“Zombie Big Bird” by Scott Johnson

Posted under A Geek Dad's Life, Blog Posts

An internet-friend of mine surprised me today.  Scott Johnson is in the process of drawing a poster with 56 zombies using characters and people from popular culture. I’m no fan of the zombie genre, but he nailed something very special in his Zombie Big Bird (click the link to see the whole thing).

In drawing this portrayal, he captured the essence of a ‘meta-zombification’ that is 95% funny and 5% creepy.  I am still looking at it, captivated by the implication of horrific violence with no victim.  It is terribly amusing.  It is brilliant.

This drawing is a rare exception to an otherwise-tired zombie craze.  I get it; humans with missing body parts that tilt their heads slightly, walk slowly, and have been ‘mostly dead all day’ are creepy. I don’t need to see any more dudes with skin peeling off of their faces, shuffling around with no arms. 

In Scott Johnson’s 56-Zombie project, he is exploring his own ideas of how zombies intersect popular culture.  Sometimes it is cliché, and sometimes it is surprising.  With subject matter that is so familiar, the exercise and experimentation is necessary to reveal a gem like ‘Zombie Big Bird.’  It’s worth a look. 

For a palate-cleansing experience, be sure to check out his 56-Geeks Poster.  It is guaranteed to remove the zombie aftertaste.