Talk:Zombie

Semi-protected edit request on 7 January 2016
Please add this text to the Zombie entry under the subheading 2000s and 2010s:

Some have argued that these fast zombies are a new breed of hyper-whites, translucent bodied creatures with blue veins that rapaciously destroy everything in sight, and that a new form of Black male hero figure is the ultimate zombie-killing savior (such as in I am Legend and 28 Days Later).

Emcalister (talk) 20:31, 7 January 2016 (UTC)


 * Hi Emcalister, I have unprotected it for the moment so you can add - this shouldn't be in the lead but in some political segment somewhere. with an account you can edit semiprotected pages in a few edits or days anyway. I'll protect once the IP vandalism starts up again...Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 20:36, 7 January 2016 (UTC)
 * Padlock-silver-open.svg Not done: The page's protection level has changed since this request was placed. You should now be able to edit the page yourself. If you still seem to be unable to, please reopen the request with further details. Mz7 (talk) 05:31, 8 January 2016 (UTC)

Film titled "Zombie Apocalypse"
There is a movie titled 'Zombie Apocalypse'... the wiki for it can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_Apocalypse_(film)

This is mildly problematic as 'Zombie Apocalypse' redirects to the page for "zombie" ... I agree that this redirect should be in place, but think the website would benefit from including a "did you mean 'Zombie Apocalypse (film)?' link.

Have a lovely day! (forgive me if I am doing this wrong -- I am not very skilled in the art of wikipedia)

ColbyWolf (talk) 04:46, 5 February 2016 (UTC)

"In theoretical academic papers" section
This section is a little sparse and I believe it can be expanded upon. It would most likely benefit from additional material from a variety of different scholars who are knowledgeable on the subject of zombies. I believe the following article would jumpstart/add more substance to this section:

McGee, Adam M. 2012. “Haitian Voudou and Voodoo: Imagined Religion and Popular Culture.” Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses 41 (2): 231-256

McGee discusses zombies in popular culture (mostly film) at length and their connection to Haiti and Haitian voudou as well.

Semi-protected edit request on 8 April 2016
Please add, in subhead "in gaming", either after or merged with the 5th paragrah, the following:

"A major success in the board game industry, Zombicide is a cooperative game with the 'Zombie apocalypse' theme, featuring classic archetypes from other zombie related success (such as [|The Walking Dead]) trying to survive in a zombie infested town.

Pauloshinji (talk) 17:18, 8 April 2016 (UTC)


 * , this would need secondary sources for it being a "major success" compared to other zombie-themed boardgames - the game company's own Kickstarter and buy-this-game page are WP:PRIMARY sources. --McGeddon (talk) 18:47, 8 April 2016 (UTC)

External links modified
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Semi-protected edit request on 4 November 2016
I wanted to change the current definiton of the term zombie, because i just wrote a 15 page term paper about the topic and came to the conclusion that the existing definition is outdated. Saekon82 (talk) 16:16, 4 November 2016 (UTC) Here is my definition: Zọm·bie substantive [the] /ˈʦɔmbi/ 1.As practiced in the voodoo cult: Humans who have undergone the zombie ritual which includes the consumption of neurotoxins to purport a resurrection 2.In modern media: the result of diverse phenomenons that turn large groups of humans into aggressive, threatening beings without any personal character or control over oneself. Often cannibalistic behaviour is apparent. 3.a person who appears apathetic and inattentive
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: as this is just your PoV and/or Original research, neither of which are allowed on Wikipedia. You would need to cite published reliable sources to back up your request, without which no information should be added to, or changed in, any article. - Arjayay (talk) 16:24, 4 November 2016 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 18 January 2017
Jlpv1967 (talk) 13:33, 18 January 2017 (UTC) Within the section "theoretical academic papers" I would suggest to mention a recently published scientific hypothesis (http://www.hypothesisjournal.com/?p=2966). Human's anatomo-functional structure is described as a kind of Trojan Horse, an instrument or vehicle, constructed and commanded by complex synergistic interactions among different levels of developed microbial societies aimed at pursuing Panspermia. By making a parallelism with some other examples from biology in which different parasites can reprogram and drive host behaivour for their own purposes, in such paper it is suggested to consider whether the human being could be actually acting as a zombie for pursuing microbial Panspermia. In other words; it might be that zombie apocalypse is already ongoing, and we are unconciously taking part of that... Instead of pursuing the benefit of humankind we are destroying it. Why? Who is driving us?
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Sir Joseph (talk) 15:50, 18 January 2017 (UTC)

A significant shift in the genre
The Zombie section does not seem to address the significant shift in the genre.

In the 18th and early 19th century, it was loosely based on folklore. In the mid-19th century, possibly resonating with people coping with the death of two world-wars, the genre spoke against various forms of dehumanization. It has been argued that today, the zombie genre serves to justify the disengagement that it was once meant to speak against. (Incarnate, Michael Frost. Also an article I can't remember).

I also haven't heard anyone mention the effect of the atom bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the genre. From the diary of Hiroshima survivor Michihiko Hachiya: "It was all a nightmare - my wounds, the darkness, the road ahead. My movements were ever so slow; only my mind was running at top speed. In time I came to an open space where the houses had been removed to make a fire      lane. Through the dim light I could make out ahead of me the hazy outlines of the Communications Bureau's big concrete building, and beyond it the hospital. My spirits rose because I knew that now someone would find me; and      if I should die, at least my body would be found. I paused to rest. Gradually things around me came into focus. There were the shadowy forms of people, some of whom looked like walking ghosts. Others moved as though in      pain, like scarecrows, their arms held out from their bodies with forearms and hands dangling. These people puzzled me until I suddenly realized that they had been burned and were holding their arms out to prevent the painful friction of raw surfaces rubbing together. A naked woman carrying a naked baby came into view. I averted my gaze. Perhaps they had been in the bath. But then I saw a naked man, and it occurred to me that, like myself, some strange thing had deprived them of their clothes. An old woman lay near me with an expression of suffering on her face; but she made no sound. Indeed, one thing was common to everyone I saw - complete silence."

The slow movements, outstretched arms (like scarecrows), "like the walking dead". These came from reports from the war/bombing, why is it unaccounted for? There are other reports, all painting the same picture, one from a young girl if I remember correctly.

Semi-protected edit request on 24 August 2017
45.113.64.158 (talk) 10:10, 24 August 2017 (UTC) zombie are actaually fake and people make i just for a fun so kindly don't trust to wikipedia

❌ The article starts "A zombie ... is a fictional undead" how is this not clear? - Arjayay (talk) 10:32, 24 August 2017 (UTC)

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Folk beliefs: Zombie
The section Zombie is totally unrelated to Haitian zombie folks beliefs, unlike the Caribbean and African subsections. It should instead go on Vrykolakas or another directly related page.--Pharos (talk) 23:21, 12 March 2018 (UTC)
 * Agree and done. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 23:24, 12 March 2018 (UTC)

Haitian Zombies Updated
Haitian Zombies do not refer to a magical or mythical revival of the dead, but to a person that was pronounced medically dead and was buried, but was later found to be alive, unburied and forced into slave labor. In Haitian Voodoo culture, plant and animal-based toxins are used to bring individuals to a comatose state that mirrors death, leading to a wrongful diagnosis of dead and subsequent burial. However, as this diagnosis is false, individuals "revive" after 12-24 hours and are then unburied and exploited. This practice is so feared in Haiti that many families choose to inject a lethal poison into their dead loved ones to ensure death and prevent zombification.

The 1988 film "The Serpent and the Rainbow" is based on a true story, and while it is not entirely scientific, provides more insight into Haitian zombification. The false diagnosis of death also commonly occurs as a result of intoxication by the Japanese fugu or blowfish, and the Haitian zombification formula indeed contains tetrodotoxin, also found in blowfish. Additional descriptions of Haitian Zombies can be found in this Harvard Magazine article: https://harvardmagazine.com/2017/10/are-zombies-real. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2604:2000:9848:4400:BC01:FC2D:33A4:ED15 (talk) 15:59, 10 June 2018 (UTC)
 * You are describing the Zombie. There is not that much evidence for it, and cultures all around the world have practices to ensure that the dead are "really dead".--Pharos (talk) 02:14, 20 August 2018 (UTC)

The Last of Us' plausibility
I recently added a source discussing the plausibility of the infection in The Last of Us. I included a brief, unsourced sentence clarifying that, however plausible, there have been no documented cases of Cordyceps (the zombifying fungus infection in the game) infecting humans. I felt this was appropriate to mention simply because I don't want to mislead any readers that this is an actual infection. Rather, there are real life examples of the infection in nature (such as ants, wasps, tarantulas, etc), but not in human beings, thus it's really just good writing, not science per say, to have Cordyceps cross species and infect humanity.

I discussed this more in depth in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Doniago#Your_issue_with_my_Zombie_edits? this talk post]. I've added the information back along with a source that goes more in-depth as to how the Cordyceps infection works and why it's unlike to cross species. I think there's enough to be worried about in the world that I don't think a casual reader should be made to think that zombies have suddenly become the new thing to fret over. :) But I invite any discussion on this, I think it's a fascinating topic. PcPrincipal (talk) 21:53, 29 June 2018 (UTC)

Is there a reason wight and aptrganga are excluded?
The wights and aptrganga of the Germanic folk predate all citations by over a thousand years and are heavily featured in numerous sagas; I'm wondering if there's a reason they're excluded (as in they aren't 'considered zombies' but undead for some reason that was discussed and voted upon that isn't in the talk history) or if they've just been overlooked? Vergilianae (talk) 22:30, 19 August 2018 (UTC)
 * The non-Hollywood definition of zombie is a reanimated person from Haitian folklore. It is one particular kind of undead among the many found in different cultures around the world.  We have a separate article on wight, on zombie, and on many other types.--Pharos (talk) 02:05, 20 August 2018 (UTC)
 * You wouldn't have this problem if you'd stuck to keeping the two kinds of zombie separate articles. Just saying.  Serendi pod ous  12:48, 13 March 2019 (UTC)
 * The odd person asking something is not a big problem, though is it. Anyone is also able to type specific terms and look up that page. So it's not as if they can't find the info. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 18:58, 13 March 2019 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 31 October 2018
Change the formatting error for comment in Merchandise section, probably missing open comment or one characterMerlin04atschool (talk) 18:26, 31 October 2018 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done Thanks for pointing it out. RudolfRed (talk) 18:48, 31 October 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 6 November 2019
According to a segment on Haitian zombies broadcast on NPR (in Los Angeles, 89.9 FM KCRW) 10/31/2019 (add citation), there were two types of zombies with origins in Haitian culture. One type was a slave used by the French colonists in the mid-1800s on the sugar cane plantations. The work was so brutal that slaves were robbed of their wills and their souls, and became mindless, soul-less shells without human characteristics, merely working methodically and numbly. According to this segment on NPR (add specific citation here), many of these slaves were worked so hard that they did not live past their teens.

The second type of zombie revolted against being enslaved by their French masters in this fashion, but because France refused to recognize Haiti as an autonomous country and government, these rebellious slaves were similarly forced to perform the same brutal type of labor on sugar cane plantations, with the same resulting transformation to zombie-like states. In addition, the U.S. decided to include Haiti in President Truman's road improvement project, and some of these workers were also transformed from normal humans into zombies. Catzerine42 (talk) 09:57, 6 November 2019 (UTC)
 * ❌ Please provide a usable citation for this content. Fish +Karate  10:36, 18 November 2019 (UTC)

"Z word" listed at Redirects for discussion
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Proof of earliest "running" or "fast" zombie?
Just came across this site stating that the first "fast zombies" were seen in "Nightmare City" from 1980: https://movies.stackexchange.com/questions/69551/what-was-the-first-movie-to-feature-fast-moving-zombies84.164.203.170 (talk) 20:02, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

Earliest record of word "zombie"?
I don't understand why the word, especially when spelled "zombie", would be defined as an "english word"? The article itself states that it was spelled "zombi" in the first english publication...?! Shouldn't we look past language barriers? Especially with a subject not even remotely based in the english or north-american culture? That said, it seems the earliest record of the word, spelled "zombi", is in novel by Pierre-Corneille Blessebois "Le Zombi du Gran Perou, ou la comtesse de Cocagne" published in 1697(!) [Source: Murphy, Kieran M. (2011): »White Zombie«. In: Contemporary French and Francophone Studies 15: 1, 47-55] Also, I believe a clearer distinction should be made between the different concepts collected under the same term. Zombie can mean a) Wwhatever it was the original african words described b) the Haitian Zombie c) the Romero Zombie or d) the fast Zombie 79.214.127.238 (talk) 16:48, 6 September 2020 (UTC)

Earliest use of word Zombie in English
In June of 1791 the sloop (one mast ship) Zombie docked at Salem Massachusetts. This would be an earlier usage in English and the spelling of the ship is Zombie, not Zombi. This ship entry can be found in the Aurora General Advertiser 29 of June 1791 page 3   — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jdbairdhistorian (talk • contribs) 22:48, 22 November 2020 (UTC)

Evolution of the Modern Zombie Archetype correction
I found this text beneath the Evolution of the Modern Zombie Archetype section:

″There has been an evolution in the zombie archetype from supernatural to scientific themes. I Am Legend and Night of the Living Dead began the shift away from Haitian dark magic, though did not give scientific explanations for zombie origins″

This is inaccurate. Richard Matheson goes into some detail about the science behind the vampire infection in I am Legend. He describes it as microbial in origin, the result of a bacteria infecting the host and modifying a variety of metabolic processes.

"Descent of Ishtar" under "Evolution of the Modern Zombie Archetype" correction
Currently,the article states that Ishtar threatened to raise the dead. That is false, it was her sister, the goddess Ereshkigal, whom is the goddess of Kur, the Mesopotamian underworld. Whoeverthisis1717 (talk) 22:08, 2 April 2023 (UTC)
 * Yes, and that threat, while in gilgamesh, originates from Ishtar's descent into the underworld, in which she threatens to break down the doors of the underworld and unleash the dead unless she is allowed inside.  Serendi pod ous  22:23, 2 April 2023 (UTC)

World War Z's Place in It All
I was really surprised that "World War Z" is mentioned as late in the article as it is? I had anticipated it being more significant, but I could always be wrong. 173.187.6.23 (talk) 17:51, 22 July 2023 (UTC)


 * It's some book from 2006, why would it be all that important? I'm sure it sold a lot for a while, but so did Pet Rocks. 2001:5A8:4615:B00:EDE7:C9D5:7B7C:F863 (talk) 20:53, 16 May 2024 (UTC)

overview has copy-paste from etymology section
the introductory overview section contains literal word-for-word copy-paste from the etymology section. kuchesezik 17:35, 2 November 2023 (UTC)
 * It's OK for leads to repeat text, but this was excessive, so I've replaced it with a summary. Popcornfud (talk) 04:29, 3 November 2023 (UTC)

New revival again?
It seems there could be yet another revival of the zombie genre, given that recently movies like Train to Busan as well as shows such as The Last of Us have become major hits across the world. Sunnyediting99 (talk) 17:11, 8 December 2023 (UTC)