How Black Summer and Z Nation Tell Different Zombie Stories – Den of Geek

Black Summer is decidedly not that. Theres no hope or levity, only the drive to avoid the undead while trying desperately not to starve. The moments of hope are few and far between, and all of them are bought with suffering, blood, and pain. Theres a light at the end of the tunnel on Z Nation, while Black Summer is akin to being buried under the rubble of a tunnel collapse. This is the worst part of the apocalypse, and the part The Walking Dead (and Fear The Walking Dead) mostly skipped over. Gangs of armed men kidnapping women for unsaid but obviously unsavory reasons isnt exactly a TV friendly meet-cute, and Robert Kirkmans televisual universe keeps its horrors mostly within the purview of the special effects department to avoid trigger warnings.

Z Nations starting point is roughly four years after the events of Black Summer. Society has started to rebuild, after a fashion. There are merchants selling goods. There are multiple remnants of the United States government attempting to reassert control from within command bunkers. Organized gangs and cults have carved out kingdoms in the ruins, bringing something resembling peace and order back to what is left of the world. From his outpost in the Arctic, Citizen Z is able to provide guidance, direction, and support for Warren, Doc, and 10K on their journey. Civilization has returned to the point that when Murphy goes rogue, Citizen Z is able to put a bounty out for his capture, and there are organized groups up to the task. There are people doing actual good in the world of Z Nation, even if its for selfish reasons.

Theres no such organization or overwatch in Black Summer, which is six weeks to three months or so from the start of the outbreak. There might be a gang of five or ten people, but theyre certainly not looking to set up a farm stand to sell their crops. If the government exists and is giving orders after the first episode of Black Summer, no one is listening. The military is gone. Police and civil authorities are absent. Theres not even organized crime, just disorganized gangs killing and dying over canned goods. Trying to help other people in the world of Black Summer is a great way to get yourself killed or eaten, and every alliance of like-minded people seems to only cause trouble. Mysterious deliveries of food and supplies turns missions of mercy into killing fields as people fight over precious resources that might never come again, rather than cooperate and share.

This question is a bit complicated. To quote Rev. Lovejoy from The Simpsons, Short answer, yes with an if. Long answer, no with a but. Black Summer was announced as a spinoff, the Z Nation equivalent of Fear the Walking Dead. Most of the writing and production staff are Z Nation veterans, with Z Nation creator Karl Schaefer teaming with Z Nation writer, co-executive producer, and director John Hyams to create Black Summer. Black Summers other co-executive producer, director and writer, Abram Cox, also did the same tasks on Z Nation. Z Nation creator Craig Engler gets a based on credit. However, while the two series are clearly related behind the camera, that DNA doesnt translate onto the screen.

When asked directly if the two shows are connected, actress Jaime King told Screenrant Its interesting because people started tying [Black Summer] to Z Nation and Im like this has nothing to do with that. Its not a link to Z Nation.

When Black Summer was announced at the 2018 Comic Con, creator Karl Schaefer had a different opinion, saying, Theres going to be a spinoff of Z Nation on Netflix. Its called Black Summer. Its a prequel to Z Nation.

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How Black Summer and Z Nation Tell Different Zombie Stories - Den of Geek

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero