The Walking Dead: TV vs Comic

The Walking DeadWhen I first found out about The Walking Dead it was at my first office job, and the TV show was the first thing everyone talked about on Monday morning. At that point, I honestly wasn’t interested and tuned it out. It wasn’t until later on, when I was ‘forced’ by a friend to watch it, that I became addicted. I binge watched The Walking Dead on Netflix until I caught up with AMC (thank God for Netflix).

I had heard it was a comic before I started watching the show, but really didn’t think I would be able to find a way to read it so didn’t pay it much thought. It wasn’t until we borrowed the Compendium One of The Walking Dead from a friend that I gained a bit more interest in reading it.

I will admit, I am nowhere near where the TV show is comic wise, but have noticed quite a few differences in the two versions of The Walking Dead.

They both started at about the same point. Rick wakes up in a hospital, has no idea what is going on, and finds out about the Walkers (TV)/Roamers (Comics) not too far afterward. He leaves the hospital meets up with Morgan and Duane and finds out about what’s happened since Rick was in coma.

Rick Grimes Wakes Up - Comic vs TV

However, there was not the high intensity scene of Rick meeting up with Glen, Andrea, Meryl and T-Dog (Wow, had to look that name up. It’s been awhile.) and the others and trying to make their way out.

  • rickgrimes-twd-comparisonComic Rick in the beginning was way more of a trusting and nice guy then TV Rick ever was. Everyone Rick ever bumped into he seemed to explain his whole life story. I could understand Morgan, especially with just getting out of the hospital and in shock about the zombie apocalypse, but Comic Rick bumped into more people than TV Rick, and felt the need to let the world know his backstory. I was done with it after the third time I read it. We get it Rick, you woke up and the world was a much different place. I don’t think everyone you run into needs to know that. They’ve been dealing with it themselves.
  • Comic Rick has also been more trusting than TV Rick ever was. Now I’m only on Chapter 5 of the comic, and he is finally getting the hang of simply telling strangers, “We were just traveling around and noticed…” but TV Rick seemed to at least understand the idea of ‘Hey, this is an insane world I’ve woken up into. Should probably keep an eye out.’ Instead of Rick Grimes - comics
    ‘Hey, you! I like you. Want to join our group? Oh yeah, don’t let me forget to tell you my backstory!’ I hear Comic Rick gets even better though, so I won’t hold it against him too much.
  • Comic Lori is… Wow. A breath of fresh air. Where I wasn’t an exact hater of TV Lori, I didn’t find her the most useful either. Yes we get it, you thought your husband was dead and so you shacked up with his best friend who was looking out for you. Comic Lori did it once and decided she didn’t find it kosher. TV Lori seemed to enjoy her relationship with Shane until she found out Rick was alive, and then dumped him and caused more drama then needed.
  • Comic Carl grows up much slower than TV Carl. I can understand why that is for TV, since Carl’s actor is getting older, but I also enjoy the fact that I feel like we get to live through Carl’s innocence a bit more.
  • Shane was… Well, Shane. I was a bit shocked when he died so quickly in the comics (I like that the TV and Comic series both had it to where Carl finished him.) but the comic also moves quicker then the show has for the past several seasons.
  • Comic Carol… Wow. She has a different backstory and didn’t start out with an abusive husband. Right now in the comics she seems to be falling off the deep end after her break up with Tyreese (Didn’t see that one coming. The relationship or the breakup.) and has a different personality from her sharp edged TV persona.
  • Tyreese - The Walking Dead comicSpeaking of Tyreese… Wow. I like Comic Tyreese. He’s a dynamic character who doesn’t start of scared of the world around him like his TV self. He is a big help to the group and kicks some series butt. I know on the TV show he was surrounded by zombies and finally broke through on his own, but in the comic he was locked in a GYM with them over night. And survived. Kick. Butt.
  • It’s interesting not having Daryl and Meryl around. I knew they were TV only, but they added a different dynamic to the show. It’s odd not having the hunters… And not having the budding bromance of Rick and Daryl.
  • Governor - The Walking Dead ComparisonI just got to the Governor, and where I have heard he does much worse things in the comic, I’m trying to get over the fact of how different he looks in the comic.

I’ve enjoyed reading the comic, and like how the art style has changed over time. It started off looking very “indie” and new, but now has a much more rugged feel. It could be the artist, Tony Moore, changing over time, but I can’t help but wonder if that’s suppose to symbolize the group’s experience?

The Walking Dead - Art Style Variation

I look forward to Sunday’s mid-season start up of Rick and his Ricktatorship posse… But am also going to continue to enjoy the comics.