Zombie Cliche Lookout: The Big Secret
Cowardly characters in zombie stories usually come in one of two varieties: legitimately cowardly people, and regular folks who have gone through some extreme trauma and come out the other end with a boatload of issues. The former are generally there for everyone to hate. They’re the character the audience is supposed to unite against, at least in the first act or two. Sometimes they end up having a nice moment of redemption near the end, although they generally don’t survive the redemption process.
The other type of coward is generally a pretty normal person, or perhaps even extraordinary, it’s just that making their way through the initial woes of the outbreak has broken them to the point where they exist in a near constant state of fear. Like the standard issue coward, the broken person can also have a moment of redemption, but they differ in that the audience is supposed to sympathize with them, if not outright associate with them.
About this Episode:
I’ve been holding off on this Sam revelation for a long, long time now. I’ve got a whole backstory for everyone’s favorite chicken mapped out, but I think we’ve spent enough time with him for the time being. We’ve got one more episode to wrap up this little arc, and then I’m taking a couple weeks off.
While I’m gone, Evan (ZombieMutts) is going to be doing a limited run comic based on the book Pavlov’s Dogs (fans on Facebook have likely seen the teasers). Now I haven’t seen the complete run, but based on the episodes I’ve checked out, you guys are in good hands.
Discussion Question: Backstories
With this little reveal about Sam, which other characters are you interested in learning more about? It’s Clark isn’t it.Everyone is always talking about Clark.
What would have Shannon’s backstory been? She got killed off, and I don’t think it was ever covered. Also, are Abe and Emma going to get a spot in the character bios section?
We never did learn a whole lot about her, did we. Gone too soon, Shannon. Gone too soon.
Some days you’re the dog, others the fire hydrant…
I find it funny how Abe thought Sam would have not been able to get married in a normal world. I would love to hear more of Murphy’s backstory. He seemed to know a lot of the now dead nurses.
Maybe Abe is so lost in his own grief that he can’t see past his own?
Possibly. He might think he had to suffer the worst, while others have suffered more than him(zombie and present time issues).
I hope this calls for a flashback!! You never really do know how the four main characters came to meet each other.
Woah, plot twist! Also, If you want Abe to seem really, REALLY mad at Sam, you should try using a filter or border for some of the panels.
Dun-dun-dun!!!
All his crankiness makes so much more sense now.
There are so many characters, I can’t keep them straight. Clark was the survivalist in the woods, right? (“Clark” makes me think “Clark Griswold”, and I see Chevy Chase living alone in the woods- whoops, guess his bio says the same thing)
It’s too early for back-story. We’ve had weeks of exposition. I’m ready for Murphy to lead his crew to bust Sam out of there (and maybe pick up some 7.62×51 for his M14S, too).
I’m ready for the
Who the hell is Clark? (lol)
Great twist Dave… and I agree, this story needs more dogs.
Good twist, *I* definitely wasn’t expecting Sam to have been married! I agree with Greg, this story need more dogs… heck, every Zed story needs more dogs! Besides “I Am Legend”, not many zombie stories with dogs as companions, and my dogs would be the ones keeping me sane in any Z-war.
Awesome! The story just keeps getting better. Now Sam should slap Abe to the ground. Its only fair.
Looking forward to Scrimshaw’s backstory.
+1 Scrimshaw!!
sweet, i knew that sam was hiding something
what if we saw the looters ganged up with clark around stewarts house that would be something to think about,
I think Stewart carries many secrets under that red cap of his. I’d like to know his backstory and Shannon’s, although she died long ago…
Not really sure there is a lot to tell about Stewart. He’s the youngest of the gang, completely immature and if we were to dig in his past we’d probably find out that he’s just a big nerd who still plays with LEGO. Hum…
XBox champion and general future basement-dweller.
The zombie apocalypse is probably the best thing that ever happened to him.
DAMN IT I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU EVER TALK LIKE THAT AGAIN!
I agree with Dead Coat. I bet Stewart has a sad story – broken home and whatnot. His thinking that Murph had abandoned them did it for me. I don’t think he’s just a punk kid.
stewarts awesome! im so waiting all month for his back story
Sam’s next line should totally be “Welcome to the flip side of your coin, because I’m going to flip it over for you!” 😉
Awkward moment much? Lol
I hope at some point sam kicks abe in the crotch (do minifigs even have crotches?).
yea, what do you think that those roundish lumps above their legs
I really like how Sam now has a backstory that we can see as well, it gives his character a lot more depth.
And I can’t wait to read Pavlov’s Dogs (Mutts’s rendition, anyway – I don’t believe I’ve heard of the book).