The Walking Dead #24
The Walking Dead #24 is the issue that delivers Rick Grimes's defining philosophical statement — that the survivors themselves, not the undead, are 'the walking dead' — crystallizing the entire series' thematic premise in a single monologue and giving the comic its title its deepest meaning. That speech became one of the most-quoted passages in modern American comics and was later adapted (with variation) into the AMC television series, demonstrating its reach across media. The issue also closes out Volume 4: The Heart's Desire, the arc that introduced Michonne and saw Rick deposed as sole leader in favor of a survivor committee — a structural shift that redefined group dynamics for years of stories ahead. As the final chapter of that arc, #24 marks the moment the series fully shed any lingering hope of a return to normalcy, committing instead to an uncompromising long-form exploration of moral erosion under survival pressure.
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Published November 24, 2005, the issue was written by Robert Kirkman with interior art by Charlie Adlard (who had taken over penciling duties from issue #7 onward after Tony Moore had difficulty meeting deadlines) and gray-tone inks by Cliff Rathburn. Moore, however, continued contributing cover art through this exact issue — making #24 the last Walking Dead cover he drew, closing out his run of 24 consecutive covers and the first four collected trade paperbacks. According to notes surfaced in the Deluxe edition's 'Cutting Room Floor' feature, Kirkman originally planned to end the issue with Lori confessing to someone that her unborn child was not Rick's — a revelation that was pulled and redistributed across later issues, showing how fluid the plotting remained even at the arc's conclusion. The series was still a modestly sized indie title at this point, with issue sales in the mid-to-upper teens of thousands of copies, growing steadily through word of mouth rather than direct marketing muscle.
Trivia · 7 facts
- Sixth and final issue of Volume 4: The Heart's Desire (issues #19–24), the arc that first brought Michonne into the prison community.
- Contains Rick Grimes's 'We Are The Walking Dead' speech — his declaration to the survivor group that they, not the zombies, are the true walking dead — the thematic cornerstone of the entire series.
- Rick is stripped of sole leadership in this issue; the group establishes a governing committee including Hershel, Tyreese, Dale, and Rick.
- This is the final cover drawn by Tony Moore for the series; all subsequent issue covers and trade paperback covers were handled by Charlie Adlard from #25 onward.
- Interior art is by Charlie Adlard with gray tones by Cliff Rathburn; Robert Kirkman is writer — the core creative team for the majority of the series' 193-issue run.
- An original plan to end the issue with Lori revealing her baby was not Rick's was cut before publication, according to behind-the-scenes notes in the Walking Dead Deluxe edition.
- Reprinted in: The Walking Dead, Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire trade paperback; Walking Dead Weekly #24 (January 2011, black-and-white weekly reprint series); The Walking Dead Compendium One (2009); The Walking Dead Deluxe #24 (October 6, 2021, full-color reprint with creator commentary by Dave McCaig).
