Zombie Cliche Lookout: The Reveal
It is perhaps the hoariest of tropes in the zombie genre to point out that, while zombies are indeed an incredible danger, it is the humans who are the true monsters. How the zombie story chooses to reveal this monster, however, changes radically. Sometimes, as in the original Dawn of the Dead, they are revealed as a sudden external threat in the third act (the biker gang). Other times, growing tension within the group causes splintering and in-fighting, as it does in Night of the Living Dead between Ben and Cooper. There are virtually endless different means of introducing this human threat that can be spun up and implemented into the story, and they usually inform us, at least a bit, about the nature of the villain.
About this Episode:
When picking a face for Ned, I wanted to find something that was a major contrast to Henry. I wanted these to figures to have opposite and complimentary roles within their organization. Henry is the public face. He looks pleasant and friendly, and his job is to charm people enough to let down their guards just a bit. Ned, on the other hand, is there to intimidate. He’s not friendly, and exudes a sense of danger and dread. Working together, Henry and Ned can deal a lot of damage to unprepared groups of survivors.
Discussion Question: Violent or Non-Violent Hero Figures?
Today’s question comes courtesy of Steam Powered Spam:”I have a potential discussion question: Here the main character had a chance to overpower some people who are most likely bandits out to rob and murder his friends.So my question is: do you (the reader) prefer heroes who try to find a peacefull solution first or a hero who would immediately resort to violence, viewing it as practical to strike the enemy first. What would you do if given the chance?”
Typo alert: “different means on introducing” on–>of 😀
Only one that I could find for today, Dave! As always, if anyone else spots a typo please do post it in the comments here. 😀
Nice! Fixed.
Okay, having seen Ned, he does seem a bit intimidating. However, maybe he’s just that way because that’s how his personality comes across. I guess his real intent is to manage his group of people properly, and introduce new survivors to his way of thinking.
I guess next week we’ll find out just what he has in store for Murphy and the rest of the group, and whether Gus and Russell can rescue them or not! 😀
I think that’s an interesting line of thought. Is Ned like this because he feels like it’s the only way to survive and keep his people safe? What sorts of things can you justify on those ends?
There’s also another guy just visible in the background, I wonder who he is? One of Ned’s guards, no doubt. But is he just a guard, or is there more to that guy, too? 😀
That’s Jess. We’ve seen her before. She’s just out-of-focus now.
Just noticed some weirdness with the brown blur effect behind Tara, Sam, and Cheryl:
Panel 1: Brown blur behind Sam, the two women have no brown blur behind them.
Panel 2: Brown blur disappears from behind Sam, now both Tara and Cheryl have a brown blur behind them.
Panel 3: Tara’s brown blur is still present, Cheryl’s brown blur may or may not be shown as it’s hidden by a word balloon, but faintly appears to be present.
Panel 4: Tara’s brown blur is present, but Cheryl’s appears to have either moved slightly behind her or is present but clipped due to being partly off-panel.
Dave, can you shed some light on this weird brown blur? 😀
It’s all camera perspective. There’s just a brown leaf piece behind them, and it shows or is blocked depending on the angle of the lens when I shoot the frame.
That doesn’t adequately explain why it moved behind multiple people. 😀
I know, I’ll attribute it to your meth-addicted scriptwriter! Makes perfect sense then! 😀
If your toolbox consists of just a hammer you are not going to be able to fix a lot of things. If you choose only violence or non-violence to solve problems then you won’t be able to successfully solve all problems. Heroes need to be flexible and ready to do what it takes to solve problems.
Man, that’s really well said Rattraveller. I think viewing the world in binaries like this gets people – myself included – in a lot of trouble. We oversimplify the problem, which makes our approach to a solution flawed from the onset.
Now, let’s go find some nails to smash down.
I second Dave’s feedback, excellent points Rattraveller!
*Rattraveller has been awarded two points*
Uh oh, blooper in the last frame! Unless the sideways cap is an expression of style? 😉
Hah, nope. I must have accidentally moved it and not noticed. I blame our meth-addicted script supervisor for not spotting that one.
She must be some scriptwriter for you to keep her around this long! 😀
With that face, I picture Ned sounding like Carl the Big Mean Monster.
https://youtu.be/tGMhGnclQDA
Hah!
Nice one
You spelled “Negan” wrong, Dave. 😉
This is really shaping up to be very close to the ending I had imagined. 😮 And it doesn’t end well for our group.
Oh, you’ve got to tell me what you pictured!
NEGAN CLIFFHANGER INCOMING!!!
BOTD FAN OUTRAGE INCOMING!!!
:O :O :O :O :O :O :O :O :O :O :O :O :O :O
Nah, I wouldn’t do that.
somewhere in the middle, like the mc from in another world with a smartphone (it is a love it or hate it anime / manga). He tries not to get violent, but when push comes to shove, he has a very vindictive streak and lets the opponents know that all other forms of treachery are blocked off, if he feels the need to give a second chance. Although I would like to see him fly off the handle when a friend gets hurt in future chapters.
since you seem to be taking request for topics: “here is my hat” –
cringe worthy zombie causing theories (sp) that are plausible
given events list
a) fashion repeats itself every 10 or so years
b) late 70’s, VERY Early 80’s moon boots (trampoline shoes) banned – after a little while due to people getting hurt on them.
c) repeat appearance of moon boots 80’s, 90’s, 2k, 2010, recently
d) McDonald’s coffee spill-er wins lawsuit
e) rate of pills / diagnosis of X, Y, and Z are going up to record heights (not adjusted for world population)
Therefore: using moon boots as a baseline IQ test, the rich are bombing us with pills until legally we are alive, but mentally we are not. In order for the rich to have their own personal legal zombie event.