Fans of Undead The comic book series enjoys the relatively faithful representation of the story in the television adaptation – but there are, of course, some important differences, and Negan’s first words to Carl in the comics highlight the sharpest divisions. While the TV series has generally remained faithful to the comics, there are notable moments where the balance between sticking to the source material and introducing new elements becomes particularly significant.
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 – written by Robert Kirkman, with art by Charlie Adlard – revisits the crucial first interaction between the two characters, which foreshadowed Carl’s future in the series, offering one of the most striking examples of the profound influence that Carl Grimes has had overall. narrative of the comics, which ultimately was not the case in the series.
As detailed in the monumental issue, Carl’s initial encounter with Negan occurred after the antagonist and his crew of Saviors captured Rick and a group of survivors, including Carl. The group was on their way to inform the Hilltop community about the imminent threat Negan posed.
Negan’s treatment of Carl in the comics foretells a future that is never considered in the television series
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 – Written by Robert Kirkman; Art by Charlie Adlard; Color by David McCaig; Rus Wooten lyrics
As The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 advances, Rick and his group are intercepted by the Saviors and Negan. Enraged by the deaths of several of his men during the attack on Alexandria, Negan decides to take revenge by killing one of the captives. When deliberating over who should pay the price, Negan quickly dismisses the idea of choosing Carl. In his opinion, even amid the dire circumstances humanity currently faces, Carl has the potential to achieve great things; Killing him now, Negan argues, would essentially deprive the world of that future greatness.
As proven by the final edition of the UndeadNegan’s analysis of Carl was spot on. Not only did he become a central figure, but he also survived until the end of the story and beyond.
At the time, Negan’s comment seemed like nothing more than his typical arrogance and taunting of Rick and his followers. However, as the final edition of the UndeadNegan’s analysis of Carl was spot on. Not only did he become a central figure, but he also survived until the end of the story and beyond. Of course, Negan had no way of really knowing that the central focus of the story would shift to Carl. It was just a feeling he got, a vibe he picked up from a boy who, when threatened with death, proved to be the “toughest” person in the group.
Carl’s importance at the end of the comics is the TV adaptation’s biggest point of divergence
Undead #193 serves as the “Epilogue” of the series
It is worth noting that Walkin Dead author Robert Kirkman probably recognized at this point that Undead the narrative was changing to become “Carl’s story”. In fact, he had been laying the groundwork for this transition for some time. A notable example is Carl’s conversation with his father in The Walking Dead Deluxe #99, where he encourages Rick to see him as a valued member of his group, rather than just his son. Negan’s roadside comment about Carl serves as Kirkman’s deliberate nod to fans, suggesting greater things await the young protagonist.
As viewers know, Carl’s journey into Undead television series followed a different path. Likewise, while Negan recognizes that Carl is different from the others, this dynamic lacks the intense life-and-death context portrayed in the comics. In the television series, Negan has little significant interaction with Carl. Like the other survivors, Carl shows fear before Abraham and Glenn are killed and shock afterward. Furthermore, despite believing that Carl is special, Negan later appears willing to kill him – or at least seriously harm him – if it serves to establish dominance and control over Rick and his group.
The Walking Dead TV series had to diverge from the comics – but Carl’s absence at the end changes things
The adaptation lacks the closure of Kirkman’s series finale
To be sure, while he remained a key character, offering a compelling exploration of how children grow and mature in a zombie apocalypse – similar to his comic book counterpart – his evolution into a capable survivor and potential future leader was cut short by his death. in Season 8. Despite his progression from secondary character to central figure, the creators ultimately sacrificed Carl’s life to advance his father Rick’s story. Unlike the comics, Carl never became the focal point of the TV series; instead, the narrative focus remained on Rick until his departure.
While Carl’s story showed promise in the television series, the comic book series took his narrative to its logical conclusion. As a child of the zombie apocalypse, shaped by its relentless hardships, Carl developed exceptional survival skills, outliving not only his family – resilient as they were – but also many of the original survivors he traveled with. Along the way to better days, he became a true leader, imitating his father’s example. This uplifting ending offers a poignant contrast to the tragic story that is sadly forgotten by Undead TV series adaptation.
The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 is now available from Image Comics.