I’m going to use the space after this image to tell you my thoughts
about the comic book The Walking Dead. But first look at this awesome image from the AMC TV show version
of it, shooting now in Atlanta.
of the big problems with the modern zombie trend is that too many
zombie films just put some pale paint and veins on people – a really
rotted zombie like this is so fucking welcome to me. I’m assuming this
is the zombie that The Walking Dead hero Bland McExposition kills when
he first gets out of Our Lady of 28 Days Later Hospital.
As you can tell from that last
sentence, I’m not a fan of the comic book version of The
Walking Dead. In fact I think it might be the
worst written comic I have ever read, and considering what a shat upon
medium comic art is, that’s saying something. Robert Kirkman’s
characters don’t speak like people, they just rattle of exposition and
long declarative statements. Actual dialogue from a randomly chosen page
in the third volume of the Walking Dead comic (I have the first four
volumes on my shelf, couldn’t make it any further):
This is C-Block. From what
you told me A-Block and B-Block are still closed off and probably full
of zombies — hey — you DO get used to saying that — so I can’t show
you any of that shit today. This is it.
A-Block
is where the administrative offices are — and if you’re going to stay
here you’ll want to check that place out. The couches in those offices
are probably much more comfortable than anything here.
But there’s more than enough
cells for all y’all. The best part is that if the electric locks are
out, you can shut these doors without worrying about getting locked in
— but nothing can open these doors without you hearing it.
Literally picked at random. That’s
one panel, three dialogue balloons from one character. The whole series
is made up of nondescript characters delivering scintillating monologues
like that.
But
that’s why I’m psyched for the show! I think that an adaptation of the
series could only improve things, and that the addition of TV writers
and actors will mean the stultifying dialogue will get polished up.
35 comments
GAK!
Haven't read the comic, but I have faith in Darabont, and after Breaking Bad and Mad Men, I have to check out every new show on AMC from now on.
completely disagree about the comic. If thats seriously the worst comic you've ever read, then you havent read a lot of comics. Period. Sorry. Agree with you lots of times Devin, even consider myself a "fan" but your wrong. Either way, im psyched for the show. It has real potential to be special. Maybe your excitement will drop when you find out that Kirkman himself is helping plot the series, and even WRITING episodes.
Jesus, first you say "No one cares" about David Tennant, now you proclaim that The Walking Dead is the worst written comic you've ever read. Your entitled to your opinion, but man when I disagree with you, I VIOLENTLY disagree with you. Oh well, it makes it more interesting when I DO agree with you (Watchmen, Observe and Report etc.)
Painfully harsh stament on the comic. True some of it can come across a tad speechy but jesus its not "worst comic written" bad.
In fact i think the walking dead is in the top 5 of comic books i recommend to anyone wanting to get into the medium along with Scalped and The Punisher run by Ennis.
The places Kirkman goes with the characters is dark painful and somehow uplifting and real.
I dig alot of your views Devin but for a guy who seems to love the shit of Brubaker possibly one of the dullest most fucking one note writers in comics, i find your hate for the walking dead hard to understand
I agree about the rotting zombies thing, people with veins and blue lenses are neat, but get old after a while. A dead body that looks like a dead body? That's some freaky stuff.
Yea, you're being just a bit hard on the dialogue.
It isn't the best, to be sure, but the story is still engrossing (or do you just buy four volumes of a comic book on a whim?)
Which brings me to the second point — it's a goddamn freaking comic book. It's not Jane Austen. Maybe you should pick up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies instead.
I'm torn on the comic. I enjoyed the scenarios a great deal…though the dialog was lacking.
Where do you stand on Ennis' "The Boys"? I enjoy that book a great deal.
This comic is overrated beyond belief. World War Z is the only real quality I've seen in recent years in this played out genre!
I grew up reading comics ion the 80's, and that doesn't sound too bad. Try picking up a Chris Claremont or Bill Mantlo book from the mid-80's or even later. You will want to poke your eyes out.
I've been a longtime fan of Kirkman's original works (Walking Dead, Invincible, Astounding Wolf-Man, and some of his non-Marvel Universe Marvel stuff), and I don't know where Devin gets off saying that this is some of the worst comic writing he's ever seen. I believe this "random" page was after the characters arrived at the prison, so they sort of NEEDED things explained to them. Where were you during the 90's? What comic writers DO you like? I'm sure I can come up with examples of works from those writers that can't even begin to TOUCH Walking Dead. The article makes me also want to completely disregard any of Devin's "The premise sounds like shit, but it's being written by (name of writer here), so there may be some hope after all…" arguments. I have a feeling that this article is a set-up for "The Devin's Advocate: You Should All Be Blowing Chuck Austen, and Rob Liefeld is a Fucking Artisitc Genius and You're Too Stupid to See It Because You're All Bitching About How He Never Learned How to Draw Ankles or More Than Two Facial Expression in His Twenty-Five Years in the Business". I imagine that the title might get shortened before the article is posted. The bit about Chuck Austen at least.
Come on, Kirkman's a bad writer and if he's doing any of the writing on the show it'll be fucking painful. The writing seems fine to you because your level of reading comprehension is abysmal.
Hey, if i was going to set up shop in a prison surrounded by zombies, i want to know the freakin layout.
The Walking Dead has been the most consistantly brilliant series i've ever had the pleasure of reading. If it wasn't such a scary place, i'd want to pick Kirkman's brain.
I read an interview with Kirkman where he claims to have written the pilot, and some other episodes. Considering there are 6 (?) episodes ordered, it doesn't bode well for some of you…
Personally, I think Darabont and his team will help make the writing suitable for the screen and actors. I agree with Devin that a filmed adaptation has the potential to be far greater than the source material.
Posters #3 and 4: I think you guys forgot me.
Fuck "World War Z". The writing in that was HORRIBLE. He should've stuck with the fake textbook style of "The Zombie Survival Guide" and written a history book of the Zombie War. Would've been a hell of a lot more interesting, and had pictures to boot.
Walking Dead is vastly overrated – the art looks like shit too.
Long time fan of the comic (i.e. from Day One) and, being that, I am really looking forward to seeing how the show turns out. That it is held in hands that are not only strong, but also erudite and respectful, only gets my hopes up.
I'm interested in this solely based on that picture. That's one sweet looking zombie.
Wow, yeah, if you think Walking Dead is the worst writtent comic ever, I'm curious to see you do a list of comics you DO like.
And to be fair about those random quotes you pulled: they were from a part where the main characters were getting a tour of the prison, so, yeah, he's going to be giving quite a bit of exposition on the prison.
World War Z is indeed garbage. The greatest weapon against the zombies is a fucking shovel?
Yup. Thats how zombies are supposed to look!!
Have to agree with the feelings on the comic. The writing comes across as a 12 year olds fan fiction. My love for zombies got me through 20 issues, but the awful prose eventually ate me alive.
The art took a serious nose dive after that first trade. All of the kids looked like midgets or something–children's bodies with giant adult heads.
I kind of bowed out after 5 or 6 trades, don't know if it gets better, but it was kind of repetitive.
Hope that Darabont uses some of his pen on the scripting.
That's probably one of the better passages. For some real mind numbing you need to catch the women sitting around at talking about their relationships, the 'racial tension' etc. It's all phenomenally clunky. For a comic supposedly revolutionary for its down to earth take on the subject matter, it was only ever truly at home when throwing around its goofy exploitation elements like insane bodybuilder chicks with swords and the inevitable psycho biker/hillbillies. Outside of that it's a real grind. Series is looking pretty fancy though (it better for all that money)
On this Devin, on this we agree.
"I think it might be the worst written comic I have ever read" I disagree. Scott Pilgrim takes that title.
"One of the worst written comics ever"? Christ, Devin. I'm not saying the shit is going to rake in any awards anytime soon, but that statement is pure hyperbole.
I can see someone not liking the comic but you're just torturing the nerds here with some choice hyperbole.
I read the first trade of this series a few years ago, and it is as bad as Devin says. What shocked me was how boring it all was. How could a book that dull get so much goddamn hype?
"Our Lady of 28 Days Later Hospital"
From the Day of the Triffids wing no doubt – if you're going to mock something for being derivative at least get the story right. 28 Days was riffing on Wyndham, lets nip in the bud the idea that Boyle invented that opening.
at least these are proper zombies.. not a bunch of coked up cannibals..
"Wrong, Luthor. When you pulled the trigger on that revolver, your eyes blinked. In that eye blink, I secretly flew Lois to my Fortress of Solitude, constructed an exact robot duplicate Lois, and replaced her for the real Lois. So you only thought you killed Lois. But you are as guilty as a real murderer!"
Don't tell me about bad comics.
#27 I agree. I've tried to pick up Pilgrim a number of times and just shake my head and put it down. Can't wait for the movie though.
Kirkman's dialogue is atrocious. It's a crime to have dialogue that bad paired with art that wonderful.
Comments are shown as archived from the original site; new comments are closed.