A.V. Pull List: Negan’s impact still hits hard
Sometimes revisiting a comic hits differently, especially when it’s a milestone issue like The Walking Dead #100. I just read the Deluxe Edition and was immediately reminded why this issue remains a gut-punch masterpiece. For those who haven’t read or revisited The Walking Dead comics in a while, it’s easy to forget just how impactful this issue was when it first came out. This wasn’t just another chapter in Rick Grimes’ story. It was a turning point that redefined the series. Issue #100 introduced Negan, Lucille, and one of the most shocking deaths in comic book history. It was a bold move by Robert Kirkman and artist Charlie Adlard, pushing the boundaries of what readers thought they could handle in a comic book.
The moment Negan is introduced, I was once again hooked, horrified, and utterly captivated. Negan is one of the greatest comic book villains of the modern era. He is a villain unlike any other. He’s evil, charming, foul-mouthed, and terrifyingly methodical, which makes him even more unpredictable. As I read through his dialogue, I realized something: I couldn’t hear anyone else’s voice but Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s. His portrayal of Negan on The Walking Dead TV series was so definitive that it has permanently influenced how I see and hear the character in the comics. Every line of dialogue now feels delivered with that same menacing charm, the mix of humor and malice that Morgan brought to the role.
However, no matter how good Morgan was I eventually stopped watching The Walking Dead. The pacing slowed, the storylines meandered, and the urgency that made the series so compelling started to fade. But the comics? The comics have never lost their punch for me. Even now, revisiting them years later, they remain as raw and powerful as ever.
The Deluxe reprints are a perfect excuse to dive back into the series. Seeing Adlard’s art in full color adds a fresh perspective to familiar scenes. The shadows are darker, the blood is redder, and the horror feels even more immediate. The emotional impact of Issue #100 hasn’t dulled over time. It still hits like a baseball bat against the noggin.
If you haven’t revisited The Walking Dead in a while, there’s no better time than now. Picking up Deluxe #100 reminded me why I fell in love with this series in the first place. It’s a reminder of how powerful comics can be as a storytelling medium, capable of delivering moments that stay with you for years.
-Brad McBoom