The Walking Dead (2003)

The Walking Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror comic book series created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore (who was later replaced by Charlie Adlard from issue #7 onward). Published by Image Comics from October 2003 to July 2019, the series ran for 193 issues.

The story follows Rick Grimes, a small-town sheriff's deputy who awakens from a coma to find the world overrun by zombies (referred to as "walkers"). The series chronicles the survivors' struggle to stay alive in a world where the undead roam freely and human threats often prove more dangerous than the zombies themselves.

The Walking Dead became one of the most successful independent comic book series in history, spawning a massive multimedia franchise including the acclaimed AMC television series. Kirkman surprised readers by ending the series with issue #193 on July 3, 2019, having kept the conclusion secret even from distributors. The series is celebrated for its character-driven storytelling, emotional depth, and willingness to subvert typical horror and survival tropes.