THE DEAD TIMES
DEAD ARE COMING...
2023: Preview of the Dead: Part 3 - TV & Others
Welcome fiends to the third and final part of this peek into the upcoming reanimations of the coming year. Long-time corpses will have noticed that the title of this esteemed article of suffering has changed to reflect the hideously lurid fact that the undead have now gained an unshakable foothold in the land of televised media. However, there are still other delights beyond the small screen to tickle your tastebuds. As always, there are rules to follow:
- If whatever horror listed below was due to emerge from the muddy, damp ground of yesteryear, the slumbering beast is dragged into the immensely squishy, MIA section.
- Any pesky whelp that was hiding in the MIA section of last year's preview article is fed to the lords of undeath if it has received no news since that long forgotten time; dead, digested and forgotten.
The new stuff
TV programmes
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
The main The Walking Dead series may have finished (after a whopping 11 seasons) but that has not stopped the expanded TWD universe. The first new spin-off series, lovingly titled: The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon sees, fan-favourite character, Daryl Dixon, continue his battle for survival during a Zombie apocalypse - only this time, he's in France. There is not much information other than that and a few on-set images as well as a rumour that the new breed of mutated, fast Zombies hinted at in The Walking Dead: World Beyond will make an appearance. I'm also really curious as to how they will explain Daryl's transition from the main series, which takes place in America, to France - a nearly-impossible journey in a post-apocalyptic world.
The Walking Dead: Rick and Michonne
The next major TWD spin-off focuses on the characters of Rick and Michonne, who departed the main series before the ultimate climax in season 11. Not much information on exactly what this will entail but it is described, in a cryptically vague way, as an epic love story between two characters in a changed world, kept apart by distance, an unstoppable power and the ghosts of who they were. Rick and Michonne are thrown into a new world, founded on a war against the dead and, ultimately, the living. Can they find each other once again and who are they in this strange new situation: Enemies? Lovers? Victims? Are they even truly alive without each other, or will they too, find that they, are the walking dead?
The Walking Dead: Dead City
TWD's third spin-off follows the story of Negan and Maggie after the end of the main series. Set years after the climax of TWD, the two characters must form a tenuous alliance to complete a dangerous mission. Journeying to Manhattan - an island that has been isolated since the beginning of the outbreak and, has such, developed its own unique set of deadly threats - Maggie and Negan must hunt down a notorious killer. But, as the duo venture further into the city, their past conflicts may prove to be a far worse enemy than anything they encounter.
All of Us Are Dead season 2
The second season of Korea's hugely successful Zombie series on Netflix was announced in June last year. However, no more news has come to light - no air date, no plot synopsis, no cast list, nothing. Expect this one in late 2023 at the earliest.
Marvel Zombies
Marvel - the owner of superhero franchises like those surrounding Spider-Man and Captain America - has, rather unsurprisingly, decided to adapt its limited-run, five-issue comic series Marvel Zombies into an animated TV show. The show will see Zombie versions of Marvel superheroes, along with regular Zombies, battle Marvel superheroes which have managed to avoid becoming Zombies. The creators have promised that, just like the comic series, the show "will not shy away from the gore and disgusting visuals", mandatory for things involving Zombies.
Books
The Only Safe Place Left is the Dark
Books rarely get the media coverage of TV programmes, video games and movies but I did manage to find a few nuggets of Zombie fiction coming in 2023. A HIV positive, gay man must leave the safety of his cabin in the woods and venture into the decaying streets of the city during a Zombie outbreak to find the medication he needs to stay alive.
Plants vs. Zombies: Impfestation
Dark Horse Comics has announced a new comic based on the world of family-friendly Zombie game Plants vs. Zombies. The prate-ship captained by Chestbeard has become overrun by Zombie imps. In desperation, Chestbeard sails to Neighborville Harbor where he enlists the help of Patrice, Nate and Crazy Dave to get rid of the pesky freeloaders. The swashbuckling comic is set to release on June 13th.
Snow White | Zombie Apocalypse
The limited-run Snow White | Zombie Apocalypse comic series from Scout Comics is getting a reissue following early success. This one blends together the world of child-like fantasy and apocalyptic horror; "Snow White awakens to True Love's kiss... 28 days later. Shoulder-to-shoulder with his tough-as-nails paramour Rapunzel - the lovable-but-philandering Prince Charming braves the darkness of Snow White's enchanted forest in a desperate bid for survival. But how long can the pair hold out as the denizens of Grimm's Fairy Tales rise from their graves to devour the flesh of the living?"
Others
Zombie Experiences
This is just one of the thousands of Zombie experiences on offer
The number of Zombie experiences and events is on the rise here in the UK and, after doing an Internet search (typing "zombie experiences UK"), there are simply too many to mention. I will, however, draw your attention to Castle Horror, a Dundee-based company that I am a part of. Castle Horror has been struggling with the onset of COVID and other problems but now, in 2023, the team hope to return.
The Dead Times
Yes, I'm here to stay baby - this glorious website of Zombie-filled terror is continuing well into 2023 and it's a very special year this one. November marks the tenth anniversary of The Dead Times! There'll be more seriously good articles on the way, more devilish book reviews and more spine-tingling movie reviews. Some things to look out for; article The Top Six Zombies from non-Zombie Movies, book review of My Name was Nigel: Memoirs of a Killer Zombie and a review of 2003 Zombie comedy movie Undead.
MIA
The Last of Us tv series
By the time you read these words, the first episode of the tv series based on the hit game The Last of Us will have aired (or will be just hours away). It all sounds pretty exciting with Naughty Dog - the game's developers - involved, a cast list made up of some insanely talented actors and the creator of the award-winning Chernobyl tv mini-series at the helm. One thing does have me worried though; the human-drama focused trailers which, while extremely high quality, only briefly show any Zombies. Hopefully, the people behind the cameras are just keeping the hideous beasts hidden until the main show airs.
Fear the Walking Dead season 8
Confirmed to be happening at the tail-end of 2021, we are left waiting to see what will happen in the eighth season of this long-running spin-off to The Walking Dead. Madison Clark (played by actress Kim Dickens), thought to have died in season four, will be returning, following her brief appearance in season 7. Aside from that, nothing is known.
Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas
Things are looking ominous for this animated tv series prequel to Netflix-exclusive Zombie movie Army of the Dead. The show missed the first scheduled release window of Q2 2022 without even an acknowledgement of the delay - hopefully 2023 will prove to be the year the animated dead rise.
Black Summer season 3
The third season of Netflix's Zombie series from the team behind Z Nation has still not been confirmed, despite the show seeming quite popular during its first two outings. Season 2 closed its doors back in 2021 and, while there has been no official word of cancellation, it would be rare for a third season to show up after a year-long hiatus.
DESCRIPTION:
The third and final part of the preview article series for 2023 has crawled from the crypt. This time my haunted eyeballs are cast over the TV programmes and other things Zombie related.
CATEGORY:
Preview of the Dead
WRITTEN BY:
DATE UPLOADED:
15/01/2023