Comments on: Zombie Apocafest 2009: After-Action Review

By: peterlegowizard

peterlegowizard — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:38:51 +0000

there’s some great custom lego zombie heads on bricklink

By: legofesto

legofesto — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:31:53 +0000

The Onion asks the question: Are violent video games adequatly preparing our kids for the apocalypse (and zombie infestations)? asks the question">here

By: jaster

jaster — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:57:44 +0000

Were more humans on the display than zombies? It seemed like that at times.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:18:32 +0000

Darn kids gave me the brick plague.

By: Athos

Athos — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:52:55 +0000

How about Adventurers for next years theme?

By: CatJuggling

CatJuggling — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:22:02 +0000

Thanks again for all the effort you guys put into this. I’m glad to hear you’re moving on to something new next year and can’t wait for the announcement. As someone in a kinda-darkish period, with most of my Lego stored away for lack of space, I was encouraged to build by the inclusion of “Theme an existing set” challenge put forth. Yes, I may have employed my usual, built at the last minute, tactic, but I had a lot more fun and a lot more enthusiasum.

I also built these things in full view and with some “help” from my kids, 6 and 10. When you say:

“But it’s hard for me to imagine encouraging interest in the hyper-violent world of flesh-eating zombies and brain-smashing survivors.”

I totally get what you mean, but like almost any subject, there’s are ways around the more adult aspects. Zombies (and many other supernatural/horror monsters) have become a more universal, all-ages subject for better or for worse. Then again, there have always been kids books about witches and monsters (Where the Wild Things Are, anyone?). Yes, there was a lot of trans red lego about on the display, but the violence involved, partially because of the medium, was blunted and lessened to nearly that of your average Saturday Morning Cartoon. Kids are a lot more resilient than many people give them credit for. I mean, you give a kid a stick, he’ll turn it into a gun. Take the stick away and he’ll use his finger. However this:

“The subversive and ironic aspects of a zombie apocalypse built out of LEGO are likely lost on the 11-14 set.”

Is retty accurate. Then again, it’s kinda lost on me too. *shrug* It’s just Lego.

By: MarkA

MarkA — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:18:13 +0000

I’m extremely sorry to see the Zombies go! Next year could have been “Brickland”. :)

Here’s hoping whatever the alternative is, is as dynamic and fun!

By: tedward

tedward — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:59:10 +0000

I can’t speak for all parents and kids 11-14 but my son (nearly 12) had great fun making sure he used all the points from Brick Flotilla’s “How to Make” list. His ironic joke was that he did NOT use Bionicle parts even though Jordan’s list called for it and my son is still into Bionicle. Sure he may not have got all the subversive elements but kids at that age are sure looking for ways to subvert the system. I LOL when I think they probably subconsciously identify us (adults) with the Zombies. Good thing it’s all very Freudian and repressed. :)