Some say the surge in popularity of zombies is a sign of the times. Things like the ongoing war, a deep economic recession and an overwhelming sense that things could fall apart at any time, create a culture ripe for fictional zombie invasions and heroic fantasies, said Peter Logan, a professor of English at Temple. "In the case of zombies, solutions are simple, readily available tools, like an ax or the chainsaw in your garage," Logan said. "That's an attractive fantasy where self-reliance saves the day and you don't have to rely on larger forces [like] the military [or] clever scientists. You can do it yourself."