Zombies, RUN! - Android App Review

Ash "Ima Zombie" El-Masry

It is cold out....
A slight mist with heavy wet flakes of snow are falling in Seattle...
I must get to my local hardware store and get a new shovel, maybe an axe...

ZOMBIES, RUN! has a couple different options for game play, Multi-player Mode and a Solo mode.

The multiplayer mode opens up your phones browser & provides a link to begin a private game.
I am asked to sign into my Google account and grant permission
a notice that a GPS fix is attempting but nothing ever happens so i exited browser & tried again.
Still nothing, bummer....

The Solo mode has some options for game-play like what kind of outbreak is happening & how fast your zombies can move.

The easiest setting available is the "Controlled outbreak" @ 2mph.
A Google type map opens & I try to choose my location with an overly sensitive map.
The map sensitivity presents problems throughout the game play experience.
Once your destination is chosen - the game begins.
Zombies move toward me at a snails pace but, I must adjust my path to reach my final location.
The hardware store is relatively easy to reach

The next outbreak is an Early Local and i choose 5mph...
I bump up the speed because I probably could have stopped for a picnic and still not become lunch myself at 2mph
Choose a destination and twice as many zombies appear
I might need to do some joging in certain places to circumvent the zombies
I manage to make it back home with-out a scratch.

The third option for your outbreak is the Late Local and I think I will keep 5 mph.
Back to the hardware store for my destination & YIKES there are a lot of zombies & they are coming towards me, quickly
I certainly have to do much more maneuvering to get away and my phone begins to vibrate as the zombies get to close...
Whoops ... I just became lunch

The last outbreak available is the Total Pandemic & I turn the speed down to 2mph
Turning the speed down helps but I am still gonna have to run back home from the hardware store...
I am surprised at just how close to the zombies I can actually get. There are a few just across the street from me.
I can see the hardware store....
no...NOOOOO - OPEN THE DOOR.....
AAAHHHhhhhhh .....

Turn the speed up past 5mph & you might as well just cover yourself in mayo & lay down because you are lunch!

Overall, the game was fun and I could see how it may be good for a runner BUT, I wouldn't suggest trying to run & watch your phone for zombies at the same time.
In fact, just walking & watching zombies, I realized I was paying no attention to the street in which I was walking.

This is a battery heavy game which can be glitchy at times, causing the phone to periodically lock-up and requiring a total phone shut down.

The app did get 4 of 5 stars on the android market but i think I personally would only give it 3 due to some usability issues & the boredom factor, I am not personally inclined to play it again.

Get ZOMBIES, RUN! free from the Android Market...

Reviewed on my T-Mobile Sidekick 4g - Unmodified android

My Zombie Valentine: A WALKING DEAD tribute video

Todd Jepperson

Our friend Ran Mussman just dropped us a link to this video created by him using only his bass guitar (except for the lyrics, he's still teaching it to sing.) So, before February runs out on us, check out My Zombie Valentine by BassOrchestra. When you're done, do him a favor and check him out on Facebook. He'll be releasing more videos like this in the near future; so if you don't wanna be left out, "like" the page and be first in line when they drop.

expand for complete zombie goodness

Exit Humanity: Coming Soon ?

Matt Boiselle There is no denying that the U.S. Civil War was without a doubt one of the bloodiest battles to have ever taken place in the course of history, and all can fairly agree that the numbers that detail the loss of life are simply astounding. But what if the majority of those numbers weren't really "dead" after all ?

In director John Geddes' Exit Humanity, we the viewer are transported back into the mid 1870's, almost a full decade after the Civil War has ravaged the south, and Edward Young simply wishes to make the solemn journey home to lay to rest his dead son's ashes. However all along the way there lay obstacles ahead, due to unexplained circumstances, the dead have risen from their shallow graves and are now terrorizing the states that the Union and Confederate soldiers fought so valiantly to defend.

This film marks the second foray into directing for John Geddes, his first being 2008's Scarce, however 2011 he laid claim to producing the creature beatdown film Monster Brawl, and he has loaded this movie's cast roster with a few legends of the genre. Some of the stars to shine in this film are Bill Moseley ( House of 1000 Corpses), Dee Wallace ( Cujo - The Howling), Stephen McHattie ( Pontypool) and is narrated by Brian Cox ( Trick R' Treat). This movie looks to be especially intriguing mainly because it will be using not only live action sequences, but classic animation visuals as well. Unfortunately no release date has been given, but inside word is that this could be making it's way onto DVD sometime mid-2012. Keep those fingers crossed, because this looks like an instant classic is heading our way. Click on the pic above to be taken to the latest trailer and enjoy !

Zombies in Elmhurst, IL?

by Dorothy Emry

The nursing department of Elmhurst College in Illinois has put a twist on their clinical simulation for a mass flu epidemic: zombies. This March, students at the college are invited to dress and act as zombie patients who will then have their symptoms—the flu-like ones at least—diagnosed by the nursing students. The zombie idea was developed by two of the nursing students. The zombie improv will add an element of fun to the exercise, but of course the learning will be serious. It will also give a chance for the college’s theatre department students to practice their skills.

Another Zombie Flu Mass Epidemic Clinical Simulation will be held in April.

You can read more about the event in the TribLocal article “Zombie-themed drill brings out the waking dead” by Annemarie Mannion.

Horror Realm Spring Break Massacre & Zombie Gras

Matt Boiselle

Attention all Pittsburgh residents, and zombie fans in all surrounding areas.......are you looking for something to snap you out of this Winter's funk ?? Do you need something to help you scratch that undead itch ??? Coming this March 10th at the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South, your desire for all things non-living will be fulfilled at the Horror Realm's Spring Break and Zombie Gras, a one-day convention & costume party. Drag your bones out of the darkness and join Horror Realm as they will be putting on a party that could potentially rival Mardi Gras itself !!

This Mardi Gras style bash will only cost you $ 7.00 admission ( convention only), or $10.00 ( convention & Zombie Gras). But if your only desire is to party, drink, and dance like one of the undead, it will simply cost you $ 5.00 (Zombie Gras only.) Then again, just get a look at what is in store for you if you decide to partake in ALL of the festivities : a celebrity autograph session with Mike Christopher ( Hari Krishna Zombie - Dawn of the Dead 1978) - John Amplas ( Dawn of the Dead 1978) - Kyra Schon ( Karen Cooper - Night of the Living Dead 1968) - Lawrence C. Connolly - (Author of the book Voices: Tales of Horror) - Mike Watt ( Writer/Filmmaker) & Amy Lynn Best ( Actress/ Director - Happy Cloud Pictures)

If those names don't make you want to bite into someone's flesh, there also will be a VHS room & swap meet for all things horror, a makeup/FX panel, many guest panels & Q&A sessions and a special announcement of who will be attending this September's ( 21st-23rd) Horror Realm Convention. Lest we forget those souls who truly are coming to party.... the Zombie Gras will commence at 9p.m. that evening, complete with a DJ spinning tunes, a cash bar, and headlined by a Zombie King & Queen Pageant. As an extra incentive, if you have little zombies that want to tag along, if they are under the age of 12 and are accompanied by a guardian, they can get in for free. So dust up your best funeral clothes, sweep some cobwebs in your hair, and drag your dead selves to this convention and killer after party......don't pass it up...because NO ONE likes a dead party pooper.

Area 187: Almost Hell Book Review

By David Brown "In the year 2007 an accident at a clandestine U.S.Government facility in rural West Virginia releases several test subjects infected with a necrotic virus. Within weeks the U.S.
military and the Department of Homeland Security are forced to declare the bulk of the state
under quarantine. Defensive lines are fortified and nothing is allowed in or out, damning those missed in the short period of evacuations to a living hell and locking away the real truth of the virus' creation. The government transfers the responsibility of maintaining the quarantine from the military to the Department of Homeland Security, which christens it "Area 187".
Suits and claims are dismissed under anti-terror legislation as the rest of government scrambles to cover their involvement in the original project, distancing themselves and their re-elections.

Seven years pass.

Homeland Security enforces a total news blackout on all things Area 187, and as with other disasters before it the bulk of America is more than willing to move on. Conspiracies continue
to thrive outside the now-immense defensive wall and fortifications, and mercenaries known as "grave robbers" regularly slip in and out of the Area, stealing valuables and taking contracts to bring back specific items for well-paying customers. Our story follows Josephine
Terrell, a television reporter and John Heath, once an Air Force search-and-rescue team leader that escaped the Area after five years of fruitless searching for his wife, as they risk their lives from both the dead and the living inside Area 187 to rescue a group of survivors.
Josephine is looking for the story of the century, one that will prove living, breathing Americans still await rescue inside the Area and that Homeland has been covering up their existence. Heath joins her mission after he sees what may be his wife, Eileen, in a video message from the survivors. Personal rivalries, government conspiracies, and a simple man's promise weave together with death incarnate to follow their every step as they make their way through a blasted, nightmarish landscape full of the hungering dead. But the peril offered by the mindless corpses behind the wall becomes second to the danger presented by the living beyond it..."

This is the synopsis for Eric R. Lowther's book Area 187: Almost Hell, and let me tell you, if this alone isn't enough to get you excited, then you are not a zombie fan. The book starts out following a new recruit who is tasked to enter the forsaken known as Area 187 in order to fix a tower. Needless to say the talk that his superior, Lieutenant Colson, gives in which he describes the area and its dangers lets you know the action that this book holds. The prologue does a nice job of setting us up for the sense of bleakness that will encompass you as you read.

From here on we follow the aforementioned Josephine Terrell as she searches for John Heath. Upon finding him, she is quickly pushed aside due to her seemingly nonsensical claims until she shows him a video containing a woman that looks like his wife. That is when she finally believed and he chooses to take her into the area to get the story of her life. Wrought with dangers unimagined, she prepares and their journey begins.

I will stop here so I don't ruin anymore of the story but needless to say it is one that keeps you entertained from the first page right up to the last. Lowther has a writing style that exudes forward momentum. You are never at a point where you say to yourself " I wish this was going by quicker." Everything about his style leads you to connect with the characters and as events unfold you will go through their emotional journeys simultaneously. These characters feel like they are people you would see in your life and that lends to a lot of the joy in reading this book, you can really find yourself beside the characters.

With the world as it is today there is no reason to think that conspiracies don't happen all the time (maybe not to this scale). The sense of what if, really shines through here and you want to keep reading to see what will happen as the pages turn. We all want to believe that we will survive an apocalyptic virus or plague like that of zombies, but we must ask a few questions.
What if you woke up and found yourself stranded amongst the dead ? What if you knew the government would never come ? How would you survive ? Who would you reach out to ? Ask yourself all of these questions and then go pick up this book now. You will not regret this read.

If you are interested in winning a copy we here at Zombies and Toys will be giving away one, just send an e-mail with your name and address to area187@zombiesandtoys.com and we will draw a name at random at the end of the month. Good luck !

The Dead: Movie Review

Matt Boiselle Repetition: a word used to describe an act of something being repeated. If you want to take it a step further, you could use the term "ad nauseum", which is an adverb, usually meaning "to a disgusting or ridiculous degree, to the point of nausea." The point I'm trying to make is that if you are a hardcore zombie movie fan such as myself, you have familiarized yourself with these terms as of late to describe the never ending assembly line of stale, stereotyped and generally worn-out movies that have been spit out as of recent.

I had some reservations about watching the 2010 movie The Dead, which was finally released on DVD here in the U.S a few weeks ago, and possibly one of my biggest regrets in hindsight was this past October at the Rock & Shock horror convention in Massachusetts, the production group from the movie was trying to pull people in at their booth to get a sneak peek of the movie and I blew them off. " Okay, another low-budget zombie flick, save me", was my initial thought, and for that I am eternally sorry. The movie, directed by the Ford brothers (Howard & Jonathan) welcomes you in with its sprawling backdrop of Africa, and once you are feeling all warm and sunny, slaps you upside your head with a terrifying shot of one of the creepiest zombies you will see roaming, or shall I say, limping across the desolate wasteland that will soon become a hunting ground for the infected.

While we attempt to recoup our bearings, we are immediately introduced to U.S.A.F Engineer Lt. Brian Murphy, played remarkably well by Rob Freeman. Murphy, who was on the last military evacuation flight out of war-torn Burkina Faso, located in Western Africa, is now attempting to gain some order of where he is after the plane has crashed. Not long after is he facing a series of undead villagers that once before, were living their lives in fear and poverty.
He doesn't appear to convey too much fear in his characterization, just a general sense of survival and "knock em down like bowling pins" mentality. His cause grows a little stronger when he runs into Sgt. Daniel Dembele, an African soldier played stoically by Prince David Oseia, who is searching for his son that he lost touch with shortly after the outbreak. Together they make a nice team, although never really seeming to get along, their chemistry almost seems to work in reverse ( but in a measure of success).

The plot is safe and secure, making it easy to follow, but it is surely the creepiness of the zombies that is such a huge standout in this film. Firstly, their eyes while dead and trance-like, cast a gaze of fear on whatever they may be looking at in their hungry pursuit. Also, their pace is slow and deliberate, and here is where I may lose some "new" zombie fans.... While I have enjoyed the turbo zombies that have sprung up as of late in film, unless there is some kind of unnamed Bruce Jenner or Carl Lewis strain of virus that has leaked, zombies ain't gonna run like track stars !!! I am 6 ft. tall, and a happy 240 lbs. - never been a runner, but would appreciate a good contagion to help my big rear-end run a 40 yard dash in 4 seconds flat. Okay, back to business...its the slowness and almost plodding one-mindedness that will return the die-hard fans back to the days of Night Of The Living Dead, and the original Dawn of the Dead where you got a good hard look at the scare approaching you, as opposed to an Olympic athlete trying to mimic a cheetah, and its slam-bang kill upon the hapless gazelle.

The other gem of this film is the absolutely stunning visuals that are set upon us in Western Africa. The Ford Brothers revealed that shooting in the Burkina Faso region not only proved to be somewhat difficult, but extremely dangerous. There were numerous muggings, threats and health scares, such as Rob Freeman contracting Malaria that delayed filming for many weeks. It is even rumored that a large chunk of the movie budget went to cover bribery and corruption fees just to allow the movie crew around to shoot. Whether the scene took place in the blistering heat of the day, or the near-freezing temps at night, the spooky factor is always present and welcomed wholeheartedly.

If there were to be a negative attached to this film, unfortunately it is the very poor CGI. The zombie head shots and assorted kills come off as very cheesy and unrealistic, but if you can look past that, you have yourself a great movie that is a refreshing breath in a somewhat failing and cookie-cutter subject of horror right now. In addition to this fantastic movie, the Ford Brothers will be releasing a book detailing all of their struggles while making the film, the book: Surviving The Dead, is scheduled to be on sale this March 1st. The final verdict is this: if you want a great midnight movie to get your skin crawling and your heart beating faster, rent this movie, you will not be disappointed.

3.5 out of 4 stars

NerdSwag: Win a Walking Dead Vannen Watch from Nerdist News

Keya Millionie

That's right folks, Nerdist News is giving away a Limited Edition The Walking Dead watch from Vannen Watches. This watch normally retails for $85 but you can snag one for free!

Participation is easy, just follow THIS link and fill out the form. You can gain extra entries on their Facebook and Twitter pages.

 Good Luck!

Zombie Apocalypse open source guide

Matt Boiselle While any fan of zombie films, games, or books can give you a fairly detailed rundown about what needs to get done when the dead begin to infest our precious Earth, some others would prefer some kind of official guide, or an apocalyptic road map if you will, to assist us in that time of need.

Then click your finger-friendly mouse on the pic above to be taken to the website of opensource.com. They have kindly provided a downloadable pdf that will outline the 5 major problems that are sure to exist after the undead have joined us, and those problems are as follows: Energy, finding your friends, preventing boredom, staying alive, and rebuilding civilization. Recommendations are given as how to handle these situations, so feel free to file them away and use at your discretion, but don't come crying to the webmasters at opensource if you DO NOT follow these directions to the fullest, and your skull ends up resembling a hollowed out pumpkin on the day after Halloween.

Night of The Living Dead 2012

Matt Boiselle If the almighty one himself, Mr. George A. Romero, had struck a deal with the devil many moons ago to reap the rewards of EVERY zombie movie that had been put out after his 1968 classic, he would be a rich........well, he would be a LOT richer. While it appears right now that the release date on this remake will be October 1st, 2012, we here at Zombies & Toys will let you draw your own conclusions as what to expect after viewing the teaser trailer which can be accessed by clicking on the pic.

Distributed by V2 pictures and re-imagined by director Matt Cloude, this film claims to not only pay homage to the original spookshow, but expand on the storyline to further delve into what happened the night the dead returned to walk the earth. While boasting mainly an independent cast, the movie does have one rather huge name in the credits, Judith O' Dea, who played Barbara in the Romero-helmed classic. While NOT to be confused with Night Of The Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation, which is also releasing this year and stars Jeffrey Combs and Andrew Divoff, zombie fans should be appeased at another opportunity to witness some undead carnage on-screen.

Pro-Wrestlers vs. Zombies film

Terry Swadener

Some “good old America violence” is descending onto Pittsburgh, Pa in the form of Pro-Wrestlers vs. Zombies, a movie by filmmaker Cody Knotts. A film which will include “big, powerful men and hot babes smashing zombies” is prime for the Zombie Capital of the United States. Not only is Pittsburgh known for its zombies, it is also known for its professional wrestling, including ECW legend “The Franchise” Shane Douglas, who has a part in the upcoming movie. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has an article on the film here: Film to pit zombies against wrestlers. The subject of the film is not the only interesting thing about this. The way Cody Knotts is obtaining the funding is by a website launched in 2009 called Kickstarter. Kickstarter is a website designed to help entrepreneurs to raise money for projects involving “music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative fields.” Through the website anyone can pledge money and contribute their time or resources to the projects. So
please visit the Post-Gazette websites to read up on the project or the Kickstarter site to help get this movie made.

Zombie Eye for the Living Guy: Book Review and Giveaway

by Dorothy Emry

Hold your fire, that zombie you see shambling down the street may not be one of the official undead. Keep him in your sights, but before you shoot check carefully for an LG (as in “Living Guy”) logo on a sign, tattoo, or T-shirt. No logo? Fair game. So, for those of you planning to survive the apocalypse by blending in with the undead crowd, waste no time: buy a copy of Zombie Eye for the Living Eye to find out about that logo and stay safe! The latest in Marion Street Press’s how-to books will help you look, cook, dress and live undead.

Zombie Eye for the Living Eye written by J.M. Hewitt has all the how-to advice you’ll need on how to dress and act the part of a reanimated corpse whether you’re a zombie imitator, drag zombie (someone who dresses the part) or transzombie (someone who lives the part).

Not sure how far you are into living undead? No problem. Chapter 1 on “Inner Preparation” will help you discover if you’ve got the mental wherewithal to carry off the great illusion. Already psyched for the role? Get tips for distressing your wardrobe and practicing the all-important zombie-like walk. Then fine tune your look with tips on hair, makeup, wardrobe and grooming—more than enough to help you make an impressive, bloody smash on the next zombie walk you attend. You’ll get an eye full of the best zombie looks though the fantastic makeup work of Peter Swords Stevens, captured in a series of stunning images by photographer Alexander Colby.

If you’re looking to do more than scare trick-or-treaters and are truly ready to embrace the faux zombie lifestyle, then this book will be invaluable. From home decor to dating skills, you’ll find a roadmap for the entire transzombie lifestyle, even for facing those awkward moments like telling your best friend, mom, or boss that you’ve embraced a way of life through which few choose to shamble. There’s even a section of recipes so you can set your table with an imitation undead spread.

As the press release from Marion Street Press says, this book is “visually arresting and entertainingly written. It was great fun to read. I loved the points made on having a ZBF (zombie best friend) such as scaring “away a block of waiting cab patrons, thus securing a cab for yourselves.” While I don’t think I’ll use the tips to redecorate my house or ever make one of the recipes, I can’t resist looking at Colby’s photographs again and again. Starting with the cover shots, you’ll be treated to photographs that pop off the page and stay in your brain like favorite scenes from the best zombie films. No matter how often I’ve looked through the pages, I remain in awe of the artistry in those images. Get a copy of Zombie Eye for the Living Eye to study Colby’s photography and Steven’s makeup work. You won’t regret it.

But wait, that's not all! There's a GIVEAWAY: Want a chance to get a copy of this amazing book along with some swag from Zombies and Toys? Email your name and address to: zombieeye@zombiesandtoys.com by March 5th. We'll pick an entry at random and contact the winner by the end of that week.

New [•REC] 3: Genesis Trailer

Todd Jepperson

expand for bigger zombies

[•REC]3: Genesis is the upcoming film from Fox Searchlight to be released in theaters in North America on March 30th. If you don't haven't been following the series to date, I would definitely recommend bringing up the uTube and checking out the first two films. They're definitely a couple of my favorites.

No Flesh Shall Be Spared Review

Todd Jepperson

Have you ever considered how the world would really wake from an undead nightmare? We all imagine everything falling apart and the living population dwindling down to a few superhuman, courageous survivors who hole up and kick zombie ass for the rest of the foreseeable future. But what if it didn’t go that far? How would we handle things if there was widespread destruction and panic, but we got a grip on it before everything went to complete chaos? Reality TV, folks. We pop ourselves some popcorn and make a spectacle out of it. We turn it into a no-holds-barred pit fight to the death and celebrate the winners as flag bearers of human triumph.

This multi-perspective novel comes out of the gate strong and sets the mood right from the beginning. If you can get through the first scene in that nicotine stained trailer, you already have a good idea where this book is going. Soon thereafter we’re introduced to the novels main character, Cleese; who’s either drunk, in a brawl, or in a drunken brawl. He’s hard as a stone and never seems to avoid trouble. The organizer of a zombie pit fighting league sees potential lying under the soft surface and recruits him. Cleese is teamed up with one of the best, a no-nonsense warrior named Monk, who shapes him into one of the most dangerous entertainers the league has ever seen.

This is a bitter and murky peek into the human condition through the eyes of one of the most descriptive authors I’ve ever read. There are a couple of wordy bits throughout the narrative, but you can clearly see Carnell’s skill as a writer in each and every line. Known around the genre for his work with Fangoria Magazine and various other horror pop-media outlets, I was fortunate enough to meet him and his family at ZomBcon in Seattle and was very happy to receive a copy of this novel for review. What we have here isn’t just a mass-market paperback with zombies in it. It’s a piece of art. Every part of the book feels intentional; from the smoky pit fight scene on the front cover, to the structure and form on the inside. If you’re looking for a somber and creepy change of scenery among the horde of popular horror fiction, buckle up and get your eyes on No Flesh Shall Be Spared by Thom Carnell. Welcome to hell; it’s showtime.

Thom Carnell is a horror writer whose fiction has been featured in Swank Magazine, Carpe Noctem Magazine, and in the horror anthology, Bloody Carnival from Pill Hill Press. He also works as a journalist and his interviews and profiles can be found in Fangoria Magazine and on Dread Central.com & Twitchfilm.com. He is the co-host of The Night Crew Podcast, a Senior Programmer for Seattle’s ZomBCon and Crypticon, and a programmer for the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival. He is a graduate of the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, a certified eye enucleist, and a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist. He lives in Bellingham, WA.

http://thomcarnell.com

"Zombie #1" Bill Hinzman Loses Battle With Cancer

We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Bill Hinzman.  It is with sorrow that we report Mr. Hinzman passed this evening.  Hinzeman was most famously known as "Zombie #1" or "Graveyard Zombie" from George Romero's Night of the Living Dead.  He was 75.

Bill was one of the nicest and most genuine people I have had the pleasure of meeting.  He was quick to offer a smile and a handshake and was always pleasant to speak with.  I have worked enough conventions to know who is honest, who is fake, and who is blatently rude.  You find any pictures of Bill at a show and you can see the type of person he is.  He was always taking the time to answer questions and tell stories to many fans eager to meet him.

Zombie Apocalypse Store

Matt Boiselle I'm sure that most of us can remember the good old days of Mom & Dad putting us in the back of the car while they went on a shopping trip. Our little eyes bugged out at all of the goodies in whatever store we were in at the time, begging & pleading for that one toy that we wanted more than anything -" pleeeeeaase ???? I swear you won't ever have to get me anything else ever" was the common refrain amongst the sad-eyed kids, hoping for at least ONE part of their parental unit to cave in.

Well I can tell you this, I am 38 years old and I can say with all honesty that if I ever ventured into the Zombie Apocalypse Store in Las Vegas, Nevada, my pleas of " can I get that?" to my wife would be heard for miles away. Before the store opened months ago, it used to be a gold & silver traders shop, and it now offers the apocalypse survivalist just about anything you could possibly need to fill up your end-of -days checklist. Falling a little short in the weaponry department ? The shop sells a plethora of stun guns & machetes, zombie max ammo, and combat knives the size of tree branches. They also have a gourmet food department with a large array of freeze-dried goods and k-rations ( hey, after the world ends it's not like you can stroll up to the drive-thru window at McDonalds.) The two things that caught my eye were the Zom-Bomb ( a 2lb binary compound that you mix, step back and shoot with a hi-velocity round, and watch any group of flesh-eaters get blown to kingdom come), and the 3D bleeding zombie targets, which are great for combat simulation. In addition, the store also sells movies, books, clothing and much more. ( I wonder if they offer a rewards card ?)

So feel free to click on the link in the picture which will take you to the online store, break out your credit cards, and prepare to shop till your heart's content. Or if you live in the Vegas area, just look for the black building which is completely surrounded by lit tiki torches. It might just be a wild guess, but I would think that if any of us wandered into Wal-Mart or Home Depot and said we were looking to stock up for the zombie apocalypse, we may be asked to leave the store. Good luck to everyone and Happy Shopping !!

Zombie Bobble Budds on sale NOW !

Matt Boiselle

The gang at BobbleBudds.com have declared the month of February to be Zombie Awareness Month, and we here at Zombies & Toys will follow suit and declare SALE-SALE-SALE for the entire month of February ! Hop on into our store and pick up Zombie related Bobble Budds for 25% off - you can pick up Bitey the Zombie or Zombie Gat for a mere $ 7.49 each !! So act now and make your survival team happy with some great gifts that will make Zombie Awareness Month a happy one, so forget that silly hedgehog, click on the pic above to be whisked away to the store, and grab some Zombie Bobble Budds NOW !!!

Zombie Friendship Necklace Set

Matt Boiselle Promise rings, engagement rings, wedding rings. They all have their own certain meaning to the ones that we hold so dear to us. Whether it's meant to express " I Love You", or " I promise to marry you"........or " I don't care about the fact that you are a diseased, contagious out of control undead stark-raving lunatic that will probably hunt me down and chew off my face", these are the heart-tugging sentiments that make jewelry like the above pictured SO special.

Available now from thinkgeek.com for a low price of $29.99, you can pick up this friendship-necklace set that consists of two-24 inch rhodium-plated chains that each feature 1/2 of a brain with the word" brains" split in two. So regardless if you and your BFF are both zombies, or one of you has a deep desire to let the world know that your dearly departed friend to the end will always hold the left ( or right) side of your gray matter, than this bling is your thing.

Zombies vs. Cheerleaders Vol. 1

Matt Boiselle The unholy union has finally come to light in a comic book format that is sure to entertain everyone from the casual to the most hardcore of zombie fans. What better to see than a group of flesh-craving undead freaks stalking a bevy of bodacious, perky, scantily-clad cheerleaders ?

In Zombies vs. Cheerleaders Vol.1, created by Steven l. Frank, we are treated to lots of skin and gore that will not only portray some of these curvy pep-squadders as innocent victims, but will turn the perceived notion of the dainty, helpless women upside down as they kick ass and never look back in an endless blitz of in-your-face zombie slaughter.

Volume 1 is not one lone story, but a collection of shorts that will rival any B-movie that any of us have ever seen before. The colors seemingly jump off of the pages into your lap, the artwork is second to none, and the short story lines are exceptional to dive into without getting hung up in length. A small word of caution however; this comic, with its graphic nature and suggestive sense of humor, might not necessarily be aimed towards the younger crowd. Well, now that the morality disclaimer has been presented in its short version, get yourself online and search out this comic !! If you love zombies and those buxom beauties that have managed to entertain ( and sometimes annoy) us all to no end, I can say that you will not be disappointed with this series.