In the contiguous aftermath ofThe walk Dead’smost brutal scene , in which Negan infamously beat Glenn to death , Rick made a bloodthirsty vow to kill the newly - introduced scoundrel in turn – andover a decennium afterward , it still strikes fans as one of the comic ’s majuscule shocks that this promise was ultimately counteract , rather than fulfilled .

The Walking DeadDeluxe#100 – written by Robert Kirkman , with graphics by Charlie Adlard – is a stunning return to the milestone event , this clip in full color , make Glenn ’s end that much more gutwrenching .

The issue serves as a reminder to readers how really vile Negan was upon his first introduction . In turn , given the noesis of how things play out , the moment where Rick Grimes tearfully hold his intention to avenge Glenn once more raises the question of whether Negan ’s surprise endurance and salvation arc were theright originative choice forThe Walking Dead .

Three blended images of Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in The Walking Dead

Rick’s Promise To Kill Negan Set Up Walking Dead’s Greatest Hero-Villain Dynamic – But The Series Never Paid It Off

The Walking Dead Deluxe#100 – Written By Robert Kirkman; Art By Charlie Adlard; Color By Dave McCaig; Lettering By Rus Wooten; Main Cover By David Finch

" I ’m going to obliterate you , " Rick told Negan inThe Walking Dead#100 , setting up the dynamic between the franchise ’s next cracking opposer andthe series ' moot agonist . What readers who followed Robert Kirkman ’s zombi comical during its original run will retrieve is that , at the time , there was no reason to trust that Rick would not eventually make undecomposed on this threat . By the comedian ’s hundredth issue , it had start to develop a familiar rhythm – Rick and his group of survivor would encounter a malevolent group of human survivor , more grievous than the last , and finally , would overcome them .

Robert Kirkman revealed that iconic Walking Dead theatrical role Negan almost had a different backstory , tying into scrapped plan for an other baddie .

In a common sense , this narrative pattern applied toNegan and the Saviors , and continued even after they were defeated – except that defeatleft Negan animated , and subsequent spark transubstantiate him into a more heroic , and even more sympathetic name , providing the antithesis of the outcome that had been arrange up by his introduction . This bring an increase level of complexity toThe walk Dead’sstory , and arguably it was the correct choice , but it was a radical departure from the expectations generator Robert Kirkman had naturalise in his hearing up to that point .

Live-action Rick Grimes to the left looking concerned and other Walking Dead characters from the show to the right looking on edge

How Rick Dealt With Negan Instead Of Killing Him (And Why)

The Walking Dead#125 – Written By Robert Kirkman; Art By Charlie Adlard

The battle betweenThe Walking Dead’smain group of survivors and Negan ’s Saviors lasted for twenty - five outcome ; it is crucial to note that Rick did n’t fail to stamp out Negan , but rather , chose not to . This was what made it such a spectacular tale turn – and as much as many fans wanted Rick to satisfy his other declaration , this represented a major footfall forward for his character . confront with the possibility ofbecoming more barbarous , more like Negan , Rick refused , and that was what made it such a sinewy storytelling decision .

Many characters have come and run in The Walking Dead ’s comic existence , with the series ' creator revealing on the button which death was his favorite .

As explain by Robert Kirkman , Walking Deadartist Charlie Adlard advocated for this twist , arguing against the trope of extracting story satisfaction from killing off scoundrel . The Walking Deadwas more than just zombie military action entertainment – it was a meditation on human nature in the wake of civilization ’s sudden flop , andAdlard convinced Kirkman that this theme could be better explored by take in Rick spare Negan , pressure him to confront the consequences of his defeat , and his loss of world power , rather than just being the national of literary catharsis .

Phantom-Menace-Qui-Gon-Jinn-Liam-Neeson

How Negan’s Survival Changed The Walking Dead Franchise

The Walking Dead Deluxe#100 – Variant Covers By Charlie Adlard & Dave McCaig; Arthur Adams & Dave McCaig; Mattia De Iulis; Yasmine Putri; Julian Totino Tedesco, & More

One unexpected by-product of Negan ’s survival , and his continued role inThe Walking Dead’sstory , was that the character became increasingly popular over fourth dimension . Even Robert Kirkman himself admittedNegan was his favorite characterby the end of the series . However , that in itself both furthered and complicated the character ’s redemption arc ; Kirkman , to his quotation , did a substantial job of have the character fit into a fresh role , without actually growing too much , but even so , the fact that Glenn ’s murderer became a rooter - favourite continue to be divisive amongWalking Deadreaders .

Rather than a baddie to be triumphed over , Negan became one ofThe Walking Dead’smost recognizable character .

While Negan ’s survival of the fittest made the underlying moral structure ofThe take the air Deadless clearly - cut , it also gave fan the opportunity to root for the character ’s behavior . That is to say , it contextualized his incumbency as the franchise ’s central bad guy as one part of a larger narration arc – yet whether that was unfeignedly for the better or worse of the serial overall is a question for critics to continue dissect indefinitely . In any casing , rather than a villain to be gloat over , Negan became one ofThe walk Dead’smost recognisable fictitious character .

Negan from the Walking Dead TV show (left) and the Deluxe version of the Walking Dead comics (right.)

Glenn’s Death Remains The Gory Standard For The Walking Dead’s Most Brutal Scene

The Walking Dead#100 – First Published In 2012;DeluxeReprint Available Now From Image Comics

Glenn ’s decease is widely considered the most devastatinginThe walk Deadcomic series . When it originally come about , it was considered a major cushion , despite the fact that the book had already earned its report for killing off major case without disinclination . TheDeluxereprint ofThe Walking Deadissues leading up to # 100 hashighlighted how the come were found for Glenn ’s dying during his net electric arc , and has accent the heartwrenching tragedy of his exit from the series .

As nonrational as [ Glenn ’s death aspect ] was in black - and - white , and on screen , it has never been more gruesome than in theDeluxeedition , as this pivotalWalking Deadmoment is rendered in vivid , violent colour .

Hand in hand with that , The Walking Dead Deluxe#100 is a monitor of what an unrepentant , unforgivable villain Negan was upon his debut . While the jounce and the gore of Glenn ’s dying are burn into the memories ofWalking Deadfans , what is often blank out is the horrifying dimension that Negan ’s dialogue total to the moment . While the former weredepicted reliably on blind in the AMC TV adaptation , Jeffery Dean Morgan ’s reading of Negan was arguably more moderate than the comic version .

Walking Dead Deluxe #100, Rick tearfully claims he is going to kill Negan

The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as “walkers.” The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.

While previousWalking Deadvillains like the Governor had been perturb and sinister , funny book Negan was an entirely dissimilar variety of unhinged . The walk Dead Deluxe#100 is just the starting of an ongoing reassessment of the type , as he appears in full colour on the Sir Frederick Handley Page for the first time , starting with Glenn ’s death . As splanchnic as the scene was in black - and - white , and on projection screen , it has never been more sick than in theDeluxeedition , as this pivotalWalking Deadmoment is interpret in vivid , violent color .

The Walking Dead Deluxe#100is available now from Image Comics .

The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia system franchise that commence with a comic al-Qur’an series created by Robert Kirkman , Tony Moore , and Charlie Adlard . The franchise gained far-flung popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC , which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post - revelatory public overrun by zombie , refer to as " walkers . " The success of the original show has led to numerous twisting - offs , web series , video game , novel , and other medium . The dealership explores themes of survival , human nature , and the breakdown of gild in the brass of an existential threat , making it one of the most successful and influential repulsion series of the twenty-first C .

Walking Dead Deluxe #100 cover, Negan standing with his Saviors, holding his bat dripping Glenn’s blood

final page of Walking Dead #125, Rick Grimes tells Negan why he’s keeping him alive

The Walking Dead (2010) Movie Poster

The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as “walkers.” The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.

Comics

The Walking Dead