ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE!

June 29, 2009 by Jorge Labrador 

Relax. The infection is only spreading to comic book characters

Zombies are terrifying. Fact.

Our obsession with the undead has infected all forms of entertainment, from film (any movie with a title ending in “of the Dead”) to literature. Sadly, 2008’s “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” isn’t quite in the canon.

At least not yet.

Even a medium like the comic book cannot resist the undead for long – Marvel Comics took the first step with the 2005 mini series “Marvel Zombies,” a slightly tongue-in-cheek take on their heroes which saw many of them turned horror movie-grade menaces.

Not content with simply aping the usual zombie flick plot or Marvel’s concept, DC Comics’ upcoming miniseries and event “Blackest Night” will unleash masses of superpowered undead throughout their titles. These zombies won’t just shamble about looking for something or someone to eat; they are fueled by death itself and a powerful urge to destroy all emotion and life in the universe.

A spin-off of the Green Lantern franchise, the eight-part “Blackest Night” miniseries and its tie-ins will bring a multitude of previously deceased villains and superheroes back from the grave with Green Lantern-like power rings and one word on their minds – “flesh.”

Expect to see warped, undead versions of deceased DC mainstays such as Firestorm, Martian Manhunter and even heavy hitters like Aquaman and the Earth-Two version of Superman in the pages of “Blackest Night” and its tie-in titles.

That’s right, a zombie Superman from a parallel world. Yikes. Gotta love that comic book science.

And that’s not all.  Covers for “Green Lantern” are teasing that long-time villain Black Hand, who has some part in raising the dead, has been hanging around the presumed dead Bruce Wayne’s tombstone.

Zombie Batman? Yeah, a zombie that always has a plan for how to get you.  Double yikes.

Unlike “Final Crisis,” 2008’s crossover event that was derided by some for turning into “continuity porn”– a story meant for fans who already know DC’s comics front and back, “Blackest Night” should prove to be a solid standalone story for readers to dive into. One part space opera and one part zombie flick, the event is being helmed by one of the most talented writers in comics – Geoff Johns, who rebooted the Green Lantern franchise in 2004 and plotted the excellent “Sinestro Corps War” in 2007, a precursor to “Blackest Night.”

“Sinestro Corps War” was “World War II in space,” so expect “Blackest Night” to be “Star Wars trilogy with the undead.”

“Blackest Night” kicks off in “Green Lantern” #43 on July 8, followed by “Blackest Night” #1 (of 8 ) on July 15. “Sinestro Corps War” is available in two collections, in both hardcover and paperback.

Because turning beloved characters into zombies is in fashion, we’ve rounded up our top 5 characters from other media who would most benefit from zombie-themed sequels.

5. Old Yeller: “Old Yeller”

Nope. It wasn’t a tragic case of rabies that forced little Travis to shoot Yeller so he wouldn’t pose a threat to his family. It just seemed that way… until Yeller came back from the grave.

The infection likely wouldn’t end with Old Yeller, either. Yeller is sure to spread the disease to talking animals of all sorts. The crazed Yeller is bound to infect and create zombie Flipper, Mister Ed, Gentle Ben, Bambi’s mother, Garfield and Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Zombie animal mascots. Truly terrifying. Yeller’s lust for revenge knows no bounds.

4. Forrest Gump: “Forrest Gump”

If life is like a box of chocolates, undeath is like a box of delicious brains. We don’t know how he’d become a zombie, but we’re sure it would be hilarious, quaint AND culturally relevant.

3. Any character: “Spongebob Squarepants”

Like Old Yeller and many of DC’s characters in “Blackest Night,” Nickelodeon’s Spongebob is an icon most associated with childhood but enjoyed by children and adults alike. This parallel is exactly why this franchise is in need of a zombie revamp.

Perhaps Squidward would stop being such a jerk if he had to deal with Zombie Spongebob and Patrick attempting to bust down his door and feast on his flesh.

2. Jack Dawson and all of those other poor people: “Titanic”

“Titanic” is pretty much a love-it-or-hate-it sort of film, but one thing remains absolutely certain – all those undesirables shoved into their quarters like cattle were living in filth.

Pure, unadulterated filth – which is the perfect environment for some kind of viral zombie infection to break out and infect Jack before he drifts off into the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Let’s just hope he finds that necklace on the sea bottom before he and the frigid, undead horde of third class passengers finish their long trek to the East Coast of the U.S.

1. A significant portion of the population of the town of Forks, Washington: the “Twilight” series

Although I’ve used the phrase “mindless zombie” when referring to the Twilight series countless times, that’s usually in reference to the fans. I’d never wish harm upon the actual town of Forks, the fictional version presented in the novel-turned-film series itself could use some mindless zombies to jazz up its concept.

Maybe the film’s characters – human and vampire alike – could spend time running and devising ways to escape from the undead that have overwhelmed the town’s populace instead of being involved in things such as dialogue, interaction and general exposition.

No, no. That’s just wishful thinking.