History YMMV / TheWalkingDead

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: The series popularised the idea that zombification can affect anyone who dies regardless of method, rather than it being caused by zombie bites or infection. Treated as a twist in the original comic, the idea has become so common in zombie media that newer readers may be surprised to discover that it isn't assumed by default.

* CommonKnowledge: The Walking Dead takes place in a world where Romero never made ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead'' and therefore the modern cultural concept of the zombie never developed, leading to the [[NotUsingTheZWord characters never saying the word zombie]]. This may be an assumption carried over from the TV show; while they certainly don't say it often, the characters ''do'' use the term, for example when Rick is describing the state of the world to the prison inmates in issue 14.

* CompleteMonster: [[spoiler:When the protagonists first encounter Thomas Richards, he merely comes across as a nerdy, polite and ultimately harmless inmate imprisoned for tax evasion. This makes it all the more shocking when he's revealed to be a homicidal lunatic who was really imprisoned for dismembering his wife. For no reason at all [[ForTheEvulz besides his own enjoyment]], he decapitated [[WouldHurtAChild two little girls]], Hershel Greene's twin daughters, Rachel and Susie. Then, taking advantage of the confusion surrounding his murders, he attempted to decapitate Andrea as well. While he failed in his attempt he ended up scarring her in the process. Eventually captured, when the community looks like they're going to execute him, Thomas is rescued by a woman he had befriended earlier named Patricia. Believing that he is insane, not evil, and in need of psychological help, [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter Patricia]] plans on the two of them escaping together. In thanks, Thomas [[UngratefulBastard immediately tries to strangle her to death]]. Though a minor antagonist in the grand scheme of things, Thomas acted as a dark harbinger of what was to come by showing [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters how much worse humans could be than zombies]]]].

* CommonKnowledge: The Walking Dead takes place in a world where Romero never made ''Film/NightOfTheLivingDead'' and therefore the modern cultural concept of the zombie never developed, leading to the [[NotUsingTheZWord characters never saying the word zombie]]. This may be an assumption carried over from the TV show; while they certainly don't say it often the characters "do" use the term, for example when Rick is describing the state of the world to the prison inmates in issue 14.

** [[TheCaligula The Governor]] is easily one of the most memorable antagonists of the story, despite only appearing in the Prison-Woodbury arc and actually being absent for a large chunck of it. It's in large of how hateful he is and how he provides some of the series darkest, story-changing moments, that you'd be hard pressed to find a fan that doesn't remember him. He arguably only loses to Negan in villain popularity, while having much less page time and being much less sympathetic.

** Negan's SignatureScene in the comic was acclaimed as an amazing turning-point in the comic series that established him as an intriguing character and caused a dent on the main characters. However, [[Series/TheWalkingDead the television version]] of this very scene would cause a massive rift between fans of the series and be remembered very negatively for its changes.

** Other iconic moments include [[spoiler:The Governor cutting off Rick's right hand]] in Issue 28, [[spoiler:the prison massacre]] in Issue 48, [[spoiler:Carl getting shot in the eye]] in Issue 83, [[spoiler:Alpha decapitating several members of the group and putting their heads on spikes]] in Issue 144, [[spoiler:Andrea's poignant death speech and passing]] in Issue 167, and [[spoiler:Sebastian fatally shooting Rick in Issue 191]].

** "All-Out War", the conclusion of the initial Negan arc, proved to be divisive with fans. Some felt that it was somewhat underwhelming after the huge amount of buildup due to the lack of major character deaths and devastation that the iconic "Made to Suffer" arc brought in spades. However, others loved it for defying expectations, breaking the TooBleakStoppedCaring that had been plaguing the series, and still having major repercussions by opening the door for radically different storylines.

* TooBleakStoppedCaring:
** Can have stints of this, particularly after Rick reunites with what's left of his gang for the first time since issue 48, and the story is set back to where it was 40 issues ago, just with fewer survivors.
** After issue 100... Not only is the new paradigm the characters find themselves in even more hellishly grim than before, but the cast also seems to be comprised almost entirely of {{Mauve Shirt}}s. After watching entire supporting casts get wiped out again and again, it's really getting harder for Kirkman to avoid this trope.
** Post "All-Out War" seems to reverse this, with [[spoiler:Rick sparing Negan's life, thereby reversing his downward spiral into violent insanity, and kicking off a new dawn for the apocalyptic world founded on peaceful union and stable trade. It's a world plagued by the Whisperers, but still]].
* ToyShip: Carl and Sophia.
** Carl and Lydia.

* VillainDecay: Strangely, the walkers are starting to be considered less and less of a serious threat to the characters since human villains kept popping up. In fact, it's almost safe to say that any named character is not endangered from being DevouredByTheHorde.
** This ends up somewhat reverted as time goes on; eventually, even a character as major as [[spoiler:Andrea]] ends up dying to a walker bite.
* WhatAnIdiot: If Alpha had marked out whisperer territory with the stakes instead of [[spoiler:putting severed heads of community members on them]] the alliance would have never went to war with them and [[spoiler:wiped them all out]].

** "All-Out War", the conclusion of the initial Negan arc, proved to be divisive with fans. Some felt that it was somewhat underwhelming after the huge amount of buildup due to the lack of major character deaths and devastation that the iconic "Made to Suffer" arc brought in spades. However, others loved it for defying expectations, breaking the DarknessInducedAudienceApathy that had been plaguing the series, and still having major repercussions by opening the door for radically different storylines.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy:
** Can have stints of this, particularly after Rick reunites with what's left of his gang for the first time since issue 48, and the story is set back to where it was 40 issues ago, just with fewer survivors.
** After issue 100... Not only is the new paradigm the characters find themselves in even more hellishly grim than before, the cast seems seems to be comprised almost entirely of {{Mauve Shirt}}s. After watching entire supporting casts get wiped out again and again, it's really getting harder for Kirkman to avoid this trope.
** Post "All-Out War" seems to reverse this, with [[spoiler:Rick sparing Negan's life, thereby reversing his downward spiral into violent insanity, and kicking off a new dawn for the apocalyptic world founded on peaceful union and stable trade. It's a world plagued by the Whisperers, but still]].

** When Jesus and Aaron defeat [[spoiler:Beta]] in Issue 173, they pull his mask off and discover that [[spoiler:Beta used to be a famous NBA player and an actor before degrading to a monster]]. While this may be very sad, many people took this as a complete ShockingSwerve. Not to mention the fact that [[spoiler:[[AntiClimax Beta got defeated fairly easily]] despite being tough enough to survive a brutal beatdown from ''Negan'' of all people.]] And when Aaron attempts to tell us [[spoiler:Beta's real name]], [[spoiler:Beta suddenly jumps up (despite having a fatal bullet wound in his chest) and [[SelfDeprecation screams]] '''''"I HAVE NO NAME!"''''' before finally expiring. Again, many people found Beta's lines hilarious instead of tragic.]]

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter/TheWalkingDead See here!]]

** The first chapter in general is hard to take seriously due to the goofy art style.

YMMV page for the [[Series/TheWalkingDead TV show]] goes '''[[YMMV/TheWalkingDeadTVShow here]]'''.

YMMV page for the [[VideoGame/TheWalkingDead video game]] goes '''[[YMMV/TheWalkingDeadVideoGame here]]'''.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: [[EnsembleDarkhorse/TheWalkingDead Now with its own page!]]

* BizarroEpisode: The end of issue 75 features Rick suddenly transported to a sci-fi ship and donning a PowerFist and yellow jumpsuit. It's "revealed" the the zombies are part of an alien invasion who turn the dead into super soldiers as part of a diabolical plot to hustle water. Dead characters, Axel, Tyreese, and Martinez are there with superhero outfits as part of an army of humanity, and The Governer is there as TheQuisling, with Lori as his sex slave. This entire back-issue is based on a joke Kirkman said about the plot, and has nothing to do with the story before or after.

* CrazyAwesome: Negan. Just when Rick thinks he is the meanest group around Negan shows up with a barbed wired bat to prove him otherwise, then he tries ambushing him only for Negan showing how CrazyPrepared he is with a whole back up team with guns, all while cursing like a sailor and babbling to the point even his own men don't follow.

* EvilIsCool: Negan is clearly a monster, but he's a CrazyAwesome monster.

** [[WhamEpisode Issue 100]] contains what has become possibly the most well-known scene in the comic: the new BigBad Negan introduces himself by kidnapping the group, going on a CrazyAwesome monologue about how they are under his control now, and choosing one of them to beat to death as a "lesson" through a game of eenie meenie minie moe. [[spoiler:Glenn]] is the unfortunate victim. It has become such an acclaimed moment that when [[spoiler:the TV adaptation elected to end it on a cliffhanger without showing who Negan killed, fans were ''livid'' and began claiming that the show had butchered a crucial moment in the story.]]

** When Jesus and Aaron defeat [[spoiler:Beta]] in Issue 173, they pull his mask off and discover that [[spoiler:Beta used to be a famous NBA player and an actor before degrading to a monster]]. While this may be very sad, many people took this as a complete ShockingSwerve. Not to mention the fact that [[spoiler:[[AntiClimax Beta got defeated fairly easily]] despite being tough enough to survive a brutal beatdown from ''Negan'' of all people.]] And when Aaron attempts to tell us [[spoiler:Beta's real name]], [[spoiler:Beta suddenly jumps up (despite having a fatal bullet wound in his chest) and [[SelfDeprecation screams]] '''''"I HAVE NO NAME!"''''' before finally expiring. Again, many people found Beta's FamousLastWords hilarious instead of tragic.]]