Zombie Master Question: Dead or Alive? Re-animation or Mutation?

by Russ

Dear Zombie Master,

I realize as I type this that both scenarios are probably possible but I was curious of your opinion on the situation.

I recently got in an argument over semantics with a friend - whether you ‘kill’ a zombie or not because it’s already dead. This got me thinking: a zombie that’s dead has been reanimated ‘The Voodoo Zombie’ which I don't really see causing a mass epidemic outside where of it was brought back and I don't think they spread zombieism. The other option is the ‘Virus Zombie’ or the ‘Radiated Zombie’ both of which turn a living person into a zombie.

My question is this: Do you think a person dies and becomes a zombie or just mutates into one? And do you think there is a possibility of a virus that could infect recently dead bodies and then reanimate the corpse into a zombie?

Thanks for you time,

Russ

Russ,

Your question is based on the misinformation out there that is rampant and is going to lead people into a false sense of security that has been propagated by the good 'not-a-zombie' zombie films, such as 28 Days Later and the crappy 'not-a-zombie' zombie films, such as the remake of Day of the Dead.

For a zombie to be classified as a zombie it must die first. A zombie is a member of the monster class known as the Undead. The Undead can include the vampire, the lich, the ghoul, the mummy, the draug, etc. Just like a shoe must be tied before it can be untied, a zombie must be dead before it can be undead.

For a virus to create a zombie it usually must kill the host then reanimate it. Most of the re-animations that have occurred with the recently, and not so recently, deceased have occurred through radiation, toxins, and possessions either by alien or demon.

Semantics is one thing but knowing a true zombie from an impostor can save your life one day.

Good hunting and aim high,

The Zombie Master