80's Classics: With an Undead Twist

Matt Boiselle

 If you are an 80's child like I am, you can truly appreciate the magic and memories that many of the great movies of that decade were able to project forth while on the big screen. ( Some of them stunk, but hey who's counting ?) Now, thanks to the incredible and overwhelming rise to national attention that the zombie craze has been linked to, a large number of these films have been restructured.....or reanimated.

  The man responsible for these zombie-tweaked images is artist Matt Busch, whom back in 2009 designed 6 different posters for the Star Wars movies ( which were authorized by LucasFilm), and were entitled Zombie Wars. This insanely huge project led to Busch starting his own website ( http://www.hollywood-is-dead.com/) and placing his work in an online gallery for all to see. Now, Busch is on his 5th series of the undead movie poster spoofs, and this latest group will surely stack a large number of box-office heavyweights.

  Amongst some of the posters available for viewing (and purchase) are The Breakfast Club ( The Breakfast Clump) - The Terminator ( The Termin Ate Her) & Ferris Bueller's Day Off ( Ferris Bueller's Day of the Dead). All of the artwork in these posters are stunning to say the least, but do not fret oh skeptical ones, these designs are not made to make light of the movies, but simply to show great appreciation for them, as Busch is a self-professed 80's child himself. As the heat of the summer drags on, Busch already has prints lined up for movies like The Lost Boys, Prince's Purple Rain, & National Lampoon's European Vacation. There has already been a licensing deal inked with Fright-Rags t-shirt Inc. to produce wearables based on the undead posters, and in the future there will be a coffee-table book, and a board game as well.

   So if you are looking for a little demented artwork to sling up on your walls, and would love nothing more than to replace your boring old family pictures with something truly frightening.....then this stuff is definitely right up your alley. Click on the pics to be taken to Matt's online gallery and order yourself some gruesome 80's movie posters that will put more of a chill in your bones than any repeat of Charles in Charge could ever do.

Before Dawn Exclusive

Philip Hynes

The next great UK horror film is here! Set for release later this year, Before Dawn could be exactly what the zombie genre could use in 2012. The film’s original concept came from two opposing opinions of what makes a good zombie movie and what frequently makes a bad one. What was missing and what needed adding. The Idea was to give a depth to the characters involved and tell a story which would captivate, build and intrigue, without forgetting its core purpose which was to entertain the gore hounds and fulfill the thrill seekers.

A weekend away. An idyllic cottage nestled within the rolling hills of the English Dales. What starts off as a gripping psychological drama between a struggling married couple, suddenly descends into a shocking gruesome nightmare.  As panic and confusion set in, Alex and Meg have to confront the fears within themselves and face a desperate fight for survival against a bloody terror that could literally tear them apart.

From the screen shots and trailers available to us at Zombies & Toys, Before Dawn is bursting with promises of intense horror and also outstanding visuals. We’re expecting a film which will reinvigorate the British zombie horror scene and it certainly appears to be on a par with the 28 Days Later movies. I’m also interested to see what made it through the argument, as to what makes the perfect zombie film and if it compares to my ideals. An isolated cottage, worryingly fast zombies and lashings of blood and gore are certainly on my list.

We’ll bring you more news on Before Dawn as it becomes available; in the meantime feast your eyes on the still and trailers here.

My Zombie Killing Shirt???

I saw the title & I thought about a shirt that could kill zombies...

Was it a classic 60's paisley shirt that made zombie heads explode or maybe a terrible, disco funk day-glo shirt.

Of course I was nervous to even watch this zombie video as i have never heard of such a shirt & i certainly don't want my head to explode.

So - i ask the loyal ZT hoard....
Watch the video, then let us & the director know what you think!

"How many licks does it take?" Zombies & Toys' review of Lollipop Chainsaw

I once knew a girl who was absolutely beautiful.  She was actually just plain ol' hot.  The face and the body mesmerized me and one day, I finally got the chance to go out with her.  And it was one of the worst dates ever.  She was just looks; nothing else.  Her giggling became redundant; her sexualized comments became monotonous and vain.  An hour dinner felt like an eternity and it was an experience that cost me more than I wanted to pay.  If I had been in junior high, this would have been a night to treasure.  But I was in college and was mature enough to be looking for more than looks.

Yes, that was a real date and that is also the perfect way to sum up Lollipop Chainsaw (LC.)

The game opens up to Juliet Starling, San Romero High cheerleader and secret zombie hunter.  Starling has just turned eighteen and is excited about seeing Nick, her boyfriend (he later becomes a magical talking head.)  However, what she doesn't know is that her birthday is about to be filled with shambling corpses and an infestation of unholy dark forces hell-bent on destroying the world.

Beats a cake.

The graphics on LC are good.  With nice cell shading, Lollipop gives everything from school lockers to farm houses to flying ships a standout, pop-out look.  Quite noticeable is the amazing amount of zombie models used in the game.  Especially in the first few levels, the types of undead coming at you include a healthy amount of student looks, teacher appearances and firefighter and police designs. 

Control is handled decently as the gamer can use Juliet's martial arts skills to somersault, flip, pom-pom punch and kick her way through enemies.  Using the chainsaw is similar to your "heavy" move that's utilized in fighting games.  Combos help Juliet gain stars, coins and medals for more upgrades. 

What puts a head-shot to Lollipop Chainsaw is that it focuses on its only “strength:” the sex appeal of its main character.  And then it bombards the gamer with T-n-A jokes, stereotypes (yes, the only minorities are the Asian Kung Fu master and the African-American auto tune pimp zombie boss) and more T-n-A (you can even try to look up Juliet’s skirt and she covers her privates with special poses.)  Aren’t we a little more evolved than the first days of looking for nude codes for Tomb Raider? 

LC insults gamers because it knows it has little, delivers less but still asks a gamer to spend hours and money to play it.  The fact that it has zombies is pretty interchangeable if it were aliens, trolls or robots.  The undead just happen to be popular and you get that “trendy” feeling through the game.  It’s just about getting pubescent players horny.  If the price tag was about half of what it was, perhaps LC would be a “gotta’ have.”  The biggest let down is not what Lollipop Chainsaw is but rather what it could have been. 

Rent it or catch it in the reduced bin but don’t take it out to dinner – you’ll be disappointed.

For all of the other LC coverage we can't show you here, head on over to our Zombies and Toys Uncensored page.


Chad Hunter

Zombie-Proof Car ? You know you wanna drive it !

Matt Boiselle

    Amongst the numerous things that are needed to successfully survive a zombie apocalypse (weapons w/ plenty of ammo, shelter & food), a nice car could only help matters, correct ? This would certainly prove true if as an added bonus, your 4-wheeled automobile should be constructed for the long haul ala The Road Warrior style setup.

   In conjunction with the release of The Walking Dead's 100th comic issue, creator Robert Kirkland and auto maker Hyundai have crashed brainpans on a sweepstakes that will let a winner drive away with a zombie-killing modified 2013 Elantra GT. The car itself will be on display at the Hyundai Undead Future US Booth at this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego, California.

  If you click on the pic above. you can check out a 4 minute interview w/ Kirkman as he discusses surviving a zombie outbreak and the design plans for the Elantra. You can also jump on over to http://www.hyundaiundead.com/ to enter yourself in the sweepstakes for this Walking Dead slaughter sleigh. I know I personally can't wait for the day when we as a collective group of consumers can stroll onto a car lot, walk up to one of those slimy salesmen, and say " I'm not concerned about gas mileage or emissions, but how many zombies could I potentially wipe out behind the wheel of this little beauty ?" Good luck to all that enter !

Adrian's Undead Diary

Nick Teeters

.

Enter Adrian Ring.

You think you have had a tough Zombie Apocalypse? Talk to this guy, This story starts out, like any great story, with a nice punch to the face; jarring you awake and making you feel like have lost a few teeth in the process. Adrian has you along in the passenger seat through this journey as he helps everyone that he can out. His tactics are unmatched as he crosses  enemies that only the end of the world can breed. He is forced to find the humor in the little things, like zombies stuck in swings, stories from his past, and the throws of new and old loves alike.

This is a fast paced and addicting story with very believable characters and an even better story line. Anyone with a military background will enjoy this documentary of the world coming unraveled. Between the acronyms and the ability to put the reader down range with the weapons at Adrian's disposal, this is a must read. He shows you just how possible it is to feed a certain number of people, while being able to ration out supplies, and how smart it is to have someone on your team with a green thumb. Be warned though, this will  keep you making a mental check list anytime you go to Wall-mart. Supplies. Get some.

This story has many sides to it, and having it accessible on many different formats (like Kindle) makes it easy for everyone. There are side stories available too, noting a small membership fee. For you book collectors out there, he offers signed books for sale on his website as well as stickers and shirts.

We are going to be putting together a Facebook giveaway full of stickers, t-shirts, and possibly even more when Zombies & Toys reaches 6,000 "likes" or Adrian's Undead Diary gets 3,000 OR when the total combined "likes" jump up too 8229. So, follow the links and get in on the action.

Also stay tuned because we will have a short interview the author about his writing process and the direction he is going with his new project soon, right here on Zombies & Toys!

Zombie Survival Weekender

Philip Hynes

With the recent “Zombie” attack in Florida grabbing the headlines, attention was diverted from another Zombie outbreak on a small UK island off the South Wales coast. A group of stranded survivors were trapped on this Zombie infested island overnight, with many of them falling victim to Zombie attacks-and re-animating shortly after-to swell the numbers of undead. Luckily for us, the Zombie menace was defeated….but for how long? 

Dom Spens is totally responsible for trying to initiate the Zombie Apocalypse and is currently planning further outbreaks within the South Wales, UK area. You can visit his website here for more information and you'll also want to join the Facebook group. If you’re in the UK, and fancy a weekend of thrilling live action Zombie mayhem amongst the beautiful South Wales scenery, then you’re more than encouraged to join this friendly group. The next event is planned for the 28 -29 July 2012, and at £20 per person, there’s no excuse not to go.

 www.zombiesw.co.uk

Zombie Tarot

Natalie Leith

Hey it's Gnat and I have a really cool item to tell you about! I recently got the Zombie Tarot deck and its freaking sweet! Quirk books, author Stacy Graham and illustrator Paul Kepple (he also did The Housewives Tarot and it is so cute!) are not only zombie aficionados they are the braaaains behind this idea. Stacy is even a PROFESSIONAL TAROT READER! Seriously is there a better job?! They came up with and designed this amazing deck with amazing and classic 50's style zombie artwork! I have read tarot for years and can tell you that all 78 cards are there! The deck includes all major and minor arcana as well as a guide for all your undead tarot needs. 

 

The book includes interpretations of each card and some simple spreads to get you started. I also noticed there are ads in the back of the book guiding you to the proper services and tools in case the undead horde happens upon you as you are trying to figure out your next move. The book is probably one of my favorite features of this deck, it begins with the tale of how the zombies came to be (as if we didn't know already bath salts who would have thought?!) and how to predict the best move to survive in these trying times. 

This deck is an excellent collectors item as well as a handy tool in your arsenal.  I absolutely am in love with the artwork on the cards as it stems from a 1950's print style. The artwork makes me think of one of my favorite movies, Fido. Even the box they come in is cool! An undead genie image on the outside and when you remove the top half of the box the bottom half looks like ammo just ready to take out some Z's.  All the artwork and collectability aside my absolute favorite twist to this amazing deck is the adaptation of the suit pentacles, it is now HAZARDS! I appreciate the fun take on a classic piece. Even if you aren't a professional tarot reader you should get this deck if for no other reason than to display the amazing card interpretations of Stacy Graham and  Paul Kepple! You can find the deck from www.quirkbooks.com for the low low price of 16.95 (US). Seriously if YOU don't get this deck then THEY might end up getting YOU!

Zombie Wash: Firefly character joins the undead

by Dorothy Emry

Those you who are Browncoats (major fans of Joss Whedon’s short lived show Firefly, for those not in the know) will appreciate these two takes on a zombified Wash. The character Hoban “Wash” Washburne was played by Alan Tudyk, now seen on the series Suburgatory in a supporting role.

At least two members of FireflyFans.net have drawn an undead version of the beloved character and posted them in the Blue Sun Room, home of Firefly fanfic and art. Artist Jaysin Osterkamp posted the first “Zombie Wash” in the Blue Sun Room on March 14. The original is at DeviantArt.com.  In the comments to the recent post, notice was given that zombie Wash has been done before by octocentesquiderfish, in 2007. That alternate vision is also on DeviantArt.com

Granted the toy dinosaurs in Jaysin Osterkamp’s drawing won’t make sense to those unfamiliar with the Firefly ‘verse, but both works of art are still fine takes on the undead.

*SPOILERS* Don’t read this last bit if you haven’t seen yet seen Firefly or the follow-up theatrical release film Serenity and want to be surprised. Wash was killed off movie Serenity, which certainly left the door wide-open for some interesting cross-over fanfic.

Zombie Joes, Yo!

Yo!  Joe, I'm being chased by zombies!  Our friends over at Ratfink Customs have several fantastic, custom G.I. Joe figures for sale.  Those of you who hang out on our Facebook page have seen Richard's work already so now is your chance to grab one for cheap.  You're welcome!

Guest Blog by R.G. Bullet

Todd Jepperson

THE CALDECOTT CHRONICLES has been described as Downtown Abbey meets 28 Days Later and has been earning excellent reviews from bloggers, fans and prominent voices in the horror and zombie community alike.

Caldecott Estate, the ancestral home of the 32nd Earl of Rothshire, is besieged. The undead are traipsing and crawling across overgrown lawns, intent on ripping the very flesh from the Earl’s body.

Many of them will not make it that far, as the 32nd Earl has placed two very serious obstacles in their way: A prized Purdey shotgun and an accomplice named Saffy. Saffy is a young and simple girl from the local village. She is quick of foot at setting traps and dispatching the undead to the afterlife. She is endlessly coming up with cunning and disturbing methods to rid the estate of disease.

The bizarre and gruesome details are narrated in a journal by a very Aristocratic British gent. Get a firsthand look on how the Victorian upper class deal with stumbling trespassers, and see how one draws inspiration from a teenage girl born to kill, in R.G. Bullet’s THE CALDECOTT CHRONICLES (Silver House Books INC; e-book and paperback).

Today, we’re very fortunate to have the man himself, R.G. Bullet as a guest blogger during his Caldecott Chronicles Zombie Blog tour!

ZT: It's not just fast zombies vs. slow zombies anymore.  Today we have to deal with rage zombies (28 days later/28 weeks later), parasitic zombies (Resident Evil), radiation zombies (Night of the Living Dead), funny zombies (FIDO), and even zombies falling in love (Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament) as well as an entire heap of zombies not mentioned here. What is it about a zombie that makes them so versatile and adaptable?  Why are we finding them all throughout modern popular media?

R.G.  Bullet: I think there's a bit of Zombie in all of us--well in me at least. When I glimpse my reflection shuffling around a shopping mall slurping on a bucket of sprite and gawping into shop windows I suddenly 'get' it--we're everywhere! And I agree, Zombies are adaptable--just like cockroaches who can survive for weeks from the fat found in a thumb print, there is sneaking admiration for a Zombies' relentless energy. A few spoonfuls of grey-matter and half an arm to munch on and they can go forever!

It's all fun and games in books and films, but only this week in Miami, (where I live) Zombies are clawing their way to the surface. Don't Google: "Man eats face zombie Miami" The results are hideous.

On that note I would leave you with a word of caution as you seem to be overly fond of Zombies: Zombies seem huggable --DON'T DO IT!

Thank you for having me. I hope to return soon!

Anytime; we’d love to have you. Thanks for stopping by!

In anticipation of the release of the third excerpt of THE CALDECOTT CHRONICLES, Zombies and Toys readers can download each of the first two e-books on Amazon.com for just $.99!

Here’s just a taste of the buzz around R.G. Bullet and his work:

"The Caldecott Chronicles is gruesome, elegant, witty and a hell of a lot of fun. This is why zombie fiction continues to surprise even the most jaded reader!"- Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of DEAD OF NIGHT and multiple Bram Stoker award winner.

"Bottom line, The Caldecott Chronicles are a special find."- Norman Applegate, author of BLOOD BAR and SHOCKWAVE.

R. G. Bullet was born in Berkshire, UK. After living in nine different countries he has finally settled in Miami Beach, USA. He is addicted to tea, reading, writing, motorbikes and shamefully, Call of Duty. His middle grade debut novel: The 58th Keeper and The Caldecott Chronicles have just been released.

Follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/#!/RGBullet58

Or become a friend on Facebook for the latest updates, bonus material, competitions and more: www.facebook.com/rgbullet

Website: www.RGBullet.com

Blog: TheWindsorTimes.com

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5r0Y7vv25g

Email: rgbullet58@gmail.com

Zombies On A Plane: Book Review

Matt Boiselle

  If the thought of flying ANYWHERE on a plane makes you want to reach for the nearest barf bag, could you deal with a potential zombie outbreak as you soar over the friendly skies ? Attention all passengers: please make sure all electronic devices are turned off, and that your seatbacks are in their upright and locked position........and if you happen to be bitten...put your head between your legs and kiss your butt goodbye !
 
  The latest novelette from Brooks Peck, writer of Zombie Apocalypse ( SyFy Channel's highest rated movie of 2011) takes you inside the belly of a steel bird about to fly away from O'Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois on a flight that surely does not represent what the everyday frequent-flyer would deem as NORMAL. Armed guards patrolling the tarmac in humvees, bio-containment areas cordoned off in the terminal....all the while travelers are bombarded with questions from airport employees such as " have you visited a quarantine camp in the last 48 hours ?" Yeah....not exactly standard fare questions that we have been accustomed to in past airport visits ( forgive me - I will never complain again about being asked if I've let my bags out of my sight !)

   The meat of the story is when the plane takes off, and what a story we are dragged into ! Brooks Peck does NOT waste any time prepping you, the reader for the slaughter that is about to take place. I always felt that if you can envision yourself in the story as you read, you can gain a much better feel for what you are reading, and this translates almost perfectly in this book. Claustrophobia will almost feel as if it is choking you when you read about stewardesses fending off attacks from behind beverage carts, or shaking from fear while holed up in a bathroom and a cargo storage area. Any and all items on the plane itself will be utilized as weapons against the zombie horde, but the story shifts into overdrive when the cockpit gets compromised and.........well, did you think I was gonna spill ALL the beans ?

    Overall, this is a great read for the zombie fanatic and the lover of terror-in-the skies stories. Peck does a fantastic job of setting the scenes and never letting the reader down when it comes to details. Blood and brain matter will almost feel as if it will spill off of the pages, and although it is a fairly quick-read ( around 53 pages), you get the feeling after you've finished it that there was JUST enough of what you wanted. The novelette is NOW available on Amazon.com & smashwords.com - AND as an extra bonus, Mr. Peck has been gracious enough to supply YOU the reader, with a 50 percent off code that you can use when you order the book from Smashwords ( just click on the link in the above picture, and when you are ready to order, enter RS89W to get the discount) - formats available are for Kindle, Nook, Sony E-Reader, and many others, so don't hesitate - check this book out - and if you need something to bash in a zombie's skull, please feel free to call for the closest stewardess.