Rick Grimes is a sheriffs deputy and a family man. After being injured in a shoot-out Rick awakes from a coma to find that the hospital  he is in has been abandoned and that something terrible has happened. It seems the dead have risen and Rick has no idea how or why. All he can think about is finding his wife and son in his zombie infested home town.

Halloween marks a night for children and adults alike to dress as their favorite monster, superhero or movie star. While I enjoy indulging in this nights festivities,  this year had me excited for a new reason. AMC debuted their live action adaptation of Image Comics‘ zombie thriller, The Walking Dead. For months I have been singing the praise of the potential of his series and on October 31st, that potential was realized.  We have had TV shows inspired from the ideas of comic books (Smallville, The Flash, Birds of Prey) but this may be the first series that is being specifically drawn from the pages of an actual comic book.

Frank Darabont brings this story of the dead to life with a faithful, yet fresh interpretation. Just like a director of a comic book movie must try and stay within the source material they must also try to add context that he or she thinks will elevate the story. In many cases this act can blow up in a directors face and at the start of the feature I feared that it might here as well. The comic manages to pack in a deep story filled with suspense month after month, but the start of the show was very slow paced. It didn’t feel like writer Robert Kirkman’s beloved work. However, after about twenty minutes I realized Darabont was trying to really establish these characters that we had grown to love in a way that you can’t in print.He added some great scenes that put more meat on the bones of what I thought was a rich story.

Darabont’s additions to the story included an extended role for the first survivors that our lead Rick Grimes encounters, a father and son named Morgan and Duane. In the series Morgan is the one who fills in the blank spots for Rick. They meet and help each other and Rick goes on his way. The show really adds to what we all thought were just disposable characters and it became my favorite part of the show. It turns out that not only was Morgans wife turned into a zombie, he let her go and she periodically comes back to the house where he and his son have taken refuge. This was a very nice touch to add to Morgan. When Rick asks why they haven’t left yet Morgan says that he’s not ready to move on. He is implying that he is staying for his wife in a way. There is a very sad scene where Morgan is crying and going through family photos while contemplating killing his wife with a sniper rifle, but he can not seem to pull the trigger. It makes you think about what you would do if you had a loved one that was turned and how you would handle it emotionally. I know it sounds silly, but it really was a powerful scene. For all of the time that was put into Morgans character I felt that Rick’s character was lacking depth.

Events tend to happen very quickly in a comic book and I believe that Darabont wanted us to form a deeper connection with the stories lead Rick Grimes. It was a pretty good outing for actor Andrew Lincoln as he tried to cement what kind of man Rick is early in the series. Though I appreciated his effort, I feel that he fell flat a few times.  Rick Grimes is the staple character for the series. We have followed him since before the outbreak and he truly is a born leader. We definitely saw flashes of that leadership in the premiere episode and I know that we will get to see more. Lincoln had a few scenes that didn’t sit well with me. There is a point when he goes home to find that his family is no longer there. He screams his sons name repeatedly, but it came off very forced. I really didn’t believe the pain that he was going through and the over acting made me laugh. I liked Lincolns portrayal for the most part, but if you are the lead you have to pull me all the way in.

When it comes to the zombie aspect of the series I think that the show got it just right. The title has it baked in, “The Walking Dead”, but the comic is more about the people living in this world rather than them running away from zombies all of the time. We got our fear appeal and our gore, however, it must take a back seat to the development of the story. I almost forget that the series has zombies because the writing is so good in the comic and I got the same feeling from the first episode of the season. I like my zombies in The Walking Dead the way I like my pepper, just a dash. The zombies are there as a means of suspense, but it’s not about them.

For a 90 minute season premiere we certainly have some great blocks to build with. I watched the episode with someone that has never read the story and they truly enjoyed it, so there is definite promise. We saw enough to want to see more and the preview for next weeks episode tells me that they are going in the right direction to stay faithful to the comic while giving the show its own identity.

Watch The Walking Dead on AMC Sundays at 10pm/ 9c

Fanboyz Grade: B+

The pattern for the past couple of weeks in our COW column has been Marvel‘s vampire variant covers. Halloween keeps this pattern going. Amanda Conner crafts this hilarious Secret Avengers #6 vampire cover. I think that this is the perfect way to cap off a month of vampire covers. It has a classic feel when it comes to the beautiful girl being attacked by a creature of the night. However, the fact that our blood sucker is only a couple inches tall and the damsel happens to be the Black Widow means that this is a meal that wont be easy to score. What have you thought about the vampire covers this month? Let us know below.

Halloween

1. The Exorcist

If adjusted for inflation, The Exorcist would be the highest grossing R rated film of all time. The Exorcist is a staple of the horror genre, playing on primal fears people have about the supernatural. Iconic images of young Regan’s head spinning around, the young priest and the old priest, and the phrase “The power of Christ compels you” all still exist in common pop culture. Widely considered the scariest movie in motion picture history, The Exorcist is  one to check out if you’re looking for a scare. All sort of rumors have floated around the movie, some involving actual exorcisms on set and gruesome deaths on the set. The movie is so controversial some theaters even banned the teaser trailer for the film. The shot of Father Merrin standing outside the house with the light shining on him is one of the most iconic shots in film history.

2. Paranormal Activity

With the second installment in theaters just in time for Halloween, those who haven’t seen the first one are missing out on one of the most impressive movies of the past decade. Made on an estimated budget of $11,000 and went on to gross $107 million, Paranormal Activity was a small movie with a ton of fright. Starring no-name actors and helmed by a no-name director, a lot were skeptical that a movie could be as scary as audiences were saying. The movie does have some bad acting at times, but using traditional Hollywood scare tactics and minimal CGI gives the film a strong sense of possibility and reality.

3. Hocus Pocus

Halloween isn’t just for the scariest movies, it’s also for kids. One of my brother and I’s favorite Halloween movies was Hocus Pocus. Telling the story of three witches brought back to life and the kids who have to stop them, I loved the blending of comedy and scary. It’s got witches, ghosts, zombies and even Sarah Jessica Parker. It’s not to frightening, considering the type of shows and movies kids watch these days, but has all the fixings of a good Halloween movie.

4. Constantine

Constantine didn’t get any love from critics but is a very enjoyable supernatural movie. Keanu Reeves plays the titular exorcist hunting down Satan’s son as he looks to cross over into our world. The mythology and lore around the film are top notch, with awesome demon fights and action sequences. Tilda Swinton is great as the betraying angel Gabriel and Peter Stormare as Lucifer is arguably one of the best performances of the Great Deceiver in movies.

5. Frailty

Scary does not always mean some monster or ghostly apparition is wreaking havoc. It can be as simple as a psychopathic man thinking he’s doing God’s work. That is what makes Frailty such a great scary movie. Forget Leatherface or Jason Voorhees, the scariest killer is the one who might be living next door. With a disturbing storyline, great direction, and an incredible ending, Frailty is one movie you do not want to miss.When Fenton and Adam’s father arrived home after work late one night, he told them of a vision he had. An angel came to him, and told him that demons walk the earth in human form. These demons are evil people who do terrible things, and must be destroyed. The children witness their father kill several people, but Fenton thinks his father is a murderer. As an adult, Fenton tells the tale to an FBI agent, and the movie plays out in flashbacks.Their dad convinces Adam that he really is killing demons, and that if Fenton does not believe his father is killing demons but people, then he might be a demon himself. Bill Paxton does an outstanding job in his directorial debut, and as playing the father. Of all of the movies that are recommended for Halloween viewing, Frailty is probably one of the best.

Mike Mayhew returns for a second week in a row with his vampire cover for Deadpool #28. Marvel is doing vampire variant covers this month for most of their titles and Mayhew seems to be the go to guy for this. The piece that he as drawn here is exactly what I would expect from a Deadpool related cover.

The image of Deadpool going to bite Dracula in the neck paired with the fear and confusion in his eyes is priceless. I think that the prince of darkness is worried about what he would become if ol’ Wade sunk his teeth in him. What do you think of this week COW? Post comments below.

The History of Zombies

There’s a ton of crap on the internet about zombies. Although most people fall into the Romero/Slow zombie camp or the Boyle/Rage style of walking corpse, there is actually some historical truth behind the zombie myth. Forget eating brains or rabies-infested people, the historical truth behind the living dead actually has to do with fish, particularly pufferfish. As you know, pufferfish contains a deadly neurotoxin that can wreak havoc on the central nervous system and cause death. Haitian rituals, particularly those referred to as Voodoo, have periodically used this toxin (Tetrodoxin) to manipulate the bodies of the victims. Symptoms include a loss of strong motor control, dissociation from cognitive thought, paralysis and possibly death. Who knew there’s some basis of truth to the zombie myth? 

The Walking Dead (TV Series and Graphic Novels)

Roman got me into reading The Walking Dead, and I must say they are some of the best comic books I’ve ever read. Illustrated in an eerie black & white, the story follows a small group of survivors as they look to restore some semblance of humanity after a zombie outbreak. I often watch and read zombie stories and think to myself, “Why are they doing that/Are they stupid?” The Walking Dead has a grounded itself in some very real situations, adding a level of realism often missed in the comic book form. AMC is debuting the first episode of The Walking Dead on Halloween, and from all the buzz around Comic-Con, it’s going to be a hit!

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

Yes, you read that right. It’s the Jane Austen classic, rewritten with a zombie storyline within. Honestly, it’s something you have to check out for yourself.

The Serpent and the Rainbow

Loosely based on the book of the same name by Wade Davis (who has faced criticism on the validity of his claims), the story follows Bill Pullman as an ethnobotanist who studies plants and their use in cultures, and visits Haiti after learning about a possible attack on a person with a herbal medicine that makes people zombies. The film was directed by horror great Wes Craven, and though it has its flaws, takes a unique look at the zombie myth few features have explored.

Left 4 Dead

Don’t worry about running out of zombies to kill – Left 4 Dead gives the chills and thrills that come with overwhelming hordes of the undead. Both L4D & L4D II are simple to understand but challenging to master. I will never forget the time when I told Roman to leave me behind and save himself in the game, it was strikingly touching. I also think I was laying on the ground in real life to add to the emotional weight of the moment.

These are a few of my favorite zombie things that get me in the mood for All Hallows Eve. What are some things you enjoy that get you into the Halloween mood?

My anticipation for THE WALKING DEAD is boiling over. I can almost hear the moaning of the undead and taste the flesh in my mouth. If that statement doesn’t freak you out I don’t know what will. Via MTV we have this brilliant interpretation of how the beginning credits of the show could look thanks to a fan made intro.

Animation artist Daniel M. Kanemoto made this awesome intro by using existing art from the series by Krikman, Charlie Adlard and Tony Moore. It is not something that is going to be used in the show, but the amount of time and professionalism put into it makes it a perfect contender for the job in my book. The song in the intro is “Fresh Blood” from The Eels. THE WALKING DEAD will premiere Halloween night at 10 PM EST on AMC. What do you think of this clips as the intro for the show? Post comments below.

THE WALKING DEAD “Opening Titles” from Daniel Kanemoto on Vimeo.

One of the best success stories at the Box Office this year is the small scale horror flick Paranormal Activity. Directed and starring Hollywood nobodies, and made on a budget of less than $20,000, the movie uses simple visual effects to give the audience good horror chills. Even Stephen Spielberg has said he experienced some haunting events when having a personal screening of the film.

Paranormal Activity centers around Micah and Katie documenting strange occurrences happening to her in their house. As the documentary continues, Micah grows more upset at the seemingly malevolent spirit, and it begins to act out more and more violently. Eventually, Katie and Micah face the demon head-on.

My brother used to have a toy that looked very similar to Chucky from Child’s Play, and it scared the hell out of me. A doll that is possessed with a killer’s soul is something that even kids can even understand. It is both funny and disturbing to see an innocent play toy murder people and swear constantly. Check out Child’s Play if you’re looking for a good scare this Halloween.

One of the best zombie movies of all time, Shaun of the Dead mixed comedy and horror in a way rarely seen in film. You laugh just as much as you squirm. British comedy men Simon Pegg and Nick Frost play two guys seeking shelter with friends from a zombie outbreak in the safest place they know, their favorite pub. If you have not seen this film, it is by far a must watch. Check out the trailer below.

Witches suck, especially when it’s witches who are looking to suck the souls of children to feed their eternal youth. In Hocus Pocus, three Salem witches were put to death for stealing the life-force from children 300 years ago, but when youthfully stupid Max lights a magic candle, they come back to life on Halloween night. Can this group of teenagers and kids stop the three Sanderson Sisters from absorbing their lives before sunlight? Will Max and a talking cat named Binx be able to hold off the witches and stop their sinister plans? Watch Hocus Pocus this Halloween to find out.