#WalkingDead 10 Year Anniversary

Pal - [email protected]

Last month Image Comics released their ten year anniversary edition of the original Walking Dead comic. Even if you are a dedicated fan or just a novice, this book is worth your attention. Packed with several extras, the reader has the opportunity to become a expert at the history of this American favorite.

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 The original comic story (which TV viewers will find very familiar) is still, ten years later a joy to read. Well known for their graphic and colorful artwork, it is easy to see why readers fell in love with this franchise. After the original comic  this book still has plenty of interesting extras. For instance Walking Dead writer creator Robert Kirkman gives a one on one with Image Comics publisher Eric Stephenson. The two chat about character development and the original plans for the post apocalyptic world. Where the story goes from here and the differences and similarities between the television drama and the books. The illustrators sprinkled in classic frames from the series to make it that much more exciting.

However what really separates this comic from the stack is what is printed smack dab in the middle of the book. Kirkman provides for the first time to the public the original 2002 Walking Dead proposal. There are a few differences in the original scheme of things. For instance the original title was "Night of the Living Dead". Rick's wife was named Carol instead of Laurie, they resided in Pennsylvania presumably outside of Pittsburgh somewhere.  Perhaps the biggest difference of all was the book's beginning. Instead of the good sheriff Grimes awakening from his coma in the already zombie infested world, he watched the world horrifically fall apart on TV with his wife. Something Image Comics then Marketing Director Eric Stephenson did not care for. Forcing Kirkman o come up with the story beginning we all know and love. The original proposal is also illustrated in black and white. Kirkman originally wanted to do all the book's that way adding to the series' ominous gray reality. I'm not sure how it would have played out on all the comic's however in this case it added to the drain circling story line and leaves yearning for more.

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