The Walking Dead (comic book)

Publication history

The Walking Dead debuted in 2003, published by Image Comics, with art by Tony Moore for the first six issues and Cliff Rathburn shading the art after issue five. Charlie Adlard took over as artist on issue #7, after he was approached by Kirkman. Moore also did the cover art for the first twenty-four issues and the first four trade paperbacks. The remainder were done by Adlard.

When the television series premiered in October 2010, Image Comics announced The Walking Dead Weekly. The first 52 issues of the series began to be reprinted on January 5, 2011, with one issue per week for a year.

The series is periodically re-published in trade paperbacks which contain six issues each, hardcover books with twelve issues and occasional bonus material, omnibus editions of twenty-four issues, and compendium editions of forty-eight issues.

Story arcs

Volume 1: Days Gone Bye (Issues 1–6)

Rick Grimes, a sheriff's deputy from Kentucky, is wounded in the line of duty and emerges from a coma to find the world overrun by the undead. He returns home to find his house ransacked and his wife and son gone. Rick travels to a military evacuation zone in Atlanta to find his family, but finds Atlanta has also been overrun. He is rescued by Glenn Rhee, who takes him to his small camp of survivors. Among them are Rick's wife Lori and his son Carl. Zombies (called "Walkers" in most of the series) eventually attack the group. Following the attack, Shane Walsh, Rick's friend and former police partner, tries to murder Rick because he's become obsessed with Rick's wife Lori. Carl shoots Shane.

Volume 2: Miles Behind Us (Issues 7–12)

Rick becomes the group's leader. He and the remaining survivors leave Atlanta and travel across hostile territory in search of a safer refuge. The group meets Tyreese, his daughter and her boyfriend. Everyone takes shelter at Wiltshire Estates, a gated community, but are forced to leave when they stumble upon its zombie infestation. The group eventually finds shelter at a small farm after Carl is shot. The farm's owner, Hershel Greene and his family, are in denial about the walkers' nature and have been storing deceased loved ones and neighbors in their barn. Rick's group is asked to leave the farm and stumbles upon an abandoned prison, which they decide to make their home.

Volume 3: Safety Behind Bars (Issues 13–18)

The group begins to clear the prison yard and one cell block for living quarters. They meet some surviving inmates when they break into the prison's cafeteria. Rick invites Hershel and his family to come live in the prison and they accept. Two of the group members commit suicide and someone begins to murder other group members. This inmate, a convicted serial killer, is eventually captured and killed. Other inmates stage a rebellion.

Volume 4: The Heart's Desire (Issues 19–24)

The group manages to quell the inmates' rebellion and secure the prison. A katana-wielding woman named Michonne arrives at the prison seeking refuge and causes tension among some of Rick's survivors. When another member is bitten on the leg, Rick attempts to save him by amputating his bitten leg; however, despite receiving medical treatment from Hershel, the man dies. Rick and Tyreese get into a fight and the community decides to have a council with four co-leaders instead of Rick as sole leader.

Volume 5: The Best Defense (Issues 25–30)

Rick, Michonne and Glenn observe a helicopter crash in the distance and leave the prison to search for it. They find a small town called Woodbury, where a large, well-armed and organized group of survivors has taken refuge. Woodbury's leader is a man called the Governor. The Governor captures Rick's group and interrogates them. He mutilates Rick by cutting off his right hand and rapes and tortures Michonne.

Volume 6: This Sorrowful Life (Issues 31–36)

Rick, Glenn, and Michonne manage to escape from Woodbury with the help of others from the town. Michonne tortures the Governor before she leaves. They arrive back at the prison safely, but find that hordes of zombies have broken in. Rick's survivors fight them off. Rick informs the prison's residents of what took place in Woodbury and tells them to prepare for battle.

Volume 7: The Calm Before (Issues 37–42)

Life at the prison continues in what passes for normal in this apocalyptic world. Glenn and Maggie marry. Several residents search for supplies and engage in a shootout with men from Woodbury. Lori goes into labor and Judith is born. Dale is out on a mission siphoning gas when he is bitten in the leg. Dale's friends amputate the leg and he survives. Carol commits suicide by allowing a zombie to bite her. The volume ends with the Governor's arrival with his army and a tank.

Volume 8: Made To Suffer (Issues 43–48)

The arc begins with a flashback which reveals how the Governor recovered and readied Woodbury for battle. The Governor's army attacks the prison but is driven away. Several of Rick's survivors decide to flee the prison in the RV to avoid the Governor's expected retaliation. The prison recovers from his initial assault but The Governor re-attacks. The RV members arrive to reinforce the prison's residents. Many of Rick's band are killed, including Lori, Judith, and Hershel. The Governor is killed by one of his own soldiers after she realizes she murdered a woman and her baby on his orders. With the prison burning and in shambles, Rick's band scatters and flees.

Volume 9: Here We Remain (Issues 49–54)

After the prison's destruction and his band is separated, Rick and Carl search for shelter in a nearby town and reunite with surviving friends. Rick's physical and mental state begin to unravel, while Carl grows increasingly independent and apathetic. They eventually manage to reunite with their other survivors and end up at Hershel's farm. Three new people arrive and inform the group that they are on a mission to Washington D.C. to cure the plague. Rick's band decides to join their journey.

Volume 10: What We Become (Issues 55–60)

Maggie attempts to hang herself on the way to Washington. Rick holds Abraham, who thinks she's dead, at gunpoint and prevents him from shooting her in the head. Rick, Abraham, and Carl head to Rick's hometown to find weapons. They discover Morgan, whom Rick met when he woke up from his coma, and he joins Rick's survivors.

Volume 11: Fear The Hunters (Issues 61–66)

Rick and company continue their journey to Washington and begin to suspect they are being stalked by someone in the woods. They meet a pastor and join him at his church. Dale is kidnapped from the church during the night by a band of cannibals. Dale is reunited with his friends before he dies. Rick and company hunt down the cannibals and torture them to death.

Volume 12: Life Among Them (Issues 67–72)

The group continue to Washington where they discover that Eugene was lying about having a cure to stop the outbreak. They run across a friendly man named Aaron who claims he is trustworthy and can escort them to a large, walled-off community of survivors called the Alexandria Safe-Zone. Alexandria Safe Zone is a walled community led by a man named Douglas Monroe. Rick's weary band finds Alexandria's stability a welcome change although they remain suspicious.

Volume 13: Too Far Gone (Issues 73–78)

Rick's group settles into the Alexandria Safe-Zone and take jobs in the community. Rick, as constable, tries to increase safety and stability when he stops a dangerous man inside the community. Scavengers arrive and threaten the community. Alexandria wins the battle but alert a massive herd of hundreds of zombies to their presence. Rick takes command of the community.

Volume 14: No Way Out (Issues 79–84)

Rick and company step up as community leaders despite objections from some of its residents. Alexandria's citizens discover they have bigger problems when they discover the zombie horde breaking down the fence. Walkers breach Alexandria's walls and begin to overrun the community. Alexandria's residents face down the horde and save their town. Carl is shot in the face during the battle.

Volume 15: We Find Ourselves (Issues 85–90)

The Alexandria Safe-Zone recuperates from the herd's attack and Rick makes decisions that will lead to Alexandria's long-term sustainability. Carl is in a coma following his injury and his survival is unclear. Some residents question the bold choices Rick makes for their community and attempt to seize control of Alexandria. Rick quashes the rebellion. Carl awakens with amnesia.

Volume 16: A Larger World (Issues 91–96)

Alexandrians encounter a man named Paul Monroe while searching the wastes for supplies. Monroe claims he is a recruiter for a nearby band of 200 or more people called the Hilltop Colony. Rick and others go to the Hilltop Colony and find its appearance seems to be even safer than that of Alexandria, although it has a dangerous enemy called The Saviors. The Saviors demand half of the colony's food and supplies, in exchange for killing nearby walkers.

Volume 17: Something To Fear (Issues 97–102)

Rick and crew confront the Hilltop Colony's enemy, the Saviors. The Saviors are a brutal gang led by a man named Negan. Rick underestimates the Saviors and dismisses their threat level until his best friends begin to die in brutal, savage ways. Alexandria is forced to begin paying tribute - half of their supplies - to the Saviors. Enraged, Rick vows to kill Negan.

Volume 18: What Comes After (Issues 103–108)

Rick's band learns what living under Negan's rules really means. Rick devises a new strategy to deal with the Saviors, but a member of his group disappears after the Saviors collect their payment from Alexandria. Rick is forced to halt his plan. Paul takes Rick to request help from an exotic man named Ezekiel, leader of a community called the Kingdom. The Kingdom is based in Washington, D.C., where one of the Saviors makes an independent offer to help battle Negan.

Volume 19: March To War (Issues 109–114)

Rick, Paul, and Ezekiel decide to trust the Savior, Dwight, and launch their attempt to end the Saviors' reign. The three communities band together to formulate an assault, but Negan shows up early to collect his tribute from Alexandria. The alliance seizes the opportunity to assassinate Negan, but Negan retreats and declares war.

Volume 20: All Out War – Part One (Issues 115–120)

Rick leads his united army, with the Hilltop and the Kingdom, in an attack against the Sanctuary, the Saviors base. Rick's forces seize an early advantage and manage to trap Negan inside the Sanctuary, but their attack on Negan's outposts falters as many of Rick's closest friends fall. They wonder if their initial victory was simple luck. Negan mounts an eventual counterattack on Alexandria and its situation goes from bad to worse.

Volume 21: All Out War – Part Two (Issues 121–126)

With the war at its peak, Negan attacks Alexandria and the Hilltop and destroys the former's defenses. On the brink of defeat, Rick offers Negan a truce as a trap. Negan falls for Rick's ruse. Rick slashes Negan's throat and demands that war cease. Negan survives the attack as Rick's prisoner.

Volume 22: A New Beginning (Issues 127–132)

Two years have passed since the war with Negan. Civilization has been rebuilt and the communities have established a successful trade network. Carl moves to Hilltop. A new group arrives in Alexandria, and meet the imprisoned Negan.

Volume 23: Whispers Into Screams (Issues 133–138)

A new threat emerges as living people disguised as walkers attack, calling themselves The Whisperers. Tensions arise within Hilltop after Carl loses his temper. Some residents question both him and their leader. Meanwhile, Paul has captured a member of the Whisperers and discovers the full implications of this new threat to Hilltop.

Volume 24: Life And Death (Issues 139–144)

Carl continues to learn more about The Whisperers and a survivor's fate is decided while another steps down. Blunders are made and a deadly promise given that is all too real. Lines are crossed that will affect everyone.

Volume 25: No Turning Back (Issues 145–150)

Rick reveals the survivors who died at the hands of Alpha and the Whisperers. Residents of the communities demand retaliation and some question Rick's leadership. Rick declares war on the Whisperers and must use a former enemy as a last resort.

Volume 26: Call To Arms (Issues 151–156)

With the conflict against the Whisperers closing in, Rick must ensure the readiness of the community's newly formed militia while also dealing with various conflicts within the walls of each community, including the escape of a dangerous prisoner.

Volume 27: The Whisperer War (Issues 157–162)

The Militia engages in war with the Whisperers, with both sides having huge casualties. Meanwhile, the Whisperers attack the Hilltop and destroy its defenses. With one last trump card, the Whisperers leads an ocean of walkers towards Alexandria while the Militia returns and reinforcements from the Kingdom and Hilltop also head towards Alexandria.

List of characters

Rick Grimes is the main character, a deputy who is comatose when the zombie apocalypse begins. With his wife Lori and son Carl, he joins with groups other survivors. He is joined by former best friend Shane, who secretly has a sexual relationship with Lori. The group consists of firm clerk and college graduate Andrea and her sister Amy, a mechanic named Jim, car salesman Dale, shoe salesman Allen and his wife, Donna as well as their children, Ben and Billy. Lori and Carl form friendships with other survivors such as Carol and Sophia.

After leaving the camp, Rick gains a right-hand man and close friendship in Tyreese, who is accompanied by his daughter and her boyfriend. They soon find a farm run by Hershel Greene. Among Hershel's seven children is Maggie Greene, who forms a relationship with Glenn. As the group settle at a prison, they become conflicted with a group of surviving prisoners. Otis meets a katana-wielding survivor named Michonne, who is brought into the group, but struggles to acclimate, facing her own demons. Michonne, Rick and Glenn are later held in captivity by The Governor, a leader of a town called Woodbury who plan to take over the prison. Other Woodbury residents include Alice Warren, who changes sides to Rick's group and delivers Lori's baby, Bob Stookey, an army medic responsible for saving The Governor's life and Lilly, one of The Governor's soldiers.

After the prison assault, the remaining group survivors regroup at Hershel's farm, and meet Abraham Ford, Eugene Porter and Rosita Espinosa. The group travel to Washington DC where they are hunted by Chris and then recruited by Aaron and his boyfriend, Eric to join the Alexandria Safe-Zone, run by congressman, Douglas Monroe. Among the residents are Heath and Dr. Denise Cloyd, who quickly become close allies to the core group, and eventually the conflicted Nicholas. Douglas' son, Spencer tries to form a relationship with Andrea. Rick falls in love with Jessie Anderson, an abused wife. Abraham forms a relationship with Holly, a member of the construction crew. A group of men, known as The Scavengers, tries to conquer Alexandria; the fight attracts a pack of walkers that invades the safe zone, leading to the death of a lot of Alexandrians. Later, the safe zone starts a trading network with the Hilltop Colony, with help from its scout Paul "Jesus" Monroe. However, their safety is again threatened by the psychopathic Negan and his group known as The Saviors who reside in a factory. One of the Saviors, Dwight becomes an ally with the communities. The Hilltop and Alexandria join with The Kingdom run by Ezekiel in a war against the Saviors.

After the war, newcomers such as Magna and Dante are introduced into the series. Another community out at sea is established, as well as safety perimeters across the DC area, which is violated by the presence of the Whisperers, a tribe of people disguised as the dead who have rejected the notion of re-establishing civilization. The leader, Alpha, antagonizes Rick as her daughter, Lydia, forms a sexual relationship with Carl. When Alpha's second in command, Beta, takes leadership of the group, he declares war against the communities.

Zombies

Rick's group classifies zombies as either roamers or lurkers, the former being more likely to venture toward a loud noise in search of human prey. Other names have been used by characters in the series, including biters and stinkers. Zombies follow and mimic each other, which can result in enormous hordes travelling together, "walking nonstop, following a sound they've all forgotten," as Abraham puts it.

Reception

The series received critical acclaim, winning the Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series in 2010 and prompting Eric Sunde of IGN comics to call it "one of the best monthly comics available". Among its fans are author Max Brooks. Because of the popularity of the series, which increased considerably when it was adapted into a television series of the same name, artist Tony Moore's original artwork for the series' early issues has gone up in value; on the March 28, 2013 episode of the VH1 reality television series For What It's Worth, Moore's original artwork for Page 7 of issue #1 was professionally appraised to be worth $20,000.

Television adaptations

AMC picked up the rights to produce a show based on the comic in 2009. It ordered a pilot episode on January 21, 2010 and began filming on May 15, 2010. The series premiered on October 31, 2010 with high ratings. On November 8, 2010, after broadcasting two episodes, AMC renewed The Walking Dead for a second season of 13 episodes, which began on October 16, 2011. The TV show is loosely inspired by the comic, introducing new characters and deviating from the comic in certain plot points.

The fifth season premiered on October 12, 2014, with Scott M. Gimple as the show's third showrunner. Gimple has said that he would stay closer in line to the comic book series events "as much as possible", but ultimately remix stories with certain characters, referencing original characters introduced to the show and deceased characters alive in the comic book as a reason for this. Robert Kirkman himself has mentioned that the series will follow much closer to the comic series with Gimple's run.

A companion television series, titled Fear The Walking Dead, debuted on AMC on August 23, 2015. The series features new original characters, and it is set in the city of Los Angeles, California starting prior to the zombie apocalypse. It explores these new characters as the apocalypse begins. The series was created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson, with Erickson serving as showrunner for the series. AMC ordered the series for a two-season commitment, with the first season consisting of six episodes.

Animation comic

AMC released an animated film of the first part of Issue No. 1 of the comic with animation by Juice Films, voice acting by Phil LaMarr and art by Tony Moore.

The Walking Dead: The Game

On February 18, 2011, Telltale Games announced plans to create an episodic video game based on the series, which was scheduled to debut in fall 2011 and was released worldwide in April 2012. The Walking Dead: The Game consists of five episodes, released between April and November 2012. Additional downloadable content, 400 Days, was released in July 2013. Kirkman has said that, unlike typical zombie games such as Left 4 Dead, "it [focuses] more on characterization and emotion than action".

The first episode of the sequel, The Walking Dead: Season Two, was released in December 2013 with episode 2 being released in March 2014, episode 3 in May 2014, episode 4 in July 2014, and episode 5 in August 2014.

The Walking Dead: The Game received widespread critical acclaim, with reviews giving praise for the emotion and characters of the plot. It received many awards, including over 90 Game of the year awards

The Walking Dead: All Out War

In January 2016, Kings of War creators, Mantic Games announced plans to release a tabletop miniature wargame based on The Walking Dead, named The Walking Dead: All Out War (miniatures game). The miniatures game was funded through the popular group funding site Kickstarter. This product is currently available for pre-order and will begin shipping from the 7th November 2016. The war gaming website Beasts of War are holding a game launch "boot camp" weekend from Friday the 11th November 2016. Members of the site community have paid to visit the studios (Coleraine, Northen Ireland, UK) where Beasts of War films and produces the majority of their content. Whilst there the developers of the new game explain the rules to the gamers in a fun showcase format, with their experiences made into a detailed video blog throughout the event.

Novels

A series of novels based on the comics, written by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga, were released between 2011 and 2014 focusing on the antagonist "The Governor". Taking place in the initial outbreak, the books chronicle his experiences from surviving in the newly ravaged world, to the establishment of himself as leader of Woodbury, and finally tying up the conclusion to the prison arc storyline in the comics.

Following the third novel in the series, Bonansinga continued the Walking Dead novels in Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead: Descent.

Collected editions

The series has so far been assembled into the following collections:

Trade paperbacks

The trade paperbacks collect six issues each, but contain only the story and none of the original cover art from the comics. Each paperback follows the convention of having a three-word title. The zombies in the cover art for each paperback form part of a larger image if placed end to end.

Hardcovers

All hardcovers contain the contents of the comics, including the covers, and in some cases bonus material. The books' trim size is larger than the paperbacks. Each hardcover contains two story arcs from the series. Signed versions of the books are available, each limited to 310 pieces.

Omnibus editions

Limited omnibus editions collect 24 issues in a slipcase with several extras. The first volume is autographed by Kirkman and Adlard, with 300 copies available. Subsequent volumes had print runs of 3000 each, along with deluxe limited editions (signed by Kirkman/Adlard) of 300 copies.

Compendium editions

Softcover compendium editions collect 48 comic issues each. They are also available as limited hardcover editions (Red Foil Version for Compendium 1, Gold Foil Version for Compendium 2, and Gold Foil Version for Compendium 3).

Other publications

Several ancillary books and a special edition have also been published: