Day of the Dead
DVD | Blu-ray
Director: George A. Romero
Screenwriter: George A. Romero
Cast: Lori Cardille, Joseph Pilato, Terry Alexander, Richard Liberty, Jarlath Conroy, Anthony Dileo Jr.
Scream Factory
Not Rated | 101 Minutes
Release Date: September 17, 2013

Written and directed by George A. Romero, 1985’s Day of the Dead takes place some time after the events of 1978’s Dawn of the Dead.

From farmhouses to shopping malls, the undead have now overrun the entire planet. The remaining fragments of humanity – the U.S. government and military – barricade themselves in an underground missile silo, attempting to find a solution to the zombie outbreak.

Survivors Dr. Sarah Bowman (Lori Cardille), US Army Private Miguel Salazar (Anthony Dileo Jr.), and helicopter pilots McDermott (Jarlath Conroy) and John (Terry Alexander) arrive in Fort Myers, Florida where they encounter a large horde of the undead.

The Walking Dead #113
Written by Robert Kirkman
Art by Charlie Adlard
Colored by Cliff Rathburn
Lettered by Rus Wooton
Edited by Sean Machiewicz
Cover by Charlie Adlard
Image Comics
Release Date: August 14, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

The Walking Dead #113 picks up in the middle of the storyline concerning the handling of Negan. Negan, a Warlord who has been demanding tribute from several survivor groups in the area including Rick’s, has been making life difficult for everyone.

Rick has reached out to two other groups, recruiting their best to wage an attack on Negan. But Negan’s timing, always bad, has decided to show up early for Rick’s group’s tribute. Realizing the opportunity before him, Rick decides to wage the attack right there and then. The problem is Rick isn’t fully informed on Negan, his men, and his operation. And when things go South, it isn’t just those who volunteered for the fight on the line, it’s Rick’s whole group that might pay the price.

Night of the ’80s Undead #1
Story, Colors & Letter Assists by Jason Martin
Pencils by Bill McKay
Letters by Dave Dwonch
Cover by Bill McKay
Action Lab Comics
Release Date: July 10, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

At first, you might shy away from Night of the ’80s Undead #1, because it’s an indie comic by a company that you may not have heard of before. BUT, I would strongly recommend that you give it a look, because behind the cover you will find one hell of a good time!

I have to tip my hat to writer Jason Martin for coming up with a story that’s both funny and original. OK, in today’s comic world zombies aren’t totally an original idea, but what he does with them in this issue, is. Basically, all of your favorite movie stars from the ’80s become zombies and it’s not the fact that they’re zombies that’s funny, it’s what happens beforehand. Martin hasn’t left anything out when it comes to the setting of the story, even providing a soundtrack for the readers at the start of the issue. These are stylized versions of real life characters and he hits them on every note.

Remakes. I’ve never been entirely opposed to their existence. Several of my favorite movies were technically remakes. I just feel that there should be a statute of limitations when it comes to when a certain film is remade….as in, not more than once a decade.

George Romero‘s Day of the Dead, one of the most gruesome horror films of the 1980s and possibly the last truly great zombie movie the director ever made (Land of the Dead had moments though), is being remade. Those of you with photographic memories will remember fondly when Day got the redux treatment just five years ago under the direction of Steve Miner (Friday the 13th Parts II and III in 3-D) with a cast that included Mena Suvari, Nick Cannon, and Ving Rhames.

The Colonized #3
Written by Chris Ryall
Art by Drew Moss
Covers by Nelson Daniel, Jay Fotos, Gabriel Rodriguez, Dave Sim
IDW Publishing
Publication Date: June 5, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The Colonized is essentially a Zombies Versus Aliens yarn, with humans caught in the middle. Or, more accurately, it’s a Zombies Versus Humans story with aliens caught in the middle. Whatever the case, the third chapter of the new IDW series finally grabs plot fundamentals and puts them to use in a tale that sends up and borderline-parodies the stereotypes of 1950’s horror and sci-fi movies.

Set in the rural remote town of Carbon Falls in Montana, the humans are essentially a community of separatist militiamen that wish for zero interference from the Feds, though the focus of their community is (somewhat ironically) on sustainability and all-things-green. A group of aliens launch their plan to make contact with humanity, though their efforts are messed up by the coincidental event of the dead rising from the graves to feast on the living.