Big Picture Big Sound

Fans Flock to The Walking Dead at Comic Con

By Lora Grady

Is it possible that "The Walking Dead" is getting even more popular? Fans at this year's Comic Con certainly couldn't get enough of the series, as they crowded into Hall H on Friday afternoon to hear updates and teasers for "TWD" season five, debuting in October. Panelists included stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, and Danai Gurira, as well as executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, and Dave Alpert. There was also an autograph session at the "TWD" booth on Friday afternoon.

Fans who couldn't make it to the signing still flocked to the booth, which was busy throughout the con. Visitors who braved the crowds could watch series footage, check out scenery and settings from the show, and even pose for photo ops with a series of creepy zombie figures. Check out AMC's "The Walking Dead" Season 5 teaser/trailer on YouTube.

For fans who weren't content just to watch footage or pose for souvenir shots, the "Walking Dead Escape" set up shop at Petco Park over the weekend to bring brave participants the last word in immersive experience. This is the third year for "Escape" at Comic Con, and for 2014, producers Skybound EXP had things down to a science. The event took over large sections of the park and created a truly unsettling setting that replicated the grim feel of "TWD"'s zombie-infested landscape.

For two days, fans dying to know what it would be like to fight for survival following a zombie apocalypse could sign up to try their hand - or rather, their legs - at what producer Skybound refers to as a "one-of-a-kind immersive zombie obstacle course experience."  And this experience isn't just for would-be heroes: fans could opt to play "survivors" or sign on instead as "walkers". The latter got ghoulish personalized makeup and a quick lesson in "zombie training" before being unleashed to stumble corpselike around the course in an experience straight out of their undead dreams.

Even spectating at "The Walking Dead Escape" could be harrowing. Here is a selection of creepy moments from Saturday's experience, and a couple of shots from the "Walking Dead" action on the con floor; check them out if you dare!

TWD_booth_1.JPG
Visitors at the "Walking Dead" booth were greeted by some friendly faces

TWD_booth_2.JPG
"TWD" booth

Terminus_booth.JPG
"TWD" booth: what the heck is going on at Terminus??

TWDE4.JPG
TWD Escape: you probably don't want to go that way...

TWDE3.JPG
TWD Escape

TWDE_2.JPG
TWD Escape, up close and personal

TWDE_1.JPG
TWD Escape kept these guys on their toes

TWDE5.JPG
TWD Escape

TWDE8.JPG
TWD Escape

TWDE7.JPG
TWD Escape

What did you think?

View all articles by Lora Grady
Big News
Newsletter Sign-up
 
Connect with Us