31 Days of Zombie Infestation: Day 27 - Zombie Costumes

Zombie Disney Costumes

With Halloween right around the corner this one seems like a no-brainer (joke!).


Zombie costumes are so great for trick-or-treating.

First, they're simple and cheap. A zombie costume could be nothing more than throwing on some "normal" clothes and then putting some fake blood around your mouth. Act zombie-ish and you'll be instantly recognized.

But if you wanted to go the extra mile, you apply the zombie template to a preexisting character. This can be done with almost anything. Zombie Mario and Luigi. Zombie pirates. Zombie princesses. Zombie nurses. Zombie Buzz Lightyear. Zombie Obama and Romney. The possibilities are endless!

So you see, zombie costumes range from ultra-easy to as involved as you wanted it to be. But 1LR awards points to those who go for originality in the concept of the costume, like the clever folks in the picture above with nine zombie Disney characters. How awesome is that! But where are the seven zombie dwarves?

Cosplay PSA

Check out this funny (and informational!) video about dressing up to attend a Sci-Fi event (A PSA intended for women):

Superhero Halloween Costumes for Ladies

I was in a costume shop looking for props for my Halloween costume the other day (I'm going to be a king) and I saw some cool superhero related costumes for women. Check 'em out!

These are from the Women of Marvel line. What's your favorite? I personally like the Black Spider-Woman!

The Rules to Dressing in Costume for a Movie #4

We're continuing the discuss the rules for dressing up to go to a movie. So far, we've said that you should....

#1 - Go with friends.
#2 - Realize that it takes guts
#3 - Measure the likelihood that others will dress up

Rule #4 is that the "bigger" the movie the safer you are to dress up. Fans didn't think twice about dressing up for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Why? Because this film was bigger than the Pharaoh in Egypt! Fans had attended movie theaters for seven previous films and seen other fans dressed up. At that point, Harry Potter was a very well-established and hotly anticipated property. In many regards, it was expected that fans show up en masse.

While this might seem like it's the same as rule #3, it's not. The likelihood that fans will dress up for Men in Black III is low but that film is going to be huge no matter what so, although you may be the only fan dressed up, you're still okay to go in costume. Chances are the other fans will applaud your courage and creativity.



When the film has a big buzz around it or is much-anticipated it becomes much more socially acceptable to dress up when you attend. It's a numbers game - a packed theater is much more accommodating to a lone fan who shows up in costume than, say, a show where it's you and three other dudes. So while you may be the only one, it's cool if the theater is packed. In the case of a big movie event, you may even have other fans wishing that they had thought of dressing up as well.

The Great Debate: Is Dressing in Costume for a Movie Premier Cool?

Yes, I brought a Thor hammer to the Thor midnight showing. YES, I was willing to dress in a full body suit for the Green Lantern midnight premier. And, Yes, this is me with a full-sized Captain America shield for the Captain America midnight show.

So, of course, in the great debate on whether or not it is cool to dress up and/or bring prop replicas to a movie premier I'm going to answer a resounding, "YES!" 

First of all, this is a way for you to show that you're not just a casual fan who saw a cool trailer during last Sunday's football game. If you dress up in costume for a movie, it shows you're a superfan! You have knowledge and passion for the source material!

Second, it makes the entire movie experience more special for everyone. Why is it cool to go to midnight shows? Because, at its best, it is like going to a mini-convention for people who are fans of this one intellectual property. Anyone who was at a Star Wars or Harry Potter midnight showing knows what I'm talking about. It's cool to see how fans costume up to express their interest in a film and it's also nice to be stand out in a crowd yourself. Try walking up to the concession stand, sighing, dropping your Thor hammer on the counter and saying, "You won't BELIEVE the day I've had!"

Thirdly, it's a way to make yourself approachable to other fans. If you dress up you're saying, "I'm not just here to see a movie - I want a bigger experience!" This signals to other fans that they can approach you and begin talking. If nothing else they have an easy conversation starter ("Hey, nice costume!"). At Captain America alone I had a few fans approach me and ask where I got the cool shield (I pointed them toward Comic Store West). It's nice to gain a little attention from the crowd.

Finally, it's a way for you to express your own creativity. What's better than hobbling together a home-made Hank McCoy or Rouge outfit (I saw both of these at the X-Men: First Class midnight showing)? And, BONUS - Come Halloween or the next Con, you've already got your costume ready to roll. Score!

So as you clearly can see, shedding your inhibitions and dressing up for a movie premier is cool. It make the experience more memorable for you and everyone else. And after all, that's what most fans are after at a midnight showing - something more special than your average movie-going experience. So, God Bless you, Up Boy, and all the mega-fans like you!