Imagine making a 2am, Chicken Licken food run and suddenly feeling the cold breath of an "undead" person down the back of your neck. Unreal? Not according to the Zombie Apocalypse books by local author Lee Herrmann.Journal of a South African Zombie Apocalypse, the South African Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide and Zombie ZA: Living as the Undead in South Africa delve into how an apocalypse of the undead and its results may unfold in South Africa."The books came about from conversations between a friend of mine and I on what one would do or how one would prepare for a zombie apocalypse in the country," said Herrmann.He then decided to take these conversations and put them onto paper.Herrmann says that everything in his novels, from the landscape to the cultural backdrop, is locally inspired."The areas and towns are from South Africa, as well as the different vehicles and weapons used come from a local reference point."We've also looked at the cultural aspect, in how the cultural beliefs around the dead and undead would impact the way people here would react to something like a zombie."Herrmann launched his latest instalment in the zombie series at this year's annual comic book and gaming conference, ICON, at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, where he said the crowd responded well.While Herrmann's books are not comics per se, they do appeal to the greater geek culture and its audience.ICON organiser and owner of Outer Limits comic book store Grant Charlton says the zombie narrative appeals to the growing local geek culture.According to Charlton, there is a growth in geek and comic book culture with "the introduction of television shows like The Big Bang Theory and Game of Thrones".While this may be the case, Charlton says comic books are still not a lucrative business in South Africa."We have a wealth of talent. What it needs is corporate backers. For now, you really need to look outside and get sponsorship from international publishers in order to succeed as a producer of local comic books."Herrmann's Zombie Apocalypse books are available online and in some Exclusive Books stores...