The Walking Dead #100
The Walking Dead #100 stands as a genuine turning point in the 193-issue run of Robert Kirkman's series — the issue that introduced Negan, one of the most fully-realized and narratively consequential villains in modern comics, along with his barbed-wire-wrapped bat Lucille, and delivered the death of Glenn Rhee, a founding cast member who had been present since the very first arc. Kirkman himself noted a clear creative dividing line between everything before this issue and everything after, with Negan bringing a renewed sense of menace and unpredictability that reinvigorated the series at its centennial chapter. Beyond its in-universe significance, the issue set a publishing record at the time of release — selling out its entire first printing on launch day, making it the best-selling single issue in initial orders from any publisher since 1997 — a remarkable commercial milestone for an independent, creator-owned black-and-white book. Its cultural reach extended directly into the AMC television adaptation, where the events of this issue became the structural backbone of the Season 7 premiere, amplifying the story for a global television audience.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Published on July 11, 2012 by Image Comics/Skybound, the issue was written by Robert Kirkman with interior art by Charlie Adlard and gray tones by Cliff Rathburn — the core creative team that had been steering the series since Adlard replaced founding artist Tony Moore at issue #7. Editor Sina Grace oversaw production, and letterer Rus Wooton completed the regular creative unit. Kirkman had actually earmarked Glenn for death as far back as issue #75, but repeatedly changed his mind because he felt the character still had story potential, ultimately reserving the death for this milestone number — a decision he later acknowledged made writing the issue particularly difficult, knowing that actor Steven Yeun was already playing Glenn on television. Image promoted the issue months in advance with a teaser campaign titled 'Lucille Is Coming,' and the release was timed to coincide with San Diego Comic-Con, where celebratory retailer events were held nationwide.
Trivia · 10 facts
- First appearance of Negan, the leader of the Saviors, and his weapon Lucille — a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire.
- Death of Glenn Rhee, a main character present since issue #1, beaten to death by Negan in front of Rick, Maggie, and the rest of the survivor group.
- Part 4 of the 'Something to Fear' arc (Volume 17); an oversized issue at 31 pages.
- Written by Robert Kirkman; art by Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn; lettered by Rus Wooton; edited by Sina Grace.
- Published July 11, 2012 by Image Comics/Skybound; sold out its entire initial print run on the day of release, becoming the best-selling comic in initial orders for any publisher since 1997 (surpassing The Darkness #11 from that year).
- Released with a large array of variant covers — sources cite figures ranging from 13 to 20+ depending on whether later retailer appreciation and charity variants are included — featuring cover art by Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Frank Quitely, Bryan Hitch, Sean Phillips, Ryan Ottley, and others.
- The Hero Initiative charity program commissioned 105 artists to create original artwork on blank-cover copies of the issue, which were auctioned to benefit comic creators in need.
- The issue went to at least three printings; the second printing featured a new cover showing Negan with Lucille, and was itself also a sell-out. A full-color reprint (The Walking Dead Deluxe #100, colored by Dave McCaig) was released in November 2024.
- The events of this issue directly inspired the Season 7 premiere of AMC's The Walking Dead ('The Day Will Come When You Won't Be'), which aired October 23, 2016, and adapted Negan's introduction and Glenn's death for television.
- Kirkman had originally planned Glenn's death for issue #75 but changed his mind repeatedly, preserving the character for this milestone chapter.
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Reprints
Reprinted in The Walking Dead #17 (2012), Walking Dead #17 (2013), The Walking Dead #9 (2013), Walking Dead #17 (2013), The Walking Dead #100 15th Anniversary #[nn] (2018), The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 (2024), The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 (2024)
Key issues in The Walking Dead
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