The Original Walking Dead is Back for Season 6

Todd Jepperson


If you've been spending your Sunday nights wandering aimlessly through station after station of mindless evening television, this post is for you. The Walking Dead has shambled its way back and from what we're hearing, it's bringing more zombies with it than ever.

Although Fear the Walking Dead has been fun while we've been  waiting, the kickoff to this new season of the real deal was a 90 minute Ricktopian visit to Alexandria where peace has more-or-less settled on our favorite little band of survivors.

We're not in the business of spoiling things, so for episode recaps you'll have to ride the link over to variety.com. We just wanted to let you know that you can bring your weekends to a comfortable, plague-ridden close once more.

Zombie-Proof Car ? You know you wanna drive it !

Matt Boiselle

    Amongst the numerous things that are needed to successfully survive a zombie apocalypse (weapons w/ plenty of ammo, shelter & food), a nice car could only help matters, correct ? This would certainly prove true if as an added bonus, your 4-wheeled automobile should be constructed for the long haul ala The Road Warrior style setup.

   In conjunction with the release of The Walking Dead's 100th comic issue, creator Robert Kirkland and auto maker Hyundai have crashed brainpans on a sweepstakes that will let a winner drive away with a zombie-killing modified 2013 Elantra GT. The car itself will be on display at the Hyundai Undead Future US Booth at this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego, California.

  If you click on the pic above. you can check out a 4 minute interview w/ Kirkman as he discusses surviving a zombie outbreak and the design plans for the Elantra. You can also jump on over to http://www.hyundaiundead.com/ to enter yourself in the sweepstakes for this Walking Dead slaughter sleigh. I know I personally can't wait for the day when we as a collective group of consumers can stroll onto a car lot, walk up to one of those slimy salesmen, and say " I'm not concerned about gas mileage or emissions, but how many zombies could I potentially wipe out behind the wheel of this little beauty ?" Good luck to all that enter !

The Walking Dead: Rise of The Governor Review

David Brown

Many of you have read The Walking Dead graphic novels and watched the AMC television series.  Many know of The Governor.  He is the man who runs the walled-off town of Woodbury.  He has his own sick sense of justice, whether it’s forcing prisoners to battle zombie in an arena for the enjoyment of the town or chopping off the appendages of those who cross him.  The Governor has even been voted “Villain of the Year” by Wizard magazine in the year that he debuted.  Many consider his story arc to be the most controversial in the history of the Walking Dead comic Series.

The story of the Rise of The Governor takes us back to the beginning of the end of everything to share with us the story of Philip Blake, his daughter Penny, his brother Brian and two of Philip’s friends.  We see their beginnings as they make their way through familiar locations such as the doomed Wilshire Estates to Atlanta in hopes of finding a safe zone or at least some semblance of one.  We see a struggle to survive in Atlanta and places that follow as their journey takes them ultimately to Woodbury. All the while we are riveted to see the next turn that the story takes.

This is a story that succeeds in part due to the writing of Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga. Their writing style is one of vivid imagery and gritty realism.  Many times during the story you find yourself feeling for the characters and being able to visual the scenarios they are in as real life products and places such as Dora the Explorer or Walmart are thrown in.  The connection that you are drawn into with the characters helps to truly pull on your fears and tensions.  You feel like you are always traveling right along with the group. You want them to succeed and ultimately you want them to find safety.

 

I also had the pleasure of listening to the audio book version of the story from Thomas Dunne Books in conjunction with Macmillan.  Fred Berman brings his talents to the audio book and truly helps pull out emotions form the characters. At times you forget you are listening to one man and get lost in the story and struggles for survival.  The audio book is spread across 9 CD's that take up a total time of around 11 hours.  This is a fun book to listen to on a drive to or from work (even if it got me a few looks from angry parents, when I saw their kids listening to some of the more gory scenes). The pacing keeps you interested in the story and begs you to listen to another track.

The gore abounds in the book and there is much blood spilled and many head splattered.  Brains are eaten and limbs chewed.  The whole time the gritty realism discussed earlier holds true allowing times where you are winching in anticipation of the gore that will occur. Characters are all very easy to get attached to as they are all human.  In that sense they all have their inner strengths and are trying to deal with their inner demons, the pain of losing loved ones and the need to survive the apocalypse lying before them.

The book and audio book release today at all media outlets.  Head on over to our other article found here to find out how you can enter to win your own copy of the book.  This is a book not to be missed as it is an important piece of the back story behind The Walking Dead.  This is the first of three books planned and I for one cannot wait to hear the other back stories.  Shamble out and pick this up today.

Trailer for The Walking Dead Season 2 Surfaces

Matt Boiselle

If any of you attended this years Comic-Con 2011, you were witness firsthand to the newest trailer for The Walking Dead season 2.Coming in at a whopping 4 and a half minutes, this teaser certainly promises some wild storylines for this upcoming go-round with our favorite group of survivors and their undead antagonists. Robert Kirkman has issued a quote stating that this season will leave it's viewers "completely shocked". Could this mean some unexpected deaths? Maybe some new cast members or hopefully some returning ones (Michael Rooker...please)? It also has been released that the new season will begin on October 16th, 2 weeks earlier than last year's Halloween night premiere. Also noted is the new airtime of 9 p.m. which should make for easier viewing for some Graveshift workers like myself. Any way you slice it, get ready for a full 13 episode slate which I'm sure will not disappoint. Head below to see the new trailer and prepare your Tivo to capture some zombie madness this fall. As always, stay tuned to the site as we will keep you updated with any little bits that we get along the way.

On the Chopping Block

Todd Jepperson

According to several sources, the entire writing staff for The Walking Dead got the axe last week. I originally started out to report the news, and then came across an article on TVsquad.com.  In the article, the author quotes Robert Kirkman saying, “It's kind of unfortunate that it's being reported that our writing staff has been fired because that's not the case. ... It makes Frank look bad. I don't think Frank wants it out there that he's just firing people off of a successful show."


According to Kirkman, the show’s number two man, Charles “Chic” Eglee, hit the road after Frank Darabont decided he’d stick around for season two. Darabont originally planned to cover season one, and then move on to films leaving an open slot of Eglee to step in. When Darabont thought better of leaving such a big project, Eglee was upset and left.


The news that the entire season two will be written freelance is still rumor to this point, according to Kirkman. "It's a little premature to be nailing down. I don't know if it's going to be a freelance situation or if we're going to have writers in a writers' room," he said. "That's something that's being worked on now." That news shouldn’t be traumatic, however; because if what I’m finding is correct, Kirkman either wrote or co-wrote one episode, and Darabont wrote two, and co-wrote the rest.


It looks like all there is to do now is wait. We’ll find out in October what all of this really means.

Robert Kirkman Talks About "The Walking Dead" Television Series

Can you think of a better way to start a Monday than reading an interview with Robert Kirkman? You can? Okay. What if he's talking about AMC's upcoming The Walking Dead series? I thought so.

Fall cannot get here quickly enough for me. The only people who can't be excited to witness this amazing comic come to life are those who haven't read it (ahem, Jeff). The more I read about it the more certain I am that it is getting done right. Head over to AMC to read the full interview. There are some spoilers contained but nothing that will surprise those of us who read the comic.

Here are some excerpts:

"Everyone is really trying to do good by the comic, and there are scenes that are straight out of it. I think that fans are just going to be thrilled. But at the same time, [Frank Darabont] is vastly improving the material. And there are things here and there that along the way I should have caught, but didn't."

"Steven Yeun, the actor playing Glenn, was on set for the first time yesterday. He walked over and said hello to Andrew Lincoln. They were chatting, and I looked over and I was like, 'That's Rick talking to Glenn!' "

"It's non-stop awesome over here at the set of The Walking Dead."

"The Walking Dead" - A Whole Mess of Info!

Updates on AMC's adaptation of Robert Kirkman's "The Walking Dead" is pouring in faster than I can keep on top of it. Not that I'm complaining. With each bit of info I receive, I become more convinced that it will live up to my expectations. Enough rambling, how about some updates?

The role of Rick Grimes' son, Carl, has been cast! Chandler Riggs is an Atlanta local where The Walking Dead is currently being filmed. His previous credits include "Get Low" and "The Wronged Man". Yeah, I haven't heard of them either. I think Chanlder looks the part. Now, let's just hope he can act.

The second production still has also been released. This time, we're getting a look at Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes. In case you missed it earlier, follow this link to view the first production still of an amazing looking zombie.

Finally, Ain't It Cool News posted a bunch of pics taken during the filming of the series. A reader's bedroom window overlooks the set and he sent in the photographs. Keee-ripes, man! If that were my room, I wouldn't be able to leave! Scroll down to view all of the pics because every stinkin' one is worth viewing.

AMC's The Walking Dead First Official Cast Member

The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Jon Bernthal has been cast to play Shane in The Walking Dead. Those familiar with Robert Kirkman's books will know Shane as main character, Rick Grimes', best friend.

Bernthal has been seen on television in "Eastwick," "The Pacific," and "The Ghost Writer." He was also in the movie "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian".

Seriously, if you haven't read Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead you need to do so. Now! If nothing else, go to Boarders, buy a coffee, and mooch their copies.

The Walking Dead Pilot Films This May

Bloody Disgusting has reported that filming of The Walking Dead will begin May 15th in Atlanta, GA. AMC is bringing us this new television series based off of the Image comics by Robert Kirkman.

Who knows when we'll be able to see it or when the decision to continue with the series will be made. I will tell you this... The Walking Dead books are a must for anyone who enjoys zombies. Seriously. The stories and character developement rival the best zombie movies. Read it!!

"The Walking Dead" Television Series Moving Ahead

If I had to force someone to read one piece of zombie literature, I would tell them to read Robert Kirkman's zombie epic, The Walking Dead. Don't get me wrong, Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide is the gospel. But The Walking Dead, to me, is everything a great zombie story needs.

The news about AMC picking up this comic series and turning it into a television series is old news. The fact that AMC oficially gave it the greenlight recently is still exciting. All we need to do now is hope that it moves beyond the pilot episode. ...and that it's good!

From Variety:

Frank Darabont penned the adaptation and is on board to direct. Gale Anne Hurd of Valhalla Motion Pictures and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion will exec produce with Darabont and Kirkman.

"Working with people like Frank Darabont and Gale Anne Hurd is the right way in for us to deliver a project of distinction in this genre," AMC prexy Charlie Collier said.

Robert Kirkman Speaks On Walking Dead TV Series

Comic Book Resources just posted an interview with Robert Kirkman where he discusses the upcoming television series of his beloved comic, The Walking Dead. It's a great interview so head over and check it out. Below are a few excerpts from Kirkman.

Regarding a TV series instead of a movie: "The thing that makes "The Walking Dead" unique and interesting is that it's a zombie movie that never ends – that's the log line or whatever. To do a zombie movie that's based on that? Kinda dumb."

Regarding how close it will be to the books: "It'll be 110% faithful in tone, but I don't know that every single character will be exactly the same and I don't know if every single character will actually make it into the show, just because there are about 45 characters in the comic so far."

Regarding Kirkman's involvement in the series: "If it goes past the pilot, I'll be writing episodes and looking over the storylines for the series and I'll be pretty hands on."

Don't forget to head over to CBR to read the entire interview. Click here.

Kirkman's Thoughts On The Walking Dead TV Series

The following information comes from ComicBook.com and while brief, is informative.

“I’m a huge fan of Frank Darabont’s body of work and AMC has impressed me to no end with Breaking Bad and Mad Men,” stated Robert Kirkman. “I couldn’t be happier with The Walking Dead ending up here.”

Also worth mentioning is the reassurance that this new series will stay truthful to the comic we all love. Also from ComicBook.com:

According to Image Comics, the plan is to keep the show extremely faithful to Kirkman and Adlard’s comic book series.

Kirkman's The Walking Dead - Possibly the Greatest Fanboy News Ever!!!

This news has been everywhere and I apologize for not posting sooner but my job working for The Man sometimes gets in the way. This may be the most exciting news I've heard since the announcement that World War Z is going to become a movie. It has been announced that everyone's favorite zombie-themed comic, The Walking Dead, is being adapted into a television series.

Frank Darabont, who has directed The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist, is working with AMC to write and direct the series. VP at AMC, Joel Stillerman, said the series will keep the same tone as the comics and stay true to the original material.

"This is not about zombies popping out of closets... This is a story about survival, and the dynamics of what happens when a group is forced to survive under these circumstances. The world is portrayed in a smart, sophisticated way."

If you're reading this blog and have not read Robert Kirkman's profound zombie epic, The Walking Dead, you need get yourself to the nearest book store and start. The trade books are readily available. The series follows former police officer, Rick Grimes, as he and his family try to survive in a world infested with zombies. The books concentrate more on the survivors and their new way of life among the dead. In fact, the zombies are more of a back-drop to the stories that take place. There is no way to predict who lives, who dies, and what happens. Events happen throughout the series that you would not have imagined.

Oh, and if you're already a fan, check out my review of Bowen Design's The Walking Dead statues and busts.

Stay tuned...

Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide: The Comic

This sounds like possibly the best comic book since Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead. Random House is releasing a comic by Max Brooks titled Recorded Attacks. This 144 page trade paperback is due for release on October 6th.

Beating a dead horse? Possibly. Am I excited? Definitely! I hope Brooks continues to write his zombie tales and wouldn't complain if we see a dozen more volumes of his Zombie Survival Guide.

Pre-order from Random House here. View a cool promo video of the upcoming book here.

Robert Kirkman Interview

Newsarama.com recently posted an interview with The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman. If you're reading this blog than that name should sound familiar. The Walking Dead is to zombie comics what The Zombie Survival Guide is to books of the genre.

I'm a few books behind so be warned that there are some mild spoilers in the interview. Not so much spoilers, maybe, but insights and references to things going on presently. So click here to go check it out.