Two ways actually. The first was mentioned before where we get umpteen variants of the same character. Its lazy, its been done by a million other companies but its seriously lazy. One color variant is pushing it. The second though is providing Zombies sans storyline. In the beginning of this line you'd get little movies and explanations about The Dead which is starting back up but very different. Releasing zombies like the Tactical without real storyline to back it up forces you to make it fit and for some its easier than others. If we all of a sudden got a Fat Opera singer Zombie but nothing to back it, then it'd feel like jumping the shark.
Actually for the figure skater, I wouldn't mind it depending on the damage dulled out, it'd be interesting to get companions like whomever bit her with a skate in his head as if she was trying to defend herself. In the beginning the line mentioned a celebrity that they made sound like Paris Hilton a bit bitten, another was an action star. I want to see those made, I want a celebutante zombie complete with little dog with a huge bite taken out of it. I still am waiting for my girl scout zombie with little red wagon full of severed heads and cookies. As for animals, better left as food and accessories than actual zombies. The zombified animals are a gimmick I think that does elevate the fear a bit because its something else to get you but I don't want to wait months for a German Shepherd zombie and have that counted as a release.
... Oxymoron ...
s!
