The Walking Dead Creator/Writer Robert Kirkman Transforms Hyundai Elantra Coupe Into Zombie Survival Machine

COSTA MESA, Calif., June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai has partnered with Robert Kirkman's Skybound imprint at Image Comics and Kirkman's groundbreaking comic and best-selling graphic novels, The Walking Dead, along with Future US, at Comic-Con International in San Diego this year on July 12-15.

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The Hyundai Undead program celebrates the release of the 100th issue of The Walking Dead comic at the Future US booth on the Comic-Con floor where Hyundai will unveil a customized Elantra Coupe Zombie Survival Machine designed by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and fabricated by Design Craft. Kirkman, Skybound and Hyundai will also give away a Hyundai Elantra GT wrapped in the cover of The Walking Dead 100th issue by artist Charlie Adlard. All of these events will be celebrated at the private The Walking Dead 100th Issue VIP Black Carpet Event.

Hyundai's partnership with Future US and Robert Kirkman/Skybound seeks to expand Hyundai's immersion into the Gen Y culture beyond music into other key passion points like entertainment and gaming. By infiltrating Comic-Con alongside Future US and the exploding popularity of The Walking Dead franchise, Hyundai expands the Gen Y conversation to include the new Elantra variants, Coupe and GT.

Hyundai Undead kicked off June 12 with the launch of HyundaiUndead.com and a four-part behind-the-scenes video series. The videos will detail the creation of the Zombie Survival Machine and showcase the car build from start to finish, ending with the unveiling of the vehicle at Comic-Con on preview night, July 11 at the Future US booth.             

"The Hyundai Undead program allows us to interact with hundreds of thousands of film, comic, TV and video game fans during this summer's ultimate pop culture event," said Steve Shannon, vice president of Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. "We can't wait to unveil our custom Elantra Coupe Zombie Survival Machine, the ultimate car for The Walking Dead fans and anyone who wants to survive a zombie apocalypse."

Hyundai's Zombie Survival Machine will showcase modifications including: a front-end custom zombie plow cow catcher with spikes, slatted armored window coverings, a roof hatch to allow passengers to shoot at walkers, an electric rear trunk to house weapons, all‐terrain/rally type tires, weapons storage compartments, a CB radio/PA system and much more.

Kirkman and Skybound will also be giving away a black 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT wrapped in the cover of the 100th issue of the comic featuring artwork by Charlie Adlard, longtime artist for The Walking Dead. The sweepstakes launched June 12 and will run until July 31. Enter the sweepstakes at HyundaiUndead.com, the Skybound booth or the Future booth at San Diego Comic-Con.

"I had a good experience working with Hyundai and Future US last year and I thought it would be totally awesome if a fan of the comic were able to win a great new car made even cooler with Charlie's artwork," said Kirkman. "Designing the Zombie Survival Machine was just the icing on the cake. I'm very excited to see the amazing job they are doing in turning my doodles and ideas into a truly awesome car. I hope they will let me do a test drive before Comic-Con!"

Two other Hyundai vehicles will be featured at "The Walking Dead 100th Issue VIP Black Carpet Event" on July 13 at Petco Park in San Diego: the custom wrapped Elantra GT that will be given away on July 31st and a Kiwi Green Tucson. The private VIP party will be a fully immersive recreation of a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombies.

Comic-Con attendees will be able to take pictures with the Zombie Survival Machine at the Future US booth, and get inside the vehicle to check out all of the features, including a limited run illustrated owner's manual that walks drivers through the machine's unique features and prepares them for the gruesome realities of the zombie apocalypse. The booth will also feature a Zombie Target practice area and a zombie costume contest.

Visit HyundaiUndead.com to learn more and see all the details at Skybound.com. Enter for a chance to win a 2013 Elantra GT at HyundaiUndead.com, the Skybound booth or the Future booth at San Diego Comic-Con.

ROBERT KIRKMAN

Robert Kirkman's success and passionate advocacy for creator-owned comics led him to become the first person invited to become a partner at Image Comics since the company's inception twenty years ago and he formed his own imprint there, Skybound, in 2010.  Kirkman is the creator/writer of the Eisner Award-winning The Walking Dead, long-running Invincible, all-ages Super Dinosaur, The Astounding Wolf-Man, and new title Thief of Thieves, among many others. Kirkman has earned the respect of the comic, writing and television communities and topped the New York Times bestseller list for graphic novels in 2011 and in April 2012, he took the top five spots on both the hardcover and paperback lists. He's the creator/executive producer and writer of the hit television show, AMC's The Walking Dead, the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time in the U.S, also an international success in 120 countries and 250 million households. AMC just picked up Thief of Thieves as a series with Kirkman serving as creator/executive producer and writer. Skybound.com is your destination for all news and merchandise for Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead and all Skybound titles.

FUTURE

Future PLC is an international media group and leading digital content producer listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR).  Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today they have operations in the U.K., U.S. and Australia creating 200 specialist publications, apps, websites and events. Future holds market-leading positions in games, film, music, technology, cycling, crafts and automotive. Their biggest-selling products include TechRadar, T3, Total Film, BikeRadar, MusicRadar, Classic Rock, GamesRadar and Official Xbox Magazine. Future sells 2.9 million magazines each month; they attract more than 35 million monthly unique visitors to their websites; and they deliver over 100 digital editions and bespoke apps on tablet. Future exports or syndicates publications to 89 countries, making us the U.K.'s number one exporter and licensor of magazine content. Future is the Association of Online Publishers' Consumer Digital Publisher of the Year.

DESIGN CRAFT

Design Craft Fabrication, owned by Gary Castillo, creates many of today's top race cars, drift cars and display vehicles. As one of the leading car fabrication shops in Southern California, Design Craft Fabrication works closely with OE manufacturers and enthusiasts to design and develop authentic vehicles from bikes, planes, boats, engines, wheels or wings. Castillo was the technical editor of several auto magazines including Import Tuner and DSPORT. Most recently, his shop has built cars for Lexus, Scion, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and many others. For more information, please visit www.designcraftfab.com.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. 

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com

Journalists are invited to visit our news media website: www.hyundainews.com

For more details on the wrapped car giveaway and all news on Robert Kirkman and The Walking Dead, please visit www.Skybound.com

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America