Michael

First appearance: Burial Ground (1980)

An archeologist does something somewhere while digging and then there's zombies. Three other couples, one of which brings their creepy "Kid", Michael (played by then 26-year-old Peter Bark) to the house the archeologist stayed and they get attacked by the zombies. Supposedly there's some kinda prophesy foretelling this or something.

WEIRD Italian zombie flick everyone should see at least once. You will never forget Michael, no matter how hard you try.

Tarman

First appearance: Return of the Living Dead (1985)

A couple of boobs working at a medical supply company accidentally break open a military issue container containing one of the corpses from the military experiment that was the inspiration for George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead. Based on a true story.

This is probably my favorite zombie movie, although when I first saw it I hated it. I was firmly in the shambling, flesh eating zombie camp at the time. I thought it was really dumb that these zombies could talk and only wanted to eat brains. Over the years it grew on me. I think it's because of the how well the combination of horror and comedy work. I'd say this and American Werewolf in London are the best examples of horror comedies. The scares work and the laughs work and neither gets in the way of the other.
It's also interesting to note that the whole pop-culture "zombies say 'Brrraaaiiinnnsss'" thing is directly inspired by this movie. Up until RotLD zombies were mute, shambling corpses.

The Death Corps

First appearance: Shockwaves (1977)

Some folks end up on a tropical island that houses a horrible secret. Underwater Nazi Zombies. It doesn't end well for anybody.
Stars Peter Cushing as an Nazi scientist who created the creeps. You'd think people would know better than to hang around any place where Peter Cushing is, especially if he's got a German accent.