Along with more than 8 million other Americans, I’ve taken to spending my Sunday nights biting my nails watching Rick, Carl, Daryl, and Michonne slice through zombie skulls on AMC’s The Walking Dead. Needless to say, thoughts of the zombie apocalypse have now pretty much overrun my life. I’m dubbing this obsession #zombiebrain. If, like me, you or someone you love suffers from #zombiebrain, here are some awesome toys and games to feed your addiction.
Monopoly: The Walking Dead Survival Edition, from USAopoly brings everyone’s favorite board game into the world of the (un)dead. Based on The Walking Dead comic from Robert Kirkman, the game challenges players to fight for their own property and avoid zombies at all costs. Monopoly: The Walking Dead Survival Edition delivers classic Monopoly wheeling and dealing game play—but this time, players must fight for their survival. Everything about the game screams “WALKERS!” Properties correspond with the series landmarks, such as the prison cells, the Greene Family farm house, and Woodbury, while game tokens resemble key items from the series such as Rick’s sheriff hat, a bucket of body parts, the telephone, Dale’s R.V. (RIP Dale!), the Katana (aka Michonne’s awesome sword), and Lucille (aka a ridiculously effective baseball bat wrapped with barbed wire). Instead of using money to purchase property, players must trade essential supplies, such as food, ammo, and fuel to gain more territory on the board or to place a guard tower or wall (instead of the standard houses and hotels) to secure their safe haven from Walker attacks. The game is recommended for two to six players ages 13 and up and is now available at comic book specialty shops.
Funko has brought its traditional Pop! Vinyl figure style to The Walking Dead with Pop Television 9-inch collectibles. Rick rocks that slicked-back hair look with possibly the most intimidating eyebrows I’ve ever seen, while Daryl holds his crossbow at the ready. Additional characters include Merle, The Governor (eye patch era), and a Zombie Police Guard from the inaugural prison episode. The figures bring a touch of cute to the ever-serious realm of survival.
On the more serious side of collectibles, McFarlane Toys has 10-inch action figures that feature incredible detail. The articulated figures include Michonne, Carl, Andrea, Glenn, The Governor, and more. The figures are available based on both the TV characters and the characters from the comic book series. Each figure is articulated and features stunning facial expressions and realistic clothing replicas– right down to Michonne’s purple T-shirt and Daryl’s (weird) parka.
With Halloween just around the corner, for those of you too broke, too lazy, or just uninterested in wearing a whole lot of polyester this year, do-it-yourself zombie costumes are a great option. A little bit of makeup, ripped and dirty clothing, and some creepy throat gurgle noises, and you’re all set! Rubie’s Costume Co. has textured step-by-step zombie make-up kits to make you look exactly like a Walker. These kits don’t just include the standard four-color creamy palette, either. You can create frighteningly authentic zombie looks with decaying skin, bloody teeth, a split jaw, an exposed jaw, a slit throat, an exposed eye socket, and shredded lips. Much like the show itself, these kits are amazingly repulsive.
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