Robert Kirkman spoke recently with MTV about the shocking moment at the end of The Walking Dead #125 and Negan’s eventual introduction to the show! Warning, though, SPOILERS ahead if you haven’t read the latest issue!
MTV News: At the end of #125, we get something that was promised all the way back in issue #100, Negan gets his throat cut with a knife… Is that it for him? And where are we going next?
Robert Kirkman: We’re definitely going to go into some unexpected directions… “All Out War” has been a pretty fast-paced monumental storyline that’s changing a lot of things about “The Walking Dead” universe. People are going to see how things are going to be wrapped up in the next issue, and I don’t think they’re going to be wrapped up in any kind of expected way.
They’re going to lead into issue #127, which is going to be a really big deal. Everything about “All Out War” for me that’s exciting has been how it’s going to affect the stories going forward, and seeing this world evolve as people continue to live in it long term is really the main appeal to “The Walking Dead.”
This world is evolving in a big way, because of the things Rick and Negan are doing. We’re going to see that all take affect in #127. We’re following up our twice a month run on “All Out War” with a double sized issue. Issue #127 is 44 pages of story for $2.99.
So it’s going to be a very dense issue, which is certainly going to set the stage for what’s going to come through the book for many, many years.
MTV News: Rick gave this very nice speech at the end of #125 about how they can rebuild civilization, which stands in stark contrast to where Rick was during the fourth season finale of show, where it seemed pretty definitively stated that there’s no going back to the way things were…
Robert Kirkman: It’s two different points in the timeline. If you go back to the comic book from the era that’s now being adapted in the television show, that’s very much in line with what Rick’s mindset was back then.
But I do think it’s an interesting experience to watch the television show, and read the comic, and see just how far Rick has come, how much he’s changed over time. And where his mindset is now based on his experience.
Whether or not the show will get there exactly over the course of the next few seasons remains to be seen. We certainly do take liberties on the show. We can adapt things as closely, or as loosely as we like. That’s a product of them being in two different timelines… The comic book Rick is much farther into this world than the television Rick is.
For me, the bigger and more immediate news here is Kirkman using the words “long term” and “evolving” when describing issue 127. I’m starting to believe the time jump theories now.
The time jump theories if proven true will certainly be lame.
At this point, i’d be shocked if the time jump did NOT happen. And i’m someone who was against the plausibility of the time jump for awhile. But with only 1 more issue left before 127, what other plausible explanation could there even be for whatever the cover of 127 is?
My worry is that should there be a “time jump” then #126 will have to have a lot crammed into it. In my mind there are a lot of loose ends to tie up. Also I kinda like the idea of the next arc being about them rebuilding there homes setting up a long term system to survive etc and most of all what happens to the rest of the saviors? Will Rick toss them out or let them in? Seeing him separate the guilty from the innocent and the ones who can be trusted from the ones who cant will also be cool I think.
Prepare to be shocked
you know something I don’t? Or is this a random guess…
Less of a “random” guess, but more of an educated guess. You saw the words “long term” then jumped to conclusions. You didn’t think of all the loose ends. Or the fact that kirkman Pretty much confirmed Ricks survival (said killing him now would be premature)….then there’s the decomposing walkers. If there’s a time jump then all the walkers would suddenly be way more decomposed….they would be walking skeletons
Oh and the story has a lot more potential then “introducing a new governor”. I won’t admit that the story will be boring the next few issues just because it doesn’t do a stupid, unimaginative, time jump. Because it wont. That would be the laziest way possible to go about this. Plus why would there be a challenge to give rick a new hand, if they plan on just time jumping?
Not trying to be a dick either. Sorry if I come across as one. Just debating ideas
Plus I think kirkman wants Carl to get wayyyyyyyyy more badass before he starts holding the book himself. Hes gunna wait till Carl turns into a rick 2.0.
Kirkman has said in Letter Hacks that there is something preserving the walkers and preventing them from decaying at a normal rate. Although I agree I’m not sure what 10-20 years would do to them. All that being said I still think we’re going to see a time jump. Loose ends will be incorporated into the new story line. I’m actually looking forward to the new direction if that’s it. If it’s not I’m still looking forward to it.
It was even said on talking dead. The walkers are decaying over time. Its slow…but they are. And Why would they introduce all of these characters just to rip them away in a “time jump”? There’s so much more story to tell…why rush thru it?
and btw, I understand that initial thinking because I shared it. But would it really be so bad? Think about it: where does the story go from here once Rick’s group has conquered the saviors in the next issue? Everyone works together and starts mapping out safe routes and farming and a trading system with other colonies etc. That’s all nice but is that even remotely interesting? Admit it, that sounds boring. And then lets just say Kirkman does the whole ‘cleaning out the roads, starting agriculture on a large scale etc’ storlyine for 20 or 30 issues. The ONLY thing that could make it interesting again would be if Kirkman introduced another…..Big Bad like Governor or Negan. and I don’t think ANYONE would get excited by that. When thought of in that way, hopefully the time jump sounds a bit more appealing 🙂
Never writing Daryl in the comics = confirmed (whew!)
Negan showing up in the show = confirmed (yay!)
Negan not showing up anytime soon = confirmed (good!)
Its like you read my mind, right on my wave lenght with your points, am so glad we can put the negan in season 5 to bed now, always though it was to early, but lots of comments were all about him showing up next season. Your 125 turned up then?
No, man, I botched that purchase myself! They’re not shipping until #127 drops, then I get all 3 at the same time!! I couldn’t take it anymore…I’ve gone digital.
DOH! oh well at least you will be getting them as soon as they come out now. Probably at midnight if a know you 😉
Yeah, I still like hardware vs. digital, tho. And I’ll be missing the Letter Hacks, something I get a kick out of.
There is no letter hacks in the digital copies? That seams like someone made a bad decision not to include them. Really, how hard would be for them to put them in? Sometimes the letter hack have me fits of laughter.
Caught that last page in 125, hopped out the chair excited, didn’t stay with it long enough for the Hacks. Sorry!
Letter hacks are in the digital format
HELlo!!
Hi!
Lol! That was the kind of “Hello” you say whenever you’ve received something good. But “Hi” back!
I knew that I just tripped and fell and sent that .
Pssst… If you want to buy the comic do it. But it may be worth noting that the torrents usually have the letter hacks.
I like the fact Daryl will not be in the book. I think it’s cool to have different people in the book and on the show. The book could go on for a long time too cause I am sure Rick will die one day then it could tell Carl’s story. As for Negan he is a big part of the book of course he should show up on the show. I just hope they don’t drop the ball with him.
That’s what I’m saying I like that they keep things separate. Negan is going to be around for a while I think he will get away .
I’m glad that Daryl will not be in the comic book. All the women go batty over him. Sorry, ladies, I don’t see the appeal? He’s too quiet for me. I LOVE RICK! 😀
This chick finds Daryl pretty low on the appeal totem pole…right next to Eugene.
Yeah I struggle to see what Daryl’s got that I haven’t.
I like….his vest…would laugh at a dude wearing it in hot weather tho.
Actually, Eugene is more interesting than Daryl. o.O
LOL!
😀
ugh, I want Kirkman to address Negan’s strange behavior at the end of 125. Was Negan being sarcastic when he agreed with Rick? We need answers Kirkman!
My bet is he was being sarcastic, and if rick hadn’t pulled a knife first negan was just about to.
No doubt he was trying to sucker him in
Yeah I think Negan was just being sarcastic.
I disagree. It seems to me they did everything they could to try and make him look like he was serious. You could tell by his eyes. Plus he didn’t even look like he was talking to rick…it looked to me like he was saying it to himself. Like he couldn’t believe he never thought of it likethat
I doubt it matters considering Negan probably wants to slit Rick’s throat now.
I believe he was serious. He didn’t have Lucille raised, didn’t make eye contact, and there was a lot of emphasis on him thinking. He made himself vulnerable to Rick and was willing to compromise.
Bipolar is a good guess but not quite right. I get why so many consider Negan’s reaction strange. That was my first reaction when I read it. Seriously? How is he backing down now? Having some experience with personality disorders (not personal or anything, uh, yeah, just academic 🙂 He is a classic narcissist. Check this out:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/basics/symptoms/con-20025568
I think this will make you feel alot better about his reaction to Rick telling him he’s stupid and where it went from there. Let me know what you think.
That link helps to confirm that Negan is narcissistic (well, duh) but I don’t see how that help explain his strange willingness to agree with Rick at the end of #125.
Narcissism is not just inflated sense of self. One of the traits of narcissism is inability to deal with criticism and deep seeded insecurity. Rick called him the stupidest mother fucker alive. Did you see his face in the next frame? It’s like someone shot his puppy. Then while he is recovering from that insult Rick has his attention. Is Rick right? Has he really been wrong? He just couldn’t see it because he was so caught up in himself. Rick is probably the first person Negan had respect for since the apocalypse began. Do you really think anyone (anyone that Negan respected anyway) had the nuts to call him stupid while he was getting and keeping things in his idea of “order”. Doubtful.He honestly believed his way was THE way (“They need ME”) and having someone he respects tell him otherwise…that’s a blow for a narcisisst. Rick called him out then cut him down. No further explanation needed (IMO).
Negan is Bipolar.
Negan has a 99% chance of someday being on the show? Well duh! He’s one of the best characters of the comics!
I was hoping for more talking about Negan’s half of that conversation in issue #125 instead of this going into the show like it did. Still, it was a good read.
Agreed. I felt letdown. And if Kirkman thinks he doesn’t need to address this, he’s nuts. His fans are literally 50/50 split on whether Negan was being serious so it clearly was NOT obvious at all.
I’m pretty sure it will be addressed before we move on.
Negan appearing in the last episode of season 6 would make sense to me…
GUYS….. EVERYONE NEEDS TO WATCH THIS VIDEO PUT TOGETHER BY GRABLE424 ON YOUTUBE……..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAcwP_BXr-U&feature=youtu.be
FUCKING AMAZING
Truly, unquestionably AWESOME! Thanks for sharing!
I just… no words
That puts a great perspective on Rick’s motivation.
That was fantastic.
Jeez. I cannot believe people are talking, and comparing the last page from #125 and the quote that I find #100. I did not know that I discovered something huge and people are talking about it. Wow, That is just made my day happy.
uh what?
Wait..Negan cant be dead, because on 126, you see him crouching below someone who’s holding luccile….ya know, unless he’s now a lifelike walker
theres been a million times where people who are dead are on covers
Eh, well I wouldnt know, I dont read them…