RIP Bill Hinzman
1936-2012

The in-production zombie(ish) film R.I.P.D. (Rest In Peace Department) got some unwanted attention yesterday when a local Boston priest condemned the film’s crew for shooting outside of his church on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Here’s what the up-tight unhappy priest had to say:

“I think it’s offensive,” he said. “We’re having prayer services where people can sit and process the events of 9/11, and this [movie] is the antithesis of that. It’s work, it’s violence and it’s putting money ahead of the values that we should be about on that day.”

I’m sure he didn’t complain when they paid to shoot there. Anyways- R.I.P.D. is based off the Dark Horse comic series of the same name, check it out here and read the complete story concerning angry priests and movie stars here.

Gypsy moths have been acting weird lately, and according this article, aptly titled How a brain-manipulating virus turns caterpillars into zombies, via Ars Technica, there’s a reason: baculovirus. The peaceful little gypsy moths no longer want to just hide away in cool soil and stay safe from lurking birds looking for a quick snack, but now they want to DIE AND RAIN DOWN THEIR DISEASE ON ALL CREATURES.

“…baculovirus…The aptly named “tree top disease” makes the infected gypsy moth caterpillar climb to the top of a tree to die, liquefy, and release millions of infective virus particles.”

These nasty particles then get swept up by rain and wind and find they ways onto everything. Yup, caterpillars could be the beginning of a full fledge zombie invasion. Okay, maybe not, but… ?

The Zombie Reporting Center had some issues with our domain redirecting to a different site this weekend. We seem to be back up and working now, so back to zombies! Also, the cool zombie art is by our old friend monsterbymail.com!

The latest issue of Rue Morgue, # 108 (JAN/FEB 2011), is chocked full of zombie goodness! Be sure to check out lots of articles and reviews including news about the Melbourne Underground Film Festival  (MUFF) director’s house being raided by the police over a copy of Bruce LaBruce’s latest zombie film, L.A. Zombie and a great comparison of zombies films around the world, including Colin, La Horde and AAAH! Zombies. Plus tons of reviews of new zombie anthologies, the zombie comic Zombies vs. Cheerleaders and game reviews of Dead Space 2 and Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare. OUT NOW!

We all knew that if The Walking Dead was a success, every other network would be falling over themselves to get a “zombie” show into production, which is now happening.  The CW has announced their zombie drama, The Awakening,  about two sisters relationship, or lack of, during the beginnings of a zombie apocalypse. NBC, not to be outdone, has also recently announced their upcoming show, Zombies vs. Vampires. Gee, I wonder what that will be about? These both sound horrible to me and stink of cashing in on a popular show. What I wonder is, what happened to shows that didn’t make it to the air a few years ago? Like Babylon Fields and The Last Larry? It seems like networks didn’t want to take the chance without somebody else paving the way for them. Lame. I’d love a bunch of different, original shows about zombies, but I don’t think that’s the deal here.

Well, for a few days there, I thought that I might have come down with the zombie plague, but it seems like the fever has broke and I’m back to zombie reporting. So for now, here’s a sweet Zombie Captain America cosplay photo for you!