Episode 796: Introductions

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Dave

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Zombie Cliche Lookout: First Impressions

In the normal, non-zombie apocalyptic world, first impressions with people are a pretty big deal. After all, we tend to, consciously or otherwise, form a lot of deep seated conclusions about a person within the first minute or two of meeting them. And if those initial impressions are negative, it tends to take a lot to change your mental image about someone. That’s often not fair, but that’s just how humans are wired.

Now take this and apply it to a situation in which people are in both considerable danger and are under substantial daily stress. You know, something like a large scale zombie outbreak (a crazy example, I know, but stick with me here). How will that affect people’s first impressions of others? Well, I’m guessing people are going to be a hell of a lot more choosy about who they’re going to trust.

About this Episode:

I went back and forth quite a bit on the setup of this episode. I realize that it’s kind of weird for everyone to allow Henry to be between them and their home. It’s probably not something people living on the edge of survival would do, right? That being said, I’m making this compromise for storytelling reasons. I really wanted to have Henry addressing the crowd in the style of a politician. Sure, the crowd is not as big as one in a political rally, but this guy is clearly someone who sees himself as very smooth and charming. Halfway between a salesman and an incumbent mayor.

Discussion Question: Instant Trust

You are on your own in the midst of the zombie apocalypse, and have been for some time. It’s been rough going. Suddenly, you come across a small group of survivors who appear to have been together for quite some time and have built up a good group dynamic. You need to introduce yourself to them in such a way that they’ll give you a real chance of getting to know them. How do you do that?

12 thoughts on “Episode 796: Introductions”

  1. The first thing that comes to mind is why he needed the whole group there to introduce himself to. Why he couldn’t have just said that to the initial group is rather odd seeming to me.

    What group of survivors will this be? Another, larger group, or are they hoping to pull in people who have quite obviously survived this far into the zombie apocalypse? How many other survivors have they pulled in already from the other story arcs? 😀

    • Oh he definitely could have introduced himself to Cheryl and Stewart, but he wanted to make an impression. And, perhaps, intimidate just a bit.

  2. Regarding the Discussion Question, I’d be doing the same thing Clark did early on in this strip. Yeah, Dave not only answered the question, he gave us the answers long before he even wrote it! 😀

    • Lol! Yes! Clark gave a great first impression!

      • Oh you guys love to tease my shitty memory.

        • We first see Clark in Episode 29, where he met up with the original gang, and later, from Episode 37 onwards, he gives them a rough outline of how he survives in the zombie apocalypse! 😀

  3. effect -> affect
    (you’re sleepin’ on the job, BrickVoid! XD

    • Nice catch. Fixed.

    • Good catch, thanks! I sure don’t spot ’em all, I usually give the episode a second reread the next morning and I might have caught that then but you simply found it first! 😀

  4. “Halfway between a salesman and an incumbent mayor.”
    I’m still in favour of shooting Henry.

    • Jeez, Dave, the crowd is milling at the gates with pitchforks and torches, aren’t they? 😀

  5. Instant trust is either knowing what they need and getting it for them so they have to accept you or total drama by a heroic save either from zeds or another group or a disaster they can’t get out of without you.

    If not try trading with them. It takes a little longer but can build up some real trust and make them dependent on you.