Spoilers through episode 502 (obviously) follow, as well as discussion of some aspects of the comic up through issue 63, which is included in VOLUME 11: FEAR THE HUNTERS. We will avoid discussion of any story aspects that may still be shown in the show BUT THE COMMENTS SECTION WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS!
First, a few things about where we are in the comic vs the show: Bob Stookey is nowhere to be found in the comic at this point. He was gone with the Prison arc. But Dale IS still alive. And at this point in the comic (we’re talking introduction of Father Gabriel and intro of The Hunters here), Andea is alive and well. Carol is dead in the comic but her character was really different from show Carol.
FATHER GABRIEL
The group is in the midst of dealing with the Ben/Billy situation, which as you’ll recall was changed to Lizzie/Mika in the comic. Unlike the show, everyone is present when Ben murders his brother. As they argue about what to do with Ben, Father Gabriel arrives. His entrance is more assured. He’s not being attacked. He approaches them. This alone is reason enough to distrust him.
In the show, Father Gabriel is being attacked by walkers. After his rescue is very cagey and less forthcoming. He’s kind of jumpy. He’s afraid. Both versions of Gabriel hide a secret, but in the comic, circumstances make Gabriel suspicious, in the show it’s more his behavior.
And these intro lines are echoed in both versions (note that Robert Kirkman wrote episode 502 himself):
Here’s Father Gabriel’s church, which is pretty much an exact replica, pretty cool:
We should be talking more about Father Gabriel’s past in coming weeks I should think, so we’ll leave him here and talk about…
THE HUNTERS
Here we see two versions of the story being stitched together. Terminus never happened in the comic. The group ultimately reunites at the Hershels’ farm following the fall of the prison, Abe, Eugene, and Rosita stumble upon the farm, and they all hit the road for DC. In the show they’ve all just escaped the cannibals at Terminus but didn’t finish them off. The remaining cannibals from Terminus become The Hunters of the show world.
In the comic The Hunters stalk the roads to find prey. They have not been encountered by the group before. Andrea is the first to notice them. In episode 502, Daryl feels like they’re being watched (and we see that they are).
In the comic, Dale sneaks off to be alone and is jumped by The Hunters. In the show, it’s Bob (more on this in the future).
Things kind of play out similarly in issue 63 and episode 502 for Dale/Bob. And we again see some exact dialog in both mediums:
YOU ARE NOT SAFE
Another moment from earlier in the comic (issue 54) that we see in tonight’s episode. In the comic, Rick tells Carl this before they hit the road with new-found Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita. In the show it’s before leaving Carl at the church.
If you haven’t read the comic, please don’t head down into the comments unless you want spoilers for the next episode or two. Comic fans, let’s keep it to discussion for FEAR THE HUNTERS. Please don’t go beyond that.
I am loving that they built that church to so perfectly match the comic. The attention to detail never fails to impress me!
Damnit, as soon as Sasha volunteered her and Bob to go on the food run I knew you guys were right about Bob being the tainted meat! I didn’t want it to be true, but I did at the same time. If he’s not bit, I will be more shocked than the non-comic reading audience was when they panned out on Bob’s stump!
I just rewatched the trailer from back in July. I was looking to see what that woman had Beth doing, looked like cutting off an arm, and I thought she might be with the Cannibals, and that the woman was Theresa maybe. However I caught something else, that made me think I’m wrong… Look at the part where she’s running outside, that’s MORGAN behind her!
nope that would be a new character named Noah, not Morgan!
Of course I know who Noah is… But I didn’t see dreads… And the face looks like Morgan, who we have already SEEN last week… Perhaps she’s not at ASZ?
There’s so many more you guys missed. Like Abe standing in the church arms outstretched talking.
I think they just hit the high points. Why don’t you throw the comparisons up online and post them here with HTML or link us to them? I’m willing to bet you have them ready and waiting!
We’re regulating spoilers here for people who aren’t familiar with the comics… what about removing/stopping the Spoiling Fead Fan assholes who ruin the show?!
Spoiling Dead Fans….sigh.
Loved this episode. Episodes like these give me a reason to crack open past issues! My wife hates it though, all my gasps and subtle hints at knowing what’s going to happen next… assuming the story doesn’t take a sharp left turn away from the books of course.
Tell the missus the solution to that is to pick up the book herself! She should join us!
Oh I’ve tried. She read half of the first TPB last year and couldn’t hang I guess. Maybe once I complete my single TWD collection she’ll gain interest again. Only 31 issues to go!
I feel you. My husband has zero interest too. He loves the show, but won’t pick up the books. Damn him!
My boyfriend keeps saying he’ll read it, but he’s so caught up in other comics – he’s quite the opposite with spoilers though. He gets annoyed when I don’t remember what happens, LOL..I’m glad, though, I rather be able to talk to him about the comic than have to keep quiet until it happens in the show. (especially with some particularly emotional issues..)
I know what You Mean, Ryan… Of course, if they didn’t master the scenes dead on to the comics, we wouldn’t react this way! I had a similar reaction to the “Rick bites the Rapist” scene last season!
I’ve gotta say, Terminus was a COOL diversion to keep us guessing. Never existed in the Comics, and people wondered if it was going to be ASZ for a while… I do believe now it was simply put there to completely redeem Carol, and perhaps give some BG on the Hunters. Nonetheless, it was quite well done, no pun intended lol.
Yeah TERMINUS definitely threw me off. I’m sitting here thinking “I know there are cannibals in the book, but they didn’t have a setup quite like this” lol. It sort of gives a back story to the Hunters though which is cool. TERMINUS could’ve easily existed in the book and fallen at the hand of a different group.
I’ll never understand why people think that we are going to see asz now, it’s states away, the same question goes for Negan. Why would the creators burn through the source material so fast. Either way this season is shaping up to be great!
People are just so eager. I definitely want to take our time with this material!
Ugh I was so frustrated when the episode ended before we got to see the tainted meat scene. It will make a great opener next week though! Anybody have any thoughts on the signs/letter/whatever we keep seeing carved into the trees?
I loveeeeeeee these comparison articles! It’s so awesome to see the comic literally come to life. It also makes me want to reread some issues since I don’t remember things 100% and don’t always catch the little quotes and details.
As soon as I have some time I’m starting over from the beginning alwayzdani!
Who else likes the show Gabriel more than the comic Gabriel?
Brah. He’s been here for one episode.