The Walking Dead #70
The Walking Dead #70 marks the survivors' formal integration into the Alexandria Safe-Zone, the community that would serve as the series' primary setting from this issue through its destruction in #121 and beyond — making it the narrative hinge on which the book's entire 'civilization-rebuilding' phase turns. This issue delivers the first appearances of Douglas Monroe, Regina Monroe, and Olivia, three Alexandrians who would each drive major story beats for years to come, and it establishes the uneasy social contract between Rick's road-hardened group and a community that has preserved pre-apocalypse norms. Creator Robert Kirkman reportedly considered ending the entire series at precisely this moment of arrival, which signals just how much narrative weight he placed on Alexandria as a storytelling destination. The Alexandria arc introduced by this issue also provided the template for the AMC television series' fifth-season storyline, extending its creative influence well beyond the page.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Issue #70 was written by Robert Kirkman and drawn by Charlie Adlard — the creative partnership that had been producing the book since Adlard took over with issue #7 — with grey-tone work by Cliff Rathburn and lettering by Rus Wooton. It is the fourth chapter of Volume 12: Life Among Them, the trade paperback collection of issues #67–72 that was later reprinted in The Walking Dead Omnibus Vol. 3, The Walking Dead Book Six, and The Walking Dead Compendium Vol. 2. No specific behind-the-scenes production details unique to this issue (as distinct from the broader arc) have surfaced in publicly available interviews or letter columns.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published February 24, 2010, by Image Comics; the fourth installment of Volume 12: Life Among Them (issues #67–72).
- First appearance of Douglas Monroe — former Democratic Ohio congressman and leader of the Alexandria Safe-Zone — who goes on to serve as Rick's primary authority figure inside the community through issue #83.
- First appearance of Olivia, the Alexandria resident in charge of weapons storage, who persuades Douglas to allow Michonne to keep her katana and also cuts Rick's hair in this issue.
- First appearance of Regina Monroe, Douglas's wife, whose suspicion of the new arrivals foreshadows the friction between Rick's group and the existing Alexandrian community.
- Douglas formally welcomes Rick's group to the Safe-Zone and assigns Rick the role of constable — the beginning of Rick's gradual assumption of authority within Alexandria.
- Aaron, the series' first openly gay character (introduced in issue #67), plays a prominent role guiding Rick through Alexandria's social dynamics, including introducing him to Douglas and reassuring him about Carl's safety.
- A color Deluxe Edition of this issue was released September 13, 2023, with coloring by Dave McCaig; starting with Deluxe #70, each Deluxe installment also includes a two-page comedy backup, Small Bites, written and drawn by Derek Hunter.
- The Alexandria Safe-Zone, formally established here as the survivors' new home, remained the series' central location from this issue through its destruction in issue #121 and its subsequent rebuilding after issue #126.
Cast · 11 characters
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Reprints
↩ Reprints Turf #1 (2010)
Reprinted in The Walking Dead #12 (2010), Walking Dead #12 (2010), The Walking Dead #6 (2012), The Walking Dead Deluxe #70 (2023), The Walking Dead Deluxe #70 (2023)
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