PhxCC 2012: ZOMBIES!!!

Keeping with tradition, Friday night at Pheonix ComiCon was all about the undead. The Zombie Walk around the convention center area was larger than ever and lead into the late night Zombie Beauty Pageant. Hundreds of zombies were part of this year’s festivities versus the hundreds more spectators, a whole team of Phoenix’s Police Department and, of course, a zombie defense squad. No matter which side of the fight you were on, it was the place to be Friday night.

The Zombie Walk started on the north side of the convention center and snaked around an entire block of the downtown Phoenix area. The local police department shutdown traffic around the area for the event (and presumably the public’s safety. In addition to the uniformed officers, Phoenix ComiCon also had the Department of Zombie Defense (D.O.Z.D.) and Arizona Ghostbusters on hand to keep the zombies herded toward their destination and away from the public. Spectators lined the streets and followed the processions around the buildings taking photos, cheering on the zombie defense teams and avoiding becoming one of the walking undead.

"new meaning to Death, do we part."

AZ Ghostbusters & D.O.Z.D.

After the walk had concluded, many fans headed to the Phoenix Hyatt for the Zombie Beauty Pageant. The room was set up like any normal pageant with a stage, runway, judges’ table and a bar for the 21 and over.  The zombie contestants were lined up backstage and escorted to the stage by the D.O.Z.D. to strut their stuff,  perform a talent and answer a question about being a zombie (no one wished for world peace at this event). Brian Pulido of the Lady Death comics and his lovely wife were the hosts of the evening. 13 zombies of all shapes and sizes performed dance routines, comedy bits, and showed off their screeching …err, I mean, singing voices for the standing-room-only crowd. In the end, “Sexy Zombie” and her booty-shaking won the audience (and the judges) over. Last year’s pageant winner, 

Zombie Mama, crowned the winner, along with two other brain-eaters.

Unlike other comic conventions, Phoenix ComiCon is a melting pot of pop-culture genres from the Anime fans to Zombie followers. Evening activities like the Zombie Walk and Beauty Pageant bring together fans of all genres though because they are about having a good time after the convention. The event was fun, inclusive and a way to continue on after the day’s activities were over.  These events were closely watched over by the Department of Zombie Defense and Arizona Ghostbusters, but if they’re not around always remember a shot to the head, a double tap means their dead!

By Martin Bright (@KryptoKid509)