Walking Dead FAQ's with answers

[maloney414]

Yes, another Walking Dead thread.

 

I've been a part of the WD discussion here on the boards for years and the following questions are frequently brought up by new collectors of WD. I know I have shared all of this before here on the boards, but the information is now scattered amongst the numerous WD threads or buried in the official thread.

 

Since we are a community here that helps each other, I thought it would be nice to put this info in one place to help new people find the information. If you guys agree, maybe a mod could add this to the permanent threads in the modern section since the WD is so popular here on the boards.

 

If that doesn't happen at least we can provide a link to it when the questions come up again. And they will.

 

Anyway, here goes, FAQ:

 

1. Why do some #1’s have the Mature Readers logo in black, while others are white?

2. What was the original pitch for The Walking Dead? And is it true it was rejected by Image?

3. What did the approved pitch look like?

4. Why is the cover art for WD #3 dated earlier than WD #1?

5. What other comics feature Walking Dead stories?

6. Is Agents #6 the 1st true appearance of Rick Grimes and The Walking Dead?

7. Where can I buy original art from the comic?

8. What are the differences in printings on the covers?

9. Which issues have an official variant?

10. Which issues feature the 1st appearance of a major character?

11. What's up with the error variants?

12. How rare are the issues? What was the print run?

13. What foreign editions exist?

 

Answers below:

 

1. Why do some #1’s have the Mature Readers logo in black, while others are white?

 

 

I had a chance to ask Robert Kirkman this directly. So that's my source. (thumbs u

 

It was always suppose to be a white warning with a black outline.

 

When they went to print there was a mistake with the printer and instead of printing the black 1st and then the white overtop the process was backwards. So the white went 1st and then the black completely covered the white lettering.

 

So the black version was printed 1st.

 

During the printing process the mistake was realized and they stopped printing and fixed it. Kirkman wanted the white version because he thinks it's cooler looking.

 

Since it happened this way, the black copies were shipped together to stores and likewise for the whites. So no one knew in the early days there were 2 variants. Since all the books at the LCS would have been the same in your area. With no knowledge there were variants + the indicas inside the books being the same they were graded by CGC without distinction from the start. It doesn't make sense for them to try and change it now.

 

There have been estimates about how many of each there are but the truth is no one knows for sure. Kirkman has said he believes there are less of the white version but eBay listings consistently point the other way.

 

Bottom line. No one knows which is more rare, and therefore neither gets the price bump in demand. Don't pay more for either copy. Just be glad to own a WD #1.

 

People on here joke all the time with each other about it. The Black owners say they have the 1st print and the white is a reprint. While White owners say they have the rare copy cause Kirkman said so.

Total print run was 7,266. Source: http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2003/2003-10.html

Also the print run was 7,266 total.

 

No one ever counted how many blacks were printed before they switched to the white.

 

So everytime you hear someone say there were 3000 black and 7000 whites, or 3000 blacks and 4000 whites they are talking out of their asssses or just spreading a rumor they heard. There is NO confirmation of how many of each there are, and there never will be.

 

 

 

 

2. What was the original pitch for The Walking Dead? And is it true it was rejected by Image?

 

The original pitch made by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore was for a series called Dead Planet. It was rejected. Click on the links below to read the original rejected pitch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. What did the approved pitch look like?

 

It was published in The Walking Dead #1 Special Edition. Click on the links below to read it.

 

 

Image still nearly passed on The Walking Dead as they felt that the story needed more of a hook to grab readers than just being set in a zombie apocalypse. To increase Image’s interest in the book, Kirkman decided “to concoct a Plan 9 From Outer Space-esque tale of how the zombies were actually animated by an alien race that was preparing to invade Earth by disrupting its infrastructure. That was enough to get Image to sign off on it, though Kirkman had no intention of actually using that plot.” (This is part of the inside joke to the alien full color story in issue #75.)

 

http://scifipulse.net/2012/02/kirkman-i-had-to-add-aliens-to-sell-the-walking-dead/

 

 

 

 

4. Why is the cover art for WD #3 dated earlier than WD #1?

 

As you can see from above, the cover to WD #3 was actually used in the original pitch. They used the image for the cover of #3 because they were running late and it was an easy way to make the deadline. So yes, the OA to #3 was drawn before #1.

 

 

 

 

 

5. What other comics feature Walking Dead stories?

 

Agents #6: 5 page preview. 1st 5 pages of Walking Dead #1

Capes #1: 5 page preview. 1st 5 pages of Walking Dead #1

Image First TPB: Reprints Walking Dead #1 and other 1st issues from Image Comics

Image 2005 Holiday Special: Christmas story featuring Morgan and his son Duane. (This story is also reprinted in the 1st hardcover, and in The Walking Dead #34 after the letters column.)

 

 

Playboy April 2012: 6 page original Michonne story that takes place before Walking Dead #19.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Is Agents #6 the 1st true appearance of Rick Grimes and The Walking Dead?

 

NO.

 

While the date on the inside of the comics and on the CGC labels may cause you to think so. The truth is that Agents #6, Capes #1 and The Walking Dead #1 all arrived in comic book stores on the exact same day. October 8th 2003. Image comics were frequently late at that time. Source: Diamond’s new release archive http://www.diamondcomics.com/shipping/archive/2003/100803.txt

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Where can I buy original art from the comic?

 

Charlie Adlard OA can be found at Splash Page Comic Art: http://www.splashpageart.com/

You have to contact Tony Moore directly to buy art from him. http://tonymooreillustration.com/

 

 

 

 

 

8. What are the differences in printings on the covers?

 

Walking Dead #1 1st prints:

 

 

Walking Dead #1 later printings: Walking Dead Special Edition #1, Walking Dead #1 Weekly, and Walking Dead #1 Weekly Arizona Con Variant.

 

 

 

Walking Dead #1 Image Firsts. 3 versions exist, with 2 different front covers (With or without black bars on top & bottom). Printings can be identified by the different advertisements on the back cover.

 

1st - FCBD

2nd - AMC Show Preview

3rd - Image Firsts issues

 

 

 

Walking Dead #2: 1st print will have NOV as the date on the cover. 2nd print says FEB (see pic below)

Walking Dead #7: No difference on the cover of the 2nd print. You have to look inside.

Walking Dead #8: No difference on the cover of the 2nd print. You have to look inside.

Walking Dead #33: 1st print is red. 2nd print is blue.

Walking Dead #34: 1st print is purplish. 2nd print is yellowish.

 

 

All other printings have a completely different cover and say Second Printing on the cover.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Which issues have an official variant?

 

WD 50: 1:50 Retailer Incentive Eric Larsen Superhero Variant

WD 75: 1:50 Retailer Incentive Variant

WD 75: SDCC 2010 Variant

WD 75: Utlimate Comics Blank Cover Variant

(note: Back cover is also a sketch cover with the WD logo but without the zombie artwork.

A scan of the back of #75 is also provide below.)

WD 78: Long Beach Comic Con 2010 Photo Cover Variant

WD 80: Arizona Comic Con 2010 TV Show Photo Cover Variant

WD 81: Comics Pro Black & White Cover Variant

WD 85: Ketner Variant

WD 85: Infinity & Beyond Variant Cover

WD 87: SDCC 2011 Variant

WD 88: Fan Expo Variant

WD 94: Image Expo Variant

WD 94: Image Expo Black & White Cover Variant

WD 100: Adlard regular, Adlard SDCC, Adlard Wrap, Adlard Chromium, Adlard 1:200 Retailer incentive, Silvestri, Quitely, McFarlane, Phillips, Hitch, Ottley, Ottley Comixology, SDCC Escape, Lucille Retailer Exclusive (signed by Kirkman), Skybound exclusive Lucille foil variant cover, and Hero Initiative Exclusive

(note: Unsigned copies of the Lucille Retailer exclusive exist.)

(note: Hero Initiative covers each have a unique sketch. Mark Texeira "Mona Lisa" example shown)

WD 101: Ghost Variant

WD 103: Chris Giarrusso Variant cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Which issues feature the 1st appearance of a major character?

 

I have to admit, for awhile it seemed like the people who asked this question just wanted to know what issues to buy to flip. They came off as people not reading the comic, and just wanted others to do their research for them.

 

1. Rick Grimes, Shane, Morgan and Duane

2. Glenn, Lori & Carl. Cameo appearance: Jim, Allen, Billy, Ben, Carol & Sophia

3. Dale, Andrea, Amy, Donna, and Full appearance of Jim, Allen, Billy, Ben, Carol, & Sophia

7. Tyreese, Julie & Chris

9. Ottis

10. Hershel, Maggie, Lacey, Arnold, Billy, Rachel, Susie & Patricia.

13. Dexter, Axel Andrew and Thomas (The inmates)

19. Michonne

27. Governor, Martinez, Wes, Gabe, and Bruce

28. Doc Stevens

29. Alice and Bob

39. Judith

47. Cameo of Lilly

48. Full appearance of Lilly

53. Abraham, Rosita, and Eugene

59. 1st HERD of zombies

61. Father Gabriel Stokes

67. Aaron

68. Eric

69. Heath

70. Douglas

91. Cameo of Paul “Jesus” Monroe

92. Full appearance of Paul “Jesus” Monroe

95. Gregory

98. Dwight

100. Negan

 

 

 

 

 

11. What's up with the error variants?

 

The error craze began after Walking Dead #38 came out. In the letters column of #38 Robert Kirkman answered a fans letter about getting an error copy of #35.

 

 

After that, word was out. And collectors who were completists were on the hunt. This was before WD was variant crazy, so it drew attention. With Kirkman confirming its existence, CGC added it to the registry set.

 

Other printing errors then surfaced for other issues. At that point CGC dropped the error #35 from the registry set, because it's possible for any issue to have an error. (#27 and #48 have been confirmed here on the boards.)

 

#35 is the most common. Others should be treated similar to double cover anomalies. All of which are neat, and if you find one you'll have an easy time finding a buyer if you want to sell it. (thumbs u

 

The Ultimate Comics #75 blank also had an error batch printed. They were printed correctly page order wise, but were damaged. Many copies were still sold at a cheaper rate. They have no added value. In fact they are worth less, since sketch covers fetch higher values in CGC 9.8 Signature Series grades and the damaged copies were not granted the grading forgiveness clause like say The Marvels Project #1 Sketch Cover.

 

 

 

 

12. How rare are the issues? What was the print run?

 

Walking Dead #1: 7,266 (Total, that includes both black & white mature readers logos)

Walking Dead #2: 6,067

Walking Dead #3: 6,992

Walking Dead #4: 7,019

Walking Dead #5: 8,829

Walking Dead #6: 7,727

Walking Dead #7: 10,490

Walking Dead #8: 11,689

Walking Dead #9: 11,289

Walking Dead #10: 13,719

 

As for the rest, well you know the difference between "giving a man a fish vs. teaching a man to fish" right? Here is a great site for print run information. You can look up the print run of any comic published from January 1995 to the present. All you need is the month & year it was published which is written inside the comic. Have fun looking up other print runs too! (thumbs u

 

http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales.html

 

 

 

 

13. What foreign editions exist?

 

As The Walking Dead continues to expand in popularity, foreign versions of the comic continue to surface. Here are some of them:

 

SERBIAN VARIANTS

 

The 1st 13 issues have variants from the country of Serbia. They had a print run of 500 copies each and are flip books with Kirkman's superhero book Invincible. They are smaller in length & width than a normal US comic, but are thicker. Some issues also contain extra pinups by Serbian artists not found in the US versions.

 

There is a Black & White variant for #2(50 copies) and #10(100 copies). #'s 1-5 and 10 have a different cover than the US version. #'s 1 and 10 have a different Invincible cover on the flip side; however, the Black & White variant has the regular US Invincible #10 cover.

 

#1 and #2 had a larger portion of the print run sold in Serbia as readers there tried the book. They didn't like it. The series was cancelled due to poor sales in Serbia, so the majority of issues #3-13 didn't sell in Serbia and were bought by US buyers. That's why #1 and #2 are harder to find and #'s 3-13 are more common here in the US and on eBay.

 

 

 

ARGENTINA VARIANTS

 

The Argentina variants are also smaller in length and width, but thicker. They each contain 2 issues of The Walking Dead. So Argentina #1 contains 1+2 of the US comic, Argentina #2 contains 3+4, etc... Argentina #'s 1-10 are easily identified by the left side bar on the cover. After that you have to look for the OVNI label on the cover. Pictured below are #'s 1, 10, 14, 24 and 25.

 

 

SPANISH/PERU VARIANTS

 

These are very similar to the US versions. At first glance they look the same. However, upon closer examination of the cover the "mature readers" logo is written in spanish, and the "Vuk" publishing label is usually on the cover, but you have to look for it. Below are some examples with the "Vuk" label circled:

 

 

GERMAN VARIANTS

 

Like most foreign editions, these are also smaller than the US versions. I haven't seen many of them. I've only seen #1, #1 variant, and #7. The variant cover for #1 has the US #4 cover image on it, and #7 has the US #16 image(See pics below). The regular #1 with "GRATIS COMIC TAG" on the top was actually a 2012 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY book in Germany sponsored by the publisher Cross-Cult. The other two were promo books for the TV series I believe. They may be the only single comic versions. The series itself has also been printed in TPB form.

 

Germany 2012 FCBD site: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gratiscomictag.de%2Fcomics

 

 

FRENCH VARIANTS

 

I have to admit I know very little about these. I know at least 1 TPB exists with the US #5 image on the cover. The publisher was Delcourt.

 

 

I hope this Walking Dead FAQ was helpful. (thumbs u

[ExcludedTim]

There are 3 image firsts for #1. Two share the same front cover. They all have different back covers.

 

1st - FCBD

2nd - AMC Show Preview

3rd - Image Firsts issues

[FIREFLY]

 

This thread rocks! Thanks for the info.

[Necromancer]

There is also the Ghost variant for issue #101.

[maloney414]

There are 3 image firsts for #1. Two share the same front cover. They all have different back covers.

 

1st - FCBD

2nd - AMC Show Preview

3rd - Image Firsts issues

 

Thanks! I updated it. (thumbs u

[maloney414]

There is also the Ghost variant for issue #100.

 

101, and yeah I forgot to add that one. Thanks!

[mschmidt]

Finally a non-useless Walking Dead thread - kudos

[maloney414]

[grover96]

35 error variant?

[Necromancer]

There is also the Ghost variant for issue #100.

 

101, and yeah I forgot to add that one. Thanks!

 

You're most welcome!!

 

Oops stupid typo, thanks for catching that.

[ThoseBackPages]

This is perfect for newbies like me! Thank you so much for starting this thread up

[maloney414]

35 error variant?

 

I thought about that, but left it off. I know it exists, and several exist for #27 as well. The last time it was discussed there were more issues mentioned as having them as well.

 

Since the conversation ended with lots of issues potentially having an error I left it off.

[grover96]

I had one graded at CGC...they called it an error variant.

[Kevin.J]

[Phill the Governor]

Great Thread idea. Much easier to point people in this direction than try to explain every question. And that Dead Planet pitch is great! I've never seen that before.

[Zaitsev]

You might mention something about the #75 variant "wrinkled back cover" copies that are out there.

 

Edit: oops, meant to type #75, and it was the Ultimate version that had this happen to some copies.

[maloney414]

I had one graded at CGC...they called it an error variant.

 

Thanks for all the comments guys!

 

And Grover96, I'm going to add an error variant section too. Just give me a couple minutes to type it up. Thanks!

[comix4fun]

Finally a non-useless Walking Dead thread - kudos

 

 

Be prepared for 17 different "Where's the Walking Dead FAQ Thread?" threads to pop up.

[combiner1]

great thread...didn't know about the 1st pitch...THANKS

 

how about a sudgestion: maybe a death list issue??

 

like:

 

#48 Governor, Juith, Lorie and a whole bunch of people

#100 Glen

#2000 Carl

[Transplant]

great thread...didn't know about the 1st pitch...THANKS

 

how about a sudgestion: maybe a death list issue??

 

like:

 

 

#48 Governor, Juith, Lorie and a whole bunch of people

#100 Glen

 

#2000 Carl

 

Here is what a spoiler tag looks like: "

 

" Put the stuff in between the brackets, please.