It’s the end of an era for printed zombie fiction, as The Walking Dead comic book series has officially come to an end. Created by Robert Kirkman, the series was first published by Image Comics in 2003. It tells the story of Rick Grimes, a sheriff’s deputy who wakes up from a coma to find himself in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. On their journey for survival, they meet many other survivors along the way – some friendly, some nefarious, and some downright crazy. Now, after a total of 193 issues, the harrowing series finally comes to a close.
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In a statement, Kirkman confirmed the news and explained his decision to bring the series to its sudden end:
“I’m upset, too. I’m going to miss it as much as you will, if not more so. It breaks my heart that I had to end it. and we have to move on,.. but I just love this world too much to stretch things out until it doesn’t live up to what I want it to be. I hope you understand. I hope you. dear reader, know how much I appreciate the gift you have given me. I got to tell my story exactly how I wanted to, for 193 issues, and end it on my terms, with no interference at all along the way… at any point. That’s such a rare thing, and it doesn’t exist without the unyielding support this series got from readers like you. Thank you so much.”
As we all know, the story of The Walking Dead achieved even greater fame after it was adapted as a television series for AMC. With Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Chandler Riggs as his son Carl, the juggernaut series broke viewership records and has long been one of one of TV’s most-watched programs. Season 10 of the long-running series will premiere this fall, and the network has previously suggested there are no plans to end the show anytime soon. Now that the show’s source material is drying up, however, it will be interesting to see if the series will ultimately wind up surpassing the comic book’s timeline to venture into completely new creative territory.
The final issue of The Walking Dead comic book is on sale as of July 3, 2019.
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