The Undying Beauty of the Walking Dead Comics

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The Walking Dead franchise is an American zombie apocalypse media franchise and a shared universe that is centered on a number of interconnected television series based on the comic book of the same name. Set in the fictional universe, the franchise has developed with crossover plot elements, settings, and characters that span four live-action television series, with three additional live-action television series in various stages of production, as well as eight live-action web series that tie in to the first two television series. The series aired on AMC and AMC+.
The comic book was adapted into the first television series, which debuted in October 2010. It was followed by Fear the Walking Dead in 2015. The franchise further expanded in 2020 with a new spin-off series titled The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and an anthology series titled Tales of the Walking Dead in 2022. By 2022, three new spin-offs were announced for main The Walking Dead characters: The Walking Dead: Dead City focusing on Negan and Maggie, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon focusing on Daryl, and an untitled Rick and Michonne spin-off series that was originally a trilogy of scrapped films.
Actors who have appeared in multiple series and web series include Andrew Lincoln, Lennie James, Melissa McBride, Tom Payne, Pollyanna McIntosh, Austin Amelio, Christine Evangelista, Noah Emmerich, Michelle Ang, Brendan Meyer, Nick Stahl, Maggie Grace, John Glover, Jeff Kober, Scarlett Blum, and Samantha Morton.
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic comic book series created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore - who was the artist on the first six issues and cover artist for the first twenty-four[1] - with art on the remainder of the series by Charlie Adlard.[2][3] Beginning in 2003 and published by Image Comics, the series ran for 193 issues, with Kirkman unexpectedly ending the series in 2019. Apart from a few specials, the comic was published primarily in black and white. It began publishing colorized versions issue by issue, colored by Dave McCaig, starting in October 2020.[4][5]
The comic book series focuses on Rick Grimes, a Kentucky deputy who is shot in the line of duty and awakens from a coma in a zombie apocalypse that has resulted in a state-wide quarantine. After joining with some other survivors, he gradually takes on the role of leader of a community as it struggles to survive the zombie apocalypse. The Walking Dead received the 2007 and 2010 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series at San Diego Comic-Con International.
The AMC television series The Walking Dead (2010-2022) loosely follows the storyline of the comic book. The Walking Dead franchise has also spawned multiple additional media properties, including two companion television series (Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond), eight webisode series, video games (starting with The Walking Dead: The Game), and various additional publications, including novels (starting with The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor).
Kirkman was a fan of zombie films such as the Living Dead series and Zombi 2 as well as zombie video games such as Resident Evil.[6] The original pitch by Kirkman and Moore was for a followup to George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead, with the series taking place in the 1960s.[7] Image Comics co-founder Jim Valentino suggested using an original concept instead so the creators would own the property outright.[7] The pitch was revised into an original story, taking a more traditional approach to a modern zombie survival tale. The revised pitch was again rejected, however, for being too "normal". Kirkman then pitched it again with a new added twist that the plague was sent by aliens, and that the comic would be more of an alien invasion story. Kirkman had no intention of making the comic about aliens, but felt that the lie was necessary to get the comic published, which it did.[8]
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 #5. Charlie Adlard took over as artist on issue #7, after he was approached by Kirkman.[3] Moore also created the cover art for the first 24 issues and the first four trade paperbacks. The remainder were done by Adlard. Most issues of the comic featured "Letter Hacks", several pages at the end where Kirkman discussed the issue, oftentimes answering letters, mail, and emails sent by readers of the comic.[9] Kirkman usually co-wrote the section with his editor, Sean Mackiewicz.