The Walking Dead (comic book)

For other uses, see Walking Dead.

For the television series, see The Walking Dead (TV series).

For the 1995 film, see The Walking Dead (1995 film).

The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead #1
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Post-apocalyptic
Publication date	October 2003 – present
No. of issues	91
Creative team
Created by	Robert Kirkman Tony Moore
Written by	Robert Kirkman
Artist(s)	Tony Moore (#1–6) Charlie Adlard (#7–)

The Walking Dead is a monthly black-and-white US comic book series published by Image Comics beginning in 2003. The comic was created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore, who was replaced by Charlie Adlard from issue #7 onward, although Moore continued to do the covers through issue #24.

The story chronicles the travels of a group of people trying to survive in a world stricken by a zombie apocalypse. The series won the 2010 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series at San Diego Comic-Con International. A television series was announced to be in production on August 11, 2009 and premiered on October 31, 2010 on AMC.

Plot

The Walking Dead is centered on Rick Grimes, a small-town police officer from Kentucky, his family, and a number of other survivors who have banded together in order to survive after the world is overrun by zombies (or "walkers"), society collapses, and the remaining humans are forced to live in hiding to survive.

In the beginning, Rick and partner Shane are caught in a gunfight against an escaped convict from a nearby jail. Rick is shot and goes into a coma. Upon waking in the hospital, he discovers that the world is overrun with the undead. Rick returns home to find his wife and son missing. He encounters a man named Morgan and his son. Morgan assures Rick the zombies really are dead and the only way to "kill" them again is to stab their brain, the only semi-functioning part of their body. Rick decides to go to Atlanta, Georgia, which the government deemed a safe haven before communication lines failed. Hoping to find his wife Lori and son Carl, he discovers Atlanta is overrun with zombies. He is aided by Glenn, a scavenger for a band of survivors. Following Glenn back to the survivors camp, Rick discovers Lori, Carl, and Shane. However, Shane is less than happy that his former partner has returned, having made romantic advances on Lori in Rick's absence. Some time later, the camp is attacked by zombies and two members of the camp are killed. Rick blames Shane for not moving the camp. While hunting in the woods with Carl, Shane confronts Rick and threatens him with a shotgun. Carl shoots and kills Shane to protect his father.

The twelve remaining people, led by Rick, leave Atlanta to find a safer place to call home. On the road out of Atlanta, they meet Tyreese, his daughter Julie and her boyfriend Chris, who join them. It is revealed that Lori is pregnant. They meet a man named Hershel Greene, living on his farm with his children Lacey, Arnold, Maggie, Billy, Rachel and Susie, and their neighbors Otis and Patricia. Rick's group finds that Hershel is keeping zombies in the barn, including Shawn, Hershel's eldest son. The zombies eventually break loose and kill Arnold and Lacey. Hershel finally accepts that the zombies will never be normal, and kills Shawn. Rick's group leaves the farm, leaving Glenn, who has fallen in love with Maggie, behind.

The group finds an abandoned prison with a still-standing perimeter fence and decides to make it their new home. Inside, they find four surviving inmates: Dexter, Andrew, Axel and Thomas. Rick brings Glenn, Patricia, Hershel and his family to the prison, leaving Otis behind to watch the farm. Rachel and Susie are found decapitated and suspicion falls on Dexter, a convicted murderer. With Dexter locked in a cell, Thomas attacks Andrea with a knife, revealing himself to be the killer and not a harmless tax evader. Rick suggests hanging him, but before the sentence can be carried out Maggie shoots him dead.

In the confusion surrounding Thomas's death, Dexter and Andrew, with Patricia's help, get access to guns and attempt to force the others out of the prison. In the middle of the confrontation, there is a zombie attack, and Rick takes the opportunity to kill Dexter in the crossfire. Otis arrives at the prison after leaving the farm and joins the group, along with a mysterious and deadly woman named Michonne. The survivors decide to clear out zombies from the cell blocks and Hershel starts a garden in the prison yard. Tyreese and Michonne start an affair, driving Carol (who is in love with Tyreese) to attempt suicide. Rick confronts Tyreese about his insensitivity, which leads to a violent confrontation in which Rick falls off a balcony and is severely hurt.

Several weeks later, a helicopter crashes a few miles from the prison and Rick, Glenn, and Michonne go to investigate. The trail of the helicopter survivors leads them to Woodbury, Georgia, a town of survivors led by an insane tyrant calling himself the Governor, who keeps zombies as pets and forces prisoners to fight to the death in gladiatorial games. The Governor cuts off Rick's right hand and brutally rapes Michonne. Under threat of similar torture, Glenn tells the Governor about the prison, though not it's exact whereabouts. The Governor releases Glenn, hoping to follow him to the prison. Meanwhile, during an attack at the prison, Dale accidentally drives his RV through the outer fence, allowing the prison to be overrun by zombies.

Eventually, the Rick, Glenn, and Michone escape Woodbury with the help of Alice, a nurse, and Martinez, one of the Governor's lieutenants. Before escaping, Michone tracks down the Governer, cuts off his arm and penis, and leaves him for dead. The group make it back to the prison and find it overrun, with the remaining survivors blockaded in the RV and a single cell block. While the group is busy sweeping the prison of zombies, Martinez slips off to return to Woodbury with intelligence on the prison. Ricks chases him down and kills him.

Glenn and Maggie are finally married in the prison cafeteria. Due to a weapon shortage, a group of the survivors go to a National Guard station and take supplies, then blow it up. The explosion brings around a group of scouts from Woodbury and there is a deadly confrontation. Carol commits suicide due to losing Tyreese to Michonne. Lori gives birth to a baby girl, whom she names Judith (possibly fathered by Shane). The Governor eventually finds the prison, and attacks it.

Turning back the Governor's initial assault, the survivors debate how to react. Dale and Andrea decide it is hopeless to resist and decide to slip away in the RV, taking Sophia, Ben, Billy, Glenn and Maggie with them. Tyreese and Michonne mount a commando strike on the Governor's camp, but they are captured. Michonne manages to escape, but Tyreese is taken back to the prison and executed outside the gates. The Governor's mount another assault on the prison, breaking down the fence and overwhelming the survivors' defenses, killing Axel, Patricia, Billy Greene, and Alice in the process. Hershel surrenders and is executed. Rick, Lori, Carl, and Judith attempt to escape in a truck, but Lori and Judith are shot and killed. Rick and Carl escape through the fence on foot. Realizing that ordered the killing of a mother and her infant child, one of the Governor's soldiers turns on him and kills him. The rest of the Woodbury group retreat into the prison, but they run out of ammunition and are overrun by zombies.

Rick and Carl meet up with Michonne and later the surviving members. They leave with Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita for Washington, D.C.. Eventually, they run into Gabriel, a preacher who is still getting over his guilt. He hid in his church and did not let any survivors inside costing many lives when the zombies first started appearing. Morgan reunites with Rick and tells Rick that Duane, his son, has been killed. On the road to D.C. Ben kills Billy, and Carl executes Ben to protect the group. Dale is bitten and flees into the forest to die; he is attacked by a group of people who have turned to cannibalism to survive. They eat his leg, but release him after discovering he was bitten. Dale tells Rick what he knows of the group before committing suicide to prevent from turning into a zombie. The cannibals are tracked down and killed by Rick, Andrea, Michonne, and Abraham; Andrea becomes devastated for the first time since Amy's death.

On the way to the capital, they find out that the man leading their group, Eugene, is lying about being in contact with scientists from D.C. They find that D.C. is just as bad off as the other major cities. They are eventually recruited by two wanderers to stay in a secluded and secure township on the outskirts of Washington DC, called the "Alexandria Safe-Zone". We meet some citizens from the town (Aaron, Eric, Heath, Nicholas, Denise, Holly, Tobin, and also then Jessie and Pete with their son Ron). The "original" group tries to find a semblance of real life inside the new town, but Rick doesn't trust the leader. The leader is a former US Congressman named Douglas. He also has a son Spencer who seems to be interested in Andrea. Rick and Douglas eventually get along and Rick becomes the Constable. Attempting to keep the peace in the town, Rick eventually confronts Pete after finding out that he is abusive towards Jessie. This results in a physical altercation. Pete finds a knife and kills Douglas's wife for interfering with his plans for revenge against Rick. Douglas gives Rick permission to shoot Pete. Rick and Jesse become interested in each other, and a few other relationships pop up as well(Morgan and Michonne, Abraham and Holly (he's cheating on Rosita), Heath and Denise, and Spencer makes a failed move on Andrea). A group of bandits arrive. They are quickly taken out by Andrea, who is up in a watch tower, saving Rick's life.

The gunfight with the bandits alerts the zombies from D.C. The zombies attack and a weak section of the wall collapses. Tobin and Holly attempt to block the horde and fail, resulting in Tobin's death and Morgan to be severely bitten. The surviving residents hole up in their houses. Andrea is stuck in a watch tower that is surrounded by the horde. Glenn, Spencer, and Heath make their way to her and watch the citizens fight for their lives from their safe point. Abraham and Rosita narrowly escape being bitten, Aaron and Eric find a house, Holly is knocked unconscious, and Eugene and Nicholas are saved when Gabriel opens his church doors to let them in. Unable to reach the other residents Rick plans an escape with a small group while holed up in a house. He tries to convince Maggie but she refuses to go. She stays behind with Sophia and Denise (which ends up saving all three of their lives). During the escape attempt Jessie and her son are attacked. Jessie tries to grab Carl's hand for rescue, which almost causes Carl to be bitten. Rick chop's her hand off releasing the both of them. Douglas appears with a gun to assist but is attacked. Douglas shoots in random directions as he is being bitten and accidentally shoots Carl in the right eye. Morgan dies upstairs in Maggie's safehouse. Then Michonne says her final goodbyes and runs to assist Rick outside clearing out the horde as he carries Carl away. Denise answers the door to a desperate Rick who is holding a badly wounded Carl.

Denise does all that she can for Carl as Rick goes back outside to help Michonne. While looking out of their safe houses, all of the citizens watch in horror as the zombies flood the town and Michonne and Rick are completely outnumbered. The residents of Alexandria come out to help and are joined by Glenn, Andrea, Heath and Spencer, who make it back from the watch tower. Despite overwhelming numbers, they are victorious. After the fight, Rick, acknowledging he has been approaching the problem the wrong way, tells the group he now wants to establish a permanent community - one strong enough to defend against the roamers and the other dangers the world now presents. Spurred on by the realization that with cooperation, planning and effort, they can not just survive, but win against even a roamer swarm, the survivors start making plans - to create a permanent and safe place to live, to stop thinking reactively, and begin to re-establish civilization. He confides in Andrea that he feels he has been erring the entire time since the world ended because he has only truly cared about protecting his family, forgetting the value and importance of community and others who have been with him this whole time.

Soon after, a weakened Carl wakes from his coma, and asks Rick "Where's mom?". Carl is suffering from an intermittent amnesia, and while he does eventually recall the dead rising and death of his mother, other events, such as the birth of his sister and his hand in the death of Ben seem to be lost. In the meantime, some of the original residents of Alexandria, feeling he and the 'newcomers' are far too dangerous, are forming a conspiracy to remove Rick from leadership. Glenn overhears their discussion and is chased by them, ending in a Mexican stand-off between him and Nicholas, the leader of the conspirators. Fortunately for both of them, Rick soon arrives with Abraham, Andrea, and Michonne, and using his logic and reasoning manages to make Nicholas and his fellow conspirators see the flaws of their thinking and thus disbands the conspiracy. Rick later brings Carl home and tells him he would be devastated if Carl died. Glenn and Maggie start distancing themselves from each other, and Holly tells Abraham he would be a better leader than Rick. Andrea then goes to Rick's house looking for Carl. Rick comes down and they have a heart-to-heart conversation. Rick and Andrea then kiss. It is later revealed that someone is watching the Alexandria Safe-Zone from outside.

List of characters

List of characters in The Walking Dead

Artists

• Tony Moore: #1–6 (2004) (interior), #1–24 (covers) (2005), collected trade paperback volumes 1–4 (covers).
• Charlie Adlard: #7–present (interior), #25–present (covers), collected trade paperback volumes 5–present (covers).

Collected editions

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

Trade paperbacks

The trade paperbacks collect six issues each, but contain only the story and no cover art. Each paperback follows the custom of having a three-word title.

Title	ISBN	Release Date	Collected Material
The Walking Dead Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye	1-58240-358-9	May 12, 2004	The Walking Dead #1–6
The Walking Dead Vol. 2: Miles Behind Us	1-58240-413-5	November 24, 2004	The Walking Dead #7–12
The Walking Dead Vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars	1-58240-487-9	May 18, 2005	The Walking Dead #13–18
The Walking Dead Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire	1-58240-530-1	November 30, 2005	The Walking Dead #19–24
The Walking Dead Vol. 5: The Best Defense	1-58240-612-X	September 27, 2006	The Walking Dead #25–30
The Walking Dead Vol. 6: This Sorrowful Life	1-58240-684-7	April 11, 2007	The Walking Dead #31–36
The Walking Dead Vol. 7: The Calm Before	1-58240-828-9	September 26, 2007	The Walking Dead #37–42
The Walking Dead Vol. 8: Made To Suffer	1-58240-883-1	June 25, 2008	The Walking Dead #43–48
The Walking Dead Vol. 9: Here We Remain	1-60706-022-1	January 21, 2009	The Walking Dead #49–54
The Walking Dead Vol. 10: What We Become	1-60706-075-2	August 12, 2009	The Walking Dead #55–60
The Walking Dead Vol. 11: Fear the Hunters	1-60706-122-8	January 6, 2010	The Walking Dead #61–66
The Walking Dead Vol. 12: Life Among Them	1-60706-254-2	August 3, 2010	The Walking Dead #67–72
The Walking Dead Vol. 13: Too Far Gone	1-60706-329-8	November 23, 2010	The Walking Dead #73–78
The Walking Dead Vol. 14: No Way Out	1-60706-392-1	June 22, 2011	The Walking Dead #79–84
The Walking Dead Survivors Guide	1-60706-458-8	November 1, 2011	The Walking Dead Survivors Guide #1–4
The Walking Dead Vol. 15: We Find Ourselves	1-60706-440-5	December 20, 2011	The Walking Dead #85-90

Hardcovers

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

Title	ISBN	Release Date	Collected Material	Cover Character
The Walking Dead: Book One	1-58240-619-7	July 19, 2006	The Walking Dead #1–12	Rick
The Walking Dead: Book Two	1-58240-698-7	March 7, 2007	The Walking Dead #13–24	Michonne
The Walking Dead: Book Three	1-58240-825-4	December 19, 2007	The Walking Dead #25–36	The Governor
The Walking Dead: Book Four	1-60706-000-0	October 29, 2008	The Walking Dead #37–48	Lori and Judith
The Walking Dead: Book Five	1-60706-171-6	May 5, 2010	The Walking Dead #49–60	Abraham
The Walking Dead Covers	1-60706-002-7	October 19, 2010	The Walking Dead #1–50 (covers)	N/A
The Walking Dead: Book Six	1-60706-327-1	October 26, 2010	The Walking Dead #61–72	Carl
The Walking Dead: Book Seven	1-60706-439-1	October 18, 2011	The Walking Dead #73–84	Rick

Omnibus editions

Limited omnibus editions collect 24 issues in a slipcase with several extras. As limited edition versions, the first volume is autographed by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard with 300 pieces available. The second volume has a standard release of 3000 pieces, and there is also a deluxe limited edition (signed by Kirkman/Adlard) with 300 pieces available.

The Walking Dead Volume 1 Deluxe HC

Title	ISBN	Release Date	Collected Material
The Walking Dead: Volume 1 Deluxe HC	1-58240-511-5	December 14, 2005	Collects #1–24
The Walking Dead: Volume 2 Deluxe HC	1-60706-029-9	February 17, 2009	Collects #25–48
The Walking Dead: Volume 3 Deluxe HC	1-60706-330-1	February 2, 2011	Collects #49–72

The Limited Edition Retailer Giveaway is a limited hardcover of the softcover Volume 1, with black faux-leather cover and red foil highlights.

Compendium editions

These are 48-issue softcover editions.

Title	ISBN	Release Date	Collected Material
The Walking Dead: Compendium One	1-60706-076-0	May 6, 2009	Collects #1–48

Novels

Title	ISBN	Release Date	Collected Material
The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor	9780312547738	October 11, 2011	by Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga

Reception

Creator Robert Kirkman signing a copy of the first issue at the 2011 New York Comic Con.

The series received critical acclaim. Max Brooks told Kirkman that he had read The Walking Dead and liked it. Eric Sunde of IGN comics said, "This series is one of the best monthly comics available". The series also received the Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series in 2010.

The characters of the series received positive reviews as well. Rick Grimes, the series main protagonist, was ranked as IGN's 26th Greatest Comic Book Hero of All Time in 2011 stating that Robert Kirkman seemingly has an endless supply of wringers to run Rick through and as the body count rises, so do the chances of Rick losing more pieces of his soul. Also Michonne, another one of the series' protagonists, was ranked as IGN's 86th Greatest Comic Book Hero of All Time in 2011 stating that it takes a special kind of person to eke out an existence in The Walking Dead world and that Michonne is that kind of person. The Governor, one of the series' antagonists, was ranked as IGN's 86th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time in 2009 describing him as the sadistic evil that The Road Warrior forgot. Wizard magazine also ranked The Governor as the 131st greatest comic book character of all time.

Other media

Television adaptation

Main article: The Walking Dead (TV series)

On August 12, 2009, it was announced that AMC had picked up the rights to produce a show based on the comic. Frank Darabont wrote, directed and serves as an executive producer. Charles H. Eglee is writer and executive producer. Robert Kirkman is writer and executive producer. A pilot episode was officially ordered on January 21, 2010 and filming began on May 15, 2010.

The series premiered on October 31, 2010 on AMC to universal acclaim. On November 8, 2010, after broadcasting only six episodes, The Walking Dead was renewed for a second season, to consist of 13 episodes, which began on October 16, 2011.

Animation comic

AMC released the animated film of the first part of Issue #1 of the comic with animation by Juice Films and voice acting from Phil LaMarr and art from Tony Moore.

Video game

Main article: The Walking Dead (video game)

On February 18, 2011, Telltale Games has announced their plans to create an episodic video game based on The Walking Dead. It will debut in the fall of 2011. Kirkman has said that, unlike typical zombie games such as Left 4 Dead, it will focus more on characterization and emotion than action.

Other products

Taverncraft has produced TWD pint glasses and steins, and has a license to release lighters for the series as well.

Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead Board Game from Z-Man Games is scheduled for release late summer 2011.

Action figures designed to resemble the characters as drawn in the comic book manufactured by McFarlane Toys for September 2011 release. In addition, action figures made to resemble actors from the TV series, including Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon and a dismemberable Walker and Biter, were created for release in November 2011.

Aircel series

In 1989, a four-issue limited series named The Walking Dead was published by Aircel Comics. It was followed by a one issue special in 1990. Other than the shared zombie theme, there is no direct relationship between the Aircel and Image titles.

External links

• The Walking Dead Official Site
• AMC's Official The Walking Dead TV Series site