Zombie Identification Guide Basic
The most basic definition of zombie is this: a dead body that has been reanimated by a supernatural force. There are many different variations to this theme, but there are three main categories of zombie: the Voodoo zombie, the slow zombie, and the fast zombie.
Voodoo zombies, also known as zombis, are dead* people resurrected by a houngan or mambo. These zombis have no will of their own and remain under control of the person who performed the ritual who raised them.

[*Some scientists believe that these people are not actually dead, but rather victims of exposure to a powder made from dried blowfish containing tetrodotoxin that produces a death-like state. This exposure combined with the mind-control aspect of the victim’s own belief system creates the zombi state. These zombis are not the focus of this guide, as they are not known for hunting and consuming human flesh, nor is their state of being contagious from zombi to human.]

Slow zombies are the traditional horror movie zombie [see the Advanced Guide entry on Romero Zombies]. They are slow mentally and physically, but are possessed with a singular desire to consume living flesh, preferably human. They are not stronger than humans, but they feel no pain making them capable of performing acts that would kill a human.

Fast zombies are the new trend in zombie apocalypse. These zombies are just as single-minded as slow zombies, but retain more of the physical and mental capacities after conversion. In some cases, they even appear to have enhanced physical capabilities and are more predatory in their hunt for humans.

Both fast and slow zombism is highly contagious. One bite will fully infect a healthy human, often within 24 to 48 hours. Also, both kinds of zombie tend to congregate in packs and possess a sort of hive mentality- meaning that if one zombie spots you, then the others will know where to find you.

Knowing your zombies is crucial to your survival in the coming catastrophe. Your survival strategy should vary depending on what sort of zombie is threatening you. The following list is a catalog of the vital statistics of most know zombie forms. I have included the origination of the zombism where available. It is by no means complete, but will hopefully make you aware of what to look for when looking for signs of impending doom in our world.

Zombie Identification Guide Advanced
NAME: Romero Zombies
ORIGIN: A space probe returning from Venus explodes in Earth’s atmosphere
APPERANCE: Grey-blue or white-greenish grey skin. Dull eyes and hair.
MOVEMENT: Slow moving and dim witted.
GOAL: To eat human flesh, not necessarily the brain
CHARACTERISTICS: These zombies are unique in that they seem to vaguely remember life. They have also been known to learn slowly over time. If one zombie knows something; they all seem to know it. If you see one, there are always MORE.
EXTERMINATION: Destruction of the brain.
CAUTION: Do not underestimate these zombies just because they are slow. Remember, there are more of them than there are of you.

NAME: Return Zombies
ORIGIN: Exposure of dead flesh to Trioxin 245 gas
APPERANCE: Very dead looking rotted or mummified, missing pieces.
MOVEMENT: Of average speed and more coordinated than Romero zombies.
GOAL: To eat human brains, as that helps them forget the pain of death.
CHARACTERISTICS: These zombies speak, are intelligent and retain most of their memories.
EXTERMINATION: Incineration. Hacking them to pieces only makes Zombits.
CAUTION: Even after incineration, the ashes are infectious.NAME: Dead Alive Zombies
ORIGIN: Bite of the Sumatran Rat Monkey
APPERANCE: Quite gory with gaping wounds and oozing places.
MOVEMENT: Spastic.
GOAL: To consume living flesh, not just humans.
CHARACTERISTICS: These zombies are of extremely low intelligence, but are unique in that they can reproduce after death [not producing a zombie baby as result of infection, but a wholly undead conception]. They are also susceptible to drugs.
EXTERMINATION: Extreme destruction.
CAUTION: Do not think that you can keep a loved one who has become a zombie drugged. Something will go wrong.

NAME: Reanimated Zombies
ORIGIN: Reanimation fluid invented by Dr. Herbert West
APPERANCE: No visible rot as the liquid tends to be administered to the newly dead; however, violent wounds may be visible
MOVEMENT: Uncoordinated and fairly slow.
GOAL: To destroy the living in a bloodthirsty manner.
CHARACTERISTICS: These zombies have the ability to control pieces of their bodies, such as their intestines, to kill humans.
EXTERMINATION: Destruction of the brain.
CAUTION: Reanimation fluid works on any living [or dead] tissue.

NAME: Resident Evil Zombies
ORIGIN: Infection by the T-virus
APPERANCE: Varies depending upon length of exposure to the virus [see Mutant Zombies] as well as generation of zombie*.
MOVEMENT: Shuffling, but purposeful and slow
GOAL: To kill and consume flesh.
CHARACTERISTICS: The first generation, low exposure zombies are very similar to Romero zombies; further exposure is covered under Mutant Zombies.
EXTERMINATION: Aim for the head and chest. They are truly dead when they don’t get up anymore.
CAUTION: The T-virus will also infect animals producing zombie dogs, etc.
[*A zombie’s generation refers to when and how it became a zombie. A first generation zombie is often unmarked by wounds since it wasn’t infected by another zombie but was a victim of the original event or a newly deceased corpse exposed to the event. Second and subsequent generation zombies are often bloodied and dismembered.]

NAME: Mutant Zombies AKA Tyrants
ORIGIN: Prolonged exposure to the T-virus/G-virus exposure, nuclear exposure, chemical exposure
APPERANCE: Monstrous and varied from long, deadly tongues to masses of tentacles, etc.
MOVEMENT: Highly predatory but of varying intelligence.
GOAL: To kill, not necessarily to eat.
CHARACTERISTICS: These zombies are not generally encountered in public environments. They tend to be enclosed in secret government facilities, but they should be considered as an ABSOLUTELY worst-case scenario.
EXTERMINATION: Anything involving a well-aimed rocket launcher.
CAUTION: These monsters often go through two or three mutation phases that get more and more deadly as time passes.

NAME: Queen Zombie
ORIGIN: First generation zombie made from injection of DNX [subsequent generations are Romero zombies]
APPERANCE: White eyes and hair, deathly pallor.
MOVEMENT: Skilled in martial arts and very fast.
GOAL: To eat human flesh and brains.
CHARACTERISITICS: This zombie is intelligent and dangerous. It speaks, knows kung fu and possibly has magic powers. It is twice as hard to kill it as it is to kill the second-generation DNX zombies.
EXTERMINATION: Hopefully, if presented with this zombie, you know kung fu as well and will employ its use in destroying the zombie’s brain and hacking up its body.
CAUTION: Did I mention it magically knows kung fu?

NAME: Necromancer Zombies AKA Zombie Masters
ORIGIN: Improper burial of a necromancer
APPERANCE: Retains a mostly human appearance as long as it obtains its goal
MOVEMENT: That of an average human.
GOAL: To eat human flesh so that its own does not being to rot.
CHARACTERISITICS: These zombies are intelligent and cunning. They will often possess strong social skills and powerful political connections. They have been known to use firearms.
EXTERMINATION: Cremation.
CAUTION: These zombies can raise other zombies and control them.

NAME: Fast Zombies
ORIGIN: Unknown**
APPERANCE: Bloody wounds, greenish or yellowish skin, a sickly look.
MOVEMENT: Very fast and animal-like.
GOAL: To eat living human flesh.
CHARACTERISITICS: These zombies are like more advanced Romero zombies. They are a bit smarter and a lot more physically coordinated.
EXTERMINATION: Destroying the brain.
CAUTION: These zombies tend wander about seemingly harmlessly until prey is spotted. Do not confuse them with Romero zombies.
[**The creatures infected with the Rage virus are not technically zombies as they did not die from or were resurrected by the infection.]

NAME: Deadite Zombies
ORIGIN: Demonic possession of corpses following reading aloud from the Necronomicon AKA The Book of the Dead
APPERANCE: Gargoyle-like distortions of the face and body
MOVEMENT: Supernatural.
GOAL: To swallow souls.
CHARACTERISITICS: These zombies are highly intelligent, often luring victims with cries for help or taunting them into stupid actions. This form of zombism is not infectious in the traditional way, but anyone perishing during a Deadite infestation is subject to becoming possessed as well.
EXTERMINATION: Major destruction best performed with a sawed-off shotgun and chainsaw.
CAUTION: Be cautious of other forms of demonic possession during Deadite incursion i.e. trees, hands, etc.Obviously, there have been many other causes of zombism in popular history; however, I feel that this guide explains the main forms that the zombism takes, the ways to destroy them, and things to be cautious of. If you would like to add to this guide, please just follow the format.

by Donovan Beeson
Expert Zombologist, PhD

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