Do you know that “The Walking Dead” was originally supposed to be titled “Night of the Living Dead”?
Kirkman was so desperate for interest in his idea, that he named the series after the Romero movie. And since Romero’s masterpiece is in the public domain, he could have done such a thing without suffering legal scorn, but he’d have sported plenty of fan scorn. But Kirkman admits it and seems pretty apologetic about it when he discusses the origins of the fantastic horror series from Image Comics. We can relate, can’t we? It’s tough being in any artistic medium, and some of us will do anything to become a success.
He goes on to explain the reason why it was turned into “The Walking Dead” was because he was thankfully talked out of it, because of the fact that if the movie is in the public domain, his comic would be open to being changed or remade, too. This is one of the few good tidbits you’ll find in the first Special Edition of “The Walking Dead” setting up the fans for the monumental fiftieth issue coming up. Kirkman also presents shades of the fiftieth cover showing small Carl against a corner taking on a horde of the walking dead, much like Rick in the first issue, and we grab a glimpse of that as Kirkman parallels them ironically.
It’s subtle little quirks that make the “Special Edition” a damn fun issue to buy if only to add to the enormous library of the story. Kirkman loves his fans and before finally showing us the fiftieth issue, he explores the origins of the series. How does he do this? He gives us the first issue all over again. It sounds lazy, but you may be surprised to discover that the first issue is just as re-readable now as it was then. It’s still pretty compelling to see Rick awaken to the middle of the zombie apocalypse, and then suddenly grasp what has happened upon gazing down in tears at a rotting child lying on the road.
And there’s also his short but somber relationship with two fellow survivors, Morgan and his son Duane, a foreshadowing of Rick’s future to protect his son beyond all costs and lives. We didn’t know it then, but Kirkman was setting us up for some major storylines, and we had no idea how it would all come full circle. Did Rick’s family die? Was he just wasting his time? What would he find in the cities? And how did he come across so many close calls without dying?
Most importantly Kirkman asks again: If you were Rick would you have gone looking for your son? The first issue is still a wonderful and dramatic read. There’s also the script to the proposed first issue which is very similar to the one we were given. If you like to read scripts, then you won’t have a problem. And of course we’re given the first few pages of the original premise where Rick is alive, aware of the zombie apocalypse, and Laurie is younger. The zombies look different, as does Rick, and there’s also the fact that it takes place in the sixties. I personally think it’s better that it takes place in modern times, it avoids the comparisons to Romero’s movie. I look forward to the second issue of the “Special Edition.” I hope Kirkman takes the time out to explore the origins of all the characters major or otherwise.
Personally, I think all the focus on Rick in this Special Edition may be his way of mourning the character before his inevitable death. OR maybe Kirkman is showing us why Rick may never die. With Kirkman you never know, but I anxiously await issue 50, that’s for sure. It’s going to be incredible.