The Walking Dead Graphic Novel

The Walking Dead is the longest running comic book/graphic novel dealing with zombies of the ghoulish nature to date. written by Robert Kirkland this series looks at the world through a postapocolyptic zombie holocaust. 


The writing is not funny. It is thought provoking, poignant, and at times leaves the reader feeling a little guilty and uneasy. The story centers around a former sherrifs officer Rick Grimes and his family. Throughout the series we introduced to a wide variety of characters such as Glenn, Laurie, Michonne, Frank, Shane, and a whole slew of others. 


This story brings up the question who is the real walking dead. As rick points out it is the human's as we have forgotten how to live in a world of rules and are simply waiting to die. This line speaks volumes to the story telling by Kirkland. This was Kirklands first attempt at a serious horror piece and personally I think he does justice to way society shifts and mores (pronounced MORE ASE) change to match the situation we are confronted with. 


In the first graphic novel we find rick awakening from a coma that was induced due to a gunshot wound before the world went all to hell. He awakens in the hospital to find doors locked, corpses lying as if fed on, and the world around him changed. to shorten things up he makes his way home and meets his"new Neighbors" who were looking for a spot to hold up in. This is where we are introduced to Morgan and his son. They help rick and in return rick gives them ammo and supplies from the station house which oddly enough is stock full of gear. 


In an act of humanity we see rick follow a zombie and place it out of its misery. This is one of the few moments we see true humanitarian effort on the part of the survivors. as rick heads for atlanta, GE he finds a world falling into ruin and decay. once arriving in atlanta he realizes that the stories of safe zones are bullshit and is basically given up for dead if it wasnt for Glenn. Glenn becomes a very important character in this graphic novel series.


But I caution the reader of this. Never get to emotionally attached to one character. Kirkland has a way of making the characters lovable and enduring and in one fatal swoop, he will steal that character never to be seen or heard from again. This is one of the more realistic aspects of the series. lets face it, in reality, we never know who the next one to go will be.


If you are one of the few people who have not had the pleasure in reading the series I highly suggest you make time. however, if you are one of those people who only saw the AMT viewing of it dont be surprised that the story doesnt follow the same paths. overall it does, but it takes a few turns on the way their.


 I give it 5 severed thumbs!
Shane