Summary

The Walking DeadauthorRobert Kirkmanhas been open about the influences that went into his work on the acclaimed series . Notably , he has been vocal about the influence of 1990s comics , particularly theearly Image Comics titles , on his zombi spirit series , which has go on to become a world - wide multimedia phenomenon .

InWalking Dead Deluxe#83 , Kirkman disclose that several risible Holy Scripture served as reservoir of divine guidance forThe Walking Dead , let in : Bob Fingerman’sMinimum Wage , Nick Spencer’sMorning Glories , and Steven Niles and Elam Brown ’s version of Richard Matheson’sI am Legend .

But it was n’t just funny Word of God that inspired Kirkman . He also bring out that he drew inspiration from Fingerman ’s novelPARIAHas well . Kirkman even pointed to the 1991 Keanu Reeves moviePoint Breakas being inspirational – though it ’s unreadable if he was serious about including that on his tilt ofThe Walking Deadinfluences .

Image Comics' Savage Dragon (left) Invincible (center) and Spawn (right)

In The walk Dead Deluxe # 84 , Robert Kirkman shared how the ofttimes - badmouth " extreme " 90 ’s era of comics were a huge influence on his own work …

The Savage Dragon’s Unmistakable Influence On The Walking Dead

Erik Larson’s Epic From Image Comics

Like Erik Larson inSavage Dragon , Robert Kirkman was equally accustomed to disruption , especially when it came to eradicate popular characters .

According to Robert Kirkmant , the big source of inspiration for his work onThe Walking Deadand all his other originative pursuits isSavage Dragon . At the start ofErik Larsen ’s long - running tale , a humanoid tartar who is found in a burning field with no remembering of how he got there . bless with unbelievable strength , baron , and resiliency , as well as a strong sentiency of DoJ , Dragon – as he is commonly known – link the Chicago police force to fight crime as well he can .

While the stories , mount , and character are significantly unlike , it is nevertheless not difficult to seeSavage Dragon ’s influence onThe take the air Dead . First , there ’s the embrace of break that both serial publication rejoice in . InSavage Dragon , Larsen has never shown any compunction in " blowing up " the story when he take for it necessary for the narrative . This was for the most part demo in his willingness to disrupt the report ’s position quo . Indeed , he repeatedly defeat off characters at a minute ’s observance – even characters that were identified as fan - favourite .

_Cillian-Murphy-in-28-days-Later

Like Erik Larson inSavage Dragon , Robert Kirkman was equally accustomed to kerfuffle , particularly when it came toeliminating pop characters . To be certain , noThe walk Deadfan can forgetGlenn ’s brutal lacing at the hands of Negan . This is another point of equivalence ; both creators art at ease showing extreme and spirited content in their work . For example , inSavage Dragon#190 , feature a score of baddie being discerp in just four panel . InThe Walked all in Deluxe#83 – the same issue where Kirkman enlarge upon his influences – fans witnessed the fantastical means that Carl recede his right-hand eye .

The Walking Dead Reimagines The Classic Apocalypse Story

An Early 1990s Adaptation

Steven Niles and Elam Brown’sI am Legendcomic was a four - issue series , published by Eclipse Comics in 1991 . As with the piece of work of Image Comics creators Erik Larson , Todd MacFarlane , and Rob Liefeld , Robert Kirkman encountered this comic at a shaping age ; the lasting depression it left is manifest .

As Kirkman revealed inWalking Dead Deluxe#84,a various pool of influences shapedThe Walking Dead , including classics of the horror genre likeI Am Legend . Written in 1954 , Matheson ’s classic post - apocalyptic revulsion news report is wide watch as the progenitor of the zombi apocalypse genre . Indeed , while scrouge in the Matherson history were lamia , walk Deadfans will now recognize other aspects of the story , from the Book of Revelation - inducing pandemic to the isolation survivors must care with to the raw violence that is the up-to-dateness of the fresh world .

An even more obvious similarity isthe artistic creation and style of Steven Niles and Elam Brown ’s risible book adaptation . Indeed , the two series partake in more than a few commonalities , from both being draw in opprobrious - and - white , to their creative use of dark , light , and greyish spaces to affect mode and tone . Each emphasizes graphic facial expressions to draw feeling and emotion . The only tangible difference between the two is that Niles and Brown ’s style is more realistic , while Kirkman and Moore ’s series has a more overtly comic book feeling .

A man with nuclear explosions going off behind him in The Far Side.

In regard toThe take the air Dead ’s storyline and various subplots , the influences of Bob Fingerman’sPARIAHare similarly light . LikeThe Walking Dead , Fingerman ’s novel takes place after a global zombie apocalypse " turns " most inhabitants of New York City into zombies . A group of survivors , however , are able to stay put safe inside an flat building . While the protective covering of the flat ab initio help the survivors bond , the fact that they are immobilise indoors together ultimately leads to tensions among themselves . If that does n’t fathom familiar to fans ofThe Walking Dead , then nothing in the story will .

The Walking Dead’s Appeal Taps Into A Diverse Set Of Influences

A Surprise Set Of Indie Titles

Titles such asMinimum WageandMorning Gloriesinspired Kirkman to spell the in force narrative he could inThe walk Dead , one that lives up to the standard he believes were set by these books .

What is less obvious are the influence of the other titles Kirkman names . Minimum Wageis a slicing - of - life story about a risible illustrator attend for success and love in the Big City . morn Gloriesis about a group of pupil examine to survive in an elite academy where the faculty prey on the students . Nothing about these titles , at first glance , indicates how they could be inspirational toThe Walking Deadstory .

However , inspiration is n’t always depicted in the product – sometimes it ’s simply something that facilitates a person ’s creative productivity . That is , it gets them ferment when they otherwise miss the will or energy to do so . In Kirkman ’s case , the title seem to toy a dual function . On the one hand , all three title portray a thematic component that is cardinal toThe Walking deadened story , namely how characters deal with and overwhelm shivery and debilitating situations without much support .

Cover image for The Walking Dead Deluxe Chapter 83

Put another way , all three deal with how people live " hostile " environment . On the other hand , since Kirkman liked each rubric , they also served as a daily goal he was strive to recreate in his how stories . Put another way , Titles such asMinimum WageandMorning Glorieinspired Kirkman to publish the good story he could inThe Walking Dead , one that lives up to the standards he believes were set by these record book . judge from the cultural shock ofThe Walking Dead , RobertKirkmancertainly did the titles justice .

The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia system dealership that began with a comic leger series created by Robert Kirkman , Tony Moore , and Charlie Adlard . The enfranchisement derive widespread popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC , which chronicle the lives of survivors in a post - revelatory world overrun by zombi , referred to as " walkers . " The succeeder of the original show has led to legion spin - offs , WWW series , TV games , novel , and other media . The franchise explore themes of survival , human nature , and the dislocation of company in the face of an existential threat , making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the twenty-first century .

I am legend comic adaptation cover

The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as “walkers.” The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.

Image from Kirkman’s The Walking Dead portraying Rick