The Walken Dead

What is this stain on my jacket? Gravy? When was the last time I had...gravy? It's...crazy.

[Via Laughing Squid]

Zombie Outbreak Report: Calgary

Early Saturday afternoon there was an outbreak of the undead in Calgary. I had the presence of mind to document the hoard the best I could.

A few fell souls gathered in Olympic plaza, then once their hunger gained a critical mass, they lurched down Stephen Avenue seeking brains and gore.

This was the annual Calgary Zombie walk, dubbed the DEAD MILE. I cancelled a Steampunk gathering so people wouldn't be split on attendance, and then I promptly forgot the date. A late night twitter from Petraneferu reminded me of my undead obligations. I was unable to make the costume changes fast enough for my evening plans, so I attended only as observer, and took as many pictures as I could. I saw many people I knew, but I only recognized them after they approached and spoke to me. That is a testament to the quality and commitment my friends make to their zombification.

My set of photos and video can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/haggiszombies. The whole flickr group is found here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/calgaryzombiewalk/

Until next time, I leave you all with the following zoetrope called: "Zombie Sable takes a tumble"

Previously on Slashboing

• 2006 Zombie Walk
  

Steampunk in Calgary: Postponed!

It has come to my attention that Saturday, October 11th is the Calgary Zombie walk. I think the previously scheduled Anachronaut gathering can be postponed for another time. After all, another time is what we are all about.

Image by Mr. Sable.

Books on my nightstand

I had big plans to make the "Books on my nightstands" entry on Slashboing a regular feature. However it seems only to come up yearly, despite the comings and goings of books from my library. For those who wish to know, here are the current works sitting beside my bed for reading and research.

The Zombie Survival Guide - Max Brooks
Reason: Prepare myself against the inevitable Zombie apocalypse.

Paris: Inside Out
Reason: Prepare myself for an inevitable trip to Paris.

Lovecraft Tales - H.P. Lovecraft
Reason: Prepare myself for writing Steampunk fiction that inevitably crosses unrestrained science with psyche curdling horror.

Firefly: The Official Companion Volume 2 - Joss Whedon
Reason: Firefly was an amazing series, and it doesn't look like we will be seeing any more episodes or movies anytime soon. The occasional Firefly comic book is not feeding the need so I have this collection on hand.


Previously on Slashboing

• Top 5 Nightstand books (May 2007)
• Books on my Nightstand (May 2006)

Undead Hoard

Calgary Zombies 2007-10-20 211
Originally uploaded by thivierr.

The Horde is on the move again. Run! Run!

Zombie facts for the slow minded

Here is a bloody obvious connection I didn't make until today:

The Borg are the Zombies of Star Trek.

Boo on me. Do you think after all those episodes of Trek I watched, and all those zombies I hunted, I would have made this connection sooner? Even the Borg Wikipedia article spells this out.

I'm in serious risk of getting my ironic-hipster fanboy licence revoked.

If the world ended today, how would I know?

I spent the bulk of the day at work in my generic industrial park office. The florescent lights reflect off the whiteboards, flattening out the room to gradient shades of beige. The power flickered a few times today, I guess that's normal. I share the room with three other people, and although we all face the centre, more or less, we don't really make eye contact or talk much. It's not that we don't get along, we just have nothing to say to each other most of the time.

Traffic was light, but I was passed by two ambulances, and at least 7 police cars. I don't know what is up, so I drove to the mall. I found it mostly empty, which is typical for a middle of the week summer evening. Many of the stores took to rolling down their security shutters early. Some had water damage from last week's flood, some were understaffed due to the labour shortage. Some stores had whole crews not show up today for no good reason.

Coming home I watched some reruns and skipped the news. There could be riots downtown, but I wouldn't know because I'm watching a movie on cable. My neighbours are all fairly quiet today. I guess I shouldn't complain. They are usually stomping around like they are trying to raise the dead. Now all I hear is them scratching on the walls and moaning. I don't want to know what they are up to.

The cable eventually went out, and the power is threatening to quit all together now. They must be repairing the damage from all the rain lately. I'll save this now, go to bed, and see what tomorrow brings.

Who's the zombie now?

Marxist critique of the un-dead

In a recent Diesel Sweeties cartoon (DS#1723) R. Stevens questions the recent popularity of zombies. He makes the case that any other pseudo-ironic pop-subculture, such as "pirate" or "monkey," is a far more compelling, suitable, and noble model for hipster aspirations.

A fan (tristanheydt) writes to Mr. Stevens, and using a fine bit of Marxist class conscious critique, gives suitable cause for the growing interest in, and identification with, the ever growing Zombie Hoard.

...I think the popularity of zombies lies in the growing disparity between the haves and the have-nots in western society, and in America in particular. Vampires are the monsters of the upper classes: aristocratic, powerful, and refined. Ghosts are the monsters of the middle class: stationary, repetetive (sic) , and jealous of privilege and their peers. Zombies are the teeming, hungry hordes of the poor and working class, locked in a cycle they cannot escape.
(Source: R.Stevens April 10th Livejournal)

This seems to be a very reasonable assessment of the un-dead.

Thoughts?

Mutants and Skeletons and Cat Women Oh my!

LA4-0013
Originally uploaded by SFRevu.com.

Slashboing Sunday Flickr Favourites commands you to bow before the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra!

A Master class group costume at this years WorldCon recreated the Mutant and company from the cult film.

I sleep now.

Amazing Screw-on Head

The Amazing Screw-on Head is the title of a one shot comic book written and drawn by Mike Mignola of Hellboy fame. The comic was published by Dark Horse Comics in 2002, and an animated pilot was made by the Sci-Fi Channel in 2006. It may yet become a series, based on the feedback from a now closed viewer survey.While similar in tone and theme to Hellboy, The Amazing Screw-On Head is a steampunk comedy.

The voice cast is great with Paul Giamatti as Screw-on head, and David Hyde Pierce as Emperor Zombie, the highly intelligent and articulate power mad zombie villain. Aided by Mr. Groin (a butler) and Mr. Dog (a stuffed dog) Screw-on head fights the occult and supernatural threats as an agent of Abraham Lincoln.

Let's watch!



Wikipedia Article: Amazing Screw-On Head

The Zombie Apocalypse has an upside

The successful Second Annual Calgary Zombie Walk lurched forward this Saturday, moaning and dragging its limp limbs.

Others are more succinct than I, so here is a small collection of reviews from the event:

• Mfiles (Starbucks Zombie)
• Archeron (caddy/golfer)
• 7 Deadly Sinners
• "Janet Weiss" RHPS
• A SAIT of Affairs /w tonnes of pics
  

Here is the master Flickr Group Pool with lots o' pictures from the event: http://www.flickr.com/groups/calgaryzombiewalk

Technorati Tags:
Calgaryzombiewalk2006, Zombie Walk, Calgary, Zombies, Brains?

Zombie Love

Here are some details for the 2nd Annual Calgary Zombie Walk which takes place on Saturday, October 14th.

It starts at 3pm from Olympic Plaza and/or 4pm from the park at 17th Ave and 8th St.

The walk will start in two stages, as follows:

1. All "super zombies" are invited to gather at Olympic Plaza no later than 3pm. From Olympic Plaza the horde will head down Stephen Avenue to 4th Street SW, then head south to 17th Ave. Shambling westward form that point, the next stop is the park at 17th Ave & 8th St, where we will meet:
2. The lazy zombies. A second group of zombies will gather at the above mentioned park at or around 4pm.
   

Finally some links to get you in the zombie spirit.

• Look like a Zombie: A great guide on Wiki How
• Sing like a Zombie: Jonathon Coulton's "RE: Your Brains"
• Know what to look for: The Zombie Walk Pool on Flickr.

Photo Credit: Mark Webster on Flickr via the Blogthis! feature.

Technorati Tags:
Zombie Walk, Calgary events, Zombie, Halloween, Jonathan Coulton