Send All Scoops To Our 24/7 News Team At:
24hournews@silverbulletcomicbooks.com

Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman: SBC Q&A

Posted: Wednesday, October 29
By: Tim O'Shea

Robert Kirkman is a busy writer, but not too busy when asked to discuss his newest effort, The Walking Dead [published by Image]. The writer of such series as Battle Pope, Tech Jacket and Invincible (among many other titles and characters), Kirkman seems to eager to branch out even further with his latest series--a post- apocalyptic zombie adventure with Brit artist Tony Moore. Here’s how Kirkman spoke of the series when Image unveiled it back in July:
“The Walking Dead is completely different from anything I've ever done before," he says. "It's dark and moody, and not the least bit uplifting. It takes that notion of the summer disaster movie, aliens invading, meteors slamming into the earth, molten cores that stop spinning and it says: 'Yeah...but what happens AFTERWARDS if Bruce Willis screws up?' It's about the people rebuilding civilization and fighting off zombies the whole time."
The series' main character is Rick Grimes, a small town police officer who's never fired his gun and is ultimately not prepared for the changes suddenly thrust upon his life. Grimes has to feed and protect his family and teach his son the difference between right and wrong.
"It's all about losing what we've got and then trying to build it back against all odds," Kirkman muses. "The grocery stores are closed, the cable TV isn't working, and that knock at the door is an army of the undead that want to eat you. There's no time to iron the clothes, or walk the dog...you've got to learn how to build a tall, sturdy fence, and grow crops, and fire a shotgun. Life is very different for these people. And that's what I'm exploring here. It's not really a 'horror' book as it is 'survivalist adventure.' It'll have it's fair share of gore and dead bodies...but that's only natural when being attacked by bloodthirsty dead people is an every day occurrence."
Once you’ve read the interview, be sure to take advantage of Image’s five-page preview of the first issue.

Tim O’Shea: Despite the fact that there are distinct horrific elements to the book, you are quick to point out the book is a "survivalist adventure" not a horror book. Could you elaborate on this initial point?

Robert Kirkman: Well... I just don't think horror works in comic books. I mean... it's a medium where there's the potential to see what's coming on the page next to the one you're reading. You can throw surprises on the left hand side of the page and hope you somehow startle someone but for the most part there isn't much shock value in a comic. No sound. I love horror and wasn't trying to imply that I thought the book was ABOVE that. If any aspect of The Walking Dead is creepy or eerie that's fantastic... that's an added bonus but I'm not doing anything to scare people... at least not initially. I'm following Rick through this adventure to make heads or tails of this crazy world he's woken up in. It's all about what he sees and experiences, and while some of that can be scary... that's just because of the subject matter.

TO: What motivated you to pursue such a departure from your typical stories, and to tackle a narrative where you "explore how people deal with extreme situations and how these events CHANGE them" (as you explained in the text piece in the back of the first issue)?

RK: I'm always trying new things. I started out doing comedy, I'm doing more serious super-hero books now, and this to me was just a natural progression. I like zombie movies... and the best ones are NOT splatter fests, they're the ones that make us think, and feel. That's what I was out to do. I do a few books a month and it's easier for me to keep them from running together if they're really different. I don't want to get stuck with a good idea and have to think "which book does this go in?" Luckily... I've never had that happen. Besides, I wanted to show people that I CAN do dramatic stuff, or at least attempt to. People seem to like it... so I think I'm doing okay.

TO: Is the choice to make this a black and white tale an economic choice or a creative effect decision?

RK: Creative mostly. That's not to say the economic factor wasn't recognized. This is a book that I want to go on for hundreds of issues. It's easier to do that if you keep costs low. But the main reason we did it is because it adds to the mood Tony and I want to convey. It keeps things gray and depressing. I also think Tony's gray tones are the best thing since sliced bread so I'm forcing him to do more of them. Besides, the best zombie movie ever, Night of the Living Dead, was in black and white... we're just keeping with tradition.

TO: You really leapt into the action with your story. In earlier drafts of the first issue did you try to establish more of Rick's normal life before leaping into the survival narrative?

RK: Earlier drafts? I wanted to get peoples attention and throw some zombies in there as soon as I could. I'm not a big fan of first issues that don't really go anywhere... even though I HAVE done that before. In the same right, I didn't want to make this an actiony zombie fest so I toned it down immediately afterward. I think Rick's normal life comes out in his dialogue and reactions and most of it can just be assumed by the reader as a result of that. I don't think there's a need to show him at the grocery store to know that he's used to that being the way to get food. There's only so many pages in a comic.

TO: Down the road will you explore any of Rick's normal pre-Walking Dead life in the form of flashbacks, or will you try to avoid that?

RK: People will be telling stories to each other throughout the book, but I don't think I'll be doing any flashbacks. I'd rather move forward than delve to much into the past. The interesting parts for me is how everything has changed and how these people are dealing with that and learning to survive and rely on their instincts. I'm not interested on a character’s job at the mall, or how they used to babysit for their neighbor. I'd rather watch them learn how to use a gun, or learn how to build a fence.

TO: Will there be a supporting cast of recurring characters, or is it mainly going to focus on Rick with incidental encounters with non-Walking Dead people (as occurred with Morgan Jones and his son Duane in the first issue)?

RK: By issue three we'll see how it'll play out. There will be a supporting cast of reoccurring characters. Things will move along logically. I know if this happened to me I'd want as many people with me as I could. I wouldn't want to be alone all the time. You'll see just about everyone that ever appears in the book again in some way shape or fashion.

TO: Is there anything else about The Walking Dead that you'd like to discuss that I did not ask?

RK: 12 issues a year, man... we're planning on sticking with this for the long haul. Tony and I are dedicated to keeping this book on schedule so if anyone out there is in the mood for a sprawling, long-lasting epic this is the place. So please... give this book a shot. At least read it in a store or something.