After writing my review of the FUBAR World War II Zombie Anthology and re-watching the increasingly badass trailer for AMC’s The Walking Dead, my interest in zombies has taken a sharp turn upwards to the lengths of which I haven’t seen since I was maybe 16. Though putting zombies is different time periods is certainly nothing new (I’m almost certain that almost every era on this list has been done before, crappily), it’s rare that we ever see it done well.
FUBAR wasn’t the first mash-up of Nazis and zombies, nor will it be the last. But so far, it’s the best. What other eras could make do with a zombie infused romp?
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5. The Renaissance
I admit that there is nothing of weight that draws my appeal towards having zombies running around Europe in the midst of The Renaissance other than seeing Earth’s greatest artists running for their lives while still trying to create art. Instead of David we get David’s zombie carcass. Instead of the Sistine Chapel ceiling being a depiction of God and Adam it’s a zombie eating Adam’s finger.
While this might be something that you daydream about during 9th grade history class, as juvenile and disrespectful to the original artwork as it is, it’d still be awesomely entertaining.
4. The 1980s
Members Only. Miami Vice. New Wave. Hair Metal. John Hughes. Campy action movies.
The list could go on feasibly forever. One thing I’d love to see from a zombie comic is a cultural parody of the decadent 1980s using our favorite undead hell spawns. Think of it like the satirical aspects of American Psycho meeting the utter zombie insanity of Dead Alive. Much like Night of the Living Dead did in the 1960s, a clever zombie tale equating yuppies to the undead holds a lot of potential.
3. Prohibition Era Chicago
Chicago during prohibition was rife with mob families battling over the bootlegging of alcohol and running the speakeasys. This was Al Capone’s career highlight, and a period of American history that stands out as some of the most bizarre. Reading about the abolishing alcohol is one of the strangest things that you learn in school.
Since it’s already weird (as well as violent and lewd), why not toss in some zombies? Zombie hookers, zombie gangsters (which means zombies with tommy guns), and the obligatory zombie feds. Plus the mysteries behind the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre could finally be revealed as a brutal zombie attack. So really, a comic like this is beneficial to both history and detective work.
2. Rat Pack Las Vegas
I’m thinking Oceans Eleven meets zombies. How can you go wrong? Sinatra, Martin, Davis Jr. tearing up Sin City with more than just song and dance is a multi-million dollar multimedia hit in the making. Hell, if someone was really daring they’d write/draw the comic in a style of the era, and the inevitable film adaptation could be a musical.
I don’t know why Hollywood hasn’t called me yet, I really don’t.
1. 33 AD
I’m going to Hell. That was determined a long time ago. So while I’m there, wouldn’t it be great to read a comic that replaces the Roman army with zombies? Perhaps Jesus wasn’t crucified as legend dictates, but bitten by zombies. I mean, he did resurrect at one point. Just saying.
Like I said, I’ve accepted my place in the underworld, should there be one.
