A Zombie New Year

Maybe its this horrid chest cold I have that makes me think about zombies.  They seem to be everywhere, just like the common cold.  The question is "Why?"--- the zombies, I mean.  It's a myth without legs.  Zombies have a fairly limited mythology.  Which some may see as limiting, but I see as a semi-blank slate.  Since the 60's they have become rotting, shuffling (okay they can run now) things that not even a mother could love.  While I could imagine a New Year's Eve smooch with Eric or Bill or Lestat or any number of vamps, weres and shapeshifters, the image of the usual zombie doesn't have me puckering up.  Has anyone read or written anything that elevates the zombie from prop or target practice?