Warm Bodies was first distributed when Isaac printed and sold 100 copies on his website, burningbuilding.com. It is now going to be published by Atria Books and should be available third or fourth quarter this year. Equally as exciting is the film adaptation of the book is being worked on as well with Jonathan Levine writing and directing.

Stay in the loop as the book and movie progress by frequenting Isaac's site, burningbuilding.com. You can also follow Isaac on Twitter.

Without further adieus, here's your opportunity to hear the inside scoop about Warm Bodies and learn what type of toy Isaac Marion would be!

Tell us a bit about your literary background. Previous works, publications, etc.
I've been writing pretty much constantly since I was 16, but "Warm Bodies" is my first publishing success---unless you count a review of Chocolate Peanut Butter Pops that made it onto the McSweeneys website. (I don't.) Mainly I've just been writing short stories and posting them on my site. I'd love to publish a collection of those someday, but "Warm Bodies" is going to have to sell all kinds of copies before that's ever going to happen, In This Economy.

What is the basic premise of Warm Bodies?
A gradual apocalypse of wars and social collapses ended civilization years ago, so when the zombie plague arrived it was really just the final blow. Most humans are holed up inside fortified sports stadiums and zombies roam the rest of the world, forming loosely knit colonies ruled by the elder dead, who have decayed completely into skeletons. None of the zombies know who they are, what they're doing, or why they're doing it, they just float around in a fog, acting out their basic urges and ingrained habits. This starts to change when one of them, a recently-dead zombie named "R", makes a choice to rescue a young woman instead of eating her, and brings her back alive to the zombies' "city" in an abandoned airport.

It is difficult to create something unique out of the typical zombie; what were your inspirations?
I thought it was strange that just because zombies don't talk much, we assume they have no thoughts at all. What if they aren't actually mindless, they just don't care about anything? I thought it would be fascinating to get inside the head of a creature who has no memories, no identity, and whose hierarchy of needs ends at "food". Especially if somewhere in all that apathy and resignation, there was a little spark telling him he could be better than this.

How did you go about self publishing the 100 limited copies?
I just had some copies printed at a local print shop and sold them through my website, one at a time. It wasn't really a "self publishing" effort so much as releasing a demo.

From there, how did and what was the process involved in finding a publisher?
I got very lucky and had a string of amazing people help make that happen, starting with a part-time producer/screenwriter named Cori Stern, who literally StumbledUpon© the short stories on my site. She introduced me to a former film exec who passed the book along to producer Bruna Papandrea, at which point the book began circulating in the industry and eventually fell into the hands of my current literary agent, who then went ahead and got the book published in 11 languages and counting... It still seems fairly surreal but when the reality of all this finally hits me, I may quite literally shit myself.

It's rare to see a novel simultaneously get published and turned into a movie. How did this happen and what were your reactions?
It was just a wonderful chain reaction. The film deal went through much faster than normal, mainly because Bruna Papandrea is a badass. Books are my focus as a writer so it was a bigger deal for me to see the book get published than it was to see it get optioned, but I love movies almost as much as books, so the movie deal was the inch-thick icing on a cake full of Funfetti.

What inside scoop can you tell us about the upcoming movie? Release date? Actors? Will you be in it anywhere? As a zombie perhaps?
It's really early in the film process so there isn't a whole lot I can tell you about it yet other than that Jonathan Levine is an incredible director and writer, and after talking with him extensively about how to pull off all the visual and narrative challenges of this very weird story, I'm completely confident he's going to create the most unique existential zombie love story ever filmed.

Speaking of zombies, what is your background with zombies?
Most of what I know about zombies I've just absorbed out of the pop-culture ether. I grew up on comics and video games and fantasy novels just like any other nerdy American kid, so I was familiar with all the zombie rules and cliches, but I was pretty surprised to find myself writing a whole novel about them. It was never my intent to write a "zombie novel" in the sense most people think of; I just wanted to use that established mythology to explore some basic human questions, like what does it mean to be "alive" instead of just "animate"? Is it possible for humans to make the world better, or is it broken beyond repair? And is there any point in loving anyone if we're all just gonna die? Yes, zombies still get chainsawed and people still get their skulls pried open like eggshells...but I think anyone reading this book expecting a spoof comedy or horror splatterfest is in for a big shock.

So, while we're defending ourselves from a zombie horde, you get bit. After we are finished, do you ask me to leave you or pull the trigger to stop the inevitable?
Let me turn zombie and see what happens. Maybe I can do some good from the inside.

You are going to be made into a toy. Would you be a zombie or a hero/survivor?
Make me a Zombie Hero. Moral ambiguity is a huge seller in children's toys.

What accessories would you come with?
A record player and a box of Frank Sinatra LPs...that shoots water!

Favorite zombie movies and why?
If we're talking "serious" zombie movies, I'd say "28 Days Later", because it was the first zombie movie I saw that avoided being campy. On the comedy side, "Shaun of the Dead" is great, and "Fido" is an obscure gem that takes an idyllic 1950's "Lassie" setting and replaces Lassie with pet zombies. Hilarity ensues.

Any favorite zombie books?
To be honest, I'm only aware of three: "World War Z" which I keep hearing is great but I haven't gotten around to it, "Breathers" which sounds slightly too zany for me, and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", which sounds like a bad SNL skit stretched to novel length. Some people have called "The Road" a zombie novel, though, and that book absolutely floored me...can I count that...?

Steel City Con - Feb 26, 27, & 28

If you live near Pittsburgh or feel like taking a road trip, the first Steel City Con of 2010 will be at the end of this month. The show features vendors of toys and comics, artists, celebrities, and plenty of photo ops for the kids. Heck, there's even going to be a Delorean replica from Back to the Future!

This convention also marks the first convention appearance of Zombies & Toys! I encourage anyone who can stop by to do so. If you can't make it, you can look forward to a full report shortly after. I will have a few surprise additions to the Zombie Toy Store available only at the convention as well!

For full details on this upcoming event, check out the official Steel City Con site.

Zombie Lego Animation

Zombies + Legos + Animation = Win

Seriously... does it get much better than a stop-motion animated short featuring zombie legos? I didn't think so. Thank Toys R Evil for the discovery then sit back and enjoy...



If you missed the zombie apocalypse lego city, check out an earlier post.

Zombies & Toys on YouTube

Dawn of the Dead Blu-ray

Just a quick follow-up to the post about the Day of the Dead blu-ray import. In case you weren't salty enough that we in the states were neglected (or happy that you live in the UK), I thought I'd share the previously released Dawn of the Dead blu-ray.

Of course, this edition is also available with several different covers, includes a poster, and is loaded with extras.

Disc One (Blu Ray)

* Theatrical cut of the feature in 1080p High Definition; DTS HD and Stereo audio options

* Audio commentary by director George A Romero, special effects artist Tom Savini and assistant director Chris Romero; audio commentary by producer Richard P. Rubinstein

* "Document of the Dead" documentary

* "Document of the Dead: The Lost Interview" and deleted scenes

* "Fan of the Dead" documentary.

Disc Two (DVD)

* Director's cut of the feature

* "The Dead Will Walk" documentary

Disc Three (DVD)

* Dario Argento's cut of the feature

* "Scream Greats" documentary

* Publicity Vault containing US and German trailers, TV and Radio spots, reviews

* Arrow Video's Giallo trailers ("Macabre", "Sleepless" and "The House by the Cemetery")

Also included: Exclusive, four artwork option packaging; double sided poster with all-new Rick Melton painting on one side and the original UK theatrical artwork on reverse; "For Every Night There is a Dawn" booklet written by Calum Waddell.