Despite his status as an iconic character from Robert Kirkman’s original series of graphic novels, fans of The Walking Dead TV and comic series still know very little about the sadistic, foul mouthed bastard known as Negan. He's played a pivotal role in key moments from the source material, but his backstory and origins have remained foggy and mysterious to say the least. Luckily for fans of the comic and TV show, Robert Kirkman and Image Comics aim to change that.
We've just learned that Robert Kirkman and Image Comics will soon team up release an official 48-page origin story comic book arc for the character of Negan. The comic will be split across 12 installations. Negan is a major player within the lore of The Walking Dead universe, but also one who remains steeped in mystery. Over the course of his time in the comic universe, Negan has become infamous for his use of foul language, his trademark bat named Lucille, and his willingness to use that bat on some fan favorite survivors. However, now they want to show how he became such an individual.
We know very little about him and his life before he became the leader of The Saviors, but it appears that Robert Kirkman aims to change that before the character arrives – portrayed by quintessential bad guy Jeffrey Dean Morgan – to wreak havoc in the TV universe.
As The Walking Dead TV series has become more and more loyal to the comics as time has gone by, it seems like this announcement will even impact fans who do not read the comics. With an official origin story becoming canon for the character, it will likely inform him as an antagonist for Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon going forward, making him a bit more relatable than just your run of the mill bad guy.
As exciting as it is to know that Negan will receive a backstory in The Walking Dead, we have to wonder if it’s the right direction. If it’s handled correctly, then it could go a long way toward humanizing him and making him an even more compelling villain. On the other hand, if they fumble the character’s origins in any way, it could end disastrously. Sometimes not knowing where a villain comes from makes them even more terrifying for audiences – such as Heath Ledger’s Joker from The Dark Knight – and it remains to be seen whether or not Negan is that type of villain.
We will bring you all of the latest and greatest news regarding The Walking Dead as it becomes available to us. The show airs every Sunday on AMC at 9 p.m. EST.
