The Crazies Comic, iPhone App, and Facebook Games Are Here

Steve Barton |

Feb 16, 2010

As the “outbreak” of Overture Films’ release of The Crazies (in theatres Friday, February 26th) draws closer, the studio is gearing up for an exciting launch of a comic book series inspired by the film along with various other multimedia content including a motion comic book series, Facebook “tower defense” game, and more. The film is produced and distributed by Overture Films and co-financed by Participant Media.

The Top Cow printed comic book is broken into four chapters: Hopman Bog, Dwyer Creek, Black Pond, and Ogden Marsh. The comic series traces an outbreak that takes over the minds and bodies of the citizens in Ogden Marsh, Iowa, and each chapter focuses on a different aspect of this epidemic. The first two issues will be available in comic book stores nationwide on February 17, 2010, with the next two available February 24, 2010. Jeff Katz of American Original produced the comic book on behalf of Overture Films and Participant Media.

Starz Digital Media, in association with Double Barrel Motion Labs, will release a four-part motion comic series as an animated companion to the film and based on the comic miniseries. Episode 1 of the motion comic series, “Hopman Bog,” will be available for purchase on the iTunes and PlayStation® Network platforms on February 23, 2010.

Starz Digital Media and Merscom have also co-produced a social media game that brings Facebook members a chance to stop the Crazies in The Crazies Tower Defense. Available at no charge, players must strategically place defenses around Ogden Marsh in order to prevent a perpetual onslaught of Crazies from attacking the town. The game utilizes the latest social networking functionality, allowing players to share their progress and achievements with friends. For a small cost, users may purchase advanced weaponry and look for an edge in their battle against the Crazies. The Crazies Tower Defense may be played at Facebook.com.

For those still wanting more, Overture has created an interactive game, Battlemail, that is a viral application designed to allow users to “battle” their friends as a “Crazy” from the movie via email or through Facebook,. Users access the application through The Crazies movie website, choose ten attack moves, and send their challenge to their friends. Friends who have been challenged are given the opportunity to choose their own ten attack moves, and the result is a live action movie clip where users can watch their battle. Resulting videos are either emailed or posted to the user’s Facebook wall, and with a nearly unlimited number of combinations, the battles are always unique and fun.

Coinciding with the launch of the printed comic book series and the motion comic, the studio has also created the iPhone application Beware the Infected. The iPhone app allows users to photograph themselves or friends, “crazify” their face, and insert that picture into a “wanted” style warning flyer. The resulting image is branded with The Crazies logo and can be saved or emailed to friends directly from the app. The application is available directly at iTunes.

Check out the comic covers and motion comic trailer below!

The Crazies – Motion Comic Trailer
Uploaded by dreadcentral. – Full seasons and entire episodes online.

The Crazies Comic, iPhone App, and Facebook Game Are Here