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The three types of zombies |
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What are the three types of zombies, and how common are they?
vanrulzz:
I don't believe there are three types of zombies. There may be 3 different variations in different movies and stuff, but there is only one in any given type of situation.
ShotgunMan: True, in any scenario there would probably only be one type of zombie (one cause of outbreak = one zombie type). But this could change, depending on whether or not the nature of the outbreak changes (ie. mutation of virus strain.) or whether there are multiple causes.
One example of changing outbreak nature is seen in the remake of Resident Evil (whether or not this source is considered relevant is up for debate). At first, the zombies infected with the T-Virus are slow and unresponsive, but after they are incapacitated (unless they are decapitated or incinerated) the virus will take further effect; body tissue regenerates; the skin turns red from increased blood seepage, claws grow on the zombie's hands, they become much faster and more aggressive and have an increased resistance to firearms.
While this may not be applicable to any practical scenario (there is no real T-Virus), it still shows that there can be more than one type of zombie in an
outbreak.
Legendery:First of all, I don't think there are going to be three
types of zombies on a single outbreak; I think there's
going to be only one type. I'll Explain what zombies types
will they be. Remember: either fast or slow, either stupid or
intelligent, they are a big threat for humanity
1: Common zombie:The classic old zombie, slow, stupid and
easy to avoid.
How it looks: most times as a normal person but with some
changes, i.e., grey skin; they are sluggish and they are REALLY slow.
How it attacks: it attacks always by bite or by scratching
but they rarely gonna use any melee weapons.
Weakness: they can be killed outright by disabling the brain. By doing
this you stop the brain from sending commands to the body.
By shooting/hitting the legs you make the slower so you can
escape easily.They are slow so you can aim your gun before you shoot.
They can't climb or swim.
Strengths: they won't die if you disable any other part of their
body. They may smell fresh meat from a mile away.They eat anything.
That includes animals as well.
2: Rage zombie/28 days later zombie: not a real zombie but they are similar.They are much faster then a common zombie and more Intelligent
How it looks:They are like the common zombies but the have blood coming
out of their mouth and sometimes scream violently.
How it attacks: by biting and by using a melee weapon sometimes.
Weakness: they sometimes die from disabling other parts of their body.
They scream so you may know where they are.They die if you shoot them in
the head.
Strengths: can run(F***).Since they can run, it is a pain in the ass to do a
head shot.They can climb.They can infect you more easily, swim, and kill everything like the common zombies(I say that
because at the movie i didn't see any animal,they were all dead).
You turn to one of them in seconds if they infect you(again f***)
3: John Russo/Immortal zombie: this zombie is the most dangerous of all.
It is much stronger than the previous zombies and it cant be killed.
How it looks: like the previous zombies but can speak and blood doesn't
come out of his mouth
Weakness: THERE IS NO WEAKNESS!!!
Strengths:They are fast and can run.
They are as strong and intelligent as they were in their previous
life, and they can also speak sometimes.
They can form words despite their physical degradation
It appears that injuries to their brains do not have any effect and
the only way to fully destroy them is to cremate their bodies,
although the ensuing smoke spreads the contagious gas.
Note: Instead of hunting humans for their flesh, they hunt for the humans'
brains, stating that only their consumption eases the pain of death
Another note: we are f***ed up if we run into this kind of zombie.
changed basically nothing; mostly spelling and punctuation. Good outline:)
ZEROFLY: OK, first of all I totally disagree with zombie number 3. If you can even call it a zombie. That isn't the undead at all, it's just a crazy cannibal. Still, just shoot it. I think some of us are forgetting what a zombies traits have to be, in order to be called a "Zombie".
Allow me to tell you. First off, the host has to die, and then re-animate. That is the biggest sign that they are a zombie. But we're not done yet. What you have to look for also is lack of speech. Zombies do moan, but they cannot form coherent words. A final sign that shows whether that thing in front of you is a zombie or not, is if it attacks and spreads its virus through blood and other bodily fluids.
This, in my opinion is what defines a true zombie.
Now, in my opinion there are three (3) types of zombies.
1) The original zombie that everyone knows and loves. It walks slow, and can only be killed by destroying the brain. It also will not starve to death and does not need oxygen.
2) The infected from 28 Days Later. They are called the infected because while they are still in the zombie category, they are pushed aside into their own subgroup. Sharing similar traits and qualities, the main differences between a zombie and an infected lie in the virus inside them. One kills and re-animates, the other enrages the person to unbelievable levels of insanity. With this infection form comes an easier kill, but also a drastically lowered survival rate. They run really fast, cannot feel pain, and can infect you with projectile vomit. A direct bite is not needed. They can starve to death though, and they do need oxygen to survive. After all, they are still human.
3) A combination of the two. This one I think is the worst of them all. Not only can they run extremely fast, but they exactly like the original zombie. Head shot kills only, and no need for food or oxygen. It's like science took a zombie and an infection form and created the ultimate killing machine just to scare little children.
Pfc. Nevarez : But you see the infected are not zombies, they aren't dead- they are just filled with primal rage. Yes it is a viral health concern,but they are not a member of the living dead.
The roamers are just some select few, crawlers are dismembered zeds, and lurkers are the "type" that you'll see, but one of my friends brought up a good point, in the early stages of an outbreak isn't it possibly that they can run, before rigor mortis sets in and the blood fully coagulates?
Toomin:
It might be possible that before complete rigor mortis zombies would be able to run. It also might not. But in anything I've seen or read (which is our best guess as to how a zombie outbreak might actually occur) any zombies that are confined to shuffling and stumbling along, are forced to do that from the start. Maybe the cause of the zombification causes early rigor mortis or blood coagulation in order to make the human body suitable for it's needs. We don't and can't know. I'd have to agree with Zerofly's take on the types of zombies.
Bosco5074: Keeping in mind that this is only an opinion from an old school horror flick geek but in my eyes there are TWO basic types of zombies. The first is the Romero zombie that is a slow moving reanimated corpse that over time regains some minute intelligence that is most likely muscle memory from its previous life. Then there are the fast movers who I think are much more fun and sporting unless they have any form of intelligence then any fight against them would be one sided. Unless of course the infection cause them to some how be without opposable thumbs. Then we would be even…those ugly monkeys (phrase is patent pending). Maybe I am just being narrowed minded, but that is how the shoot goes down in my head man.
McSkullcracken: I think the mistake any/all of you are making is that there are only three types of zombies. This is just wrong, as the number of the types of zombies fluctuates as people try to define and redefine what is and isn't a zombie. I have personally come to the conclusion that the number of the types of zombies is potentially infinite, but that more than one type breaking out is not possible (or at least incredibly rare).
Types of zombies seem to range from how they move, how they act, how fast they are, their respective origins, what can kill them, their status as either living infected/undead, the rate of decay. The number of classifications seems endless, and some seem determined to also debate what counts as a zombie and what doesn't.
Now, the scariest type of zombie I have ever heard of is the type encountered in Stephen King's novel Cell (an excellent read by the way). Those things are created via a signal sent into the brain through your cell phone(how twisted is that! Imagine the ENORMOUS zombie population that would create as people try to use their cell phones and simply get turned!). Once the signal gets a person, they become a fearless, reckless, crazy, furious, violent, and fast killing machine. As time moves on they start to develop a group-think/hive mentality, and eventually some ESP and limited mind control. Those are scary. As much as I hate the thought of the Rage/28 Days zombies, they are a picnic in comparison. March 10, 2008
The_Professional: I agree with McSkullCracken, there can be an infinite amount of zombie types. Slow and stupid, slow with a degree of intelligence that can use tools (The original Night of the Living Dead and Land of the Dead. Which those actually had the capacity to learn.) runners (The remake of Dawn of the Dead) and those crazy b****es from 28 Days Later. Although among the most frightening came from Return of the living Dead they were intelligent, could speak and form complex thoughts and ideas. Even if they are but variants of these types they still posess factors that make them different like any other animal. But, I do believe that there can be just as many of these types in any one outbreak. Though the numbers may be sacrce, if a slow stupid type begins an infection in the southern portion of a country while the fast running ones begin an outbreak in the west. I was reading Zombie Science about why zombies eat humans and found a thread from Dmurl5 that points out how such an event could occur. A mosquito. Say that in a certain part of the country a zombie started one type of infection. But, at the docks of some coastal city a shipment from another country comes in with mosquitos carrying a different zombie type virus and as such a different type of zombie may already be aboard the ship. If not the mosquitos will spread it themselves once they reach the new city. Thus, you have two types of zombie outbreaks within the same country/state/city etc.
I also believe that if these types are born of a virus, or bacteria, that cross-contamination can occur, as well as possible mutations of the virus. Since they work in similar fashions it is possible that inside the same host they may eventually form into a new strain, like any other virus.
McSkullcracken's point about the zombies from Stephen King's Cell is a great example of how zombies may evolve to become a larger threat. Zombies are basically no different than any other creature in the animal kingdom. They have a genesis and adapt as their situation changes. Such as I pointed out earlier in Land of the Dead. Any creature given enough time will evolve at some point. Being that zombies are created from man they already have the advantage being an advanced creature the moment they come into creation.
To sum up Zombies are an ever changing, ever growing species; with no limit to what they can be; where they can be and what they can accomplish. Forever zombies will haunt our minds and prey upon our paranoia whenever we see a shambling figure at the end of the street, or hear a strange cry that is neither human nor animal.
byates:For a different take on Zombie origins read this comic
http://www.lastblood.net/
DevilMayCrye: There are possibly many variants of Zombies. But most fall into the Shuffler, Crawler and Runners. If we are to believe all the movies, games and books, there are mainly three types but many variants.
vanrulzz:
I don't believe there are three types of zombies. There may be 3 different variations in different movies and stuff, but there is only one in any given type of situation.
ShotgunMan: True, in any scenario there would probably only be one type of zombie (one cause of outbreak = one zombie type). But this could change, depending on whether or not the nature of the outbreak changes (ie. mutation of virus strain.) or whether there are multiple causes.
One example of changing outbreak nature is seen in the remake of Resident Evil (whether or not this source is considered relevant is up for debate). At first, the zombies infected with the T-Virus are slow and unresponsive, but after they are incapacitated (unless they are decapitated or incinerated) the virus will take further effect; body tissue regenerates; the skin turns red from increased blood seepage, claws grow on the zombie's hands, they become much faster and more aggressive and have an increased resistance to firearms.
While this may not be applicable to any practical scenario (there is no real T-Virus), it still shows that there can be more than one type of zombie in an
outbreak.
Legendery:First of all, I don't think there are going to be three
types of zombies on a single outbreak; I think there's
going to be only one type. I'll Explain what zombies types
will they be. Remember: either fast or slow, either stupid or
intelligent, they are a big threat for humanity
1: Common zombie:The classic old zombie, slow, stupid and
easy to avoid.
How it looks: most times as a normal person but with some
changes, i.e., grey skin; they are sluggish and they are REALLY slow.
How it attacks: it attacks always by bite or by scratching
but they rarely gonna use any melee weapons.
Weakness: they can be killed outright by disabling the brain. By doing
this you stop the brain from sending commands to the body.
By shooting/hitting the legs you make the slower so you can
escape easily.They are slow so you can aim your gun before you shoot.
They can't climb or swim.
Strengths: they won't die if you disable any other part of their
body. They may smell fresh meat from a mile away.They eat anything.
That includes animals as well.
2: Rage zombie/28 days later zombie: not a real zombie but they are similar.They are much faster then a common zombie and more Intelligent
How it looks:They are like the common zombies but the have blood coming
out of their mouth and sometimes scream violently.
How it attacks: by biting and by using a melee weapon sometimes.
Weakness: they sometimes die from disabling other parts of their body.
They scream so you may know where they are.They die if you shoot them in
the head.
Strengths: can run(F***).Since they can run, it is a pain in the ass to do a
head shot.They can climb.They can infect you more easily, swim, and kill everything like the common zombies(I say that
because at the movie i didn't see any animal,they were all dead).
You turn to one of them in seconds if they infect you(again f***)
3: John Russo/Immortal zombie: this zombie is the most dangerous of all.
It is much stronger than the previous zombies and it cant be killed.
How it looks: like the previous zombies but can speak and blood doesn't
come out of his mouth
Weakness: THERE IS NO WEAKNESS!!!
Strengths:They are fast and can run.
They are as strong and intelligent as they were in their previous
life, and they can also speak sometimes.
They can form words despite their physical degradation
It appears that injuries to their brains do not have any effect and
the only way to fully destroy them is to cremate their bodies,
although the ensuing smoke spreads the contagious gas.
Note: Instead of hunting humans for their flesh, they hunt for the humans'
brains, stating that only their consumption eases the pain of death
Another note: we are f***ed up if we run into this kind of zombie.
changed basically nothing; mostly spelling and punctuation. Good outline:)
ZEROFLY: OK, first of all I totally disagree with zombie number 3. If you can even call it a zombie. That isn't the undead at all, it's just a crazy cannibal. Still, just shoot it. I think some of us are forgetting what a zombies traits have to be, in order to be called a "Zombie".
Allow me to tell you. First off, the host has to die, and then re-animate. That is the biggest sign that they are a zombie. But we're not done yet. What you have to look for also is lack of speech. Zombies do moan, but they cannot form coherent words. A final sign that shows whether that thing in front of you is a zombie or not, is if it attacks and spreads its virus through blood and other bodily fluids.
This, in my opinion is what defines a true zombie.
Now, in my opinion there are three (3) types of zombies.
1) The original zombie that everyone knows and loves. It walks slow, and can only be killed by destroying the brain. It also will not starve to death and does not need oxygen.
2) The infected from 28 Days Later. They are called the infected because while they are still in the zombie category, they are pushed aside into their own subgroup. Sharing similar traits and qualities, the main differences between a zombie and an infected lie in the virus inside them. One kills and re-animates, the other enrages the person to unbelievable levels of insanity. With this infection form comes an easier kill, but also a drastically lowered survival rate. They run really fast, cannot feel pain, and can infect you with projectile vomit. A direct bite is not needed. They can starve to death though, and they do need oxygen to survive. After all, they are still human.
3) A combination of the two. This one I think is the worst of them all. Not only can they run extremely fast, but they exactly like the original zombie. Head shot kills only, and no need for food or oxygen. It's like science took a zombie and an infection form and created the ultimate killing machine just to scare little children.
Pfc. Nevarez : But you see the infected are not zombies, they aren't dead- they are just filled with primal rage. Yes it is a viral health concern,but they are not a member of the living dead.
The roamers are just some select few, crawlers are dismembered zeds, and lurkers are the "type" that you'll see, but one of my friends brought up a good point, in the early stages of an outbreak isn't it possibly that they can run, before rigor mortis sets in and the blood fully coagulates?
Toomin:
It might be possible that before complete rigor mortis zombies would be able to run. It also might not. But in anything I've seen or read (which is our best guess as to how a zombie outbreak might actually occur) any zombies that are confined to shuffling and stumbling along, are forced to do that from the start. Maybe the cause of the zombification causes early rigor mortis or blood coagulation in order to make the human body suitable for it's needs. We don't and can't know. I'd have to agree with Zerofly's take on the types of zombies.
Bosco5074: Keeping in mind that this is only an opinion from an old school horror flick geek but in my eyes there are TWO basic types of zombies. The first is the Romero zombie that is a slow moving reanimated corpse that over time regains some minute intelligence that is most likely muscle memory from its previous life. Then there are the fast movers who I think are much more fun and sporting unless they have any form of intelligence then any fight against them would be one sided. Unless of course the infection cause them to some how be without opposable thumbs. Then we would be even…those ugly monkeys (phrase is patent pending). Maybe I am just being narrowed minded, but that is how the shoot goes down in my head man.
McSkullcracken: I think the mistake any/all of you are making is that there are only three types of zombies. This is just wrong, as the number of the types of zombies fluctuates as people try to define and redefine what is and isn't a zombie. I have personally come to the conclusion that the number of the types of zombies is potentially infinite, but that more than one type breaking out is not possible (or at least incredibly rare).
Types of zombies seem to range from how they move, how they act, how fast they are, their respective origins, what can kill them, their status as either living infected/undead, the rate of decay. The number of classifications seems endless, and some seem determined to also debate what counts as a zombie and what doesn't.
Now, the scariest type of zombie I have ever heard of is the type encountered in Stephen King's novel Cell (an excellent read by the way). Those things are created via a signal sent into the brain through your cell phone(how twisted is that! Imagine the ENORMOUS zombie population that would create as people try to use their cell phones and simply get turned!). Once the signal gets a person, they become a fearless, reckless, crazy, furious, violent, and fast killing machine. As time moves on they start to develop a group-think/hive mentality, and eventually some ESP and limited mind control. Those are scary. As much as I hate the thought of the Rage/28 Days zombies, they are a picnic in comparison. March 10, 2008
The_Professional: I agree with McSkullCracken, there can be an infinite amount of zombie types. Slow and stupid, slow with a degree of intelligence that can use tools (The original Night of the Living Dead and Land of the Dead. Which those actually had the capacity to learn.) runners (The remake of Dawn of the Dead) and those crazy b****es from 28 Days Later. Although among the most frightening came from Return of the living Dead they were intelligent, could speak and form complex thoughts and ideas. Even if they are but variants of these types they still posess factors that make them different like any other animal. But, I do believe that there can be just as many of these types in any one outbreak. Though the numbers may be sacrce, if a slow stupid type begins an infection in the southern portion of a country while the fast running ones begin an outbreak in the west. I was reading Zombie Science about why zombies eat humans and found a thread from Dmurl5 that points out how such an event could occur. A mosquito. Say that in a certain part of the country a zombie started one type of infection. But, at the docks of some coastal city a shipment from another country comes in with mosquitos carrying a different zombie type virus and as such a different type of zombie may already be aboard the ship. If not the mosquitos will spread it themselves once they reach the new city. Thus, you have two types of zombie outbreaks within the same country/state/city etc.
I also believe that if these types are born of a virus, or bacteria, that cross-contamination can occur, as well as possible mutations of the virus. Since they work in similar fashions it is possible that inside the same host they may eventually form into a new strain, like any other virus.
McSkullcracken's point about the zombies from Stephen King's Cell is a great example of how zombies may evolve to become a larger threat. Zombies are basically no different than any other creature in the animal kingdom. They have a genesis and adapt as their situation changes. Such as I pointed out earlier in Land of the Dead. Any creature given enough time will evolve at some point. Being that zombies are created from man they already have the advantage being an advanced creature the moment they come into creation.
To sum up Zombies are an ever changing, ever growing species; with no limit to what they can be; where they can be and what they can accomplish. Forever zombies will haunt our minds and prey upon our paranoia whenever we see a shambling figure at the end of the street, or hear a strange cry that is neither human nor animal.
byates:For a different take on Zombie origins read this comic
http://www.lastblood.net/
DevilMayCrye: There are possibly many variants of Zombies. But most fall into the Shuffler, Crawler and Runners. If we are to believe all the movies, games and books, there are mainly three types but many variants.
