Even if you didn't attend San Diego Comic-Con 2014, you may have heard of the Zombie Walk car accident in which a woman was injured during the march. As lawsuits ensued and much hand-wringing went on over whose zombie face/car banging/reckless driving / failure to get permits caused what, one fatality seemed certain: the possibility of the Zombie Walk returning to the Con.
Now it's back. That would be 23 July, Saturday evening at 6 pm.
This year the Zombie Walk has merged forces with the 2016 Flex Your Rex / Dino-Mite Fun Walk, in which you can express your inner saurus. So dress up as a shambling corpse, an extinct raptor or a zombie pterodactyl; you've got choices.
What you may not have is a future Zombie Walk. The organizers aren't sure of the event's continued existence - so if you really want to shuffle along in all your putrescence, this is the year.
For those of you following the legal aftermath of last summer's Zombie Walk accident, a preliminary hearing is underway. The accused: driver Matthew Pocci, whose car struck a woman and broke her arm.
Pocci had been working at Comic-Con earlier that day and was driving with several family members when his car became obstructed by the parade of hundreds of costumed zombies. Witnesses testified that Pocci was honking his car horn and gesturing for Zombie Walk participants to move out of the way of his car; the headline emphasizes that he looked "super angry" but also mentions that people jumped onto his car and banged on his windshield, at which point Pocci drove off and struck the woman. Pocci earlier reported that someone had also opened the rear door of his car and that he was afraid for his family's safety.
The hearing will resume today, with the judge concluding whether there's enough evidence to send Pocci to trial. He faces three years in prison if convicted of felony reckless driving causing great bodily injury.
For you first-timers, the Zombie Walk has always been a popular event and last year we had a Zombie Prom - a Night on Zombie Island. However, the organizers have been understandably quiet this year.
The woman struck in last summer's SDCC Zombie Walk car accident is pursuing legal action against several parties, including the organizers, we found out today. Cyndy Campbell has spoken out about what she called a "life-altering event" and made it clear that she will be suing the city of San Diego, the car driver, and the organizers of Zombie Walk. (Who are not affiliated with CCI or the Con.)
Originally it was reported that the woman was simply a passerby, disconnected from the walk. In fact, she headed down to photograph the event, but apparently was unprepared for the chaos: "It didn't seem too well handled as far as traffic control."
The driver, Michael Pocci, has been already been charged with reckless driving. His response is that he became frightened after the crowd began beating his vehicle and sitting on it, and drove away out of fears for his family's safety.
As for the organizers, they canceled their October event after the Comic-Con accident; since then their Facebook and Twitter have been quiet. While some blamed them for not obtaining a permit, which would have involved police presence, they said the event was not a parade and did not require a permit. They also pointed out that the Walk guidelines have clear admonitions against blocking traffic and touching cars, and claimed that the men who sat on the driver's car were not part of the event.
I know the Zombie Walk is a much-loved part of Comic-Con, but this is clearly going to have a chilling effect on future events. Even if new organizers rise to the fore, the city probably isn't happy about being named in the suit and I doubt CCI wants more negative associations attached to their attendees. If the Walk does return, it'd probably be best to keep it behind the convention center and have it proceed along the waterfront. Not as much fun, maybe, but not as risky or controversial either.
The prom is Saturday night, 26 July, at the Horton Grand Hotel, following ZombieWalk:SanDiego. The organizers say there will be "creepy cocktails, horrifying hors d'oeuvres, monstrous music, a frightening photo booth, crowning of the Zombie Prom King & Queen" and more. How do you dress for such an elegant event? "Prombie" style is encouraged, which I'm guessing involves rotted evening wear, but probably any kind of putrefaction is appropriate. Unlike traditional proms, you don't need a date, so feel free to come stag and meet the corpse of your dreams.
There are two ticket tiers. $30 is for standard tickets and $70 is for VIPs, who will get separate check-in, two drink tickets, and a swag bag. Yes, Saturday night is extremely crowded with enticing events, but this looks extremely fun - so if you want to go, act before Monday night and get that discount.
The Haunted Hotel is opening up off-season for Comic-Con again. I've never gone (though I love haunted houses) but it's been named one of the top 13 haunted houses in America and featured on The Travel Channel so I trust that it's good. This year you'll find "the creepiest doll island you will ever visit, try to escape the torturous grasp of the Dissectors and watch your step as you come aboard our Clown Subway."
You'll also get to shop at a version of Vegas's Zombie Apocalypse store on the way out - and not just on the below nights. The store will be open every day of the Con.
Haunted House hours: Friday, 25 July and Saturday, 26 July. 7-11 pm both nights.
Zombie Apocalypse store hours: 9 am - 10 pm from Wednesday, 23 July -Sunday, 27 July.
How much: $18 cash at the door for regular people; $15 with a Comic-Con badge.
