Broken Frontier

Not much in comics is predictable, but one thing is certain: readers can't get enough of Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard and THE WALKING DEAD.

Despite skyrocketing preorders and aggressive overprinting by publisher Image Comics, the two most recent issues of THE WALKING DEAD have followed the trend set by earlier issues and completely sold out.

THE WALKING DEAD #15 and THE WALKING DEAD #16 have sold through, continuing the remarkable sales momentum of Kirkman and Adlard's hit zombie book.

Additionally, the second printing of the first WALKING DEAD trade, DAYS GONE BYE, has...gone bye, also selling out completely.  The book collects the first six issues of the series, by Kirkman and original artist Tony Moore. A third printing is currently being readied for release.

Inventory on the second WALKING DEAD trade, MILES BEHIND US, is also dwindling rapidly, and a second printing has been ordered for that volume, as well.

While the sales success of THE WALKING DEAD is hardly news, writer Robert Kirkman is still amazed that numbers continue to climb higher each month.

"This book just keeps on going up in sales," says Kirkman. "Every month I think, wow, we can't go any higher than this, and yet, the issues still keep selling out, and we keep printing more.  This book is like magic or something.  Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn (who handles tones) and I couldn't be happier."

So how to explain the astonishing success of THE WALKING DEAD? How can a black and white horror book continue its assault on the sales charts while so many full color books full of capes and super powers fail? According to Image Comics Executive Director Eric Stephenson, the "horror" label only begins to describe the book.

"I think the appeal of THE WALKING DEAD is that it's actually much more than a horror comic," explains Stephenson. "Readers may be attracted to the book because they like zombies, but at its heart, THE WALKING DEAD is a character drama as compelling as any you're likely to find in comics or on TV. People are jumping into this book because they think zombies are cool, they're staying because they care about these characters and they want to find out what happens next."

Readers seeking the books are advised to check with their local comic shops, who may still have copies on the shelves.

THE WALKING DEAD centers around the experiences of human survivors in a zombie filled, post-apocalyptic United States. Since its release in 2003, the book has been nominated for an Eisner Award for Best New Series, and has received nearly universal acclaim for its masterful blend of horror and human drama.

The third WALKING DEAD collection, SAFETY BEHIND BARS, hits stores this month.

THE WALKING DEAD # 21 is solicited in the April issue of Diamond PREVIEWS.