Swirlies!

Todd Jepperson

For those of you who attended SDCC this year, you may have already heard that 2012 is the twenty year anniversary of Roman Dirge’s Lenore: the Cute Little Dead Girl. For those of you who haven’t, today is that day.

Lenore is the dark and hilarious comic book series from the twisted mind of Roman Dirge. Taking the name from the popular poem by Edgar Allen Poe, Dirge created a one of a kind universe called Nevermore where Lenore and her “friends” “play.” The comic is a series of original stories, re-vamped children’s songs and nursery rhymes, and deep pop-culture subversions only possible in the ghoulish world of Lenore: the Cute Little Dead Girl.

(click for bigger zombies)

If you haven’t had the unique privilege of experiencing Lenore, you’re definitely missing out. The misguided antics of this adorable little monster typically end up in the death and/or dismemberment of any of the cast who is unlucky enough to share a panel with her. It’s not like she tries to hurt them (except Gosh; but that dude is just creepy), she’s only ten years old. She just gets mixed up in all the same kinds of trouble your average ten year old would get into—if they were risen from the dead, accompanied by the Eternal Vampire Scourge in a rag-doll body, and hunted by scores of bounty hunters from “the stinky bowels of heck.” We’ve all been there, right?

This month, Dirge and Titan Books will continue the celebration with the release of the fourth hardback in their series of graphic novel collections of Lenore comics entitled: Swirlies. This all-new 120 page collection features the apparently very rare number thirteen comic as well as issues one through three of the new Volume II comics, including instant classics like “the Birfday Party” where Lenore stumbles upon a party invite and when she arrives, all of the birthday guests somehow end up dead. Also included: the tragedy that is the “Valentine’s Day Nard” and old favorites like the socially awkward, semi-autobiographical “Things Involving Me” comics about Dirge’s Life.

Pre-order your copy of Swirlies today from Amazon; or any of your favorite retailers, and then sit back and let Roman Dirge’s madness work on you. You absolutely cannot be disappointed. 

facebook.com/lenore

The Walking Dead obstacle course: could you survive ?

Matt Boiselle

  At this year's San Diego Comic-Con 2012, fans of The Walking Dead will have the unique chance to participate in one of the coolest and most innovative marketing ideas to come down the pipe in a very long time.

      It's called The Walking Dead Escape, and it will coincide with the release of Issue # 100 of the insanely popular comic-book series, and will give zombie lovers the chance to head through the course in 1 of 3 different scenarios  -  Scenario #1: Players can run through as a survivor attempting to escape through a zombie-infested evacuation area. - Scenario #2: Play as one of the "walkers" and attempt to attack other survivors. - Scenario #3 - If your not too proud of your running skills, you could be one of the survivors that has made it to the escape party and is watching the apocalypse from the sidelines.

   There is no actual "time limit" in the course, but all participants must remember that this is the apocalypse !! There isn't time to stand around and admire the scenery......zombies are chasing you for cryin out loud !!! Tickets are $ 70 per person and more info can be found on the website when you click on the link in the pic of Petco Park: the scene where this year at Comic-Con, you can opt to
either survive, or become one of the undead masses that make up The Walking Dead !!

Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide: The Comic

This sounds like possibly the best comic book since Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead. Random House is releasing a comic by Max Brooks titled Recorded Attacks. This 144 page trade paperback is due for release on October 6th.

Beating a dead horse? Possibly. Am I excited? Definitely! I hope Brooks continues to write his zombie tales and wouldn't complain if we see a dozen more volumes of his Zombie Survival Guide.

Pre-order from Random House here. View a cool promo video of the upcoming book here.

Zombies And The San Diego Comic Convention

The San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) is a toy geek's wet dream. New toy lines are previewed, major toy news is announced, and exclusive toys are in abundance. The SDCC is July 23 - 26 at the San Diego Convention Center. Click here for more info.

For those lucky enough to attend, please stop by to say hello and thank October Toys for offering up the goods for this month's contest. While you are there, make sure to take advantage of their exclusive offerings as well including some limited, hand-painted GWINs! You can find our friends at booth #4838.

Shocker Toys has some zombie goodness to offer atendees as well. From the pages of the Dead World comic, Shocker Toys presents King Zombie. I haven't read Dead World yet but know it's been around for a minute. I'm interested to hear responses from those of you that do read it. You can find Shocker Toys at booth #3849. From the Shocker Toys site:

Leader of the zombies, King Zombie!

Leader of the zombies is the intelligent, Harley riding, sarcastic being known as King Zombie. Killing humans is just a sideline to his cruel methods as he seeks to find a way to open the gates permanently and take over the earth.

Deadworld is a horror comic that attacks the zombie menace from a different perspective. In addition to having intelligent zombies with a goal and mission, Deadworld is also exploring the human interactions as mankind finds itself facing extinction. While some groups organize in the best interests of self-preservation, others use this as an opportunity to explore their own self deluded dreams.

Finally, the Godfathers of zombie toys, Sideshow Collectibles, will have some exclusives as well. I have already mentioned their zombie offerings The Butcher and Mort and they may both be pre-sold out already. But you can head over to their booth (#1929) to make sure.