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He wakes the very Dead to His Command, and encased in the horror of his Essence even the worm-ravaged Lich hastens to His bidding...
~ Eibon (EXP: "The Kiss of Bugg-Shash")


This subject contains information from the Mythos Adjacent Works, and while share similar themes and features of the Mythos are not based on his work, or generally considered a part of the Mythos proper. This subject contains information from the Expanded Cthulhu Mythos, and not based on H.P. Lovecraft's works directly. Zombies are undead or walking dead creatures which are part of the mythology and folklore of several of mankind's cultures. Chaosium first made zombies part of the Mythos in 2007 when they were added to the Malleus Monstrorum sourcebook, and though supernatural are neither creations of the Mythos deities nor are they aligned with them in any way.

Call of Cthulhu RPG[]

Zombies vary from those created by witch doctors and sorcerers to be their slaves and servants to those that are uncontrollable ravenous flesh-eating zombies. Which can be created a variety of ways including malevolent spirits that possess and animate corpses, using voodoo or black magic, extra-terrestrial material which animates corpses, or zombies created by radiation or toxic chemicals. They are mostly immune to firearms (save for shotguns) and impaling though the appearance of the corpse worsens. Ideally, zombies must be either hacked apart or set aflame.

Doctor Who[]

Historically in Haiti, voodoo sorcerers have devised a process to create zombies by using a combination of tetrodotoxin from puffer fishes and a plant called the zombi concombre. The first slows the metabolism and places the body in a death-like state, whereas the latter is described as a datura-related psychotrope that "blanks out the will, making the victim a mindless vegetable who'll obey any order at all". It should be noted that zombies created by this method are not actually dead, and are usually non-violent. In 1915, however, a Cthulhu follower named Gilles Lemaitre managed to perfect the formula with a third ingredient, which resulted in zombies capable of extraordinary strength and aggressiveness, albeit still susceptible to mental commands. Lemaitre's zombies could also survive multiple gunshot wounds and extensive damage to their interior organs, to the point of coming back to life even after an autopsy has been performed. (EXP: White Darkness)

Marvel Comics[]

Chthon and Sagbata the Vodu god of death and plague made a pact in which they created the first true zombies, animated undead corpses which had no free will to serve the witch-doctors of Sagbata. Other demonic entities have directly or indirectly created zombies including the Great Old One Lloigoroth who gave the supervillain Grim Reaper the power to reanimate the dead, creating sentient flesh-eating undead which had all the abilities they had in their mortal lives. In at least one alternate reality, the Darkhold contains a spell to create a plague of flesh eating zombies, the Gospel of Hunger. Which creates sentient undead corpses that are sadistic and even have a sense of humour, and are able to alter their corpses (e.g. growing a head in a beheaded body or projecting organ like tentacles from the abdomen).

Mystical Zombies[]

  • Raimi Zombies = Created by the Darkhold which retain their intelligence and have access to the memories of the host. Zombies that are powered by Chthon and whose infection is known as the "Gospel of Hunger". They are able to grow body parts such as a head and/or extend tentacles.
  • Voodoo Zombies = Mindless thralls that are able to perform simple tasks. Which are impervious to pain and possess superior strength. Conventional weapons (e.g. firearms) have little effect, though fire can harm them. Normally they move slowly but are able to briefly move quickly.
  • Revenants = Zombies that are driven by revenge, and will not rest till they have completed their task. Usually only an exorcism or mystical incantation can stop them.

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