Limor Wolf
12th November 2011, 00:22
Recently the center for disease control (CDC) issued a comic book called “Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic,” which delivers a set of tips about how to prepare for an emergency—in the form of a zombie survival story. The idea is that surviving a zombie attack (the worst case scenario) involves the same steps as preparing for a real pandemic or other widespread emergency.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf5EicoiUMY/TqhTcj3SflI/AAAAAAAAApI/l4IE7fP0Cos/s400/zombie_apocalypse_cdc.JPG
From the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/zombies_novella.htm#):
"CDC has a fun new way of teaching the importance of emergency preparedness. Our new graphic novel, "Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic" demonstrates the importance of being prepared in an entertaining way that people of all ages will enjoy. Readers follow Todd, Julie, and their dog Max as a strange new disease begins spreading, turning ordinary people into zombies. Stick around to the end for a surprising twist that will drive home the importance of being prepared for any emergency. Included in the novel is a Preparedness Checklist so that readers can get their family, workplace, or school ready before disaster strikes."
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aCfWLFEEGo/TqLa8MMcfvI/AAAAAAAAAvY/EU-VrZgbvtM/s400/zombiepandemiccover.jpg
The comic walks a fine line between a horror story and an all ages instructional guide. Infected "zombies" attack humans, but mass violence is mostly implied and healthy humans at the CDC work to cure the afflicted rather than take them out with headshots. Even soldiers armed with machine guns clearly remind readers that their foes are just sick people who should be helped rather than harmed.
Luckily for the fictional man, the CDC posted the aforementioned zombie guide online, so he can stock up on all the necessary supplies: flashlight, radio, dog food for the mutt and other daily essentials.
After gathering up his supplies and nearly being eaten by a zombified neighbor, the man and his girlfriend defy the news reports to stay inside and head to the CDC. Miraculously, the CDC looks unscathed by the attack and has already figured out what’s causing it: a mutated form of the flu. And they’re working on a vaccine, which ultimately only takes a week to make. Sounds far-fetched, right? Right.
http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cdczombiecomic.jpg
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/10/20/cdc-zombie-comic/
http://www.breakingcopy.com/brains-cdc-psa-is-a-zombie-comic
http://www.neatorama.com/2011/10/19/zombie-pandemic-comic-from-the-cdc/
To me it looks like a pack of fear mongering combined with symbolism and mind control 'gift' wrapped for the public with a ribbon,and inside is an alltogether very different kind of warning from what the innocent reader is anticipating.What do you think are they trying to tell the public?
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf5EicoiUMY/TqhTcj3SflI/AAAAAAAAApI/l4IE7fP0Cos/s400/zombie_apocalypse_cdc.JPG
From the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/zombies_novella.htm#):
"CDC has a fun new way of teaching the importance of emergency preparedness. Our new graphic novel, "Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic" demonstrates the importance of being prepared in an entertaining way that people of all ages will enjoy. Readers follow Todd, Julie, and their dog Max as a strange new disease begins spreading, turning ordinary people into zombies. Stick around to the end for a surprising twist that will drive home the importance of being prepared for any emergency. Included in the novel is a Preparedness Checklist so that readers can get their family, workplace, or school ready before disaster strikes."
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7aCfWLFEEGo/TqLa8MMcfvI/AAAAAAAAAvY/EU-VrZgbvtM/s400/zombiepandemiccover.jpg
The comic walks a fine line between a horror story and an all ages instructional guide. Infected "zombies" attack humans, but mass violence is mostly implied and healthy humans at the CDC work to cure the afflicted rather than take them out with headshots. Even soldiers armed with machine guns clearly remind readers that their foes are just sick people who should be helped rather than harmed.
Luckily for the fictional man, the CDC posted the aforementioned zombie guide online, so he can stock up on all the necessary supplies: flashlight, radio, dog food for the mutt and other daily essentials.
After gathering up his supplies and nearly being eaten by a zombified neighbor, the man and his girlfriend defy the news reports to stay inside and head to the CDC. Miraculously, the CDC looks unscathed by the attack and has already figured out what’s causing it: a mutated form of the flu. And they’re working on a vaccine, which ultimately only takes a week to make. Sounds far-fetched, right? Right.
http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cdczombiecomic.jpg
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/10/20/cdc-zombie-comic/
http://www.breakingcopy.com/brains-cdc-psa-is-a-zombie-comic
http://www.neatorama.com/2011/10/19/zombie-pandemic-comic-from-the-cdc/
To me it looks like a pack of fear mongering combined with symbolism and mind control 'gift' wrapped for the public with a ribbon,and inside is an alltogether very different kind of warning from what the innocent reader is anticipating.What do you think are they trying to tell the public?