King of the Zombies

Tony Moore sues Robert Kirkman over "The Walking Dead"

2012-02-11T01:35:00.003-05:00

I had the chance to meet Tony last summer. He's quite the down to earth guy. But when I read that he was taken legal action against former collaborator (for the first six issues of The Walking Dead) Robert Kirkman, I wasn't surprised.

"Alleged co-creator Michael Anthony Moore of The Walking Dead comic has filed suit against his comic partner Robert Kirkman, accusing him of promissory fraud, breach of written contract and other charges over the AMC series. 'Moore claims that Kirkman persuaded him to assign his rights on Walking Dead and other properties to a limited liability corporation controlled by Kirkman, who allegedly hasn’t shared any royalty or other payments for Walking Dead or any of the other works.'

When questioned, Kirkman’s attorney Allen B. Grodsky told sources, “It’s pretty ridiculous. Mr. Moore is owed absolutely nothing. There is no fraud. No money owed. No credit.” “...when all is said and done Mr. Moore is going to end up paying Mr. Kirkman’s attorneys fees.” Additionally, Moore’s credit for the first six issues of the comic is listed as: penciler, inker, gray tones.

Moore is claiming that Kirkman informed him that if he didn’t assign his rights as specified it would kill the “large television deal on the table” and no one would receive any money. Kirkman allegedly promised to pay Moore royalties and provide regular, accurate accountings. Moore claims that Kirkman has never paid any royalties or provided an accounting of profit or loss."

I sympathize with him. At a personal level, his art was the reason why I became so engrossed by the post-apocalyptic America that Kirkman set out for the audience. His work acted as a base from which Kirkman's drama originated. WIll he get any money? I doubt it. Would I like him to? Absolutely.

Source
Read the lawsuit HERE

- King of the Zombies

*UPDATE: Kirkman, repped by attorney Allen Grodsky, wrote in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter:

"The lawsuit is ridiculous, we each had legal representation seven years ago and now he is violating the same contract he initiated and approved and he wants to misrepresent the fees he was paid and continues to be paid for the work he was hired to do. Tony regularly receives payment for the work he did as penciler, inker and for gray tones on the first six issues of The Walking Dead comic series and he receives royalties for the TV show, to assert otherwise is simply incorrect."

Source

I'm a fan of Moore's work, but...I'd have to side with Kirkman on this. Mo money mo problems....

Rest in Peace Bill Hinzman

2012-02-07T20:17:00.000-05:00

I feel sad and ashamed that I found out about this two days later. The horror industry has lost yet another icon. Bill Hinzman, best known to zombie fans as "Zombie #1" or the "Graveyard Zombie" in George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead, died on February 5, 2012 from cancer. He was 75.

Rest in peace Bill, you won't be forgotten.

- King of the Zombies

I haven't slept in over 35 hours...but this will most definitely make your day

2012-02-02T23:19:00.000-05:00

Problem solved.

- King of the Zombies

NECA is producing a Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City "Vector" figure....my life just got THIS much better!

2012-01-25T22:25:00.002-05:00

I periodically check www.bigbadtoystore.com to see the latest products on the market (many of which I will sadly never own). To my surprise, they listed "Resident Evil Vector" as a featured preorder set for an April 2012 release.

"Vector is the mysterious new character from the highly-anticipated latest entry in the Resident Evil franchise, Operation Raccoon City. A hooded soldier decked out in full tactical gear with an arsenal of weapons and loads of articulation, Vector is ready for combat and the zombie attack."

NECA sculpter Trevor Zammit at work

As per NECA standard (they currently have a Resident Evil merchandising license), this figure will be clam shell packaged. Although production photos have yet to be posted online, one thing is certain. The Vector figure will feature an excellent and detailed sculpt. What I worry about is the articulation. Previous NECA Resident Evil figures have disappointed me fore this reason alone. I have high expectations for this upcoming figure, particularly because of the dynamic poses and sequences we've seen the character in. I've embedded a photo of a NECA sculpter working on the Vector model. Thus far it looks great!

- King of the Zombies

Resident Evil Retribution...TRAILER!

2012-01-20T01:29:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure how I feel about this, but we'll see. At least Ada Wong has finally made a live-action screen appearance!

Thoughts?

- King of the Zombies

The Resident Evil 6 announcement trailer...THIS IS HAPPENING

2012-01-20T01:21:00.001-05:00

Out there in cyber space, you probably can't see me jumping for joy after watching this trailer.

"According to Capcom, the game's story is as follows: "It has been ten years since the Raccoon City incident and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place in the belief that it will curb the current resurgence in bioterrorist activity. Due to be by the President's side is his personal friend and Raccoon City survivor, Leon S. Kennedy, but when the venue suffers a bioterrorist attack, Leon is forced to face a President transformed beyond recognition and make his hardest ever decision. At the same time, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance member Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack. With no country safe from these attacks and the ensuing outbreaks, the entire world's population is united by a common fear that there is no hope left." Returning from Resident Evil 4, Ashley Graham, the president's daughter, will also be making an appearance in Resident Evil 6."

Multiple story lines? Leon Kennedy with facial hair! Chris Redfield?! Was that a HUMAN enemy at the 2:55 mark? Gameplay details have yet to be released, but by the looks of it, the gameplay looks to be much more dynamic. There seems to be some form of a cover system, more fluid hand-to-hand combat, as well as a "shoot-on-the-go" element. Will there be melee weapons aside from knives? Only time will tell!

Resident Evil 6 is set for a November 20, 2012 release in North America. Can you wait that long?

- King of the Zombies

Damn straight

2012-01-15T19:20:00.002-05:00

- King of the Zombies

AMC Announces a 16 Episode Order for The Walking Dead Season 3

2012-01-14T21:45:00.000-05:00

At the TCA (Television Critics Association) Press Tour in Pasadena, AMC announced that the third season of their hit series The Walking Dead will consist of 16 episodes (previous seasons have been 13 episodes). With season 2 delivering strong international ratings (to be honest I was a bit disappointed) and viewership, it's no surprise that AMC ordered extra episodes for the Golden Globe nominated and Emmy Award winning series. What does this mean? Perhaps the introduction of the Governor? Maybe we'll finally get the prison story arc that fans of the original comic book series love to death (pun intended)? - Source

Time will tell!

- King of the Zombies

...my reaction?

www.kingofthezombies.com celebrates it's 3-year anniversary!

2012-01-14T15:24:00.001-05:00

Today is a very special day. Three years ago in my dorm on a snowy night, I decided to start a blog. Functioning as a means for me to channel my ideas, I never intended for this blog (originally kingofthezombies.blogspot.com aka "The Dead Walk") to have met the wide audience that it currently reaches. As it has been for the past three years, I write this blog as a hobby. Beginning with regular instalments of a fictional journal, and with the support of my room mates, this blog expanded to previews, news, reviews and interviews. Needless to say, my writing began to reach countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malasia, the UK, the USA and of course Canada. As this blog grew, so did my extra-curricular writing activities! In addition to this being the 668th post on www.kingofthezombies.com (which has since reached over 100,000 hits), I have had the wonderful opportunity to write for FutuReale Magazine (my Brain Food For Thought Column) and the Royal Ontario Museum. Furthermore, I also had the opportunity to interview Drew Pierce (co-writer for Deadheads) and chat with the cast and director of the film!

I attribute most of my success to FroBro Films, the Pierce Brothers, Natalie Victoria, Random House Publishing, Melissa Doyle, Kiron Mukherjee, and my old room mates (Donny, Mitchell and Aidan)! To all of the people who have supported me throughout the past three years, THANK YOU!

- King of the Zombies

Arthur Suydam MEGAPOST!

2012-01-12T23:18:00.002-05:00

Arthur Suydam will be attending both the Wizard World Comic Con (January 28th and 29th at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center) and Megacon (February 17th-19th at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center) this year!

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the last couple of years, I'll answer the question that has been burning your soul from the moment you started reading this post. Who is Arthur Suydam aka "The Zombie King" (not to be confused with yours truly)?

Writing and illustrating comics since the age of four, the Spike TV Scream Award, Spectrum Gold Award, Film Festival of Sebastian Award winner won the hearts of zombie fans with his cover art of the acclaimed Marvel Zombies series. Need I say more? Perhaps I will. Arthur has also contributed to titles including (but not entirely) Zombie Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth, Batman, Wolverine, Raise the Dead, Avengers, Army of Darkness, Vampirella and Moon Knight!

For those of you who are in these areas, or have the funds to get there, don't miss this fantastic opportunity to meet someone who contributed to one of the most revolutionary works of zombie fiction. Don't forget!

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for Wizard World Comic con from January 28th-29th
Orlando's Orange County Convention Center for Megacon from February 17th-19th

Did I mention he is working on a new (and very secret) zombie series set for a 2012 release?

Stay tuned for more news! In the mean time, why not follow www.kingofthezombies.com on twitter @thedeadwalk

- King of the Zombies

Does 2012 call for the end of the world? Or new business opportunities!?

2012-01-10T18:48:00.000-05:00

Aside from the myriad of shows, casinos, and UFC fights Las Vegas has acquired yet another reason to set foot on it's busy streets: the "Zombie Apocalypse Store".

Aside from the zombie-themed novelty gifts, souvenirs, and "zombie" ammunition the store caters to those inclined to prepare for the unpredictable things this world has to offer because let's face it, as cool as zombies are, they serve to represent the parts of reality that are out of our control (natural disasters?).

From emergency food rations to protective clothing, the zombie apocalypse store offers items to those who are serious about urban survival. Heck, according to myFOXphoenix.com reports that in the next 90 days, this shop will be able to legally sell firearms.

Can you say, "road trip destination"?

Don't believe me? Check them out their official (and I hope under-construction) website!

- King of the Zombies

Nicholas Hoult in "Warm Bodies"...Twilight meets the zombie genre?

2012-01-09T18:38:00.001-05:00

Zombies meet twilight. Shakespeare's classic forbidden romantic plot. Is this a good thing? How far will this actually go? Will we see a zombie baby a la Zack Snyder's 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake? You tell me. Embedded is the first image of Nicholas Hoult as R from the upcoming zombie-romance film Warm Bodies. Since the success of rom-zom-coms like Shaun of the Dead, Dance of the Dead and Deadheads, a strictly romantic zombie film seemed inevitable.

Based on Isaac Marion's novel of the same name Warm Bodies is a cross-genre tale of romance.

"Zombies love people, especially their brains. But R (Nicholas Hoult) is different. He’s alive inside, unlike the hundreds of other grunting, drooling undead—all victims of a recent plague that drove the remaining survivors into a heavily guarded city. Now the Zombies roam about an airport terminal, searching for human prey and living in fear of the vicious Boneys, the next undead incarnation.

One day, R and his best friend M lumber toward the city in search of food. There, R first sets his eyes on JULIE (Teresa Palmer), a beautiful human. Determined to save her—first from the other Zombies and then from the Boneys—R hides her in his home, a cluttered 747 aircraft. Julie is terrified, and R’s grunted assurances of “Not…eat” do little to calm her. But when R begins to act more human than Zombie, coming to her defense, refusing to eat human flesh, and even speaking in full sentences, Julie realizes that R is special.

After a few close calls with the Boneys, and with her father mounting an armed search for her, Julie realizes she can’t hide forever. So she sneaks back home, leaving R broken-hearted. Desperate to see her, R decides to comb his hair, stand a little straighter, and impersonate a human long enough to get past the city guards. If only he can prove to the humans that Zombies can change, maybe R and Julie’s love might stand a chance. But with the rampaging Boneys heading toward the city and Julie’s father intent on killing R and his Zombie friends, the stage is set for an all-out battle between the living and the undead.

A genre-bending tale of love and transformation, WARM BODIES is a story about a boy who loves a girl…for more than just her body." - Source

I'm not going to lie. I'm intrigued...I'm probably going to order the book when I pre-order Elmore Leonard's upcoming novel Raylan.

Warm Bodies is scheduled to be released on August 10, 2012.

- King of the Zombies

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Triple Impact Trailer

2012-01-09T11:21:00.000-05:00

The Umbrella Security Service (USS), Spec-Ops soldiers, zombies and all of the other horrors of the Biohazard franchise collide in the new trailer for Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. It should be noted that this cinematic trailer for the game's multiplayer component is a strong reminder of what Paul W. S. Anderson should have done for his live-action Resident Evil movies...if only.

"If he keeps bleeding, he's going to attract the entire neighbourhood"

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

- King of the Zombies

"The Walking Dead" web series that could've been.

2012-01-05T17:14:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder how Atlanta fell to the undead in THe Walking Dead? According to Sam Witwer (the US remake of Being Human) recently revealed some interesting details about the canceled Walking Dead web series and his own thoughts on AMC's budget cuts, and working with Frank Darabont and the cast of the show. He has positive things to say about the latter.

What do I think? From this interview Sam revealed that Darabont had approached him with the idea that would have added an additional level of depth to the series.

Here's what he had to say (in the video embedded):

"'Look, I think it would be really cool to tell a prequel story about how Atlanta fell, do Black Hawk Down, but with zombies, have a few main characters pass through, but the lead will be you. You're a soldier and all these horrible things happen, and the chain of command breaks down, and, eventually, you have to take out your superior officer. Then, eventually, in the end, you get bit.' He's pitching me this. 'You're crawling and you crawl into this tank and you have a grenade and you're going to blow yourself up, but you set the grenade next to you and you die. Then, we reprise the scene from the pilot, where Rick gets in the tank and there's a zombie there.'"

Is this not an astounding idea? Absolutely. Did AMC make the mistake of forcing Darabont off of the series as show runner? Damn straight.

- King of the Zombies

Review: Daybreak

2012-01-05T16:48:00.000-05:00

Zombie-themed comic book standards have been exceptionally high since the now mainstream success of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead. Many imitators have entered the industry and most have met little success. However, Daybreak, an art-house take on the zombie genre by Brian Ralph, is a rare gem that not only meets the zombie niche market but also breaks genre conventions.

"You wake up in the rubble to see a ragged, desperate one-armed man greeting you. He takes you underground to a safe place, feeds you, and offers you a place to sleep. Then he announces that he'll take the first watch. It's not long before the peril of the jagged landscape has located you and your newfound protector and is scratching at the door. What transpires is a moment-to-moment struggle for survival."

Brian Ralph's art, both style and direction, is unlike any that I've seen in the zombie genre. Adhering to 6 frames per page, much like an old-school comic strip, the reader is given a glimpse of a post-outbreak world where jagged rocks, metal, and the occasional underground settlement serve as backdrops for undead tension. Daybreak lacks the violence that has become a genre staple, and instead offers the reader the tension and on-going dangers of surviving in a landscape unlike our own. Therefore, the reader experience is what truly makes this book unique. Through the eyes of a silent observer, the reader follows the one-armed protector through the post-apocalyptic landscape in the shadow of an imminent zombie threat. Instead of becoming invested in characters created by the writer, "being" a character in this gripping thriller immerses the reader in an experience unlike any other. Only with this form of narration could a jagged, i-beam laden landscape where zombies serve as a periphery threat, be so interesting.

5/5 dead thumbs up. Go out, buy this book, and don't stop reading until you're finished.

- King of the Zombies

Count down to a special anniversary...

2012-01-03T13:49:00.000-05:00

On the 14th of January, www.kingofthezombies.com will officially have been active for THREE YEARS. Expect a very special post that day. In the mean time, I have a couple of goals that I would love to accomplish. Due to my recent lack of internet activity, viewership has slowed. My goal is to reach 100,000 hits and 200 twitter followers before the 14th!

Help a brother out! You can follow me on twitter @thedeadwalk (twitter.com/thedeadwalk).

- King of the Zombies

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012 is upon us!

2012-01-02T01:24:00.000-05:00

2012 is upon us! Cower in fear before the preposterous interpretations of the ancient Maya long count calendar made by unintelligent eschatologists. Enough of that.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful new years spent with loving family and friends. I sure did. I don't usually make new years resolutions (or at least ones that I am willing to publicly share), but one of my goals for 2012 is to blog more frequently. Lately, graduate school, my personal life and work have taken up a considerable amount of my time. However, I will make my blogging activities more frequent and regular (insert pun about fibre).

Huzzah!

- King of the Zombies

5 horrifically delightful ways to celebrate the winter holiday!

2011-12-30T01:16:00.001-05:00

1) DEAD SNOW

What can I say? Since Call of Duty: World at War, Nazi zombies have become one of the most popular incarnations of the modern zombie. A Norwegian horror film, Dead Snow follows seven vacationing students who fall victim to an onslaught of seemingly invincible Nazi zombies who come to claim a treasure they accidentally stumble upon. An independent zomedy, Dead Snow features a balanced array of comedy, violence, and intense gore. A perfect movie for the winter holiday. If only Toronto had the amount of snow Norway gets...

2) THE WALKING DEAD COMPENDIUM (volume one)

Regardless of holiday, I'd recommend The Walking Dead to anyone interested in the zombie genre. However, for the holiday (and new year) season, the compendium edition (featuring issues #1-48) is particularly special because it also contains the Image Comics Christmas short featuring Morgan and Duane (before their return to the main story-line). If you have the shelf space (or the dedication to make some), this is a must-have for die-hard fans of the series and newbies alike.

3) IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE ZOMBIES!

One of the best holiday-themed zombie books available, I received this little gem last Christmas from my brother (I heart him). Written by Michael P. Spradlin, It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Zombies is a book of christmas carols...with a zombie twist. From "I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas" to "All I Want for Christmas is to be a Zombie", this book is a great way to put an undead spin on your family gatherings. I'm unfortunately the only one in my family (nuclear and extended) that likes the zombie-genre, so I end up playing these horrifically cheerful tunes to my young cousins on my ukulele. They're going to be so awesome.

4) RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE

A Finnish dark fantasy film about a group of reindeer herders who discover that the source of the original Santa Claus myth is a supernatural being that punishes the naughty. Could you really ask for more?

5) LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (Novel AND movie)/LET ME IN

Let me get the order correct. In 2004, Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist wrote Let the Right On In, a work of vampire fiction about Oskar, a young boy living in a working class Stockholm suburb who develops a relationship with a centuries-old vampire child named Eli. Far from the crap we call vampire romantic fiction in North America (*cough Twilight), the novel had a dark, almost gothic tone that explored the darker facets of humanity. A critical success in both Lindqvist's home country and abroad, Tomas Alfredson directed the 2008 Swedish-language film adaptation of the novel. Breaking horror and vampire conventions, this film explored what I personally believe to be the most important elements of horror fiction: the relationships between characters. Giving western audiences incapable of reading subtitles a chance to bask in Lindqvist's brilliance, the story was once again remade in 2010 starring Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) and Kodi Smith-McPhee (The Road). A winter setting, interesting protagonists, the undead, blood, gore, and violence? Can you say "holiday classic"?

Update

2011-12-23T22:14:00.000-05:00

It's almost another year! For those who've been reading my work since the very beginning, I'm sorry I haven't posted as frequently as I used to (almost once a day!). I've been incredibly busy with my own academic career, my THREE jobs, and of course my personal life. Instead of providing you guys with a constant stream of mediocre content, I have instead decided on taking my time in producing quality writing. I've got a special holiday post entitled "5 horrifically delightful ways to celebrate the winter holiday!" in the works. It'll be posted tomorrow night!

- King of the Zombies

NECA's Left 4 Dead Boomer & Smoker Zombie Figures!

2011-12-17T21:32:00.002-05:00

More NECA news! From their upcoming Spring 2012 Left 4 Dead series, NECA has released a couple of images of their "boomer" and "smoker" figures. I have a fair number of their products, and these may be the most gruesome to-date.

"The Boomer is a bloated infected that can spit vision-impairing bile on the Survivors, attracting hordes of infected, and explodes on death, spewing more bile in the immediate area. They emit burping and vomiting like sounds when close by."

Again, I'm not a huge fan of the franchise. However, if I can get my greedy paws on a new zombie figure....That zombie's got some stretchy sweat pants...

More pictures at the source

- King of the Zombies

One of the best video game fan-made films I've ever seen

2011-12-17T21:12:00.001-05:00

I'm not a huge fan of the Left 4 Dead series, but this is one darned good short film...with a VERY cool twist!

Don't forget to follow me on twitter!

- King of the Zombies

Fortnite World Premiere Trailer

2011-12-12T11:41:00.000-05:00

At the 2011 Spike Video Game Awards, Epic Games (Jazz Jackrabbit, Gears of War, Unreal Tournament, etc.) announced their new game Fortnite. Not many details have been revealed, but the trailer looks like a mix of Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2, and Minecraft(?).

- King of the Zombies

Analysis: Naughty Dog unveils "The Last of Us" at the Spike 2011 VGAs

2011-12-11T13:28:00.000-05:00

Changing directions from the Uncharted series, developer Naughty Dog studios announced a brand new title at the 2011 Spike Video Game Awards. Developed exclusively for the Playstation 3, The Last of Us will feature a blend of survival and action elements, all within a character driven story.

After populations are decimated by a modern plague, the world's cities have become abandoned and reclaimed by nature. Those who survived must no kill or die, scavenging for food, weapons and whatever they can find. The series will follow two survivors, Joel, a ruthless survivor, and Ellie, a brave teenage girl wise beyond her years as they work together to journey across the post-apocalyptic remains of the United States.

Although previous trailers featured scenes of riot, epidemic, and even a clip showing an ant infected by Cordyceps unilateralis, this is the first to display the world of The Last of Us and the characters. Gameplay footage has yet to be released, and probably won't until E3 2012. However, based on the ruined vegetation-covered urban landscapes revealed in the trailer, the game may feature exploration and movement mechanics similar to the Uncharted series. What about combat? With the emphasis on survival, it'll be difficult to accurately judge what direction that will take. Will there be an emphasis on hand-to-and combat like Dead Island? Regardless, if the trailer is indicative of anything, there seem to be (at least) two different enemies that players will encounter in the game. The first may be human survivors, those struggling to survive and scavenge what little is available. Going with the game's theme of post-plague survival, the game will most definitely feature some form of infected antagonists. Based on the trailer, it is uncertain whether or not they are actually undead. Most likely, they may be crazed human infected by some form of fungal agent. Only time will tell.

Over the years, Naughty Dog has consistently delivered fantastic story/character-driven content. I have complete faith that they will produce yet another fantastic product that will redefine the survival genre and gaming as a whole.

- King of the Zombies

Resident Evil: Retribution's Leon S. Kennedy REVEALED!

2011-12-10T18:00:00.000-05:00

Looks like we finally have ourselves a live-action Leon S. Kennedy. Estonian actor Johann Urb (The Bank Job) has been cast as the fan favorite in the upcoming film Resident Evil: Retribution. Despite the return of Jill Valentine, Carlos Olivera, and Albert Wesker, and the introduction of Barry Burton and Ada Wong to the film franchise, Johann will have to live up to high expectations. Voiced by Paul Mercier in the English versions of Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil: Degeneration, and Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles, Leon S. Kennedy has easily become the most interesting and beloved characters in the franchise. Good luck Johann Urb. Maybe you can make the Resident Evil films...actually good.

- King of the Zombies

Resident Evil: Revelations trailer sheds light on story, characters

2011-12-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

This trailer makes me wish my eyes could actually handle looking at the 3DS screen for longer than 5 minutes. In the recently-released trailer for the Resident Evil: Revelations the FBC (Federal Bioterrorism Commission) and it's leader Morgan Lansdale; BSAA (Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance) director Clive R. O'Brian; and the mysterious wildcard Raymond Vester are introduced. Not new to the series of trailers released by Capcom are Chris Redfield, his new partner Jessica Sherawat, Parker Luciani (who, if possible, is beefier than Chris), and Jill Valentine.

For those unfamiliar with this upcoming Resident Evil title (slated for a Feb. 7, 2012 release), it will take place between the events of Resident Evil 4 (aka the god of all Gamecube games) and Resident Evil 5. In the story, Chris and his BSAA partner Jessica go missing, and Jill and her new partner Parker are dispatched to a cruise ship in the Mediterranean sea to investigate their whereabouts.

- King of the Zombies

First look: "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters"

2011-12-03T15:17:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder what happened after the conclusion of a fairy tale? Maybe Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hungers will answer some of your burning questions. Filmed in 3D and slated for a March 2, 2012 release, the continuation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale will star Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton in the titular siblings who seek to destroy a coven of witches led by Famke Janssen. Am I excited? Based on an Entertainment Weekly production shot, I will at least be looking forward to Gemma Arterton.

- King of the Zombies

Bricks of the Dead

2011-11-29T21:50:00.002-05:00

I stumbled upon Bricks of the Dead, an fantastic lego-based web comic, over twitter a couple of days ago. With my childhood love of Lego (and ever lasting love of the zombie genre), this is an artistic endeavour pulled straight out of my dreams.

"The most pressing issue facing the world today is the ever-present danger of a pestilent horde of the walking dead devouring every man, woman, and child in their path. Thus, it is our job to do everything in our power to prepare for the inevitable plague of zombies that will no doubt wreak havoc on civilization. As a longstanding member of the human race, I thought it was important to do my part.

But what could one single, rakishly handsome man like me do? Why, create a zombie comic book to entertain and inform the public of exactly what they should do when the zombies show up at their doors. Unfortunately, I have absolutely zero artistic ability. Since being able to draw reasonably well is generally a prerequisite when it comes to making comics, I was out of luck.

Or so I thought until I stumbled upon my first LEGO® Comic, Adventures of S-Team. After this epiphany I ran to my parents’ basement (after a lengthy drive to their house) and unearthed my lost bin full of LEGO® and started concocting a story.

This is the result of my endeavors."

As of this post, I am 14 "episodes" into the Bricks of the Dead and very much addicted. I highly recommend checking this comic out and spreading the word!

Check out Bricks of the Dead at the Official Bricks of the Dead Website

- King of the Zombies

Review: The Quick and the Undead

2011-11-29T20:15:00.000-05:00

"Eighty-five years ago, a viral outbreak turned three-quarters of the population into the walking dead. Those who survived had to take up a new trade. That's how the hunt began..."

In a post-apocalyptic world akin to the wild west, zombie fingers serve as a form of currency. The story follows lone (of course) bounty hunter Ryn Baskin, as he seeks revenge after being betrayed and left to die. Armed with a guitar case full of guns, a wounded Ryn seeks revenge and stolen bounty.

In short, this movie took two of my favorite genres (westerns and zombie-flicks), mashed them together, and created the ridiculous conglomerate that is The Quick and the Undead. Beginning with a poorly executed narration intended on being brooding and ominous, the introduction came off almost as boring as Clint Glenn's portrayal of Ryn Baskin. From over exaggerating the punches he takes to sporting a brooding scowl, it's obvious that Glenn tries too hard to be Snake Plissken. From the get-go, this film presents viewers with nothing but a preposterous story about a world where the main form of currency is something that decomposes. I don't tend to nitpick special effects when it comes to indie movies. However, those of The Quick and the Undead were poor and very inconsistent. Combined with numerous character cliches and a horribly written and poorly executed script The Quick and the Undead, is an unbearable film to watch for both the hard-core zombie fan and casual viewer alike.

1/5 dead thumbs up. Save your money (or more likely your bandwidth). The Quick and the Undead isn't worth your time.

- King of the Zombies

This is too good not to share

2011-11-29T15:22:00.000-05:00

Nuff said.

- King of the Zombies

What's in store for season 2? Robert Kirkman Talks About "The Walking Dead" mid-season finale

2011-11-29T15:20:00.000-05:00

The Walking Dead mid-season finale "Pretty Much Dead Already", is undoubtedly the best episode of the season thus far. It presented the viewers with a near perfect blend of inter-survivor drama and Left 4 Dead styled violence. Let's not forget that it also served to finally bring the "Let's be irrational and find Sophia" to a .44 caliber end. Although a minor character in the comics, it slightly bothers me that the writing team chose to kill off her character, despite the fact that she is currently still alive in the comic. By extension, I am also slightly confused with the decision to kill Otis. If anything, his death only served to strengthen Shane's presence in the series as a persistent "villain". *SPOILER* we all know that Carl is going to put a bullet through his neck, can it just happen now? *END SPOILER*

Needless to say, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Robert Kirkman spoke about the death of Sophia and what to expect for the second half of season two. Mr. Kirkman dropped hinted regarding Hershel's involvement with the undead Sophia, Lori's baby, Daryl/Carol, and NEW CHARACTERS(?).

You can view full details at the source.

I think "Barnageddon" accurately describes what happened at the end of the episode. For those of you who missed the most emotional scene of the season, I have kindly attached a youtube video.

- King of the Zombies

Minecraft...why I love it

2011-11-23T00:48:00.000-05:00

Started a new game of Minecraft today. I immediately found a dungeon that spawned zombies. Awesomeness ensued.

- King of the Zombies

Super zombies. Are they really necessary?

2011-11-18T00:33:00.000-05:00

Super zombies. We've all seen them. Some fans like them, some hate them, and some are indifferent. Call me a traditionalist, but I really don't see the appeal. While I understand the inclusion of monsters such as the tyrants, lickers, and undead dogs in the Resident Evil franchise, because they are a necessary component of the plot, other instances of the "super zombie" annoy me.

Games like Left 4 Dead and Dead Island, and most recently the 2011 film Zombie Apocalypse have featured hulking zombies that functioned as major obstacles for the protagonists. Defeating them would take the combined effort and resources of the human survivors. They seem to survive seemingly debilitating blows, head shots, you name name it. But in the event of a zombie apocalypse, would these become reality? Aside from the mutating capabilities of the viruses seen in the Resident Evil series (and supernatural zombies), an classic instance involving the resurrection of the dead would simply create...normal undead. The human skull wouldn't become thicker (allowing it to withstand killing blows). It's flesh and bone wouldn't become any hardier. If anything, it would be slow (or fast depending on your preferences) and equally vulnerable target for the seasoned zombie hunter.

Realistically, is zombie fiction better off with these hulking monstrosities? Some would say that time will tell. I however, believe that time has already told us. Take the works of Lucio Fulci and George A. Romero. Their timeless classics feature the most basic of undead (with the exception of Big Daddy in Romero's Land of the Dead) yet still frighten the bejeezus out of us. The introduction of a "super zombie" serves to only function as a mere speed bump for the protagonists. Sure zombies are deadly. But they should not function as the central antagonists. It's the surviving characters and their interaction with one another that creates true horror. Don't believe me? Watch the Walking Dead on AMC.

- King of the Zombies

Dead Island 2...more like Dead World

2011-11-11T00:33:00.001-05:00

Despite the frustrating PS3 save glitch (now patched), Dead Island was a hit. Although I gave it a very positive initial review, it's become no secret that I have major problems with the game. In my opinion, although the game featured unique gameplay, its success may be primarily attributed to the hype generated by the emotionally-charged CG trailer. It's no surprise that a sequel has been announced. But how would the sequel stand out against it's predecessor?

"Techland, the Polish-based developer behind the zombie horror hit that has so far shipped over two million copies worldwide has reportedly trademarked ‘Dead World’ in the U.S. which at this point looks to odds on be the title of the sequel. Techland and publisher Deep Silver have so far declined to comment on the title or that they are even considering a sequel but considering how well the original title has sold, it’s inevitable at this point."

Will I be getting it? Probably. But if it has another game-ruining glitch, some one's getting a very lengthy letter...

- King of the Zombies

Let's talk about The Walking Dead season 2

2011-11-09T11:19:00.001-05:00

One of the most difficult times in the lifespan of a TV show is it's sophomore season. AMC had fans (new and pre-existing) raving over the first season of the hit zombie-themed series. Simply, it was a breath of fresh air (pun intended). Needless to say, I'd be lying if I said my feelings towards the second season are the same. Despite some highlighted moments (for instance, last episode's "well zombie"), this season has consistently managed to divert from the source material in a frustrating direction for long-time fans of the comic book series.

*SPOILERS! Let's begin with Shane. Although his presence in the second season has made for some good TV drama, why hasn't Carl killed him yet? The death of Shane was a pivotal moment in the development of Carl's character and would've been a fantastic way to end the first season. Instead, fans have to deal with a brooding and at times angst ridden Shane as we wait for Carl to pick up that handgun and put a bullet through his neck. Moving on from, but related to, Shane is the death of Otis. Fans of the series know that Otis dies in towards the end of the "prison" story arc. His death during this season has left me perplexed. Why kill off Otis and keep Shane alive? *END OF SPOILERS

Production stills for episode 5 "Chupacabra" have finally been released. They have piqued my interest and are hopefully a sign of an action-packed (and in-cannon) episode.

In this episode, "the group makes a plan that Hershel disagrees with adamantly". If they stay faithful to the comic, this can only mean that Rick's group will discover what Hershel is storing inside his barn. If I'm correct, this could make for a very action packed and gory episode. Here's hoping.

On a side note, it looks like Andrea FINALLY picks up that rifle! Don't forget to follow me on twitter @thedeadwalk! As usual, I will be live-tweeting my thoughts on the episode.

- King of the Zombies

I'm not (un)dead. New blog posts!

2011-11-04T22:24:00.000-04:00

For those of you who know me personally, you may know that at the moment I am under a considerable amount of stress. I am currently in the process of completing a major grant proposal for me academic research. This being said once my application is complete (and handed in), expect a flurry of posts! I will be writing reviews of: Grimm (season 1 episode 1, although the second episode airs tonight), Vs The Dead, and Zombie Apocalypse. Additionally, I will finally be writing the latest instalment of "Vintage Dead". The subject: The Grapes of Death!

In the mean time, don't forget to follow me on twitter (twitter.com/thedeadwalk). As usual, my friend Sonia and I will be live-tweeting this weeks episode of The Walking Dead.

- King of the Zombies

AMC Renews The Walking Dead for a third season. No one's surprised.

2011-10-28T13:08:00.000-04:00

It's not a surprise that AMC decided to renew The Walking Dead for a third season. The series' sophomore season continues to break basic cable viewing records despite budget cuts and the departure of director Frank Darabont.

""Today we are pleased to announce that the ‘dead’ shall live as we proudly renew ‘The Walking Dead’ for a third season on AMC and, globally, with our terrific partners at Fox International Channels," said Charlie Collier, AMC’s President. “We are thankful for everyone’s contribution in front of and behind the camera as we continue to make ‘The Walking Dead’ a unique television experience. And, we are so proud as it continues to set viewership records around the world.”"

With this season focusing on the events at the Greene family farm, the announcement of a third season can only mean one thing. THE PRISON. Easily my favorite story arc in the comic book series, the third season will have some serious potential.

Source

- King of the Zombies

22 years of apocalypse twarting

2011-10-28T12:07:00.000-04:00

It's my 22nd birthday! Do you know what that means? To my knowledge, I have survived SIX apocalyptic predictions. These include:

Rev. Ivan Stang's July 5, 1998 X-Day (and it's revision of ever subsequent July 5th)
Y2K
Chevlai shel Mashiach's May 21, 2011 Yeshua extermination apocalypse
Harold Camping's September 6th (1994), May 21st (2011) AND October 21st (2011) judgement day predictions
Daniel Pinchbeck and Roland Emmerich's 2012? Come at me bros. I dare you.

This being said, I can't imagine defying such apocalyptic predictions in style without the aid of my awesome friends. As life should be I've had many friends, but have also lost many. This is a part of growing up. Needless to say, I feel like the past few years have really changed me. Writing this blog has given me the confidence to share my ideas with the world and allowed me to meet some truly talented people. I hope that over the past couple of years I have been able to share my passion for the horror genre with the world. If I have sparked at least one person's interest in horror or at least shown them that there are people who may be just as geeky, I've accomplished what I had set out to do. Travelling to Jordan for the second time was a life changing experience. Pushing myself physically and mentally showed me what I am truly capable of. However, what I got most out of these experiences (and the new ones I'm making in graduate school) are the friends that I've made. You guys rock!

End of sappy blog post! At this precise moment, I am writing a review for the pilot of the new NBC supernatural/mystery/crime drame Grimm. So far, I think they have a hit.

- King of the Zombies

This is why Daryl Dixon is one of the best characters in AMC's The Walking Dead

2011-10-24T22:15:00.002-04:00

You're welcome.

- King of the Zombies

Zombies! Think quick!

2011-10-23T01:23:00.000-04:00

Taking a break between the pre-Toronto zombie walk and the actual zombie walk itself, I enjoyed a nice sushi lunch with a friend of mine. During our "pop-culture/zombies/geek/everything awesome in this world" conversation, what I am coining the "Zombies! Think quick!" game came up. I do it all the time, as I'm sure many other zombie enthusiasts do. But for those new to the genre, or new to the things that go on in the mind of a zombie fan, you're in for a pleasant surprise.

So this is how it works.

You've got to be relatively stationary. You could be sitting at your desk procrastinating (like I am as this post is being written), eating lunch with or without the company of others (who are hopefully just as awesome as you are), or just trying to pass the time.
Look around you. If a zombie apocalypse/outbreak happened this very instant, what would be useful? Food, weapons, etc.? Do you have any of that handy?
Discuss with others/yourself. Are you well off? Or are you screwed a la Dead Snow?

That's how you play "Zombies! Think quick!"

- King of the Zombies

Review: Deadheads

2011-10-23T00:50:00.001-04:00

I have been waiting for about a year to see this zombie film. After chatting with co-director/co-writer Drew Pierce via Skype, tweeting fairly regularly with lead Natalie Victoria, and sharing the trailer with anyone who'd spare 1:27 of their time to watch it, my expectations of this zombie flick were exceptionally high.

A unique addition to the zombie genre, this zombie road-trip comedy (with romance!) tells the tale of two inexplicable coherent zombies Mike (Michael McKiddy) and Brent (Ross Kidder). Deciding to take a road trip to find Mike's lost love Ellie (Natalie Victoria), things get even crazier when they are pursued by a clandestine company with an evil agenda.

I'm going to be clear and concise. Getting straight to the point, this is an absolutely phenomenal film. The perfect combination of comedy, action, romance and copious amounts of gore, Deadheads exceeded all of my expectations. Quite literally, this is the film that every zombie fan has been dreaming about. Missing from the numerous zombie films that are released annually, Deadheads has heart. Written, directed and produced (with Andy Drummond and Kevin Van Hagen) by Brett and Drew Pierce, the hard work and dedication put into making this film a reality are reflected in the loveable and enduring characters.

Everyone's looking for love. Why can't a zombie? 5/5 Dead thumbs up!

I highly recommend seeing this film if you have the opportunity. If by chance, you know somebody working in distribution, tell them about this gem of a zombie flick. This needs to be widely available and loved!

- King of the Zombies

Thanks to Brett Pierce, Markus Taylor, Andy Drummond, and Natalie Victoria for taking some time out of their busy schedules to chat! I had a wonderful time and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Save your species. Prepare to survive.

2011-10-18T14:24:00.002-04:00

In lieu of the Gerber product placement in the season two premiere of The Walking Dead, Gerber has updated their website with an all new "Apocalypse" section that includes the Gerber gear seen on the TV series. They've even updated the product descriptions!

For instance, the Bear Grylls Survival Series Parang is accompanied by the following description, "we can’t know for sure, but it’s very likely that primitive jungle tribesmen knew a thing or two about attacks from the undead. Modeled after a traditional jungle machete, the Parang is a modern-day warrior’s dream weapon battling the uprising. Light, razor sharp and perfectly balanced, the Parang makes quick work of the rotting flesh of walkers and never, ever loses its edge. This is the machete design that has been slaying the undead for centuries".

I wonder what Mr. Grylls thinks about this. Needless to say, I'm glad Gerber products are getting a lot more exposure. They're superb tools that everyone should own! Gerber did not pay me to write that...although I wish they did....

You can check out Gerber Gear's 'Apocalypse Lineup" at http://www.gerbergear.com/Apocalypse

- King of the Zombies

Zombieland 2 may be developed into a TV series

2011-10-18T12:24:00.000-04:00

A mere day after the season two return of AMC's The Walking Dead, it was confirmed that Fox and Sony are developing a half-hour TV series based on Zombieland. It isn't a surprise that networks would want to capitalize on the growing popularity of the zombie genre, particularly after the stellar ratings and viewership gained by The Walking Dead's sophomore return. With the growing success of the first films primary cast (and therefore increasing salaries) and the recent announcement of the commitment made by the original writers towards J.J. Abrams' Micronaughts, fan have long doubted the return of a film sequel. A TV series may be the only way for prospective networks to continue the franchise.

Source

- King of the Zombies

The Walking Dead 2x02 - "Bloodletting" Promo

2011-10-17T01:15:00.002-04:00

- King of the Zombies

The Good, The Bad & The Undead! A western tale with a twist!

2011-10-17T01:01:00.001-04:00

For those of you who know me personally, you'll know that I love westerns almost as much as I like zombie movies.

"A drifter who stumbles upon the silver mining town of Romero and find himself thrown into a situation even the most hardened warrior of the west has never faced. He must team up with the remaining survivors of the town to fend off the hordes of the undead and work together to escape the growing zombie menace."

Based on the trailer (and the awesome genre blending), these guys look like they have something special! You can make this happen by donating and therefore helping them reach their goal of $7500.

"Money raised for the pilot will go towards creating the best cinematic experience possible, putting together a crack shot crew, gathering costume and props, and most importantly the location. We will also be able to get pro level equipment to shoot, such as the Red camera, giving us cinema quality picture and use of Steadicam enabling us to shoot in new and exciting ways and really give the pilot its own signature look. Additionally we will be getting a dedicated sound team and a great cinematographer to crank this project up to 11.".

Help these guys out by donating! HERE: http://www.indiegogo.com/The-Good-The-Bad-and-the-Undead

You can reach them at:
Facebook.com/TheSneakyZebra
Twitter.com/The_SneakyZebra
Or personally at Sneaky@SneakyZebra.com

You can reach me at:
Twitter.com/thedeadwalk
Or personally at kingofthezombies@live.ca

- King of the Zombies

Review: The Walking Dead S2E1 "What Lies Ahead"

2011-10-17T00:48:00.000-04:00

Picking up directly where season one concluded, Rick & Co. find themselves without the shelter of the CDC and on the move. Despite AMC slashing the budget, the gritty and violent aesthetic of the series has been replicated perfectly. Although it was stated that the number of on-screen zombies would be reduced, this doesn't seem to be a problem considering the wilderness setting of the episode. It's no surprise that the episode delivered some shocking moments, it was written by former series showrunner Frank Darabont! From hiding under zombie corpses to dissecting zombies with hunting knives, this episode didn't hold back on the gore. Although not a detriment to the episode, the character Carol seems to have been portrayed as overly hysterical. My live-tweets are a testament to my feelings about her character.

"Gerber Knives" product placement should be noted. As a HUGE fan of the company (I use their classic multi-tool product int he field), I certainly don't mind Gerber pitching in, as long as it doesn't affect the series in a negative way.

I want to end this brief review with a simple question: weren't the zombies in the original comic tracking humans via smell?

4/5 Dead thumbs up

- King of the Zombies

Resident Evil: Retribution casting news: Ada Wong!

2011-10-14T23:36:00.000-04:00

I've been experiencing problems with my twitter account (it was again hacked), so I feel compelled to share this amazing news with everyone. Via twitter, Milla Jovovich has revealed who has been cast as Ada Wong in the upcoming instalment of the Resident Evil film franchise: actress Li Bingbing! Bingbing should be a welcome addition to the action franchise, having worked previously with Jackie Chan in The Forbidden Kingdom (also with Jet Li) and 1911.

- King of the Zombies

*Update I fixed my twitter (again)

See what happens when The Walking Dead take over The Soup

2011-10-08T13:01:00.000-04:00

Soup of the Walking Dead! Here's a promo of Steven Yeun and Norman Reedus on next week's The Soup!

- King of the Zombies

2012: Year of the zombie movie?

2011-10-08T12:22:00.001-04:00

Many people may be panicing about the supposed end of the world in 2012. The world isn't going to end! What's really going to happen? It's simple, a lot of really promising zombie movies are going to be released.

REC 3 (post-production: set for a March 30, 2012 release) - The third film in the fantastic Spanish REC series, REC 3, stylized as [REC}: Genesis], will serve as a prequel to the first 2007 film. This series is one of the only "shaky camera/free camera" films that I've genuinely enjoyed. While the first two films focused on creating a horrific claustrophobic experience in a quarantined apartment building, the third instalment will add scenes of broad daylight. I'm particularly excited about this because we have yet to get a really good look at the creatures of REC. If only to increase the anticipation, this film will provide answers to many of the unanswered questions of the first two films as well as lead into the final instalment of the series REC: Apocalypse.

Outpost: Black Sun (in production) - A sequel to the British film Outpost, little is known about "Black Sun". Based on the poster that has been released, the film will still feature in seemingly invincible reanimated World War II German SS soldiers. My first thought? Maybe it'll pick up at the end of the first movie...you'll have to watch it yourselves if you want to find out.

The 4th Reich (post-production: 2012 release) - a similarly themed "Nazi zombie" movie, 4th Reich will actually take place after D-day on June 6, 1944. Pushing through occupied Western Europe, the film takes place at the same time as "Operation Overlord", the combined allied attempt to push to Berlin and bring down the Nazi regime. However, things aren't as they seem as...

"the chilling realities of Hitler's true intentions are exposed, to create a force that can never be beaten, a 4th Reich - The New World Order. A team of Nazi doctors and scientists were charged with generating a superior race. Their experiments and research would produce unspeakable evil and change the face of humanity forever. A small select brigade of soldiers from the British 3rd Infantry Division, under the command of the battle hardened Captain Bathurst embark on a dangerous quest to liberate Europe. Fighting their way through the French countryside, villages and war ravaged towns. Every advance they discover increasingly strange events until they reach an abandoned research facility where the true horrors "

If any movie will be Call of Duty: Zombies incarnated into film form, it'll be The 4th Reich.

- King of the Zombies

Review: American Horror Story (Pilot)

2011-10-07T12:58:00.000-04:00

The first thing I said when I heard that the creator of Glee (Ryan Murphy) was making a jump to the horror genre was, "you've got to be kidding me". As the 30 second preview clips began airing on youtube, I slowly began to put aside my early assumptions and really take this series seriously.

It seems like I may have to eat my original doubting words because FX has a hit!

American Horror Story revolves around the Harmons, a family of three who move from Boston into a posh Victorian home in Los Angeles in an attempt to rebuild their lives. Struggling to reconcile the infidelity of the families patriarch, Ben, the family's new home may contain more than dusty furniture as they immediately fall victim to emotional and physical torment.

Despite the Addams Family meets Amityville Horror feeling, something horrible happened to the Harmon family and that is reflected in the series' dark and original tone. Creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's series successfully combines Victorian aesthetics, and creepy character cliches that hauntingly clash with the "modern American" protagonists of the series. Although paranormal elements are widely present in the pilot, jolting between scenes of self mutilation, infidelity and the grisly focus on the parts of reality that truly scares us makes this series feel shockingly real. American Horror Story is intriguing to say the least. Leaving the viewers wanting more, the writers have tantalized us with a host of characters we are just beginning to understand. I am particularly interested in the character Moira. Serving as the maid of the house before the Harmons moved in, Moira appears as an older woman to everyone but Ben, who sees her as a beautiful and seductive young woman. I have no idea as to what she is. It's hinted that she may have died before, but who really knows? This is the beauty of the horror genre: it leaves the audience wanting more.

American Horror Story is a captivating tale with enough blood, psycho-sexual mayhem, and unanswered questions to make any horror enthusiast jump for joy.

4/5 Dead thumbs up! Don't forget to tune into the next episode, airing Wednesdays at 10 on FX!

- King of the Zombies

Need a "Walking Dead" fix before the season two premiere?

2011-10-06T23:08:00.002-04:00

You're in luck! The first (of hopefully many) Walking Dead novels penned by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga is set for an October 11 release. The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor will provide fans of the series with the much talked-about background story of "the Governor".

Front the back cover: "In the Walking Dead universe, there is no greater villain than The Governor. The despot who runs the walled-off town of Woodbury, he has his own sick sense of justice: whether it's forcing prisoners to battle zombies in an arena for the townspeople's amusement, or chopping off the appendages of those who cross him. The Governor was voted "Villain of the Year" by Wizard magazine the year he debuted, and his story arc was the most controversial in the history of the Walking Dead comic book series. Now, for the first time, fans of The Walking Dead will discover how The Governor became the man he is, and what drove him to such extremes."

I can't wait!

- King of the Zombies

Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T00:00:00.001-04:00

For those of you who don't know, Steve Jobs passed away today. I simply want to share how Steve Jobs impacted my use of technology and where I currently am in my life. Starting fairly late in the world of Apple, I purchased my first Macbook Pro and iPod Touch in the summer of 2009. iTunes changed the way I organized music, encouraging me to experiment with indie musicians and expanding my musical taste. My blogging hobby intensified upon getting my macbook (which was miles ahead of my previous laptop). This is when www.kingofthezombies.com truly became reality. From a mere dumping ground for my ideas, it became a place for me to share my love of horror. I subsequently upgraded by Macbook Pro and purchased an iPad 2 before my second trip to Jordan this summer. That's when I realized that Apple products were a special part of my life. From the hours of music on my iPod that helped with home-sickness during the long drives through Jordan to blogging (for work, not this website) from my iPad 2, the products of Steve Jobs' vision to enrich our lives allowed me to share my experiences with the world in ways I could've never imagined.

Thanks Steve

Update! Vintage Dead!

2011-10-04T21:40:00.000-04:00

It's been several days since I've last written anything for this blog. Truthfully, it's been several days since I've done anything other than academic writing! Working on my Masters has really left me devoid of free time. However, I have been able to squeeze in several hours of playing the Battlefield 3 beta (it's amazing). I've also been meaning to get back to writing my book. It's been a year in the making, and I've only completed two chapters. The word document seems lonely as it sits on my desktop unopened.

Back to the topic of this post. I have finally decided on the subject of my next segment of "Vintage Dead"! I've been writing this blog as a hobby since 2009, and somehow I have never written about its title (King of the Zombies). I hardly consider myself the king of the undead, if anything it would be Mr. George Romero. I am a mere enthusiast. Instead, I decided to use the title of one of my favorite vintage zombie movies. That's right, the 1941 horror movie King of the Zombies. With my work and school schedules keeping my VERY busy, I can't promise an exact day. But it'll happen!

- King of the Zombies

Ubisoft releases the "I Am Alive" announcement trailer

2011-09-29T15:06:00.001-04:00

Graphically this game doesn't really standout amongst the other survival games of 2011. However, I'm sure everything is still in development. First impressions? It sure looks like the combat of Elder Scrolls mixed with the movement of Assassins Creed or Uncharted. Perhaps the survival elements of Metal Gear Solid (3?) or Dead Island?

- King of the Zombies

Lionsgate is Making a Movie Based On the Dead Island Trailer

2011-09-27T18:51:00.001-04:00

This may be the thing that squashes all of the disappointment caused by the save glitch found in the PS3 version of Dead Island (despite it being patched yesterday). Lionsgate motion picture president Joe Drake (what a cool name) stated,

"Like the trailer that will serve as its primary creative inspiration, the film Dead Island will be an innovation of the zombie genre because of its focus on human emotion, family ties and non-linear storytelling. Said Drake of the property's acquisition, "Like the hundreds of journalists and millions of fans who were so passionate and vocal about the Dead Island trailer, we too were awestruck." He continued, "This is exactly the type of property we're looking to adapt at Lionsgate – it's sophisticated, edgy, and a true elevation of a genre that we know and love. It also has built in brand recognition around the world, and franchise potential."

As excited as I am for the Dead Island Trailer (not the real title for those who aren't fluent in sarcasm), I HIGHLY doubt that it will be an innovation of the zombie genre. Human emotion? Family ties? Non-linear storytelling? *cough *cough...The Walking Dead, Deadheads, and I Sell the Dead?!

Hopefully the people behind the movie adaptation of a fantastic trailer will know more about zombies than Joe Drake.

Source

- King of the Zombies

Steven Yeun and Norman Reedus laugh at the fool who thinks that there isn't human emotion in the zombie genre

Update: Construction!

2011-09-24T01:01:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, kingofthezombies.com has been in a state of construction for the past four months. I've been incredibly busy with graduate school and have thus only been able to make minor tweaks to the site. I have merch available for sale. However, I would like to have the shirts ready before I set everything up. Remember when I said that new banner would be up soon (the one you're looking at is temporary)? It's coming along...very slowly. On a side note, I will be selecting the movie for next weeks "Vintage Dead" very soon! Possible vote via facebook?!

Stay tuned and stay positive!

- King of the Zombies

'Rescue Me' Star Joins 'The Walking Dead' Season 2

2011-09-21T21:11:00.000-04:00

AMC has introduced yet another new character to highly anticipated second season of The Walking Dead.

Known for his role on the firefighting TV series Rescue Me, Michael Zegan has signed on for the recurring role of Randall, a "skinny Southern kid who finds himself in a rather unique set of post-apocalypse circumstances". What does this mean? I have absolutely no idea.

Source

- King of the Zombies

Vintage Dead: Zombi 2

2011-09-21T01:22:00.004-04:00

In light of the latest stream of horror movies of the 21st century, I feel like it is my duty as a true fan of the genre to share my love of the classics. These movies, some made long before I was born, serve as the inspirations for many of the movies we all know and love. Absent of the immense budgets and state-of-the-art special effects we are accustomed to, they showcased the dark minds and ingenuity possessed by these directors.

Lucio Fulci, also known as the the "Godfather of Gore", is arguably best known amongst horror fans for his directorial work on Zombi 2 (1979). To this day, Fulci's Zombi 2 and City of the Living Dead are the only Italian zombie movies that I've seen. Thus far. Although misunderstood as a direct sequel to George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, which was called Zombi in Italian, Fulci's trademark film was completely unrelated. While it didn't possess the most complex of plots (the classic visit to a tropical island to investigate a mysterious disease), Zombi 2 became infamous for its depiction of extreme gore. Most notably, the film featured three scenes that remain in notoriety. While many of these scenes (perhaps with the exception of the fantastic tiger shark fight) may seem tame in comparison to the horror movies of today, at the time Zombi 2 was deemed so bloody that it was scorned by the Conservative British Parliament!

My personal favorite, Fulci depicts a zombie fighting a tiger shark. You read that correctly. Without the use of digital aids, Ramon Bravo (dressed as the aforementioned zombie) performed the sequence with an actual tiger shark! Needless to say, I found myself on the edge of my seat when I first watched this movie. This scene showcases Fulci's desire to create a horror film unlike any other.
In order to understand the second iconic "Fulci scene", it must be considered in the context of the film's original 1979 release. The scene features a female character having her eye gouged out by a splintered piece of wood as a zombie pulls her by the hair through a broken door. Before you start screaming "digital effects", consider that this scene was made using prosthetic special effects!
The third and final scene, from which a production shot was used for the majority of the film's promotional material, featured a fetid worm-covered eyed conquistador zombie that rose from the ground and proceded to rip out the throat of a petrified protagonist.

Convinced? In my opinion, the tiger shark scene alone should be a reason to purchase this film. I was fortunate enough to obtain a physical copy of this fantastic work of horror at the Fan Expo Festival of Fear. To my knowledge, it is fairly easy to purchase online (amazon, etc.). What are you waiting for!

This concludes my first segment of Vintage Dead! I hope to continue sharing my love of classic horror on a biweekly basis. Don't forget to become a follower on TWITTER and a fan on FACEBOOK to receive future updates, reviews/previews, and the latest zombie news!

- King of the Zombies

REC 3 Genesis - Trailer

2011-09-17T19:19:00.001-04:00

It's been a busy week! I've got a few movie reviews in the works, a book review, and a rather hefty post on my personal choice of pocket knives called "Do It Yourself: Being prepared for the crazy things life throws at you (including zombies)"!

- King of the Zombies

The first "World War Z" video footage surfaces!

2011-09-12T22:53:00.001-04:00

Footage of the film adaptation of World War Z has hit the net. The first, of hopefully many, video clip shows zombies chasing after their next meal while a poor guy is bitten and violently transformed into a member of the living dead. By the looks of it, this movie looks like it'll be a good one. I particularly like how violently the man spasmed before rising as a newly turned zombie.

- King of the Zombies

The Walking Dead - Video Featurette Of 'The Zombie Eyes'

2011-09-12T22:46:00.003-04:00

AMC has released a new featurette for "The Walking Dead", which will return for it's second season with a 90-minute episode on October 16th. The video shows off the fantastic make-up work, specifically Gazal Tabrizpor's work on the bloodshot zombie eyes.

- King of the Zombies

Dead Island...dead game?

2011-09-11T17:52:00.002-04:00

I don't get angry at video games very often. Sure I get the occasional spell of annoyance when playing Call of Duty, but nothing has ever amounted to the frustration that Dead Island has caused me. Before I continue this rant, I would first like to provide some context for you. I've been playing the game for about five days on my Playstation 3 have, until a day ago, loved the game. I wouldn't change anything that I wrote about in my first impressions review of the game. The gameplay is solid and the concept is thoroughly enjoyable. However, in light of recent events, I must share my new thoughts of the game with those who have yet to purchase it, are thinking of purchasing it, or are encountering similar negative experiences. For the latter, you aren't alone. For the former, please beware and take caution when considering the purchase of this game.

So here goes it...Dead Island has a major SAVE GLITCH that I have personally experienced approximately three times. While I have heard that this may be a cross-platform glitch by the sounds of it, Playstation 3 users are the primary sufferers.

Symptoms of the glitch include:

When the game saves, the Biohazard symbol doesn't appear in the upper right-hand corner of the screen
Achievements/trophies are not obtained when challenges are completed
The same DOES NOT save beyond a certain point, no matter how much you play

This has been a lingering source of unnecessary stress and frustration. For those familiar with the game, I was able to complete the entire sewers and police station portions of the main quest (my Xian Mei character was level 25). That took me approximately six to seven hours of game time (I like to explore). Not 20 minutes ago, I logged onto the PSN and started Dead Island only to find myself set back to level 19. Having encountered this problem on more than one occasion has led for me to make a simple conclusion: the Dead Island save glitch has become a hinderance to the overall experience of what is a wonderful and well conceived title. It's a shame that Techland released the game with such a game-killing flaw. Needless to say for those of you sharing similar frustration, life goes on. For me, graduate school is beginning and will rightfully take over my life. Perhaps the gaming gods have done me a favor?

Maybe I'll wait a couple of weeks. Let's remain optimistic in thinking that Techland is working as hard as humanly possible to solve this game-ruining glitch. Otherwise, just wait until Battlefield 3!

- King of the Zombies

TECHLAAANNNNDDDD!

This is perhaps my best use of .gif images...thus far

Review: Dead Island

2011-09-07T00:04:00.000-04:00

I've been waiting for this game since it's announcement in 2007. After years of waiting, and quite the cinematic teaser trailer, the wait is over!

Dead Island takes place after a sudden and violent zombie outbreak on the tropical island of Banoi. Played from a first-person perspective, the game features a blend of open-world gameplay with RPG elements. Using one of four characters, each with their own unique abilities and specializations, players must survive the island, rescue survivors, and complete tasks using a multitude of weapons ranging from mundane items to those of a more creative nature.

When it comes to video games, particularly those involving zombies, I try not to be a graphics snob and let the gameplay speak for itself. Never the less, Dead Island features outstanding OUTDOOR environments and an impressive damage model on the zombie adversaries. The mindless expenditure of seemingly infinite amounts of ammunition has become all to common in the zombie genre. It simply isn't "realistic". I applaud Techland's decision to emphasize melee combat for this is where Dead Island succeeds. The ability to create custom weapons and use almost everything in your environment provides players with a seemingly endless methods of undead disposal. Degenerating items through use provides the game with another level of depth. The impressive gameplay, stunning environments, and realistic combat are all aspects of the game that significantly outweigh the games only flaw: the INDOOR graphics. Although not poor, the graphics associated with indoor environments are fairly inconsistent.

Looking for a next gen zombie game? Look no further. Dead Island is exactly what we've all been searching for: an open ended zombie survival game featuring blood, gore and a shit-load of weapons at your disposal. To put it simply, I'm addicted to this game!

4.5/5 Dead thumbs up!

- King of the Zombies

Review: MTV's Death Valley

2011-09-05T23:51:00.003-04:00

Hot on the heels of AMC's success with The Walking Dead, it looks like MTV may have itself a hit with their new horror, black-comedy mockumentary series Death Valley.

The series follows the newly formed Undead Task Force (UTF), a division of the LAPD created to combat the vampires, werewolves and zombies that mysteriously descend upon the streets of California's San Fernando Valley a year ago. Using a mockumentary format, a camera crew embedded in the unit will capture their exploits as they detain monsters on the toughest undead beat in the US: Death Valley.

A character driven comedy, Death Valley provides the audience with the perfect blend of thrill rides, brutal violence and dark humor. Writers Eric Weinberg and Curtis Gwion has done an outstanding job exploring the classic forms of the undead and adapting them for a police procedural. The zombies are aggressive, tenacious and comparably disgusting to those of the high budget films we all love to watch. The vampires? Intelligent and superhuman in contrast to the insane and beastly werewolves. From busting "blood-for-sex" vampire prostitutes to slow walking zombie calls at local donut shops, Death Valley is a show worth watching. From fans of police procedurals to those of horror comedies, Death Valley is the perfect way to cure a case of the Mondays. Still not convinced? Picture the lovechild of Fright Night, Super Troopers, and Shaun of the Dead. That's right, Death Valley is pretty damned good. Tune in for new episodes every Monday at 10:30 EST on MTV.

5/5 Dead thumbs up!

- King of the Zombies

"Vamps are like the douchebags of the monster community"

Vampire or Zombie(s)? Will Spike TV objectively determine the outcome of this long debated battle?

2011-09-04T20:20:00.001-04:00

Let me provide some background for those who aren't familiar with Spike TV's "Deadliest Warrior". The series aims to utilize the knowledge of historians and weapon specialists to determine, though the use of a "highly advanced computer simulation", the outcome of a battle between historical figures. Even amongst fans, there is no disputing that what is portrayed on the show is far from real science. But hey, who doesn't like weapons and military history? When the match-ups for the third (current) season were released, there was instant speculation with regards to the series' 32nd episode. Rather than feature figures from the distant or not so distant past, the season three finale will be the first to pit fictional entities against one another.

That's right folks. Vampire vs zombies!

Before we examine possible outcomes, we must first examine the parameters of the "simulation" which will involve 63 zombies and a single vampire.

Vampire Expert: Steve Niles
Vampire Attributes: Fangs, Claws, Low 10 Speed
Zombie Expert: Max Brooks
Zombie Attributes: Teeth, Hands, Pain Invulnerability

Although there is a wide variety of vampires and zombies that have appeared through the ages, each with varying physical attributes and supernatural abilities, having Steve Niles and Max Brooks on board will set a standard. The vampires will be of the 30 Days of Night variety while the zombies will be those of the classic Romero films. In my opinion, there are multiple outcomes for this situation. For the sake of simplicity, we will not take the environment into consideration. The vampires fangs will have little effects on the zombies. It is unlikely that they will be able to "destroy the brain" of a zombie. However, with their claws, speed and enhanced strength would allow them to dismember other members of the living dead. Would that kill a zombie? No. But it would certainly slow them. Could a large group of zombies overtake a single stronger and faster opponent? Perhaps, but maybe not. Due to the lack of real quantifiable attributes and deep mythologies, the outcome of the zombie-vampire fight can go either way.

"Vampire vs Zombie(s)" will air on September 21, 2011. Will you be watching it? I know I will!

- King of the Zombies

The Walking Dead season 2 news!

2011-09-01T17:37:00.000-04:00

As per the latest trend, both a good and bad news pertaining to the upcoming sophomore season of AMC's The Walking Dead has been released. Let's start with the good news. The second season premiere, which airs on October 16, 2011 at 9/8c (so you can still go to your Halloween parties) will be 90 minutes long. However, the final six episodes of the 12 episode season will not air until February 12, 2012 at 9/8c, resulting in an 11 week mid season hiatus.

What will you watch during the mid-season break?

Source

- King of the Zombies

Capcom launches mysterious "Umbrella Sciences" and "Inserted Evil" websites

2011-08-31T15:05:00.000-04:00

Capcom recently launched a mysterious Resident Evil related website Umbrella Sciences. Although Capcom has yet to release an official statement with regard to what the site is marketing, there are several options. It is speculated that the website may point towards a Resident Evil 6 announcement, a new Resident Evil film, or the upcoming Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City.

If you stay on the web page long enough, you will be directed to the Inserted Evil webpage, which you can follow on facebook to get clues. What do the clues lead to? Inserted evil seems to be a tie-in webpage created by people exposing the truth of Umbrella.

"Get as many people involved as you can, and your reward will be that much greater."

- King of the Zombies

Looks like Sienna Guillory will return to Resident Evil: Retribution!

2011-08-30T01:16:00.000-04:00

Most fans of the Resident Evil film franchise know the "Jill Valentine story". The first movie diverged from the video game storyline by skipping out on the majority of the source material's characters and introduced the character Alice. In an attempt to connect with disappointed fans, Paul W. S. Anderson chose to include several fan-favorites, most notably Jill Valentine, during his time as the writer/producer of Resident Evil: Apocalypse. Things took a turn for the worse when Sienna Guillory, who portrayed Valentine in the second film, was forced to miss out on the third Resident Evil instalment due to her commitment to Eragon. The reappearance of Valentine in her Resident Evil 5 costume (still portrayed by Guillory in a Resident Evil: Afterlife cameo) seemed to ensure an "Alice vs Jill" storyline for Retribution. However, when Anderson confirmed his role as the director of the upcoming film, it was announced that the role of Valentine would be recast.

Looks like we were misinformed. According to Guillory's official twitter she will be returning as Jill Valentine, joining the likes of fan-favorites Leon S. Kennedy, Ada Wong and Barry Burton in the upcoming fifth instalment of the zombie horror/action series.

Will the introduction of new characters in the movie actually produce decent results? We all know it'll make a lot of money but critically speaking, the previous films were disappointments.

- King of the Zombies

Review: Dead Genesis

2011-08-25T23:35:00.002-04:00

Today at Fan Expo Canada I was able to chat with Reese Eveneshen, the director of the zombie-horror film Dead Genesis. From the opening scene of a mother devouring her still-living child to the protagonists encounter at what could only be described as an undead brothel, Dead Genesis is a gritty undead thrill ride filled with emotion, violence and gore.

"Seven months have passed since the flesh-eating undead took over. Many cities and states have been abandoned and left to die. Several self-sufficient hunting groups have been established to take on the zombie threat in a war aptly referred to as the'War on Dead'. Jillian Hurst, a former news writer and amateur documentarian, has set out to make a pro-war propaganda film to support the W.O.D. She joins up with a pack of renegade zombie hunters known infamously to North America as 'the Deadheads'."

It is evident that a considerable amount of effort went into bringing post-apocalyptic world of Dead Genesis to life. Every wound, gunshot and member of the undead captures the raw tone set by Eveneshen's film. Unlike the multitude of low-budget zombie flicks, which thrive off of mindless violence and cheap gore, Dead Genesis provides audiences with something more. A skillful blend of "stock footage/media", traditional film and the now popular "cinema verite" style, Dead Genesis is an insightful look into moral and physical hardships brought about by the fall of humanity.

I certainly hope that this review has piqued your interest. Fantastic and through provoking independent films like Dead Genesis have become a rare commodity these days. Please support the film and it's crew by stopping by their booth at Fan Expo Canada and becoming a fan on facebook.

4/5 dead thumbs up!

Would YOU support the war on dead?

For live Fan Expo updates become a follower of kingofthezombies.com on twitter and facebook.

- King of the Zombies

Fan Expo Canada: Day 1

2011-08-25T19:21:00.001-04:00

Every summer, something magical happens in Toronto. Fan Expo. This will mark my ninth year of attending this horror/sci fi/anime/comic book/gaming convention! However, this will be my first time reporting on the convention and sharing my stories with the world. What a first day! After waiting in line for a good two hours, we were able to enter the convention hall two hours earlier than general admission. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Although the horror expo was noticeably smaller than previous years, I was able to meet a lot of cool people, spend a lot of money, and a few zombie media icons.

After doing a classic "zig zag" through the convention hall, checking out prices and seeing what everyone had to offer, I made a b-line towards Tony Moore's booth. For those of you who aren't familiar with his work, Moore became a zombie icon after illustrating the first six issues of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead. I bought a few signed prints and a 12 gauge shotgun shell (that he had fired and signed). After a quick photo op and autograph, I was off to find more of the living dead.

Making my way through the hall, I was then able to purchase a vintage Resident Evil 2 Claire Redfield action figure, the Fan Expo exclusive alternative Walking Dead #88, and a copy of Lucio Fulci's classic Zombie. One of the shows highlights was the Rue Morgue Festival of Fear, which had George Kosana, John Russo, and Russ Steiner from the original (1968) Night of the Living Dead! I had the opportunity to chat with George Kosana, who is known for playing Sherrif McClelland in the original Romero film. Russo co-wrote the script and portrayed one of the titular zombies, while Steiner was a co-producer and portrayed Bobby.

Reese Eveneshen at the Dead Genesis booth

In addition to meeting some of the greats, I had the opportunity to meet Reese Eveneshen, the writer/director of the upcoming zombie film Dead Genesis.

The setting: "7 months have passes since the dead took over. Several self-sufficient hunting groups make up of everyday citizens are taking on the zombie threat in the 'War on Dead'". The film follows Jillian Hurst, an amateur documentarian, who joins up with an infamous group of undead huntes called 'The Deadheads'.

Evenshen was selling copies of his film, which has been officially selected for the Fangoria Film Festival. Naturally, I bought a one (review pending).

Day one is complete! For updates at the convention, don't forget to become a follower on twitter.com/thedeadwalk

- King of the Zombies

Todd Mcfarlane and Robert Kirkman play with...The Walking Dead!

2011-08-20T00:14:00.001-04:00

Complete with exploding heads, removable limbs and up to 23 points of articulation, Mcfarlane Toy's first series of Walking Dead action figures will shamble onto shelves September 2011! Series one will include Rick Grimes (comic book version), Michonne, zombie roamer and lurker. For pictures of the final packaged figures, head to Toy News International!

I can't wait! I haven't bought action figures in quite some time. Thank you Mcfarlane Toys for keeping my shelves cluttered!

- King of the Zombies

Review: Fright Night (2011)

2011-08-20T00:06:00.000-04:00

You're probably thinking, "not another remake!" and "why vampires?!". I completely understand. However, in a world saturated with notions of brooding vampires fawning over angsty teens, Fright Night is exactly what we need.

Fright Night tells the tale of Charlie Brewster (Anton Yelchin), a high school senior living in a Las Vegas suburb who suspects that his new neighbour Jerry (Colin Farrell) is a vampire after several of his classmates go inexplicably missing. Charlie enlists the help of magician and occult expert Peter Vincent (David Tennant) to try to stop him from devouring the entire neighbourhood.

Despite drawing heavily from the original 1985 film, this remake manages to remain hauntingly fresh. Although billed as a 3D film, director Craig Gillespie avoids the over-use of gimmicks, utilizing 3D technology to enhance the film's gratuitously delightful amount of blood and gore. Colin Farrell and David Tennant stood out amongst the talented cast. Farrell's portrayal of the terrifyingly cunning vampire "Jerry" and Tennant's portrayal of Vegas performer/Vampire expert Peter Vincent maintained the film's sublime balance of horror, comedy and gore. Who stole the show? It's hard to say. The Doctor Who fanboy in me is screaming David Tennant, but there was something about Colin Farrell's performance that gives you the chills and makes you want to start collecting wood to make stakes. Fright Night was a extremely entertaining and refreshing addition to 2011's horror movie roster, proving that the word "remake" shouldn't necessarily be synonymous with "box office bomb". From beginning to end, the film instantly catches you in a death grip and doesn't let go until the credits roll.

4.5/5 Dead Thumbs up!

- King of the Zombies

Ada Wong set to appear in Resident Evil: Retribution

2011-08-19T22:15:00.000-04:00

Ada Wong is finally making appearance in the financially successful Resident Evil film franchise! It has been revealed that the Chinese secret agent from the Resident Evil 2 and 4 games will be replacing Jill Valentine in the upcoming fifth instalment of the Resident Evil series. There hasn't been any mention of who will be cast as Ada.

Thoughts? Maggie Q?!

For future news, don't forget to become a fan of kingofthezombies.com on facebook and twitter!

- King of the Zombies

Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters will reunite on "Supernatural"

2011-08-17T23:03:00.000-04:00

Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters, known for their appearances on Buffy and Angel as Cordelia and Spike, are set to appear on an episode of Supernatural's seventh season. There's more! In the seventh season's fifth episode "Shut Up, Dr. Phil", Carpenter and Marsters will play husband and wife. According to tvline.com,

"This episode is ‘Bewitched gone wrong,’” reveals showrunner Sera Gamble. “[It was] all upside for this successful man (Marsters) while he was married to the witch (Carpenter), but now that he’s pissed her off, the whole town is paying the price."

They are set to film their Supernatural appearances the week of August 22. Consider yourself one lucky son-of-a-gun if you find yourself in Vancouver near the end of the month!

- King of the Zombies

Imaginary zombies and The CDC's thoughts on the zombie apocalypse

2011-08-17T18:59:00.000-04:00

It's always nice getting emails from people who love zombies just as much as I do. My buddy Mike sent me links to zombie related websites that I feel compelled to share with you. The first is Disappointing Monsters, a web comic about "The Adventures of a Boy and His Imaginary Zombie. And Other Stuff. Like Knife Fights. And Pacemakers". It's absolutely hilarious, featuring one page spreads of truly unique (and imaginative) artwork. The second was the Centers for Disease Control's posting on Zombie Apocalypse Preparedness. While trying to remain it's status as a professional and credible government organization, the CDC's post takes the "better safe than sorry" stance, followed with a "never fear - the CDC is ready" section. It's an interesting read for those interested in basic emergency preparedness and the history of the zombie genre.

If you have any zombie sites/movies/TV series/games that you would like to share, feel free to contact me via facebook, twitter, and email!

- King of the Zombies

Milla Jovovich and Paul W.S. Anderson will return for "Resident Evil: Retribution"

2011-08-16T22:37:00.000-04:00

Bloody Disgusting has reported that Milla Jovovich will be returning to the Resident Evil film franchise's fifth instalment as "Alice" in Resident Evil: Retribution. Her husband, Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Afterlife) will return as director.

CASTING NEWS! Although Sienna Guillory had previously tweeted that she will be returning as Jill Valentine, it is rumored that she will be recast. Casting calls have also been put out for Barry Burton (a member of S.T.A.R.S. from the first Resident Evil game) and LEON SCOTT KENNEDY (former RCPD, now U.S. Government agent/badass). While plot details have yet to surface, Retribution will begin principle photography this coming October in Toronto, Canada.

Who do you think they should cast as the new Jill? Barry? LEON?! Leave a comment and become a fan of King of the Zombies on facebook and twitter!

- King of the Zombies

"The Walking Dead: Season 1 Special Edition" arrives in October!

2011-08-16T22:15:00.000-04:00

That's right folks. If you haven't already purchased the first season of AMC's The Walking Dead, I highly recommend waiting for the special edition. Anchor Bay has made three versions available for the October 4, 2011 release: Special Edition DVD ($49.99), Special Edition Blu-ray ($59.99) and Limited Edition Blu-ray Collector's Tin ($89.99). As per "special edition" convention, each set will contain all six first season episodes and additional special features (audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes, extra featurettes footage, etc.). Additionally, each set will contain the fan-requested black and white version of the pilot episode!

For the skeptics, the Blu-ray Special Edition package is what makes this DVD set so unique. The limited edition Blu-ray collector's tin will contain an exclusive WEARABLE ZOMBIE MASK designed by Greg Nicotero and produced by NECA. I'm a huge fan of Greg Nicotero, particularly his work on Frank Herbert's Dune, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead and of course The Walking Dead. Access to a product designed by him and produced by an amazing company such as NECA (their products make up half of my action figure collection) is an opportunity that I've rather not miss!

Source

- King of the Zombies

Can you survive the Black Death?

2011-08-15T21:08:00.001-04:00

I recently came upon one of the most interesting survival horror PC titles that I have seen in a long time. It's called Black Death. The premise of the game is quite simple. Think "The Mist" meets "[Rec]". The American North East coast is suddenly enveloped by a massive cloud of smoke that begins to infect everyone. Those that are infected sink into comatose states, where they begin to transform into mutants with strange powers. The objective? Survive and purge the city of disease.

Taken from the official website (http://www.blackdeathgame.com):

Gameplay Experience: THE FOG PLAYS WITH YOU, PLAY WITH THE FOG

Survive in the fog
Be Creative: Create your own chemical weapons and test them on your enemies
Cure or kill infected you meet and choose your fighting strategy
Spectacular: Have fun discovering a unique bestiary, and experiment with multiple weapons and devices
Fight: Fast action, it’s difficult to kill, you must finish on contact
Control the fog
Discover the black death evolution

As a Mac user, I have not been able to test the game myself. Based on the gameplay that I've watched on youtube, the gameplay is akin to the Amnesia video game series. It looks absolutely phenomenal, with the fog adding a unique environmental hazard that creates a truly horrific experience.

- King of the Zombies

Paramount sets December 2012 release date for "World War Z"

2011-08-10T23:15:00.000-04:00

Fearing the 2012 apocalypse (that'll never come)? Screw that! Look forward to the movie adaptation of Max Brooks' novel World War Z! With that, and the release of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", 2012 is looking to be a pretty spectacular year for fantasy and horror film.

According to Entertainment News International, "Paramount Pictures announced [today] it has set a release date of December 21st, 2012 for World War Z starring Academy Award-nominee Brad Pitt, with Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) directing. The geo-political thriller from Paramount and Skydance Productions, in association with Hemisphere Media Capital and GK Films, is a Plan B Entertainment/Apparatus Productions production that is shooting in England following initial photography completed in Malta last month. The film will also shoot in Scotland and Hungary.

Produced by Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Colin Wilson, the screenplay is written by Matthew Michael Carnahan (State of Play) from Max Brooks' best-selling novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. Starring Pitt (Moneyball), Mireille Enos (AMC's "The Killing"), Daniella Kertesz in her feature film debut, James Badge Dale (The Departed) and Matthew Fox ("Lost"), the film's Executive Producers are Forster, Brad Simpson, David Ellison, Paul Schwake, Dana Goldberg, Graham King and Tim Headington.

The story revolves around United Nations employee Gerry Lane (Pitt), who traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity itself. Enos plays Gerry's wife Karen Lane; Kertesz is his comrade in arms, Segen.

Behind-the-scenes talent includes two-time Academy Award-winning cinematographer Robert Richardson (The Aviator; JFK), production designer Nigel Phelps (Transformers: Dark of the Moon; Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo (Avatar) and Academy Award-nominated editor Matt Chessè (Finding Neverland)."

December 21, 2012. Mark that on your calendar.

- King of the Zombies

San Diego Comic-Con: New image of Kate Beckinsale in "Underworld: Awakening"

2011-08-10T23:10:00.000-04:00

Feast your eyes on...this! Is it just me, or does she look a lot like Victoria Beckham in this production still?

Set for a January 20, 2012 release, the fourth instalment of the Underworld series will mark the return of Kate Beckinsale as the always kick-ass vampire Selene. According to Screen Gems, Selene will escape imprisonment only to find herself in a world where humans have become aware of the existence of both vampire and lycan clans. Craziness ensues when the humans attempt to eradicate the immortal species.

- King of the Zombies

The Dead Island co-op trailer equals...Left 4 Dead on crack!

2011-08-10T21:18:00.000-04:00

This game is going to be special. I know it. If anyone out there is interested in getting some co-op games together, add me on PSN! My PSNid is kingofthezombies...naturally.

- King of the Zombies

What really happened between AMC and fired showrunner Frank Darabont?

2011-08-10T17:57:00.004-04:00

It came as a surprise to fans of AMC's critically acclaimed adaptation of The Walking Dead when showrunner/director Frank Darabont was suddenly fired. It didn't make sense. Why fire the man behind the network's highest rated show?

"Darabont -- like many showrunners, not known for a small ego or manageable temperament -- had been working on an edit in Los Angeles. After he was sent packing, he returned to give some final notes. He sent farewell e-mails to associates on the show. But he has maintained a steady silence in the media as his representatives work out the terms of his departure. Through his lawyer, Darabont said he has no interest in talking to the press.

There also have been no public comments from the cast, and a source with knowledge of the situation says AMC has been "terrorizing" them and their representatives to discourage them from speaking out on Darabont's behalf. "They're scared," confirms another insider. "They're on a zombie show. They are all really easy to kill off.""

What really makes me mad is how AMC had the balls to keep Darabont to promote the show as Comic-Con before firing him. From what THR has reported, Frank's experience working on feature films has brought a unique formula and work ethic to the show. This has clearly paid off for AMC.

What remains a mystery is why AMC moved to fire Darabont.

"As noted, AMC's decision to cut the budget dated to the previous fall, when the network instructed Darabont to produce 13 episodes for a second season, up from six for the first season, for less money. Not only would the show get a lower budget, but AMC also decided thatWalking Deadwould no longer reap the benefit of a 30 percent tax credit per episode that came with filming in Georgia. Now the network was going to hold on to that money."

It's always about the money isn't it? I know that Darabont's departure from the show will have a significant impact on the second season, but fans can only hope for the best. Hopefully having Robert Kirkman on the team will keep the story in line and the characters faithful.

Find out more about Darabont's departure from AMC's The Walking Dead at the source

- King of the Zombies

Dear AMC...

The last playable "Dead Island" character!?

2011-08-10T09:52:00.000-04:00

Techland has finally released details regarding Purna, the last of the four playable Dead Island characters.

"Purna is a former officer of the Sydney Police department. After losing her career when she killed a child molester who could not be touched legally because of his wealth and connections, Purna then turned to working as a bodyguard for VIPs in dangerous places all over the world.

She is hired not just for her skills but her looks as wealthy men did not mind showing up with Purna on their arm."

I haven't given much thought as to which character I will use first. However, Dead Island is set for a September 6, 2011 North American release, so I have plenty of time to plan for my apocalyptic tropical vacation.

- King of the Zombies

Bryan Cranston in Talks to Join 'World War Z'

2011-08-06T15:55:00.001-04:00

According to hollywoodreporter.com Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston is in negotiations to join the fellow AMC alumni James Badge Dale and Mireille Enos in Brad Pitt's zombie thriller World War Z.

"The role for the star of AMC's Breaking Bad is said to be small but flashy; little is known about the part. The film is an adaptation of a Max Brooks novel of the same name that depicts a global zombie takeover a decade after the fact. Marc Forster is directing."

Written by J. Michael Straczinski and Matthew Michael Carnahan, World War Z is currently in production and set for a 2012 release.

- King of the Zombies

The CW President Mark Pedowitz discusses the future of "Supernatural"

2011-08-06T10:51:00.001-04:00

It was a dark time for horror TV back in September of 2009 during the beginnings of Supernatural's supposedly fifth and final season. Fans knew that Eric Kripke's epic five season spanning story would come to an end in 22 Winchester-tastic episodes. However, despite the conclusion of the series' main storyline, The CW renewed the show for a sixth season. Starting a new storyline, the fantastic new seasons' examined the mythology of purgatory and showed a drastic change in Misha Collins' character Castiel. Due to positive ratings and high viewing, Supernatural was once again renewed for a seventh season.

During the Television Critics Association Press Tour, Mark Pedowitz (President of The CW) discussed the returning Fall shows, their increased episode orders, and the future of Supernatural. In addition to revealing that The CW ordered an additional season seven episode, Pedowitz stated that the upcoming season is not intended to be the last. Instead of developing a whole new five-season story arc, The CW will evaluate one season at a time and renew based on ratings. What does this mean? If you want Supernatural to continue...WATCH IT.

Supernatural's seventh season is set to begin on September 23, 2011. Begin counting down.

Source

- King of the Zombies

This is why Steven Yeun is one of my favorite "Walking Dead" cast members

2011-08-06T09:46:00.001-04:00

On set, Steven Yeun invites fans to visit the cast and booth at San Diego Comic-Con 2011 (aka heaven). One of these days I'm making the trip down to Comic-Con...one of these days.

- King of the Zombies

I'm back! How much "Walking Dead" news did I miss?

2011-08-04T23:15:00.004-04:00

That's right folks! After a long two months, I have finally returned home to Toronto. What do I have to say about my return to Jordan? Immersing myself in the culture, rich history and welcoming people has placed no doubt in my mind that Jordan, particularly Madaba, is a special place. I think that my return trip this summer has certainly helped me evolve as a person, an archaeologist and a writer. This trip has certainly shown me who has, and doesn't have, my back (and important lesson for all you zombie preparedness enthusiasts). As a consequence I have both lost and gained friends (more so the latter). I've also learned countless lessons by pushing myself mentally and physically. Sounds sappy? It probably is, but gosh darn it's the truth.

There's no hiding the fact that I missed blogging a lot. However, with limited internet access I decided that it would be wise to take a break from this website for most of my trip. Why? Three reasons. First, I never want to force out content. I like to, if I've cool enough to say, "keep it real". Second? I WAS IN JORDAN. Rather than spending my time cooped up in my bedroom or an air conditioned cafe with free wifi, I had myself several good old fashioned adventures. Whether it be hiking in search of neolithic burials in Mount Nebo or exploring unexcavated ruins, I did my best to make the most of this amazing opportunity. Last but not least...I was writing for another website. I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to write for the Royal Ontario Museum! I wrote a total of six articles that were posted on their website. From what I've heard (and hope), my writing was fairly well received! Needless to say, I am very thankful for the opportunity and experience.

But anyways, enough about my feelings. Back to the unfeeling...undead.

For hardcore fans, this won't be new. During the course of the summer, much has happened with respect to the second season of AMC's The Walking Dead. To the approval of fans around the world, Lauren Cohan (Vivian Volkoff from Chuck Bela from Supernatural) was announced to have been cast as Maggie Greene. However, with good news came bad news as Frank Darabont announced that he'd step down as the series' show runner. AMC has also released a trailer for the series' sophomore season. My first thought: HOW MUCH WILL THEY DEVIATE FROM THE SOURCE MATERIAL? Only time will tell.

Speaking of The Walking Dead, how about details regarding the video game adaptation?! Although no details regarding the actual mechanics of the game have been released, Telltale Games has released some concept art and a brief synopsis of the story.

"Telltale's version will be telling a whole new story of "The Walking Dead" as the main focus on the game will be a man named 'Lee, a convicted criminal whose escort vehicle is attacked during the zombie outbreak. The zombie apocalypse may have freed Lee from a life in prison, but given the state of the world, he might have been better behind bars. Lee befriends a young girl named Clementine. Having both lost their families, the two form a pact, hoping help each other survive in this post-apocalyptic world."

Thus far I'm not overly impressed. What makes the Walking Dead so interesting are the characters. We've seen the "convict in the apocalypse" story before. A girl and a seemingly badass male protagonist trying to survive the undead hordes? *cough *cough...Resident Evil 4...

To see concept art for the upcoming Walking Dead video game, go here to the source.

I have embedded The Walking Dead season 2 trailer for your viewing pleasure.

- King of the Zombies

Update: crazy summer, limited blogging, Fan Expo Canada, and my ever growing fear of dogs!

2011-07-22T04:01:00.000-04:00

It's been a Very long time since I've last posted on this blog and for that I apologize! Things in Jordan have been BUSY. My students on the archaeological dig I work at have progressed at an astonishing rate, which has left me with limited time to blog and let alone think about zombies. The dig season is over and I have a mere three days of work left before I fly off to London. I've had some crazy adventures! A friend of mine and I almost got attacked by a group of five dogs during a hike in the arid Jordanian valleys. To put it simply, although the adventure was amazing, the incident further solidified my fear of dogs. This being said, if I survive the next couple of days, I will be returning home in just under two weeks! Hurray! Once I return to Canada, I will be blogging full steam ahead. Although I have two book reviews ready to post, I did not want to post them without images. I feel like the authors, who went out of there way to end me copies of their work, deserve to have a complete post that will highlight their work in their entirety. So within the next two weeks, look out for my reviews of "Snow White and the Seven Dead Dwarves" and "The Undead of Winter".

After a good three weeks of neglect, I have finally purchased my ticket to this years Fan Expo Canada. This means that I am THIS CLOSE to meeting Tony Moore!

Note to self...make sure my shotgun cowboy hat makes it home....

- King of the Zombies

Fighting off undead hordes on your iPad!

2011-06-17T00:48:00.000-04:00

This will mark my first post abroad! Despite me being miles away from any form of zombie movie, I have managed to fill at least a part of my day with the undead. Rather than bringing an expensive laptop to an archaeological dig, I decided to purchase an iPad 2. I've managed to clandestinly download several apps...thus providing myself with the means to keep my sanity between digging and lab work. I would therefore like to share them with you!

Legendary Heroes HD

I got this game during a promotional weekend, and instantly fell in love with it. Part real time strategy and action RPG, Legendary Heroes gives you control of three....heroes. Playing as elves, human knights, and dwarves, you must fight off hordes of the undead as they besiege your castle. The gameplay is very much like many of the castle defense games; you have a castle, you must generate income, and you use that income to produce units to fight of enemy hordes. However, Legendary Heroes adds an unprecedented amount of depth to the playing experience. Units (heroes) can be upgraded and given special abilities, and you can specifically control their actions (rather than watching a team of knights you spawned walk fight past a zombie). Needless to say, this game is an immersive and addicting spin on a tired and overused game concept. Go get it!

Stupid Zombies

Another free iPad app, Stupid Zombies is quite the simple game. You control a burly stationary man with a shotgun as he tries to kill all of the stationary zombies with a limited number of bouncing bullets. Wile not the most engaging and action packed games, I found Stupid Zombies (and the 50+ levels you get with it) to be an incredibly addicting puzzle shooter. Perfect for the days when you just want to kill zombies...that can't fight back.

Plants vs Zombies

This is a dead giveaway. Plants vs Zombies is easily one of the greatest zombie-themed games available on Apple mobile products. Part real-time strategy; part plain 'ol fun, this game pits you the player against ever increasing hordes of zombies as they assault your house. How do you fight them off? Screw the good old boom stick! You have plants! Some shoot seeds, some freeze zombies, some even explode! Can you really ask for more? Perhaps. But Plants vs Zombies also delivers in the realm of art. The animation is crisp and the artistic style suits the light and off beat tone of the game. In a word? Perfection.

- king of the Zombies

*note: for some reason I am unable to insert images...darned crappy Internet here in Jordan

Update: Laser tag and my trip

2011-06-04T23:29:00.001-04:00

Greetings fellow zombie fanatics,

I think this is the first picture of me that I've
posted on this blog! Ladies, I swear I don't
look like this everyday. I promise...

As I previously mentioned, I will be travelling to the wonderful country of Jordan for a two month archaeological dig. This will be my second time digging in the country, but I hope that my extensive experience with Minecraft has given me an edge. Speaking of video game skills translating into...tangible skills. I just came back from a trip to Laser Tag with a bunch of my good friends. Yup...a group of grown-ass people running around in a maze with laser guns shooting small children. Turns out my Call of Duty skills translate well...who would've thought. However, upon picking up the "gun" the constant "zombie combat" mentality manifested. Turns out shooting lasers at the head doesn't score you any points....Who would've thought? Played 3 games, won the first one by a fair amount. Things just went down hill from there. Another group of grown ups came...correction...a group of PRACTICED grown ups came, and kicked our asses. Needless to say, I fired about 2600 shots...blisters man...those will be our downfall...if lasers could kill zombies. If I don't manage to post before I leave for Jordan, I'll see you guys on the flip side! I'll post as often as I can! For further updates become a follower on TWITTER and FACEBOOK!

- King of the Zombies

Update: Merch has arrived!

2011-06-04T01:27:00.000-04:00

That's right folks! Official kingofthezombies.com merchandise has arrived! Well...at least the buttons. I announced it earlier yesterday morning via twitter (shame on those who don't follow...SHAME), but now it's time to share that information with everyone!

Sorry for the terrible picture, it was taken with my Blackberry in a rush. We will have 2 buttons available, "-10 DEXTERITY" and "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE KING". Seeing as I will be leaving the country in three days, it is unlikely that they will be available for purchase until early August. This will give me time to set up a proper online store, get some t-shirt samples in, take proper photos, and price things out! But don't you worry!

For zombie news and travel updates, follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/thedeadwalk

- King of the Zombies

Tomb Raider "Turning Point" trailer

2011-06-03T22:39:00.000-04:00

As you may already know, this upcoming Tomb Raider game will act as a prequel to the already established franchise, focusing on Lara Crofts back story and what made her....so damned badass! This instalment will add a "survival" aspect to the action-adventure series. I'm hoping for zombies, but that'll be unlikely. I really like the look of this younger version! Sexy survivor Lara?

Enjoy!

- King of the Zombies

The Walking Dead season 2 character update!

2011-06-03T22:20:00.000-04:00

It looks like season 2 of The Walking Dead will take fans a step closer to the ever adored prison story arc! Three new season 2 characters have been announced. However, they're hardly "new" characters for long-time fans of the comic book series.

The Greene's will be introduced! Well, at least some of them. Robert Kirkman has revealed that Hershel and Maggie will be introduced in the second season as the core group of survivors, led by Rick, make it to the outskirts of Atlanta. Kirkman also announced that Otis will be introduced to the season.

Source

- King of the Zombies

Is "The Walking Dead" facing season 2 budget cuts?

2011-06-03T22:08:00.001-04:00

Without a doubt, the TV adaptation of The Walking Dead was one of AMC's most successful shows of 2010. Earning a second season renewal quite early into its inaugural season, you'd think AMC would be shooting for an even better second season.

Seems not. At the Hollywood REporter's annual drama showrunner Emmy roundtable, Frank Darabont indicated that the series' second season may suffer due to the networks attempts to cut the budget...aka make more money for themselves.

"Creatively I have no complaints thus far,” noted Darabont. “But I believe if they do move ahead with [the budget] they’re talking about, it will affect the show creatively ... in a negative way. Which just strikes me as odd. If you have an asset, why would you punish it?"

I've heard rumors that the viewers may only see the effects of the budget cuts in the number of on screen zombies. I can live with that.
But seriously AMC, as if changing/firing the entire writing staff didn't give yourselves enough monetary wiggle room. Thanks AMC. Good luck Frank, there isn't a doubt in my mind that season 2 will be anything short of spectacular.

On a side note, did anyone read issue 85 yet?! I don't think Carl is going to survive. Thoughts?

Source

- King of the Zombies

Review: Black Death

2011-06-01T21:24:00.000-04:00

Lately, fans of the fantasy genre are seeing a lot of Sean Bean. Already a fantasy film icon for his role as Boromir in The Fellowship of the Ring, it can say with absolute certainty that his skills have translated into the horror genre with Black Death.

Set in the apocalyptic European wasteland of 1348 during the Black Death, action-horror film of the same name follows a fearsome knight (Sean Bean) and a band of mercenaries as they are tasked by the church to investigate rumors of a village untouched by the disease. With black magic suspected, their journey proves to be rather treacherous, testing their faith and leading them closer to hell on earth.

This movie was an absolute joy to watch. From the grisly plague infested wastelands to the brutal close quarters action sequences, Black Death will captivate both thriller and gore junkies alike. There was not a single flaw in the casting, with Bean standing out amongst the talented cast. One of the most notable scenes in the movie depicted the stalwart knight Ulric (Sean Bean) who proclaims his faith as he is ordered to be quartered (well, more like halved) by a necromancer. If you don't know what being quartered is, look it up!

If you're looking for a fantastic piece of historical horror, go and get yourself a copy of Black Death. You will not be disappointed. High octane action! Pagan magic! Necromancy!? Can you ask for more?!

4.5/5 dead thumbs up!

- King of the Zombies

Jordan, England, and "Dead Air"

2011-06-01T20:07:00.004-04:00

I have yet to watch the 2009 zombie movie Dead Air. It's got a 5.0/10 rating on imdb which, if anything, indicates that it's magnitudes better than the relatively similarly titled 2007 film Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane (I gave it 1.5/5...check out my review in the REVIEWS tab). The problem is, the website I was planning on streaming it from, fastpasstv.eu, has been down for the past week! I've been searching for an alternative, but I have yet to find a website that looks relatively safe. In the meantime, allow me to share my summer plans with you!

For those of you new to this blog, I'm an archaeologist working on my masters degree. I get to do a fair amount of travelling, and will be returning to the wonderful Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for two months this summer as a dig supervisor on the Tell Madaba Archaeological Project. Jordan is one of my favorite places to be, and I look forward to seeing all of my friends there! Did I mention the fairly zombie proof houses, guns, MP5K armed police officers, ancient ruins/castles, and camels?! Could anyone ask for more?

After Jordan, I will be staying in London, England for about a week with a group of my good friends. It'll be my first time in the UK, so naturally I'm super excited! Using the greatness that is Google Maps, I have planned the majority of my trip. I have, of course, planned visits to classic tourist hotspots such as the British Museum, Imperial War Museum, Sherlock Holmes Museum, Abbey Road Studios, and Shakespeare's Globe. Did I mention the Doctor Who Experience?!

I have also planned a few days (perhaps solo) catering to my more...macabre interests. You might be familiar with the more mainstream of these locals: the Ashmolean Museum, Clink, and London Dungeon. I will also be visiting Watkins Books and Treadwell's.

Taken from their websites:

"Watkins Books is an esoteric bookshop in the heart of London. Established over 100 years ago, we are now one of the world's leading independent bookshops specialising in new, second-hand and antiquarian titles in the Mind, Body, Spirit field." ... "Treadwell's is a magical bookshop in London's Bloomsbury area, and we specialise in all things esoteric. We have books on world religion, spirituality, culture and travel, Wicca, paganism and the history of Western magic. We've got something for every pocket - books from £1 to £5,000. And we have more than books: come visit us for herbs, oils, regalia, and quirky magical gifts."

Tarot and esoteric symbols, I'm not necessarily a believer, but they're just so fascinating!

- King of the Zombies

Metro: Last Light E3 teaser

2011-05-31T18:50:00.000-04:00

Never heard of the "Metro" video game series? I highly recommend that you pick up Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhosky, the novel from which the series is based. Although the first instalment of the game was available to Xbox 360 and PC gamers, Last Light will introduce PS3 gamers to this dark and oh-so-apocalyptic franchise some time in 2012 (if the world doesn't end...joking).

- King of the Zombies

Review: Stiffs (web series)

2011-05-30T17:10:00.002-04:00

It's zombie web-series time! I was introduced to this web series by a friend of mine, who was also friends with the director/writer/producer. Due to work commitments, I was unable to attend the "world premiere". This review is long overdue!

Stiffs is based around the misadventures and survival of three twenty-something guys holed up in what seems to be a cottage community. The first, Richard, is hopelessly similar to any of Jesse Eisenberg and Michael Cera's performances; one dimensional (with the exception of The Social Network) and awkward. Although the second, and arguably the most well written character Doug is fairly likeable, he too is rather unoriginal. The joker of the group, Doug's personality is uncannily similar to Tallahassee from Zombieland. The third and final hero? Lawrence? Well...read page 204 of World War Z and you'll see for yourself. Or if you dare, watch the 2008 film Edges of Darkness. The similarity is uncanny.

If you decide to give this series a try, please wear your "patience hat". The episode 1 "Pilot" was an uninteresting and disjointed ho hum. Episode 2 "Campers" faired a bit better as it both introduced the main characters and followed two of the protagonists Richard and Doug as they searched for supplies. The 10 minute scene (of an ~13 minute episode) was unnecessarily long and drawn out. However, if you are able to get through the convoluted and boring pilot, and the unnecessarily long second episode, the series begins to pick up ever so slightly.

While the series features fairly well written dialogue, average special effects and cinematography when compared to the copious number of indy zombie works, Stiffs comes out to be rather boring. I'm not pointing the finger regarding the similarities the primary characters share with their mainstream counterparts, it isn't even entirely writer/director Robin Williams' (not the comedian) fault. The series is just that cliched and derivative. Personally, I've seen too many zombie movies and web series to count. At this point, I look for something a bit...different and interesting. Devout fans? Pass this up. New to the zombie genre? Watch AMC The Walking Dead TV adaptation or the web series Lifeless and Hamilton Carver: Zombie PI. If you're really adamant on watching this series, you can check it out at http://www.watchstiffs.com/

2.5/5 dead thumbs up.

- King of the Zombies

Review: Patient Zero

2011-05-28T23:42:00.000-04:00

Like many devout fans of the zombie genre, I constantly strive to find a literary work that is comparable to, or dare I say better than the Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z. With complete and utter confidence, I can say that I've found such a book in Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry.

A cross between military, horror and science fiction, Patient Zero follows Joe Ledger, a talented Baltimore detective recruited by the government to lead a clandestine rapid-response group called the Department of Military Science (DMS) to help combat a terrorist cells intent on releasing a bioweapon capable of transforming ordinary people into raging zombies.

This is easily one of the best zombie-themed novels I've read. Skeptical? Patient Zero takes all of the things we love from the BPRD/Hellboy universe and 28 Days franchise while infusing them with military action akin to Call of Duty. Jonathan Maberry masterfully blends scientific detail, furious violence, and gore, creating his own blend of bioterrorism that is all too real! Patient Zero simply embodies all of the qualities of a satisfying work of zombie fiction: fast-paced action sequences, subtle romantic tension, and scientific detail so realistic it's horrifying.

I highly recommend this book, and it's follow up The Dragon Factory. A must read, Patient Zero is a perfect work of zombie fiction. There is not a doubt in my mind that Joe Ledger should join the ranks of great characters such as The Walking Dead's RIck Grimes.

5/5 dead thumbs up!

- King of the Zombies

Dead Island interview and gameplay preview video!

2011-05-27T22:56:00.001-04:00

It's about time! I've been waiting for this game since it was announced back in 2007. FOr those of you living under a rock for the last year, Dead Island is an open-world action-RPG set on the fictional island of Banoi. Unlike a lot of unrealistic zombie games (*cough cough Left 4 Dead), Dead Island will primarily focus on hand to hand combat and the use of realistic weapons. You won't be INITIALLY proficient with fire arms, nor will you have access to them. More likely, you will pick up every day items such as pipes, planks, and knives. Items will need to be repaired and will have the ability to be combined a la Dead Rising 2. I'm incredibly impressed with what we've seen so far. The drop-in drop-out co-op looks fantastic. Unlike many game developers, Dead Island looks to include heavy detail in both the combat and environments. Zombies will have destructible limbs, and simple acts such as swinging a weapon will drain your stamina (otherwise this would turn into a hack and slash rpg like the Elder Scrolls series).

Let's face it. The trailer was one of the most beautiful works of cinematic art I've ever watched. For a second, I doubted Techland's ability to follow up with game play footage. I stand corrected.

- King of the Zombies

Update: Back from vacation, leaving the country (again), and the coming apocalypse

2011-05-26T20:58:00.001-04:00

I have finally returned from my trip to New York City and Bermuda. It was quite eventful! I had the opportunity to meet the lovely people at Obscura Antiques & Oddities (from the Discovery Channel series Oddities) and the man himself...NICK OFFERMAN from the NBC series Parks and Recreation! Additionally, I was lucky enough to stop by the HBO store and see the original props used in the first season of Game of Thrones! After geeking out in New York...my family and I then made our way to Bermuda via cruise ship for relaxation, fine dining, and fun in the sun.

Over the course of this vacation, I learned many things. Most importantly, I learned that one of these destinations would be unsuitable for surviving a theoretical (or not so) zombie apocalypse. Be it urban chaos, social unrest, war, or hypothetical reanimating viral plagues, New York City is far from a safe haven. The crowds, the traffic, and the general chaos that presently exists within the city are all reasons contributing to my assessment that NYC is an unsuitable location to be when all hell breaks loose.

Speaking of hell breaking loose, how about that "Judgement Day'?! Eh? I'm not a religious person (spiritual is what I like to call myself), so I am generally unaware of the breaking news within the religious community. While waiting in line outside NBC, I was pleasantly surprised/amazed/stupefied/ to see a CARAVAN of RVs and buses with custom decals stating that judgement day was coming on May 21st! I promptly pulled out my blackberry and dug deeper into this fascinating and incredibly hilarious concept! Needless to say, when the 21st arrived I neither noticed or cared. Instead, I specifically remember reading Patient Zero in a VERY comfortable chair facing the ocean, working out, and dining on caviar and escargot (I worked out...so I could eat more!).

On the note of leaving the country again, I will be returning to the wonderful country of Jordan! More to come.

Happy "I survived a falsely predicted apocalypse" month!

- King of the Zombies