The “zombie reveal” gag in this strip is a nod to the 1985 film Return of the Living Dead, specifically a scene involving paramedics.

I first saw that movie when I was a kid, and despite its comedic elements, it gave me WICKED nightmares! The “Tarman” zombie scared the SHIT out of me. I was also really disturbed by the scene in which a guy cremates himself. And to top it all off, there’s even a nuclear missile in there — ANOTHER childhood nightmare fodder! In fact, I would go so far as to say that Return of the Living Dead is where my obsession with zombies all started.

Now I’m so sick of zombies (we’re on a break), that if the zombocalypse ever DOES happen, I’m not even gonna be prepared for it! I’ve gotten too complacent!