Zombie story breakdown
What are zombies? Well, there are many takes on the true definition of a zombie, but one thing that they all versions have in common is that only severe trauma to the brain stem will truly stop those undead flesh eaters. Whether they shuffle, run or do something else, one thing is certain… they are a part of horror culture.
When I wrote my first novel in 2010, I didn’t realize how far it would take me. Now we are 4 novels in, 3 graphic novels in, and many more of both to come. So, what are the zombies like in my novels? I tried to appease to every zombie fan out there. I figured that there had to be some common ground among them all. So in a sense, they all exist in the universe we have created in my novels and the comics.
If you didn’t know, the whole “Flesh and Leftovers” series touches on many things. Zombies are our focus in only two of our works: “Flesh and Leftovers” the novel, and its spinoff “Zombie Incidents.” Both of these are available through links on our sidebar on the right. The novels are available in paperback and for the kindle, while the comics are available in print and soon in digital.
My goal was to write a series of short stories in each novel, that all tie together into a greater plot. Here is a brief plot description for each chapter in the books and graphic novels that focus on zombies. I will also release descriptions of the other creatures and phenomenon that my series focuses upon. If you find one that interests you, then check it out. I love feedback and suggestions if you feel I didn’t touch upon something.
The Eden’s Order Trilogy has all of these stories plus a bonus one, and you will notice some reoccuring characters. I’ll first describe the overall plot to the novel and graphic novel, then touch on the chapter content. Next to each story description, I will note where you can find that particular one. All stories are (C) 2010 and 2012, by Rick Pipito. Without further blabbering on, here are the zombie stories (listed as incidents) created by Rick Pipito:
FLESH AND LEFTOVERS (THE NOVEL): Gordon Lightcap and his partner, Moira Donatelli, have created an organization to rid the world of a rising threat, but to better understand that threat they must look back into the horrific events leading up to their current predicament. Join them as they search for the answers through ten short stories of flesh devouring madness. Learn about the very first incident and others to discover an even more dangerous foe who is ready to surface.
F&L: ZOMBIE INCIDENTS (comic book spinoff): It’s dark. You can feel the presence of something reeking of death. Then there are more of them. You look around and find that you are surrounded by zombies that want to devour you. This is the world of Flesh and Leftovers, where tales of zombie incidents will make your skin crawl. Ten short stories are illustrated by nine amazing artists in this graphic spinoff of “Flesh And Leftovers” the novel.
Guns And Veggies: When a mutated strain of the rabies virus turns the town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania into a nightmare, two friends must put their differences aside to survive. Conservative, Johnny Chong, and his liberal best friend make a mad dash to escape the town as human and animal zombies run amok. (Flesh and Leftovers)
Talking Heads, But Not The Band: Shane Munroe is your average bachelor who loves a great time, but when he contracts a new disease, his life is forever changed. See the world from the mind of a man who begins to crave flesh. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Zombie Apocalypse: A group of scientists working for a Top Secret facility in Great Britain have solved an age long mystery. When they place four ancient artifacts together, the result is a disaster. Four demons from before man’s origins possess humans. Now the British government must race to opposite ends of the globe to stop the army of the dead rising from their very graves, and put an end to the demons’ destruction. (Flesh And Leftovers)
The Freak In Me: In the 1960s, a travelling musician found a radioactive meteor while on a hike. Now, in present day, he dies of a heart attack, only to be reanimated by his green hued blood. In a home for those with special needs, he begins to spread his tainted blood among the residents. Teenager, Chastity Smith, must put her fears aside and find a way out. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Cleansing The Soul: A primitive tribe in modern day India worships their god Rakshasa. On a daily basis, they bring a sacrifice to their deity and then devour the remnants of the human. When their master suddenly vanishes, these cannibals turn on each other for food. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Generation Z: Just north of Niagara Falls in Canada, child immunizations suddenly take a turn. Children under the age of twelve begin to turn into mindless zombies. For anyone older than twelve, this virus becomes fatal. An American family finds out the hard way what it takes to survive, and in the 
end, one boy suddenly finds a new purpose in life. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Dead In Muncie: This newspaper clipping type story from a small town in Indiana, describes an artist who begins to see things that aren’t really there. His drug induced delusions lead him on a killing spree in his claims that “zombies” are everywhere. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Magica Negra E’ Café: A drug lord in northern Brazil seeks out the macumba (black magic) woman, Madame Callisto. He uses her voodoo like powder to control zombi recruits to his army, but his attempts don’t turn out the way he’d like them to. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Evolution And Extinction: The Military Underground Tactical Specialists (MUTS) are recruited to infiltrate a government testing lab that is swarming with the undead. Their mission is to rescue the President’s daughter, who is hidden in one of the environmental experiment rooms. Hawk takes on mountain terrain, Fox makes his way through the desert, Seal skis the arctic, Snake sets up a post in an urban setting, and Hound enters a vacuum chamber, which simulates outer space. Their teammate, Bee, uses a central hub to guide her partners through the hundreds of undead. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Zombie Origins: The Bible mentions the story of Cain and Able, but details have been left out. When Cain murders his brother, the curse of immortality is placed upon him. As his friends and family grow old and die, Cain continues to live by drinking the blood of others. When he realizes that he can pass on a copy of his curse on to others, he begins to build a house of twelve. Those vampires take on their own offspring as well, but by the sixth generation, they have come far from their origins. Now this new generation craves flesh instead of blood. These first zombies turn on their masters as the vampires must seek out human help. (Flesh And Leftovers)
Ready Or Not: Taking place during the “Guns And Veggies” incident, a man is prepared for a zombie outbreak, but is oblivious to the signs of it already happening. (F & L: Zombie Incidents)
Absolution: While Los Angeles is in disarray from a viral outbreak, a priest offers refuge in his church. When an infected person gets past their safety checks all hell breaks loose. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Demons Of The Abyss: Long before the “Zombie Apocalypse” incident, four demons were imprisoned in a tablet and sent to the four corners of the earth. Only when they are reunited will a zombie apocalypse begin. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Just Another Freak: Detective Hwong interrogates the lone survivor of “The Freak In Me” incident. As she goes to investigate the truth, her research leads her to a traveling circus. What she finds is an entire circus ready to devour her flesh. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Old Habits Die Hard: After a cannibal tribe in India loses their guidance, one of the men tries to blend in with society. His tastes for food revert to his primitive urges, and he begins to make a feast of his own. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Dangerous Youth: During the “Generation Z” incident, a mother and father argue over what to do about their two children who want to eat their parents’ brains. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Dreaming The Stranger: A drug abuser loses his sight of reality. The hallucinations begin to turn everything he sees into the walking dead. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Medicine Man: A voodoo master in Haiti turns tourists into his willing zombi. When the woman he has learned his practices from, Madame Callisto, is displeased with his actions, she gives him a taste of his own medicine. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
New Species: NASA has brought back a parasite found in space. This is the same parasite that caused the “Evolution and Extinction” incident. Before they are able to study it, it begins to take over bodies and replicate itself. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
The Dead Wars: King Arthur sends one of his most trusted knights to lead a battalion against the undead hordes. (F&L: Zombie Incidents)
Life After Death: Richard Marshall uses arcane science to bring back his dead brother from death. This may well be the story that inspired Mary Shelley to write “Frankenstein.” (F&L: Eden’s Order Trilogy)
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