Zombie is the term given to previously-living humans and animals infected with the ZN1 virus. They appear to be single-minded devourers of living flesh, and are only neutralized via traumatic brain injury. The origin of the virus is as yet unclear, but the symptoms are quite obvious. Infected individuals display visible signs of tissue necrosis, as well as an insatiable appetite for living human tissue.
As Z Nation begins, three years have passed since the initial outbreak.
Known zombie types
The ZN1 virus creates both Zombies and Zombie Animals
- Human (Regular Zombies as well as Blasters and Phytos)
- Canine
- Bear
- Reptile
- Primate
- Cattle
- Rodents
- Ungulates
Nicknames
- Z's (Most Common)
- Puppies and Kittens
- Them
- Deadhead
- Braindead Freak
- Resurrected (by the Resurrection Cult)
- Blasters (A special type of zombie created by the nuclear blast)
- Phytos (A special type of zombie created by human and combined plants)
Characters that Turned
- Valdez (Puppies and Kittens)
- Travis (Fracking Zombies)
- The Gatekeeper (Full Metal Zombie)
- Antoine (Home Sweet Zombie)
- Patrick (Resurrection Z)
- Mary (Resurrection Z)
- Luke (Resurrection Z)
- Cutty (Resurrection Z)
- Jameson (Resurrection Z)
- Major Joe Williams (Resurrection Z)
- Charles Garnett (Resurrection Z)
- Jacob (Resurrection Z)
- Darren Cooper (Welcome to the Fu-Bar)
- Phil (Welcome to the Fu-Bar)
- Wilbur Grady (Going Nuclear)
- Amelia Grady (Going Nuclear)
- Darren (Sisters of Mercy)
- Jason (Murphy's Law)
- Mack Thompson (White Light)
- Zeke Custer (Zombie Road)
- Serena (Zombaby!)
- Sadie's Husband (Down the Mississippi)
- Washington (Corporate Retreat)
- Sheila (Corporate Retreat)
- Travis (Corporate Retreat)
- Numerous People
- Many Other Unnamed Survivors
Gallery
Zombies in the Zunami
Amish zombies
Valdez, zombified
Zombie, looking for prey
Zombies about town
Murphy watching the great Zunami
Notes
- Murphy is currently the only known living survivor of direct contact with the virus, a result of an experimental vaccine forcefully administered to him at Portsmouth Naval Prison's infection control laboratory.
- A new date suffix designation of "AZ" (After Zombie-apocalypse) has been instituted by the surviving population, thus the current year in season 1 reads as 03AZ.
- In Puppies and Kittens, Doc makes reference to the fact that recently turned zombies are substantially faster than those that have been infected for some time. This may be due to the residual adrenaline in the victim's body from the trauma of being bitten, or perhaps simply because their bodies have yet to decay so much.
- The "Puppies and Kittens" can be affected by medicines such as ADHD and Weed along with others. Viewers learn this in Season one where Murphy must get something from a medical facility. Viagra zombies.
- In the Episode Full Metal Zombie , Charlie quotes that the list thing he heard about the virus is that it was 'spread by birds some kind of parasite piggie bagging on the bird flue, stays dormant till you die" . Now the accuracy of this is unknown - we know the origin of the virus came from ZN1 but it is possible that cross-contamination occurred during the testing thus spreading the pathogen beyond unwanted grounds .
- Further more , it could be assumed that the zombies can still recognise certain aspects of their 'self' . In the same episode as above Doctor 'Morgan Henley' seemed to have been responsive to his name and partially his fate under the effect of marijuana. This is further demonstrated by batch 47 trials when a zombie said "brains" .
- In speculations , It is possible to assume that the ZN1 pathogen does not 'kill' the brain and brain functions like in other works of fiction. A dormant pathogen in this case can either come in virus or parasite form. It is very possible that due to the fact that some zombies can become responsive ( to drugs and Murphy) it could mean that the pathogen remains dormant within the brain itself : taking over functions and kick starting the body - not exactly 'dead' but certainly not alive. What ever is keeping the brain active also makes sure that the decomposition process it not too fast . The compulsion to eat and bite others is a clear demonstration that there is still some physiological processing much like the obsession to follow something loud ( which maybe a link to the original 'hypnotic' effects to the virus). While it is likely that it is impossible to complacently reverse the process of someone infected , it is possible to bring mild functions back by lessening the dominance of the pathogen.
- As seen from many episodes of the series, the ZN1 virus has crossed the species boundary and infects not only humans but also other animals like bears, monkeys, and dogs. The virus seems limited to mammals however, though a zombified snake was seen in "Die, Zombie, Die... Again". But since it was only seen within a dream, it can be assumed that the ZN1 virus only affects mammals, leading to idea that it could be a modified version of Swine Flu or other mammal-specific viruses.