Now that it’s May, and the jubilation of Free Comic Book Day on the first Saturday of the month is behind us, it’s time for a more serious message:
Did you know that May is Zombie Awareness Month?
Turns out that many zombie movies are set in the month of May, from the original Night of the Living Dead in 1968 to 2004’s Dawn of the Dead. This call for vigilance against the rising hordes of the undead comes amid traditional celebrations of spring renewal and hope.
The concept of zombies originated with the Afro-Caribbean spirituality of Voodoo, but has taken on a life of its own (so to speak) in Western pop culture.
How does one celebrate Zombie Awareness Month? First, be prepared. Learn everything you can about the threat by watching as many genre films as you can, and educating yourself with materials from the Zombie Research Society. Then, put what you have learned into practice and develop your defensive skills using video games like Resident Evil, Left 4 Dead and Dead Rising.
Appropriate attire for celebrations includes bite-resistant garments, bandoliers of heavy ammunition and the official symbol: a gray ribbon to warn others of the ever-present danger.
So as you celebrate Cinco de Mayo, watch out for salivating party guests who avoid the chips and salsa and instead focus their glassy-eyed stares on your head and mutter “brains … brains …”
