With The Walking Dead coming to an end later this year after 11 acclaimed seasons, AMC Networks, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Comics are giving fans a peek behind the scenes of the show with a new book showcasing production art, trivia, storyboards, and more. The Art of AMC’s The Walking Dead Universe will give readers a chance to explore what goes into making not just TWD, but also its two spinoff series - Fear The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond.
Having debuted on October 20, 2011, the show, based on the Robert Kirkman comic book series of the same name, which also came to an end earlier this year, has become a phenomenon since it first aired. Besides its two spinoffs, the original show has also inspired multiple video games and proved so popular that it was deemed worthy of a chat show, The Talking Dead, that would see cast members and special guests dissect each episode immediately after they aired.
There's no denying that TWD's fanbase is a fervent one, and now die-hards will have a never-before-seen chance to find out what goes into making the show. The Art of AMC’s The Walking Dead Universe comes from writer Matthew K. Manning and Creative Director John J. Hill and features an introduction from Scott M. Gimple, the Chief Content Officer of The Walking Dead universe. Beyond the production art, the book, which marks AMC's first foray into publishing, also promises concept designs, storyboards, blueprints of the show's various settings, behind-the-scenes trivia, and more. Screen Rant has an exclusive preview of the book and some of the stunning art contained within. Here's a sneak peek:
Along with previously unseen onset photos, fan-favorite characters like Merle will be featured as the book also details the design process behind the creation of these now-iconic characters. The book will also offer in-depth looks at seminal series locations like Alexandria and what it takes to literally build the world of The Walking Dead.
A Walking Dead movie trilogy centering on Rick Grimes was said to be in the works when Andrew Lincoln, the original series protagonist, left the show after season 9, but not much has been heard about those projects since the 2018 announcement. It'll certainly be bittersweet for viewers when credits roll on the final episode of TWD. After ten years, and countless deaths - of both the human and zombie variety - fans have grown to love the show's characters, or at least the ones who have survived.
Look for the book in comic book stores beginning October 20, then everywhere books are sold beginning October 26. The book is available now for preorder in both print and digital forms. A special edition with a variant cover from David Finch and Dave McCaig that features Norman Reedus' Darryl Dixon can be exclusively ordered through Skybound and another variant - courtesy of Yanick Paquette and Nathan Fairbairn - is also currently available for preorder.
While it may be hard for fans to say goodbye to a show they've been following for more than a decade now, The Art of AMC’s The Walking Dead Universe seems to be a perfect going-away present for the series' devotees.