GEORGE ROMERO ON TOE TAGS

**MattBrady** · 10-12-2004, 04:11 PM

One of DC’s long-term announcements finally shambles to life – or at least a form of life next week as Toe Tags Featuring George Romero #1 hits stores. Written by Romero, the godfather of the current zombie resurgence and creator of Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead, as well as the currently in preproduction Land of the Dead, Toe Tags features interior art by Tommy Castillo and Rodney Ramos, with covers by Berni Wrightson.

While not specifically a tie-in, Romero’s story, the six-part “The Death of Death” is set in the same world as his undead films…in a different location. As the solicitation for the first issue reads: Overnight, the world has been turned upside down, and zombies rule the day! It's up to a college professor named Hoffman, his assistant Damien Cross, and his gal Judy to figure out exactly how and why the undead have taken over. But even if they do get to the bottom of the plague, is it too late to save the world?

We spoke with Romero from the Toronto production offices of Land of the Dead for more on his story.

Getting involved was simple, the filmmaker said. “I got a phone call from [DC editor] Bob Schreck who said that they wanted to do some comic book projects that were written by film guys,” Romero said. “He asked if I would like to do one, and I immediately asked him when he needed it.

“I had an idea that was sort of bouncing around in my head, wrote up a treatment of it, they dug it, and that’s how it happened. I did the scripts, and I’m just knocked out by the final product – I’ve known Berni Wrightson for years, and am really flattered he’s doing the covers, and Tommy is just great on the interiors.”

The project was a joy for Romero who, while not an active comic collector, classifies himself as a regular comic book reader. “I love comics – I grew up on them,” Romero said. “For me, it all goes back to EC Comics – that’s what I was reading under the covers late at night. That’s the base of my affection, and people are always sending me new things to take a look at, and I enjoy them. I’m not as up on new things as I could be, though.”

As mentioned earlier, “The Death of Death” isn’t set near and of Romero’s three films, nor does it pull characters or situations from them, save one: the dead aren’t staying dead.

“There were a couple of collections of short stories that came out, called Book of the Dead 1 and 2, and they were stories by various science fiction and horror authors that were happening in my world while the stuff was happening in Pittsburgh,” Romero explained. “Even though the movies have been focused on smaller regions and areas, my idea always has been that the dead are returning to life all around the world. Those particular collections of stories were written specifically to fit in with my conceit, and so finally, I got to the point of wanting to do one myself. So that’s where we are – this other stuff is happening in Pennsylvania in the movies, and there’s also this other stuff going on over here.

“Frankly, after Resident Evil, and 28 Days Later, and all these other projects that are glomming onto the whole zombie, or dead coming back kick, I figured I could weigh in with a story of an adventure in a world where the dead are coming back to life. Of course I had written the script for Land of the Dead, my fourth film in the series already, but again, ‘The Death of Death’ isn’t not connected to the movies directly, but it is happening while the movies are happening in Pittsburgh.”

The conceit in “The Death of Death” is basically just that – a scientist has advanced a formula that slows decay to a point now where, when someone dies, they don’t head right towards decaying, sloppy Romero-esque zombie. “So I’ve been thinking about what it would be like if the zombies develop mentally, and in Toe Tags, the story is just that – what if somehow decay was inhibited? When someone dies now, they don’t go immediately to the drooling pus bucket stage. They’re still able to speak and think, and be active. That’s the biggest difference.

“From there, I thought it would be cool to have a hero in there, who was one of the dead, so that’s where that idea comes from in the comic, even though we had a hero zombie in Day of the Dead, and there are a few in the new film as well.”

With a six-part story coming out over the next few months, and his fourth zombie film ready to go in front of the cameras in a few weeks, Romero is pragmatic about why we’re now seeing a return to the zombie genre in popular culture. “My suspicion is that it’s marketing,” the creator said. “ I mean, it’s become its own genre outside of horror over the years, and I’ve seen so many things over the years – stories and films created by films. But I think what we’re seeing now is a push that was started by videogames like Resident Evil as well as 28 Days Later and some other projects. I just hope that by the time my film hits screens; this resurgence we’re seeing now isn’t over.

“It is nice to see though - with these films and games that I mentioned that are out there, even the remake of Day of the Dead, it’s like Hollywood is saying that zombies are cool. Well heck, I’ve always known that.”

wetookhim · 10-12-2004, 04:25 PM

I am so there for this book!!

FIG · 10-12-2004, 04:40 PM

The Bernie Wrightson covers are awesome and the interior art looks solid. I'm there.

drdash · 10-12-2004, 04:45 PM

i'm a huge zombie fan. Be it romero's, Fulci's or resident evil and i am so there for this book. i actually still have my copies of the book of the dead anthologies and i reread them quite a bit. great books if you can find them. zombies are the best monsters.

ciao
drdash

Aaron Weisbrod · 10-12-2004, 05:10 PM

I *FINALLY* saw the original DAWN OF THE DEAD a few weeks ago and was blown away. All the hype I had heard about the film for years was true!

I think Mr. Romero was right on the money about the fact that zombies are becoming their own genre, and, looking back, Ithink it's safe to say we have DAWN OF THE DEAD to thank for it.

That was *THE* zombie movie!

I only wish it hadn't taken me so long to see it...

Also an "EC" fanatic to boot,
Aaron Weisbrod

idkidd · 10-12-2004, 05:28 PM

I would have liked to hear if he was aware of "the Walking Dead" and also what his feelings are about the works he mentioned that are currently out there. It's interesting that works that Romero inspired now come along and grease the wheels for getting the 4th film off the ground.

Solamon · 10-12-2004, 06:14 PM

This comic is looking fantastic! I'm so glad zombies are popular again. I'd say they're my favorite of all the undead. Hell, I even keep a couple of them stored away in my basement. That way, when Kirkman is late with the Walking Dead, I can go downstairs and watch them for a while. Helps pass the time between issues.

Incubuscraft · 10-12-2004, 07:18 PM

I admit that Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" is one of the highlights of western culture...and that "Dawn of the Dead" is one of the most essentially CREEPY films ever made (the undead...in a shopping mall...???)...but for me zombies begin and end with Lovecraft's "Herbert West - Reanimator!". As hokie as those stories may seem today (what, 70 years later?) they still produce a deeply inexplicable dread. That being said...if anyone could (finally!) make a legit Lovecraftian movie, it would be George Romero.

djshalope · 10-12-2004, 07:26 PM

just watched a good chunk of Night of the Living Dead a couple days ago. great original stuff. loved the Dawn of the Dead remake surprisingly. perfect timing since now i'll be checking this comic out.

just thought of this - wouldn't it be great to see a romero written comic drawn by richard corben? now that would be it right there.

**MattBrady** · 10-12-2004, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by djshalope
just thought of this - wouldn't it be great to see a romero written comic drawn by richard corben? now that would be it right there.

If you promise not to cry, I'll tell you a secret....

Corben was attached as the original artist on this.

No crying.

MattB

xpositive · 10-12-2004, 11:06 PM

And we thought The Walking dead was the closest we would get to a Romero comic book. Kinda wish it wasn't DC, but every once in a while they show good judgment. The Niles version of Dawn of the Dead was a little disappointing. Damn this is great news.

FIG · 10-13-2004, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
If you promise not to cry, I'll tell you a secret....

Corben was attached as the original artist on this.

No crying.

MattB

Corben would have been PERFECT. John Romero and Richard Corben.......oh well. This is art is a whole different direction but damn good.

EMeadow · 10-13-2004, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wetookhim
I am so there for this book!!

This is one of the very few projects I'm on trade watch for.

I've been loving all the various zombie project that the industry has been putting out and this one will be coming to me as well.

But I'm not aware of yet who will be doing the book after Romero since most people are aware its a rotating writer/artist anthology.

WebHobbit · 10-13-2004, 08:02 AM

This has to be great.

I'm getting it.

JonHook · 10-13-2004, 09:05 AM

Awesome! This looks so good... I'm so there!

Weisbrod! You only NOW saw the original DAWN OF THE DEAD?!? Man... you're a little slow on the up-take, boy, but I think you'll be fine now.

xpositive · 10-13-2004, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady

Is it just me, or does this zombie look like Bruce Cambell? At last!!! Ash verse the Plague of Zombies!!! Or Ash and the Zombies verse us...

Elliot Mears · 10-13-2004, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Corben was attached as the original artist on this.

I thought that was the case. Pity. It would have been like some beautiful dream, only full of guts...

ozgriffith · 10-18-2004, 04:15 AM

Check out old issues of "Deadworld" for one of Comicdoms first talking zombies, the King, and you know who I'm talking about. And Arrow Comics "The Dead" Two great and often overlooked Zombie Titles out there.... If you liked Walking Dead or Dawn of the Dead, gives these a try, rumor is they are both returning next year...Long live the King!!!

10-20-2004, 05:55 AM

This seems like the kind of project that would be perfect for a bookshelf edition. Hopefully the creators will have insisted that one eventually be published.

If not, I'm sure I can always get the singles for way below cover on ebay down the road if the series looks to be a must-have.

The Creeper · 10-20-2004, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xpositive
Is it just me, or does this zombie look like Bruce Cambell? At last!!! Ash verse the Plague of Zombies!!! Or Ash and the Zombies verse us...

I was gonna say this also.

paulski · 10-21-2004, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
If you promise not to cry, I'll tell you a secret....

Corben was attached as the original artist on this.

No crying.

MattB

Don't remind me.

I had a look at #1 on the shelves today and it was... alright. Not great but better than I had expected. Still, it wasn't quite good looking enough for me to pick it up, but I'll strongly consider getting it in trade form if it happens.