Compilations | 1st Appearance | Origin Story | Main Publication History | Secondary Publication History | Key Storylines | Media Source Material | Key Issues
by snowbi-wan, updated Nov 2019
The Walking Dead, which began in 2003, is arguably one of the most important comic series of the modern era. Although neither the zombie genre nor the apocalypse genre was new at the time, writer Robert Kirkman's character-driven storylines in this genre mashup has made this series shine from the start. In 2010, the series won the Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series. Also in 2010, the AMC television adaptation premiered and can be credited with driving the series' popularity to new heights. While the zombies are savage and gruesome, the series gets even more shock value in the face of the apocalypse from the cruel actions of its human villains, the depths of human depravity, and its fascinating social and civil structures. The ongoing comic book series ran for 193 issues. A few issues beyond this were solicited, but they were a deliberate distraction from the planned ending at #193 and were never intended to be published.
Compilations
In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of The Walking Dead comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with The Walking Dead. The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).
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| Cover | Release Month | Series / Number / Storyline | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Quick View | Feb 2013 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 01: DAYS GONE BYE CURRENT PRINTING |  | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Apr 2009 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 02: MILES BEHIND US CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Dec 2008 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 03: SAFETY BEHIND BARS CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Apr 2009 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 04: HEARTS DESIRE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Apr 2009 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 05: THE BEST DEFENSE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Apr 2010 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 06: THIS SORROWFUL LIFE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2010 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 07: THE CALM BEFORE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jun 2008 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 08: MADE TO SUFFER CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jan 2009 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 09: HERE WE REMAIN CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Aug 2009 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 10: WHAT WE BECOME CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jan 2010 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 11: FEAR THE HUNTERS CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jul 2010 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 12: LIFE AMONG THEM CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Nov 2010 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 13: TOO FAR GONE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jun 2011 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 14: NO WAY OUT CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Dec 2011 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 15: WE FIND OURSELVES CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jun 2012 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 16: A LARGER WORLD CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Nov 2012 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 17: SOMETHING TO FEAR CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jun 2013 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 18: WHAT COMES AFTER CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Nov 2013 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 19: MARCH TO WAR CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Mar 2014 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 20: ALL OUT WAR, PART 1 CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jul 2014 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 21: ALL OUT WAR, PART 2 CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2017 | WALKING DEAD: HERE'S NEGAN! [2017-HC] CURRENT PRINTING (character backstory; collects the serialized story from IMAGE+ for the first time) | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Nov 2014 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 22: A NEW BEGINNING CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Apr 2015 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 23: WHISPERS INTO SCREAMS CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Aug 2015 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 24: LIFE AND DEATH CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Mar 2016 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 25: NO TURNING BACK CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Sep 2016 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 26: CALL TO ARMS CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Mar 2017 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 27: THE WHISPERER WAR CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Sep 2017 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 28: A CERTAIN DOOM CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Mar 2018 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 29: LINES WE CROSS CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Sep 2018 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 30: NEW WORLD ORDER CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Mar 2019 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 31: THE ROTTEN CORE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Aug 2019 | WALKING DEAD [2003-TPB] VOL 32: REST IN PEACE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon |
1st Appearance
The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in The Walking Dead, if it's within your budget. A 5-page preview of The Walking Dead series appeared in two other Image series on the same day as the ongoing series. These issues have cover dates of Sep 2003, while WALKING DEAD [2003] #1 has a cover date of Oct 2003. It's debatable whether a preview fully qualifies as a technical '1st appearance,' and there will never be a definitive answer to that question that will satisfy all fans, especially since Diamond's database indicates they were all published on the same day. The relative prices of the issues in question will reveal the relative weight of each issues' claim. WALKING DEAD [2003] #1 greatly outvalues the other two right now. This could, of course, change over time, but it is more likely the two preview issues will always be more of a collector's curiosity. In the spirit of full disclosure, all three of the contenders are listed in the table below, in order of value.
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #1 (1st issue, Oct 2003 cover date, published 8 Oct 2003)
- CAPES [2003] #1 (contains a 5-page preview, Sep 2003 cover date, published 8 Oct 2003)
- AGENTS [2003] #6 (contains a 5-page preview, Sep 2003 cover date, published 8 Oct 2003)
Origin Story
The original presentation of an origin story or a retelling/recounting of it can be a good place to get started with a character or subject. The Walking Dead does not have a typical superhero-style origin story. Rick Grimes, the main protagonist, is introduced in the first issue, and we learn his situation and backstory pretty quick. Each popular character--a significant rotating cast--has his/her own origin, which is revealed as the plot requires. The origin of the zombie pandemic has not been explained and--while it provides a significant background level of anticipation toward its eventual revelation--is not necessary to enjoy the saga. Here we list the first issue and two of the less obscure reprints. The expanded Special Edition contains all of issue #1 plus the original script and proposal from Robert Kirkman, including a previously unpublished 5-page alternate story beginning. In 2013, Image produced a 10th anniversary variant as well as several convention exclusive variant reprints. A few more exclusive convention variants were produced in 2014 and 2015.
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #1
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #1 SPECIAL EDITION (May 2008 reprint w/original script and proposal, including previously unpublished 5-page alternate story beginning)
- WALKING DEAD WEEKLY [2011] #1 (Jan 2011 reprint)
Main Publication History
Series beginnings are always great places to get started in comic books. Here is the Main Publication History for The Walking Dead comic books. The Walking Dead is a long-running series and the early issues fetch very high prices on the back issue market. In 2011, Image reprinted the first 52 issues on a weekly schedule to assist new fans with entry into collecting individual issues. Today, even these reprints have fairly high price tags. The most cost effective way to begin at the beginning now is with any of the series that collect the individual issues (i.e. trade paperback, hardcover, or compendium). The trade paperbacks collects six issues at a time in nice, neat story arcs. Aside from the main series, The Walking Dead has had several ancillary issues. See the Secondary Publication History for a list of these specials which add depth to certain characters, but are not essential to enjoying the series.
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #1-193
- WALKING DEAD WEEKLY [2011] #1-52 (reprinted #1-52 on a weekly schedule)
Secondary Publication History
In addition to the main monthly series, The Walking Dead has had several specials with ancillary material. These short stories add to the overall depth of certain characters, but are by no means required to enjoy the series. See the Main Publication History for the main monthly series.
- IMAGE COMICS HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2005 [2005] (previously unpublished 6-page Morgan story)
- WALKING DEAD SCRIPT BOOK [2005] #1 (original scripts (no art) for WALKING DEAD [2003] #1-6)
- WALKING DEAD: MICHONNE SPECIAL [2012] (reprints WALKING DEAD [2003] #19 (her 1st appearance) and the 6-page Michonne story from Playboy Magazine (Apr 2012))
- CBLDF PRESENTS LIBERTY ANNUAL [2010] #2012 (previously unpublished 6-page Governor story)
- WALKING DEAD: THE GOVERNOR SPECIAL [2013] (reprints WALKING DEAD [2003] #27 (his 1st appearance) and the 6-page Governor story from CBLDF PRESENTS LIBERTY ANNUAL [2010] #2012)
- WALKING DEAD FCBD 2013 SPECIAL [2013] (previously unpublished 6-page Tyreese story plus reprints two other 6-page stories: Michonne and Morgan)
- WALKING DEAD: TYREESE SPECIAL [2013] #1 (reprints WALKING DEAD [2003] #7 (his 1st appearance) and the 6-page Tyreese story from WALKING DEAD FCBD 2013 SPECIAL [2013])
- IMAGE+ [2016-MAG] #1-16 (serialized origin of Negan)
- WALKING DEAD: HERE'S NEGAN! [2017-HC] (hardcover reprint of the serialized origin of Negan from IMAGE+ [2016-MAG])
- WALKING DEAD: THE ALIEN [2019] (print release of an original, digital comic; only available via Local Comic Shop Day (LCSD) participation)
Selected Key Storylines
This section contains a curated list of some of the best storylines for The Walking Dead, any one of which can be a good place to get started. WALKING DEAD [2003] is a long-running series, and while it's not required to start at the beginning, it's not inadvisable. WALKING DEAD [2003] is written in 6-issue story arcs, conveniently perfect for collection into trade paperbacks.
| 2003 | WALKING DEAD [2003] #1-6 (DAYS GONE BYE, initial story arc establishes the saga) |
| 2012 | WALKING DEAD [2003] #97-102 (SOMETHING TO FEAR, clash with the Saviors) |
| 2013 | WALKING DEAD [2003] #115-126 (ALL OUT WAR, war with the Saviors) |
| 2014 | WALKING DEAD [2003] #127-132 (A NEW BEGINNING, two years later, a new group arrives) |
Media Source Material
If you've enjoyed non-comic media for The Walking Dead, this section describes the comic book source material for some of the most popular non-comic media. The 2010 television adaptation by AMC follows--for the most part--the comic book plotlines. The show does deviate in some details and with some characters, so the utility is low for tracing every connection with the comic book series. Connections with the comic book series for some of the most popular characters can be found in the Key Issues section located after this section. One of the most popular television characters, Daryl Dixon, has no counterpart in the comic book series.
Key Issues
A key issue can be an acceptable place to get started with The Walking Dead, but they are more of a collector's checklist, as they can carry high price tags.
*As an eBay Partner, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #1 (1st issue, Oct 2003 cover date, published 8 Oct 2003)
- CAPES [2003] #1 (contains a 5-page preview, Sep 2003 cover date, published 8 Oct 2003)
- AGENTS [2003] #6 (contains a 5-page preview, Sep 2003 cover date, published 8 Oct 2003)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #19 (1st appearance of Michonne)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #27 (1st appearance of The Governor)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #35 (rare printing error version)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #48 (death of Lori, Herschel)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #50 (variant wraparound cover by Erik Larsen)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #53 (1st appearances of Abraham, Eugene, Rosita)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #61 (1st appearance of Gabriel)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #92 (introduction of Paul Monroe (Jesus))
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #100 (1st appearance of Negan, death of Glenn)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #115 (ALL OUT WAR begins)
- WALKING DEAD [2003] #127 (1st appearance of Magna)