Zombies are reanimated dead people.  They typically lumber, stumble and stagger around.  Reports of fast and agile zombies have been documented in the last decade.  Initially, they come out of graves in various stages of decomposition.  Later, they not only come out of graves, but arise half eaten by other zombies.

What do zombies want?  Well, mainly they want living people's brains.  In their never ending quest to obtain brains, they are not adverse to nibbling off an arm or leg or two.  One thing they do not like...they do not like to eat other zombies.  Darn!  You would think we living would have something going for us.  But, no, we can't even count on a little cannibalism to keep their numbers down. 

Ghouls are creatures that like to hang out in graveyards and other deserted areas.  They are very similar to zombies.  Ghouls arise from Arabian mythology and are diabolic and wicked creatures.  Ghouls, unlike zombies, like to eat the dead but they will also eat the living when available. 

Ghouls are very difficult to discern and can change form to mimic both human and animal.  They are smarter than zombies and can be devious.  They seem to be somewhere between the mindless zombie and the conscious vampire.  They are faster and more agile than zombies and may account for the fast zombie sightings.

Then we have clowns. My children will tell you clowns are much scarier than zombies or ghouls. You can see clowns at the mall! What is it about clowns that people find so scary? I didn't realize that people were scared of clowns...until I realized my daughter was. Turns out my son is scared of clowns also.

I never really understood why someone would be scared of clowns. To me they are the funny guys at the circus who run around like the Keystone Kops, honking horns and falling down. Then there was Ronald McDonald, and he always seemed like a pretty decent guy. Even after I read "It" by Stephen King, clowns did not bother me. I didn't like drains much for a while, but clowns were OK.

Then I wrote the hub on zombies and I realized that zombies, ghouls and clowns have alot in common. I started to wonder, who exactly is under that clown makeup. Is there even a someone, or are the clowns the new zombie?

Clowns typically have white faces with big red lips.  We are lead to believe these big red lips are painted on, but isn't it funny how zombies and ghouls also have these big red lips after eating.  Zombies and ghouls have white faces...and so do clowns!  I wonder if zombies and ghouls have red noses also?

Watching the video above made me realize that clowns' clothing is pretty raggedy and there are several bright red splotches on them. Hhhmmm, zombies and ghouls clothes are always tattered and covered with red splashes. Interesting...I think I am beginning to understand...I wonder what else they have in common...

At the very end of my Zombie Safety hub there is a video of something they call the zombie walk.  Hundreds of people dress up as zombies and march down the road.  It is amazing how much the above video reminds me of it.  Hordes of white faced, red mouthed beings lumbering along with disheveled hair.

Now that I think of it clowns, zombies and ghouls seem to fall down alot for no reason.  They all have that same klutzy, ungainly gait.  Clowns look happy, or is that a grimace?  Look closer...but not to close, maybe they do bite!

Zombies, ghouls and clowns all have bands named after them.  And all of the bands seem slightly ghoulish.  Let's look at some of the names of their songs and albums.

White Zombie:  Soul-Crusher, Make Them Die Slowly, Le Sexocisto: Devil Music Vol 1 (Is it me or do the titles just get weirder and weirder?)

Ghouls:  I went to their website and read, "Until It Bleeds:  Extreme Perverse Death Metal".  I stopped there, I don't need to know any more.  (And I though White Zombie had some strangely named work.)

Insane Clown Posse:  Carnival of Carnage was their first album.  They sing in a style known as "horrorcore" which incorporates "supernatural and horror themed lyrics" according to Wikipedia.

Sorry, these bands are creeping me out.  Seems clowns do have a lot in common with zombies and ghouls.

Seems I owe my kids an apology.  Now, I understand why they hate clowns so much!  Clowns have about a jillion characteristics in common with zombies and ghouls.  Although I have never seen a clown eat someone, living or dead, I have never actually seen a zombie do it either.

I will never again make amusing comments about my childrens' fear of clowns.  Seems they saw instinctively what I should have seen all along.  Evil lurks behind white faces and big red mouths.  Keep away from beings that have lumbering gaits.  And most of all, don't sleep when the circus is in town!