Episode 201: Cause and Effect

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Dave

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Zombie Cliché Lookout: Cause and Effect

The thing about stupid decisions is that they can have far reaching consequences. Just as the flapping of a butterfly’s wings can cause a tsunami on the other side of the world, your momentary lapse of judgement could put everyone in danger. And when there are zombies crawling around, that risk shoots up at an exponential rate. Long story short: don’t do dumb stuff, and especially don’t do dumb stuff in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

In zombie stories, there’s generally two ways this works out for the person who committed the stupid act. They’re either killed (read: devoured by the walking dead) due to the consequences of their actions (read: unleashing the dead and/or stranding everyone in downtown Zombieville). But sometimes, that person will survive, only to watch their friends and loved ones torn to pieces by the walking dead. This can be a learning experience, albeit a cruel one, or a reason for the character to withdraw from the rest of humanity. So again, keep your head on straight.

Discussion Question: The Good Samaritan

While traveling during the zombie apocalypse, you spot several people being attacked by zombies. They are very much outnumbered. With your help, you might be able to save some of them, but it’s a big risk. Do you help? Are there situations when you would help, and those when you wouldn’t? What if you had others, like loved ones, in your party?

About this Episode:

Because I love tooting my own horn, I have to say I really like that second panel. I took several different shots for it, each at a sort of crazy angle. The idea was to suggest disorientation on Karen’s part. Whether that worked or not, I’m not sure. Regardless, I think it’s a cool photo.

38 thoughts on “Episode 201: Cause and Effect”

  1. about the episodeExcellent, it’s falling into place! If she gets bitten will she also be a zombie in the bonus features?
    About the discussion question:
    Well, it depends. If there a person(s) of use to me, then I could try to save them on thea agreement I’ll throw them to the zombies if they step out of line. If there’s noone of use, I’ll ignore them and focus onmy survival. If they aren’t zombified by the end I might pikcpocket them afterward.

    • Very pragmatic answer, Digihuman.

      Regarding the Bonus Features: we’ll see. That’s going to be mostly plot-centric from here on out.

  2. No, they could be anybody. Crazies, hostiles, cannibals, any shit. No exemptions.

    • True indeed.

  3. It looks like Karen just threw herself at Zombie Elvis…. lady, even dead, Zombie Elvis isn’t that great and he’d no longer be King.

    Now, for the other dude, watch out yourself, there’s a zombie shambling right at ya’.

    As to the discussion – It would depend upon where they were at, what weapons, vehicles, means I had available. If I were say in a Van or Truck… plow into some zombies, possibly behind the group should that allow… do a get-away mode for as many as possible.

    If I had guns, I might enjoy myself a bit of a cowboy, gunslinger show down of zombie-whack-a-mole from a distance.

    It would really depend on the circumstances and mine and if I really thought I had a means of helping them, even if just some of them.

    • Hah. Ladies can’t resist the King, zombie or otherwise.

  4. Typo city today, Dave! First Typo: Cause and Effect title appears twice, but guess which one doesn’t belong! 😀

    Second typo: “Albeit a cruel on” I think you’re missing an e there!

    Third typo, in the Discussion Question: “They are very much outnumber” I think you’re missing an -ed there! 😉

    • And yet another typo: “So keep your head on strait” I think you’re missing a g in straight! 😉

      • And the ‘h’ too! Now you’re making me make typos! 😉

        • Damn. I also had “Episode 200” instead of 201. Yikes.

  5. Now that I’ve finished with typos for now, what exactly happened in the last panel? Did she fall over onto the zombie or did he reach up and grab her? I’m sure there are going to be lots of theories but what did the storyline call for? 😀

    • From my perspective, she was climbing out and got grabbed by the zombie. Of course it’s left pretty wide open.

      • It would look better if you’d put in a “slip” or “grab” emote there, so we’d have a better idea! 😀

        Now we’ll have to see if just getting grabbed by a zombie – I assume yours can do that – will infect someone! 😀 Of course, Karen there will have to fight him off without getting bitten first! 😉

  6. To answer the question Id help out if it was like a local police force detachment or maybe a nice looking group of survivors but hoodlems or a gang id probably head in the opposite direction.

    • But those gang members would probably be well armed. That counts for something, right?

      • No. Havent you been watching the walking dead lately .

        • Hah. Touche.

      • Even though they were well armed, they probably wouldn’t know how to use all there weapons right. I mean come on, how can you expect to hit something holding a gun sideways, let alone get a head-shot.

  7. I’d definately help them out. the main thing to do in a zombie apocalypse is keep the human race going so leaving them there wouldn’t help at all. If I had other people in my party I’d probably get one or two of strongest ones to help me but leave the rest in a safe place to stay until I get back.

    • Nice answer, Brickyman!

    • That’s my plan Brickyman. So glad I’m not the only softy here! lol

      I couldn’t live with myself knowing that I didn’t at least try to save others. I wouldn’t take too big a risk but I’d do what I could without letting my people get hurt.

  8. Very good episode Dave!
    Regarding your question – I guess I would first need to assess whether the Zombies have brought some powertape with them.

    • That is hilarious! 😀 Dave should totally use that in an episode, if they ever make a LEGO tape part! 😉

      • That is, indeed, awesome, Yatkuu.

  9. Hell yes, I’d help them. Some people may say the zombie apocalypse changes moral codes; I say it brings them into sharper focus. Crisis situations can make good people better, and bad people worse. But I’m gonna hold onto humanity, and that means I help.

    • Another good guy! Thanks!!

  10. Saving other people when it would be a big risk? Not a chance. Even when it wouldn’t, it always pays to be careful. There are bad people out there, especially when “out there” is in the middle of a zombocalypse.

  11. deffo save them as if I left them then I would proberly end up going back when it was too late to try and save them as my consience is like my slow on the uptake but strong when it counts 😉

  12. I might save them, depends. If they seem useful for my team, I’d help them. If it’s clear that they have gotten themselves in that situation, no chance. I won’t risk my party’s safety to save others. And if they look like they are at odds with each other or are going to try and take the leading role in my party, I won’t save them either. Can’t risk to get the inner peace disturbed in a zombie apocalypse. And I wouldn’t save them if they are heavily armed. They might turn on us. Instead I’d wait until the zeds have killed them and take their weapons. Or if they look like wimps, no use for them either.
    So, basically, doesn’t look good for them. But if they are useful, getting along well, peaceful towards humans and deadly towards zombies, and calm, I might actually give them a chance.;)

    • what if there is a horde of zombies coming down the road, and you have to either save them, or leave for good. I guess my point is, not all people can be judged at a glance, and if you stand there looking at them and listening to them, you will probably get surrounded yourself. Sorry if this seems like it could be offensive in any way.

      • It’s not offensive at all, it’s a legitimate problem I’d encounter.
        I assumed I’d have a save observing spot, but if spending time on judging them might put myself in danger, I’d be sure to not save them, but rather make sure I get away as fast as possible. I wouldn’t give them the benefit of the doubt.

  13. My knee-jerk response would be to ask someone in my team to take the rest to safety (heh! We al assume that we are respective teams leaders); mostly likely my wife, she has great leadership qualities & is quite the kick-ass when needed to be. I’d see if there were ways of distracting the zees: Car horns, bike bells, emergency response vehicles alarms, etc. Assuming these were the Lethargic Lumberers, I wouldn’t jump into the middle of the horde, but see if I can do the bash & run from the outside in; split up their numbers and give the few survivors a fighting chance.

  14. She ded

  15. Help first… Collect karma payment later.

  16. I just thought of a question for Dave: With the new Aliens sets that came out in 2011, do you have any plans for them to randomly abduct unsuspecting people and zombies? I think an alien abduction doesn’t necessarily mean that the aliens are immune to zombie bites, or that they would cure zombified people, or even that they’re unfriendly. I do, however, think they’d be interesting in a zombie webcomic! 😉

  17. So much cussing now…..hah

  18. stupid elvis zombie

  19. I think I’ve made my views on the utility of numbers before, and I’d put a fair bit of effort into developing effective tactics against the zombies, so I’d like the odds of my group against all but horde-sized groups of them. Definitely try to help unless it was clearly suicide; we always need more healthy bodies.