The LIVING DEAD FRANCHISE is a loosely connected continuity of films, series, and other media that all originate from the 1968 horror film, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD by George A. Romero and John A. Russo. While vampires, ghouls and apocalypses were not new to film, it can be argued that NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD began the modern zombie apocalypse genre in earnest. After creative differences, Romero went on to create more films, and Russo wrote the novel RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (which spawned its own pair of film series each with different 'zombie rules'). The burgeoning Living Dead franchise has seen modern remakes and several homage films. Since 2005, Avatar Press has been the predominant publisher of comics books based on the Living Dead franchise, including the popular ESCAPE OF THE LIVING DEAD series of series.
