Set Description:
My 34x Award-winning Collection of The Walking Dead Comics
Introduction to My Collection
I just love the AMC TV shows The Walking Dead (TWD), Fear the Walking Dead (FTWD) and Walking Dead: World Beyond (WDWB). My daughter prompted me to watch the first episode, and I was hooked. Since, I have watched every episode. It was the TWD TV show that led me to the comics. I have all the 309 comics in this set, and many of the international editions.
I also collect the coloured Deluxe editions (TWDD). I was SO happy to have a letter I had written feature in Letter Hacks of TWDD #67. It made me feel - officially - a small part of the TWD universe.
I live quite close to Charlie Adlard. In August 2019, I was invited to his comic art exhibition Drawn of the Dead, held at Shrewsbury Museum, UK. The photograph below shows me at the entrance to the exhibition.
I will present My Collection here in five sections as follows:
1. The TV Shows
2. The Comics
3. My CGC Collection
4. Autographs
- 4.1 TWD/TWDD comic book creative team
- 4.2 TWD show cast and crew
- 4.3 FTWD show cast and crew
- 4.4 Other artists and writers
5. My collecting objectives and additional notes
 
1. The TV Shows
In May 2017, I visited the show's Season 1, Episode 1 (101) Days Gone Bye filming location at Walton and Forsyth in downtown Atlanta GA. Shown in my photograph above (right), this is where the 'Rick/walkers/tank' scenes were filmed.
In January 2022, I visited Austin TX to see some of the FTWD season 4 sets including Lytton Springs General Store, Brackenridge Hospital, Lakeline (Brookview) Mall, and Dell Diamond. The same month, I went back to Atlanta to visit the CDC, Harrison Memorial Hospital (where Rick wakes up), the season 1 camp/quarry, iconic Jackson St. bridge, Rick and Lori's home, and Terminus (415, 501). I then stayed four days in Senoia (the show's Woodbury) to visit some of the season 2-11 filming locations including the Greene family's farm (202-13), Pudding House (409), Tunnel (415-6), Alexandria (seasons 5-11), Glenn's Dumpster (603), the Saviors Outpost (611-13), Hanging Man bridge (616), the bridge from Rick's final episode (905), the Covered Bridge (909), and Negan and Lucille's home from Here's Negan (1022).
In January 2023, I returned to Georgia to visit filming locations in Woodbury (Spike row, 915), Williams (Grafitti barn, 406), Griffin (Denise death, 614; and State Alley, 506, 614, 801, 812, 1123), Senoia (Alexandria gates and wall sections, Dwight and Sherry’s house, 711), Grantville (Morgan’s apartment Clear, 312), and Newnan (Woodbury Arena, 305; Beth’s hospital, 504/7/8; Walker herd quarry, 601; and the gas station from 101).
2. The Comics
I collect the Image/Skybound comics upon which the TV show is based. In my collection, I have every one of the 671 English-language editions of The Walking Dead comics, including the first, second and third printings, Wizard World and convention editions, Blind Bag editions, the 158 TWD 15th Anniversary Retailer/Store variant editions, and the Image+ comics featuring the Negan back story. In addition to those, I also have the 53 The Walking Dead Weekly comics, the four Survivor Guides and a large and growing collection of non-English-language versions of the comic.
On 7 October 2020, Image/Skybound launched The Walking Dead Deluxe (TWDD), the original comics reissued in full colour by Dave McCaig, released twice-monthly. I will collect selected issues from this series, including the #FoilFever issues of #1 and the first six covers - which have been drawn for the first time by Charlie Adlard.
My CGC journal is based on TWD #1. It provides a unique review of this iconic October 2003 comic, with analysis of its 269 variant and alternate covers, its prowess in the CGC Registry and in the re-sale market. I have now added sections on TWD #100 and its 20 variant covers as well as sections on TWD rarities and Skybound #FoilFever - see all four sections here.
In November 2019, I purchased my first original comic art. Shown below, it is from TWD comic issue 153, page 1 with pencils by Charle Adlard and inking by Stefano Gaudiano. Paula is seen joining Siddiq and Annie to discuss Negan's escape (as we will soon find out, he is on his way to sort out Alpha). Rick and Michonne arrive and decide what to do...
3. My CGC Collection
I am now working to complete my CGC-graded collection graded at 9.8 or in Signature Series (SS), which I present in this set 2003 Complete with Variants. Each comic has a detailed description, a summary of the story and photographs.
This is my main set, which comprises all of the English-language editions. I also maintain collections in the other TWD, TWDD, and Skybound X (i.e., Rick Grimes 2000) CGC Registry sets:
3.1 TWD
• Walking Dead Survivors' Guide = Complete in Signature Series, Best set CGC Awards 2019-24 see here
• Walking Dead (Argentina) = Best set, CGC Awards 2018-22 see here
• Walking Dead (Mexico) = Best set, CGC Awards 2019-24 see here
• Walking Dead (Italy) = Best set, CGC Awards 2020-21 and 2023-24 see here
• Walking Dead (Sweden) = Best set, CGC Awards 2023-24 see here
• Negan Lives! = Complete, Best set, CGC Awards 2024 see here
• Walking Dead (2003) = Complete see here
• Walking Dead (#1-#48) = Complete see here
• Walking Dead (Okruzen Mrtvima / Serbia) = see here
• Walking Dead Weekly = see here
• Walking Dead 15th Anniversary Edition: Variants = Complete see here
• Walking Dead 15th Anniversary Edition: Store Variants = see here
3.2 TWDD
• Walking Dead Deluxe (#1-#48) = Complete, Best set, CGC Awards 2023-24 see here
• Walking Dead Deluxe = Best set, CGC Awards 2021-24 see here
• Walking Dead Deluxe (Complete with Variants) = Best set, CGC Awards 2021 see here
3.3 Skybound X
• Skybound X = Complete, Best set, CGC Awards 2023-24 see here
• Skybound X (Complete with Variants) = see here
3.4 Other
• Image+ Magazine (i.e., Here's Negan series) = Complete, Best set, CGC Awards 2024 see here
I particularly like the covers which when presented in sequence form a collage, such as #97-102 (shown below featuring Negan and Lucille, all graded at 9.8 Universal).
     
The overwhelming majority of the comics in my CGC-graded sets are 9.8 Universal and/or Signature Series. However a significant number are higher-graded examples such as these shown here:
         
4. Autographs
Since I was a kid, I have enjoyed collecting autographs. Here are the CGC graded, prestigious Signature Series comics I have in my collection:
4.1 Creative team (TWD/TWDD comics):
I have over fifty comics signed by TWD creator and writer Robert Kirkman (below left), including #109 Sketch Edition with a very rare signed sketch of The Governor and another with a signed sketch of a zombie.
I have over twenty comics signed by Tony Moore, TWD co-creator, the artist for issues #1-6, and of the covers for issues #7-24.
I have over two hundred comics signed by Charlie Adlard, artist for issues #7-date and regular covers #25-193/The End. My Adlard collection includes original signed sketches on the covers of issues #19 (Michonne), #98 (a 'walker'), #108 (King Ezekiel), #115 and #193 (Rick), #132 (Alpha), #150 and #171 (Princess) and #192 (a Rick Grimes 2003-2019 gravestone).
I have a #109 Sketch Edition with a signed sketch of Rick by Sina Grace, the editor of TWD comics #67-96. This is shown on the table in the photograph (below right), taken just after its creation.
I also have CGC-graded comics signed by the following artists and writers (A-Z by first name):
• Cliff Rathburn, artist and greyscale colouring for TWD comics
• David Finch, artist for Marvel and DC, an album cover for Disturbed, and cover artist for the TWDD comics
• Stefano Gaudiano, inker for Marvel, DC and Image, TWD interior artist
• Tim Daniels, co-writer of the TWD Survivor Guides, and featured as a zombie in the TV show season 1, episode 1
 
4.2 Cast and Crew Members from the TWD AMC TV show:
Cast
I have CGC-graded comics and other items signed by the following 49 actors from the TWD show (A-Z by first name):
• Addy Miller, who played Summer, the reanimated "Teddy Bear Girl" shot by Rick Grimes in 1,01 (also a walker in 8,01)
• Adrian Kali Turner, who played Morgan and Jenny's son Duane Jones, and who hit Rick with a shovel in 1,01
• Alannah Masterson, who played Tara Chambler in seasons 4-9, until beheaded and piked by Alpha
• Andrew Lincoln, who played Rick Grimes in seasons 1-9, 10 and 11 (shown below, left)
• Andrew J. West, who played Gareth, the leader of the Terminants at former sanctuary Terminus in seasons 4 and 5
• Andrew Rothenberg, who played grave digger Jim in the season 1 camp
• Ann Mahoney, who played Alexandria's inventory manager Olivia in seasons 5-7
• Anthony Guajardo, who played Miguel of the Vatos gang in season 1
• Austin Amelio, who plays former Saviour Dwight in seasons 6-8, 10 and in seasons 5-7 of FTWD
• Cassady McClincy, who plays Lydia, daughter of Alpha (and Frank) in seasons 9-11
• Chad Coleman, ex-NFL linebacker who played Tyreese Williams in seasons 3-5
• Chandler Riggs, who played the son of Rick and Lori Carl Grimes in seasons 1-8
• Corey Hawkins, who played supply-runner Heath in seasons 6, 7 and 10. Now with the 'helicopter people'?
• Danai Gurira, who plays sword-wielding character Michonne in seasons 2-11 (below, 2nd left)
• Daniel Thomas May, who played Allen in seasons 3-4
• David Morrissey, who played The Governor (aka Brian Blake, Philip Blake, Brian Heriot) in seasons 3-4
• IronE (Robert) Singleton, who played T-Dog (Theodore Douglas) in seasons 1-3
• Jane McNeill, who played Patricia the wife of ranch hand Otis in season 2
• Jeff Kober (x2), who played Joe the leader of The Claimers in season 4
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays Negan Smith in seasons 7-11 (below, 3rd left)
• Jeffrey DeMunn, who played Dale Horvath in seasons 1, 2 and 9; also The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile
• Jeremy Ambler, who played a walker in What Lies Ahead (2,01) and Beside the Dying Fire (2,13)
• Josh McDermitt, who played Eugene Porter in seasons 4-11
• Jon Bernthal, who played Shane Walsh in seasons 1-3 and 9; also The Punisher and Ford v Ferrari
• Jose Pablo Cantillo (x2), who played Woodbury's Caesar Ramon Martinez in seasons 3-4
• Khary Payton, who plays former zoo keeper and leader of The Kingdom King Ezekiel in seasons 7-11
• Lauren Cohen, who plays Maggie Greene/Rhee in seasons 2-11
• Laurie Holden, who played ex-civil rights lawyer Andrea in seasons 1-3 (and comics #2-167)
• Lawrence Gilliard jnr, who played Bob Stookey in seasons 4-5
• Lennie James, who played Morgan Jones, father of Duane, in seasons 1, 3 and 5-9, and seasons 4-7 of FTWD
• Lew Temple, who played water pistol prisoner Axel in season 3
• Madison Lintz, who played Carol Peletier's daughter Sophia in seasons 1-2
• Melissa Cowen, who played "Bicycle Girl" Hannah in the first Torn Apart webisode, and in Days Gone Bye (1,01)
• Melissa McBride, who plays cookie-baking-but-murderous Carol Peletier in seasons 1-11 (below, 4th left)
• Michael Rooker, who played Merle Dixon in seasons 1-3
• Michael Traynor, who played Nicholas, one of Alexandria's supply runners, and suicide at Glen's Dumpster
• Nick Gomez, who played prisoner Tomas in season 3
• Noel G./Gugliemi, who played Felipe of the Vatos gang in season 1
• Norman Reedus, who plays fan-favourite, crossbow-wielding Daryl Dixon in seasons 1-11 (below, right)
• Paola Lazaro, who plays Princess / Juanita Sanchez in seasons 10 and 11
• Ross Marquand, who plays Alexandria's recruiter Aaron in seasons 5-11
• Ryan Hurst, who played Beta, a Whisperer in seasons 9-10 (and in a flashback in season 11)
• Samantha Morton, who played Alpha, leader of The Whisperers, and mother of Lydia in seasons 9-10
• Sarah Wayne Callies, who played Rick's wife Lori Grimes in seasons 1-3
• Scott Wilson, the late actor who played Hershel Greene in seasons 2-4 and 9
• Steve Coulter, who played Reg Monroe, wife of Deanna, father to Spencer and Aiden
• Steven Ogg, who played Saviour Simon in seasons 6-8. He was strangled by Negan and tied to the Sanctuary fence
• Steven Yeun, who played pizza delivery boy Glenn Rhee in seasons 1-7, 10
• Tom Payne, who played Hilltop ambassador Paul "Jesus" Rovia in seasons 6-9 (and 11,24 and FTWD 4,01)
Crew
I have CGC-graded comics signed by the following members of the production crew:
• Greg Nicotero, special effects creator, a walker several times and the director of over 30 episodes in seasons 2-10
• Frank Darabont, writer and executive producer of TWD season 1 and the first four episodes of season 2, director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. Oscar-nominated three-times
    
4.3 Cast and Crew Members from the FTWD AMC TV show:
Cast
I have CGC-graded comics signed by the following actors from the FTWD show (A-Z by first name):
• Alycia Debnam Carey, who plays Alicia Clark in seasons 1-7
• Austin Amelio, who plays former Saviour Dwight in seasons 5-7 (also seasons 6-8 and 10 of TWD)
• Cliff Curtis, who played Travis Manawa in seasons 1-3
• Coleman Domingo, who plays Victor Strand in seasons 2-7
• Danay Garcia, who plays Luciana Galvez in seasons 3-7
• Frank Dillaine, who played Nick Clark in seasons 1-4
• Kim Dickens, who plays Alicia and Nick's mother Madison Clark in seasons 1-4, and 7-8
• Lennie James, who plays Morgan Jones in seasons 4-8 (also TWD seasons 1, 3 and 5-9)
• Lincoln A. Castellanos, who played Tobias, the smart kid in season 1, episodes 1-2
• Lorenzo James Henrie, who played Chris Manawa in seasons 1-2
• Mercedes Masohn, the actor who played Ofelia Salazar in seasons 1-3
• Tom Payne, who played Hilltop ambassador Paul "Jesus" Rovia in TWD and appears in a flashback in FTWD 4,01
Crew
I have a CGC-graded comic signed by the following member of the production crew:
• Dave Erickson, co-creator, show runner, executive producer and writer of the AMC TV show Fear The Walking Dead (FTWD) seasons 1-3
4.4 Other artists and writers who have signed my TWD comics in this set:
I have CGC-graded comics signed by (A-Z by first name):
• Andy Diggle, British writer for DC and Marvel; Eagle Award 2000, CBLDF Liberty Annual 2012
• Arthur Adams, Marvel artist, Longshot, The Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four; artist of the TWD #157-162 variant covers
• Arthur Suydam, artist Batman, Conan, Marvel Zombies and TWD #1 reprint cover artist, St. Louis 2013
• Bill Sienkiewicz, artist for Marvel and for Image/TWD Year 15 variant covers #175-186
• Billy Martin, lead guitarist Good Charlotte and TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Tulsa 2015
• Chris Burnham, artist for DC and Marvel. Cover artist for TWD 15th anniversary #48A/B/C/D and The Last Wine Variant
• Chris Giarrusso, artist G-Man, Mini Marvels and cover artist for TWD #103 variant
• Clay Mann, artist Valiant, Marvel, DC and TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Philadelphia 2015
• Colleen Doren, artist for Disney, Marvel and others; TWD #1 reprint and sketch cover artist, San Jose 2015
• Dean Haspiel (signed Dino!), 2010 Emmy Award winner, TWD #1 reprint and cover artist, Raleigh 2015
• Eric Gapstur, artist and inker for Arrow and The Flash
• Erik Larsen, artist for Marvel, DC and Image; TWD #1 reprint cover artist, ECCC 2014
• Ethan Van Sciver, cover artist for DC and Marvel; TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Chicago 2013
• J. Scott Campbell, artist for Wildstorm and Marvel (ASM covers). Cover artist for TWD 15th anniversary #19A/B/C/D/E
• Jason Edmiston, cover artist for the TWD Shiva Force limited edition set of six, for San Diego Comic Con 2017
• Jerome Opena, TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Nashville 2015
• Jim McCann, writer of Marvel X-Men, New Avengers, Marvel Zombies; CBLDF Liberty Annual 2012
• Julian Totino Tedesco, artist for Marvel and DC, TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Philadelphia 2013 and Fort Lauderdale 2015
• Ken Haeser, artist The Living Corpse series, HackSlash, Grumpy Cat and "subscriber variants" for Dynamic Forces
• Ken Kelly, Kiss, Rainbow album art; TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Richmond 2015 with sketch and numbered 11 of 30
• Kieron Gillen, British writer, CBLDF Liberty Annual 2012
• Michael Cho, Canadian artist, DC and TWD #1 reprint cover artist, New Orleans 2015
• Michael Zeck, artist for Marvel, TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Ohio 2013
• Moritat (born Justin Norman), The Spirit, Elephantmen, Archie and TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Austin 2015
• Nate Bellegarde, artist Nowhere Men #1-6, CBLDF Liberty Annual 2012
• Neal Adams+, DC, Batman, Green Arrow; Comic Book HOF 1998, TWD #1 reprint cover artist, New York 2013
• Paolo Rivera, artist, Mythos series, issues of Spider-Man, and TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Sacramento 2015
• Phil Hester, TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Des Moines 2015
• Robert Liefeld, writer for DC and Marvel, co-creator of Image Comics, TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Arizona 2014
• Ryan Ottley, artist Invincible #8-144, ASM Vol. 5 and TWD cover artist for TWD variants #100, 150 and 164
• Steve Lieber, illustrator Detective Comics and Hawkman, TWD 100 Hero Initiative cover artist
• Stuart Sayger, artist Bionicle, product art for Warner Bros. and TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Columbus 2015
• William "Whilce" Portacio, writer/artist for DC, Marvel. Co-founder of Image, TWD #1 reprint cover artist, Chicago 2015
5. My Collecting Objectives and Additional Notes
5.1 My collecting objectives:
My overall objective is to collect all of the published TWD comics, including foreign language editions, graded by CGC at 9.8 or above, or in Signature Series. I will present these in the established CGC sets as summarised above.
I would love to feature in the overall top 500 CGC Registry sets.
I achieved this on 27 March 2020. On that date, I was listed in 495th position with 51,140 CGC points.
My highest position was on 2 September 2020 when I was listed in 489th position.
5.2 Additional notes:
Note 1: On 27 March 2020, this set moved up to 3rd position in the main TWD set 2003 Complete with Variants. This position was lost, but regained on 8 April 2023. It remains the highest position my set has held.
Note 2: On 2 February 2018, this set passed through the 10,000 CGC points milestone. On 27 March 2018, it passed through 15,000 points. On 9 June 2018, it passed through 20,000 points. On 1 December 2018, it passed through 25,000 points. On 15 March 2019, it passed through 30,000 points. On 27 August 2019, it passed through 35,000 points. On 27 March 2020, it passed through 40,000 points. On 18 September 2022, it passed through 45,000 points.
Note 3: I have won 34 CGC Registry Awards for my TWD/TWDD sets:
• On 20 July 2018, I won my first CGC Best Set award
• On 19 July 2019, I won three Best Set awards
• On 20 July 2020, I won four Best Set awards
• On 23 July 2021, I won six Best Set awards
• On 29 July 2022, I won four Best Set awards
• On 21 July 2023, I won seven Best Set awards
• On 26 July 2024, I won a further nine Best Set awards.
Note 4: On 27th October 2024, this set attracted its 75th viewing - thank you for looking :-)
Note 5: I am one of the 438 investors in the public listing of Skybound.
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