The Walking Dead #2
The Walking Dead #2 functions as the series' essential cast-building chapter, debuting more named characters than any other single issue in the opening arc. Glenn Rhee — who would go on to become one of the most emotionally resonant figures in the entire 193-issue run — makes his first appearance here, rescuing Rick from the zombie-choked streets of Atlanta and leading him to the survivor camp; his introduction in this issue is the first domino in a chain of relationships that defines the series' emotional core. The issue also marks the first physical appearances of Lori and Carl Grimes, completing the family reunion that #1 set in motion, while simultaneously introducing Andrea, Sophia, Allen, Jim, and the twins Ben and Billy — essentially the whole original Atlanta camp in a single chapter. Notably, it was the very first issue of the series to warrant a second printing, a signal that reader demand was outpacing the modest initial orders placed by retailers who had no framework yet for what this black-and-white, creator-owned zombie survival book could become.
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Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore had been creative partners since the 7th grade, co-founding the Funk-O-Tron small-press label and launching Battle Pope together before bringing The Walking Dead to Image Comics in 2003. The series itself had a famously tortured pitch process: Kirkman and Moore's original concept was a follow-up set in the world of George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead, which Image co-founder Jim Valentino discouraged in favor of an original property the creators would own outright. When a straightforward zombie survival pitch was rejected as too ordinary, Kirkman added a fabricated alien-invasion angle purely to get the book greenlit — a twist he never intended to use. Issue #2 was produced as part of that initial creative sprint, with Moore handling both interior art and lettering duties alongside Kirkman, who also served as his own editor on the title.
Trivia · 7 facts
- First appearance of Glenn Rhee, who rescues Rick from a zombie horde in Atlanta by guiding him across rooftops — Glenn would remain a central character until his death in issue #100 (2012).
- First physical appearances of Lori Grimes and Carl Grimes, completing Rick's family reunion that was the emotional goal set up in issue #1.
- First appearances of Andrea, Sophia, Allen, Jim, Ben, and Billy — essentially the entire original Atlanta survivor camp introduced in a single issue.
- First appearance of the Atlanta Survivor Camp location, the series' initial home base setting.
- This is the first issue of the series to receive a second printing, reflecting early reorder demand from retailers.
- The issue was later reprinted in full color as The Walking Dead Deluxe #2, released November 4, 2020, with coloring by Dave McCaig.
- Tony Moore served as interior artist on this issue as part of his run on issues #1–6; he continued as cover artist through issue #24 and illustrated the covers for the first four collected trade paperback volumes.
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Reprints
Reprinted in The Walking Dead #1 (2004), Walking Dead #1 (2005), The Walking Dead #1 (2006), Walking Dead #1 (2007), The Walking Dead Compendium #1 (2009), The Walking Dead [Delas] #1/2013 (2013), The Walking Dead en Español #1 (2013), Живите мъртви #2 (2016), The Walking Dead #2 15th Anniversary #[nn] (2018), The Walking Dead Deluxe #2 (2020), The Walking Dead Deluxe #3 (2020), The Walking Dead Deluxe #2 (2020)
Key issues in The Walking Dead
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