The Comic Offers No Spoilers for 'The Walking Dead' Season 4 Premiere

<div class="MsoNormal">I know what you’re thinking.  When it comes to “<a href="http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead">The Walking Dead</a>,” I am something of an uncontrollable junkie.  I love the <a href="https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/series/the-walking-dead">comic from Image Comics</a> (or graphic novel if you please) and the television show on AMC is also truly top notch.  The one thing that really has me baffled is the double standard involved in the source material of the television show.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">According to the Associated Press, the man behind the story, Robert Kirkman, does not necessarily <a href="http://tv.yahoo.com/news/kirkman-offers-no-road-map-walking-dead-152750376.html">follow the comic literally</a> when it comes to the television.  Of course, I could have told you that being an avid reader of the series.  The issue I have is why there are not more (if any) fans screaming about the departure from the source material.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The answer I have come realize involves the television show, like the comic, being extremely well done.  Are there better comics on the shelves of local comic book stores?  Maybe, but that’s a point of personal taste.  The same holds true for the television show.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The AP article mentions the awkwardness Kirkman felt around killing Glen off in the comic but leaving actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3081796/">Steven Yeun</a> a bit in limbo with where his character is going.  Of course, the same rule applies to Andrea, who died in the Season 3 Finale of “The Walking Dead” on AMC but is still alive and (quite literally) kicking in the comic book.  The differences are staggering, and just because someone has been following the story from issue #1 does not mean that they have any clue what is going to happen next.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As long as things are done well, fans of both mediums do not necessarily seem to have a problem with what happens from the comic to the screen.  The same thing applied to a little movie called “The Avengers.”  The movie did not follow the comic verbatim, but it was done well enough that nobody really raised any flags.  The same holds true for “The Walking Dead.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">In the back of the comic, Kirkman is sometimes brought to task by readers for a ton of different reasons (I admit I wonder where a guy found a tiger, let alone a trained one), but one that really got me going was a few issues ago when a reader accused him of “jumping the shark.”  Kirkman’s reply was short and sweet and the basics of it were that he has heard it all before and the thing is still taking off.  Jumping the shark?  It’s a story about zombies that includes a sword carrying nomad and folks living in an abandoned prison.  I have agree with Mr. Kirkman, because as long as it is entertaining folks will be buying the issues and tuning into the show.  The unexpected is what keeps it interesting.<o:p></o:p></div>

season 4 premeire spoilers walking dead The Comic Offers No Spoilers for 'The Walking Dead' Season 4 Premiere

I know what you’re thinking.  When it comes to “ The Walking Dead ,” I am something of an uncontrollable junkie.  I love the comic from Imag...

Read more »