The Walking Dead

Rick Grimes wakes into a world overrun by the dead and searches for his family. The series follows an expanding survivor group as it builds fragile communities, faces new dangers and repeatedly revises its idea of safety.

Its long serial form makes the aftermath of crisis the real subject. Decisions about leadership, trust and violence have consequences that stretch far beyond a single escape.

Post-apocalyptic horror supplies the threat, while social drama supplies the lasting conflict. The undead are constant pressure on a human struggle to live together.

The black-and-white art favors strong expressions and abrupt changes from quiet conversation to panic. Moore drew the opening issues; Adlard became the series’ long-term visual voice.