Monday, 11 August 2025

Grin and Scowl... Pop Culture and Zombicide

One of the biggest appeals of Zombicide is their pop culture references to their survivors and villains.  This all started in the original Zombicide Kick-starter with many a nod to recognisable characters over a diverse amount of genres one of the more known examples is their Big Bang Theory themed survivors.  

I love the Batman universe and Batman has got to be one of my favorite Superheroes.  Naturally the Joker has to be one of my favorite villains.  Zombicide Black Plague released an exclusive box set in the "Knight" pack during the Black Plague kick-starter.  As a backer I received the two exclusive characters, Scowl who is a hero and a reference to the Dark Knight and a necromancer known as Grin and is a homage to the Joker... most likely the late Heath Ledger's Joker portrayal (haircut aside!).  

So years after I received the kickstarter I am going through a Black Plague resurgence and thought I would add to my ever expanding collection of painted miniatures.  Don't let the sometimes overpriced value of these miniatures stop me, I am in it for fun, not profit. I have even had Scowl slay many a zombie in a recent game.  He is a fantastic survivor.  Grin has yet to hit the table but he is ready and has been added to my box of painted Zombicide models.

Scowl Zombicide - The Dark Knight

Grin Zombicide - The Dark Knight

Grin Zombicide Black Plague - The Joker

Grin Zombicide Black Plague - The Joker

Scowl Zombicide - The Dark Knight

The models are painted very differently.  Grin has received many layers of paint all from the Scale75 range of acrylics.  No washes were used om Grin.  I decided to do a very bright base using Games Workshop Contrast Paints and blended them together to show he is a magic user, evil doesn't need to dark.

Scowl was painted my usual go to method, block in, wash, highlight and pick out details.  I think the two are both instantly recognisable for whom they represent... Scowl more so.

There are so many more awesome pop culture references in Black Plague, too many to mention and yes I have them all! I can't wait to add to my Zombicide Second Edition survivors as there are many awesome models that are based on pop culture and real life heroes and villains.  

Back to the Future is my favorite Movie Trilogy EVER.  I have both Undead or Alive and Invader especially for their references to Marty and Doc.  Speaking of Invader, one of my favorite shows which I am rather obsessed with is Rick and Morty and Invader gives a very awesome nod to them.

I can't wait to eventually get around to painting these.


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