AiZ: Alice in Zombieland Interview - Part Two

I hope you enjoyed the first part of the AiZ: Alice in Zombieland Interview. Keep on reading to see what its creator Josh Cook had to say about this exciting project.

Alice in Zombieland

5. There are going to be 3 versions of Alice in Zombieland. What are the differences between them?

Yes, there will be three versions of the AiZ: Alice in Zombieland #1 issue. There will be the regular version, which will be sold through the Zombie A.C.R.E.S. Merch Shop and at the Seattle ZomBcon in October.

The second version is the limited ZomBcon Edition, which was available to those who backed the Kickstarter campaign at certain levels, as well as being sold at ZomBcon. This version will be limited to only 200 numbered copies and will never be sold anywhere else. Once they are gone, they are gone for good. The ZomBcon Edition will also feature different cover art as well as a bonus story called Bruce Campbell vs The ACRES. This bonus story will have artwork by Donovan Scherer, the creator of Fear & Sunshine.

The third version of AiZ: Alice in Zombieland #1 is the Backer Edition and is the ultra rare version – only 25 numbered copies will be printed! This version was only available to fans that backed the Kickstarter campaign at the highest levels – plus ONE copy I will be giving away at ZomBcon. This version will never be sold anywhere. Period. Along with the special Bruce Campbell vs The ACRES story and brand new cover art, there are going to be a few other little surprises that I will never divulge. Hopefully you are one of the lucky few who were able to secure your copy of the ultra rare Backer Edition.

I would also like to note that Bruce Campbell vs The ACRES is the very first comic only story from Zombie A.C.R.E.S. and will not be posted online. I have a very short list of reviewers that will get to see this story, but even they will not get the full ten pages. I am extremely grateful to those that believed in this project enough to plunk down a good chunk of change to see it brought to life (pun intended); and I feel they should all get a little something special that nobody outside of Team Zombi will see.

6. Do you have any other projects coming up in the future?

I have many Zombie A.C.R.E.S. related things that I am working on. I will continue to offer the free short stories at ZombieACRES.com, publish more eBooks, and am working on the first Zombie A.C.R.E.S. Zomb-Libs book.

In addition to the Zombie A.C.R.E.S. projects, I am also going to be helping Lewis Cougill from GenXnerd.com create a brand new kind of role playing game. NotJustDeadStuff.com is going to be home to this unique game of zombies, survivors, and videos. The game is still in the infant stages right now, but you can go to the website to find the rules and the first survivor video. There is also one other project that I may be helping out on, but I have been sworn to secrecy on that one. All I can say is it will be the first short film that I will have a hand in forming.

I am always looking for new projects to start and help out with, though, so I am sure there will be many more that will be popping up in the near future.

7. What can zombie fans expect at the Seattle ZomBCon in October? Do you have anything special planned?

The Seattle ZomBcon will be my first convention ever. Not only the first one I will have a booth at, but also the first one I will have ever attended. I have always been too broke to be able to go out and enjoy the conventions, so I am as excited as anyone to see what is going to happen this year.

As far as Zombie A.C.R.E.S. and what Team Zombi will be bringing to the convention, plans are still being made official. I can say that there will be giveaways, a raffle, free eBook download coupons, Zombie A.C.R.E.S. merchandise, and of course, the AiZ: Alice in Zombieland #1 ZomBcon Edition. Team Zombi is always looking for new recruits to help with events like ZomBcon, so if you love zombies and are serious about helping the indie movement, please visit the ZA Street Team page to find out how you can help.

I would like to thank Josh for answering my questions and I am sure you will join me in wishing him luck with AiZ: Alice in Zombieland.

For more information on AiZ, visit the Zombie A.C.R.E.S website http://zombieacres.com/aiz-alice-in-zombieland.

AiZ: Alice in Zombieland Interview - Part One

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Josh Cook about his latest project, AiZ: Alice in Zombieland. This is what he had to say.

Josh the Zombie

1. AiZ: Alice in Zombieland certainly sounds like an interesting project. Tell me a little bit more about it.

AiZ: Alice in Zombieland is an eBook that will be released in October, along with a five issue mini-series comic based upon that eBook, and is the first Zombie A.C.R.E.S. universe event. The Zombie A.C.R.E.S. universe is much like our own world, with one small difference – Roslun Global. This is the largest pharmaceutical company in the world, and the one responsible for the creation of the gated zombie community known as Zombie A.C.R.E.S. (Animated Corpses Reintegration Experimental Subdivision). This compound is used to perfect Roslun Global’s death-curing drug. Unfortunately, once one of their ‘experiments’ escaped and went public, the secret was out, as well as some of the research they have done. This causes a wave of basement scientists to try their own experiments, and ultimately to small outbreaks throughout the world. AiZ: Alice in Zombieland features three people whose lives have been affected by one of these outbreaks – Georgia ‘Gee’ Marie, her younger sister Alice, and Sam Ashe. When Alice is taken, it is up to Gee and Sam to find her before it’s too late. Without revealing too much, that is really all I can say. Just make sure you visit ZombieACRES.com to keep up with all the twists and turns of this tale of horror.

2. Where did the inspiration for this story come from? Does it have any association with Lewis Carroll's tale?

The actual inspiration for AiZ : Alice in Zombieland came from the characters and actions within the Zombie A.C.R.E.S. universe. Alice in Wonderland was not even in my head when I began creating what would become AiZ: Alice in Zombieland. Fans of the classic may see some slight nods towards it, but AiZ: Alice in Zombieland has no association with or to the Lewis Carroll books and stories. That has already been done, and I did not want to tread on a beaten down path already.

AiZ: Alice in Zombieland is an original event and is not based in a wondrous world of talking animals and crazy cards, but a world we all know and deal with everyday. Alice in Wonderland is an amazing book and Lewis Carroll created one of the most magical stories I have ever read, but AiZ: Alice in Zombieland is something completely different.

3.  Can we expect any of the classic Alice in Wonderland characters to make an appearance in AiZ?

Again, there may be some slight nods towards the classic, but AiZ: Alice in Zombieland will be its own undead beast, with its own mysteries craziness.

4. It is fantastic that backers have helped you exceed the $1200 goal on the AiZ Kickstarter page. Did you think you would get this level of support? Is there anything you would like to say to those individuals who made a pledge?

It is awesome that I have been able to surpass my goal on Kickstarter. I never thought I would even get near that goal. I was prepping a new fund raising plan the day before the AiZ: Alice in Zombieland campaign was over. Thanks to many people really pushing it, I was able to meet my goal with twenty hours left. When I woke up the next morning and saw people were still pledging donations, I cried. When I think of all the support I have received from the indie community, and especially the indie horror community, I almost always well up a little.

The only thing I can think of to say at this point is thank you. Thank you more than I can even say or express. I also ask that everyone who reads this interview please visit the AiZ: Alice in Zombieland page and visit the sites of all of the backers that have put their hard earned cash on the line for my dream.

Hellraiser: A Resurrection of Terror

If we go back almost 25 years to 1987, this was when Clive Barker first introduced horror fans around the world to his insight on what real terror and real suffering could represent. In this case, it came in the form of cenobites.

Not long after Hellraiser was showcased to waiting fans, it was obvious that it had become an overnight success and this is one film that still manages to captivate audiences, both young and old. I am pleased to say I am one of them.

A number of definitive films have been revived (such as Nightmare on Elm Street) in a modern day setting, but fans of the original Hellraiser franchise may (or not in some cases) be surprised to learn that it is not going to be a remake at all, it will be an entirely different story.

The new film is currently due to be released in 2012 and is going to be directed by Patrick Lussier and Todd Farmer.

For any fellow fans, I have to ask what you think about this change in direction. Is this something that you prefer? Rather than a modernized retelling of the original story?

I personally think that with a good storyline and hopefully what is going to be a reprisal role for Doug Bradley as Pinhead (plus other key characters), it could very easily become another win for 80’s horror classics.