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The Walking Dead Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye Kindle & comiXology

4.7 out of 5 stars 7,379 ratings

Collects issues #1-6.

Rick Grimes is not prepared for this. A couple months ago he was a small town cop who had never fired a shot and only ever saw one dead body. Separated from his family he must now sort through the death and confusion to try and find his wife and son.
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Taking a well-worn genre—flesh-eating zombies overrun the world and the unlucky surviving humans must deal with the gruesome aftermath—and approaching it from a purely character-driven point of view propels this series into the spotlight from out of nowhere. This collection of the first six issues of the ongoing series opens with police officer Rick Grimes awakening from a gunshot-induced coma. From here, he's immediately dragged into a world where dangerous revenants are shambling amok without any sort of an explanation. From the moment Grimes comes to, it's a harrowing battle to avoid hordes of decomposing zombies and a hope-against-all-odds search for his missing family. Grimes makes his way to Atlanta, the nearest large city where there may be other living people, and events take several unexpected turns upon his arrival, as he meets up with a rural encampment of survivors. Of course, as in recent hit movies 28 Days Later... and Dawn of the Dead, the last humans may turn out to be as much a danger as the zombies. Forceful scripting that gives the book a strong grounding in reality, crisp b&w artwork, a shocking final sequence and brisk, gory proceedings elevate this book from the trash heap of pedestrian horror comics.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

First and foremost a comic creator, Kirkman has seen groundbreaking success in the adaptation of his comic book titles into major franchises in all forms of content. In 2010, his Eisner award winning series, The Walking Dead, was developed into an AMC television series. It has become a worldwide phenomenon as the highest-rated basic cable drama of all time. The property has also been extended into a blockbuster game franchise, licensing business and ongoing publishing success.

Additional Kirkman comics include Oblivion Song, Die!Die!Die!, Invincible, Outcast, Super Dinosaur, Battle Pope, Astounding Wolf-Man, and Thief of Thieves.

Kirkman also serves as consulting producer of The Talking Dead, the popular talk show hosted by Chris Hardwick that deep dives into each week’s episode of both The Walking Dead and its companion series Fear the Walking Dead. Kirkman is co-creator, writer and producer of The Walking Dead’s companion series, Fear the Walking Dead.

He is also executive producer of the AMC series Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics, and the Korean pre-apocalyptic drama, Five Year. Kirkman’s popular demonic-exorcism comic, Outcast, was adapted and produced for Cinemax. His second longest running coming book series Invincible is currently being adapted for a live action movie for Universal and an animated series for Amazon. Kirkman will serve as Executive Producer on both adaptations.

Robert is also the Chairman of Skybound Entertainment. Robert, an advocate for creator rights, co-founded Skybound alongside his longtime business and producing partner David Alpert in an effort to ensure creators are able to maintain their intellectual property rights and creative control.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B015XDWUN8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Image - Skybound (May 12, 2004)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2004
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 364.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 146 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 7,379 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
7,379 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this graphic novel an excellent read with beautifully horrific graphics and detailed drawings. Moreover, they appreciate how it follows the TV show while being different, with compelling characters whose emotions are well-explained. Additionally, the writing is easy to read, and customers find it thought-provoking. However, opinions on value for money are mixed, with some finding it worth the price while others consider it pricey.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

544 customers mention "Readability"544 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as one of the best comics they've ever read.

"...we have come to expect from Hollywood, these stories aren't endless iterations on the same theme... they instead show the evolutions of each of the..." Read more

"...The story is very well done, I found the book very hard to put down. The overall format of the book on the kindle was good...." Read more

"...I think the comics are a nice complimentary reading for fans of The Walking Dead series...." Read more

"this was pretty good!!..." Read more

201 customers mention "Art quality"193 positive8 negative

Customers praise the artwork of the graphic novel, noting its detailed drawings and beautifully horrific graphics, with one customer appreciating its simplicity in black and white.

"...Tony Moore's art in this first volume is extraordinary...." Read more

"...I really liked the black and white pictures and felt that it added to the overall experience greatly...." Read more

"...The illustrations are pretty neat, I like how they capture the grim reality of what is going on in this post apocalyptic world...." Read more

"...Art in this book is great, it's obvious they have fun drawing out the zombie battles, but it's the writing that stands out...." Read more

104 customers mention "Tv show"88 positive16 negative

Customers love the TV show and find the comic series to be a great addition, though they note that it is very different from the TV adaptation.

"...that aren't in the tv series, but from what I see the show pretty much follows the comic...." Read more

"...For me, this has made reading the comics a true joy, as the show doesn't spoil the book, and vice-versa...." Read more

"I like it better the the tv show. It got a spin on it. But it you like zombies get this book" Read more

"much better than the show. doesn't have any unnecessary filler, cheesiness. love it" Read more

70 customers mention "Interest"66 positive4 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking, noting it keeps them entertained while making them think. One customer mentions it provides additional insight into the TV show.

"I would recommend this book to anyone very thought-provoking I love the philosophy behind and and that what we should be situations I can't wait to..." Read more

"...The relationships are vital and poignant, thus capturing another crucial element of the zombie genre...." Read more

"...paints a dark and difficult new world here in a realistic and intriguing way...." Read more

"...how people break down at the end of the world, is heart-wrenching, inspiring, and terrifying, all at once. A great read." Read more

51 customers mention "Writing quality"44 positive7 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the graphic novel, finding it well-thought-out and easy to read.

"...Kirkman's writing is sharp and believable (at least it covered how I think people would talk if being chased by zombies)...." Read more

"...they have fun drawing out the zombie battles, but it's the writing that stands out...." Read more

"...This isn't just a good zombie series It's good writing in general..." Read more

"...The writing and story are strong but like other people will mention, not shockingly original...." Read more

48 customers mention "Character development"45 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting how well the comic explains characters' emotions and creates a great character-driven tale of survival.

"...Making these survivor characters into fleshed out personalities, and showing how people break down at the end of the world, is heart-wrenching,..." Read more

"...good and priceless facet of which is the fact that I can see myself as the story's protagonist, who is devoid of superpowers or genetic..." Read more

"...One thing that stands out to me is that all of the characters have a distinct look. This doesn't always happen, especially for minor characters...." Read more

"An edge-of-the-seat horror serial with thoughtfully drawn out characters who draw the reader into their unthinkable struggle for survival...." Read more

38 customers mention "Zombie lore"38 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the zombie lore in this comic, finding it outstanding and immersive in the apocalypse setting, with one customer noting the satisfyingly grotesque portrayal of zombies.

"...Volume 1 of the Walking Dead would make for a perfect zombie film in and of itself...." Read more

"...Highly recommended to fans of zombie mayhem and standard drama fare." Read more

"...that I like about this book (and the TV show) is that it isn't all about the zombies...." Read more

"...From soup to nuts, this series has got it all. Some interesting zombie ideas too(ie: they hunt by scent)..." Read more

40 customers mention "Value for money"26 positive14 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's value for money, with some finding it worth the price while others consider it bit pricey and too short for seven dollars.

"I got this "very good" used copy for $6...." Read more

"...this, but I noticed, in comparison to the compendium, this seems a little expensive...." Read more

"...I plan on seeing this series through to the end. Excellent buy, would recommend to any and everyone!" Read more

"...But it was worth it. Every single page from this first volume is worth taking in...." Read more

THIS IS WICKED AWESOMENESS!!!
5 out of 5 stars
THIS IS WICKED AWESOMENESS!!!
I got this "very good" used copy for $6. To my extremely wicked surprise it is signed by Steven Yeun, doesn't have signs of ever being read and only tiny flaw on top left of cover! The BEST accidentally surprise in like forever!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2025
    I would recommend this book to anyone very thought-provoking I love the philosophy behind and and that what we should be situations I can't wait to see where it goes
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2008
    ... in the best sense. Volume 1 of the Walking Dead would make for a perfect zombie film in and of itself. The fact that there are already another 7 anthologies awaiting the readers seemed frankly too good to be true (I've rarely been happier to be wrong). When I read Robert Kirkman's forward to this first volume, I remembered the feeling of seeing the credits roll after my favorite movie ended, that agony of having to leave characters and places without knowing if I would ever get to see them again (this is admittedly not so much a problem for the youth of today in this age of infinite Disney sequels). The Walking Dead is an answer to that pain... Kirkman's goal is to spin a story that tells you What Happens Next. And unlike the eternal sequels we have come to expect from Hollywood, these stories aren't endless iterations on the same theme... they instead show the evolutions of each of the characters in this world after civilization's fall.

    Kirkman's writing is sharp and believable (at least it covered how I think people would talk if being chased by zombies). The relationships are vital and poignant, thus capturing another crucial element of the zombie genre. Tony Moore's art in this first volume is extraordinary. The story is told as much from the images and expressions of the characters as it is in the writing - Kirkman and Moore created an amazing tapestry in these first 6 issues. I was genuinely moved.

    Now to grouse a bit. Moore only drew the first 6 issues, contained in this volume. Other than the covers of the ensuing anthologies, that's all you get of Moore, which was a bit of a rude shock when I opened Volume Two - Charlie Adlard took the reins in Issue #7. Adlard has made the series his own, and done a great job of it, but I still miss the look and feel of those first 6 issues.

    That said, I think that the comic has transformed from a great idea into a worthy epic part of the Modern Zombie Canon (Simpon Pegg even pens the after-word of one of the later volumes).

    Now you'd better stop reading and click the "Buy" button. It's time that you met Rick.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2012
    I read this book on my kindle fire. At first I was a little skeptical of how great the experience would be. I have to say the story was very good and the art was amazing. I really liked the black and white pictures and felt that it added to the overall experience greatly. The way the art is done makes the story feel a lot grittier and dark. The story is very well done, I found the book very hard to put down.

    The overall format of the book on the kindle was good. I did like the continuity of the book from one to the next it flowed great, and did not feel like a break in the story when transitioning from one to the other. The pop out tile feature while reading allowed me to see things in a greater detail and made the pictures much more enjoyable.

    Anyone who is a fan of great stories will love this book, if zombies are not your thing you should still give it a try. The story evolves around the main characters not the zombies. It become more of a tale of survival after the fact. Robert Kirkman said that he wanted to capture what happens after the movie ends. He wanted to look into the human condition and experiment with unimaginable circumstances. I feel that he nailed it right on the head. This book is amazing and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.

    If I could I would give the book over five stars, a definite must read for veteran comic readers and first timers.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2014
    I'm a big fan of the tv show, The Walking Dead, so I was curious to see how the comics are. So far, from reading this first comic, the show stays pretty close to it. This first installment ends with Shane's death and if I remember correctly, that was how season 2 of the tv show ended. There's a few characters in the comic that aren't in the tv series, but from what I see the show pretty much follows the comic. So far, anyway because I have heard the two are different.

    However, I think the tv show and the actors truly bring these characters to life. Rick Grimes is one of my favorite characters, ever, and to see his character change over these four seasons has really been one of my favorite aspects of the story. Actor Andrew Lincoln is truly wonderful in this role and does an amazing job. Creator Robert Kirkman promises that we will know what happens to Rick in the end, there will be no wondering.

    I think the comics are a nice complimentary reading for fans of The Walking Dead series. The illustrations are pretty neat, I like how they capture the grim reality of what is going on in this post apocalyptic world. I'm a fan of zombie stories because I feel like it's interesting to see what such a world can do to people, and how it can change them. The zombies aren't the scariest part, the people are. It's human nature to want to survive, but at what cost?

    Robert Kirkman paints a dark and difficult new world here in a realistic and intriguing way. What I really want to get my hands on are the Walking Dead books, starting with the The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor, also written by Kirkman.

    disclaimer:
    This review is my honest opinion. I did not receive any type of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers and authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. I purchased my copy of The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye.
    15 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024
    this was pretty good!! i mean im super biased cuz im a huge twd fan...and now im on season 8 of the show so i figured id start the comics since they're all on kindle unlimited. this was pretty good — but i didn't like how early they killed shane off 😔
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2025
    Came in perfect condition. I really enjoyed this comic
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2024
    My mother loved it

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • @Dangle9000
    5.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of the end!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2014
    Having let the TV series pass me by for some time, I began watching it and was hooked. After a series of Walking Dead Marathons I had caught up with TV series and decided to fill the time until the next series with the books which started it all.

    I was familiar with some aspects of The Walking Dead as I had read interviews with Robert Kirkman in CLiNT Magazine (sadly no longer running) which didn’t give much away in terms of plot, but gave an idea of the overall scope and angle of the series. The fore-word in the book emphasises the fact that this isn’t just a horror comic about flesh-eating zombies, that’s merely the backdrop to the story about Rick. This is a character driven story which happens to be set in a zombie apocalypse, if society were to find itself ‘fixed’, if in time some semblance of normality would return – Rick’s story would still continue.

    I won’t use this review to compare the graphic novel with the TV Series as they are both excellent ways to enjoy the Walking Dead. The Walking Dead comics no doubt fed (and continues to feed) ideas into the TV series and it benefitted from being created after the Walking Dead world had been fleshed out (no pun intended). It’s clear early on though that if you came to the comics after watching the TV series, you are going to experience something which is very familiar, but also quite different – even if you remember the episodes well (and I do!), this offers a whole new level of shocks and surprise – no tension is lost and the books are edgier, able to show us the zombie filled landscape in a much darker way. It’s gloriously twisted and always grounded in reality.

    Reality here is captured by the realistic interactions between characters, the way they speak and react to each other. Very early on the characters feel multi-faceted and substantial, without this plausability the books would never have been as successful, it invests in great characters and it’s their journey you experience. Having such a feel for the folk on the pages heightens the sense of danger and makes every situation more intense. The story opens with an fairly prescriptive opening, a man wakes up in hospital – his comatose state perversely protecting him from the horrors happening on the streets, this John Wyndham-esque introduction has been copied many times – and post-apocalyptic, zombie filled streets are hardly original. There’s never been a Rick Grimes before though and despite a dangerously formulaic start, The Walking Dead establishes itself as one of the most original and standout pieces of literature for a long time. Kirkman largely ignores the zombies, the fantastic artwork by Tony Moore tells us their story (their clothes and condition hinting at the human life before the ‘turn’) instead we see the quarrels, laughs and concerns of a band of survivors whose future is far from certain.

    In a nutshell: Exploring the human condition by placing them in the midst of a nightmare. The genius of the Walking Dead is focussing on the those experiencing the nightmare, those who must deal with the monsters – rather than the monsters themselves. Constant gore and bloody dismembering can be visually stunning, but it can all get a bit ‘meh’ after a while – but seeing how people deal with that level of real fear, seeing how it shapes them is compelling. By the end of this volume the world and the lives of those in Rick’s group will never be the same, and there’s a long way to go yet!
  • Leandro Silva Ramos
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom e divertido para treinar o inglês.
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 28, 2024
    Sou fã e assisti todas as séries de TV, ao ler os quadrinhos que as originaram, consigo relembrar os acontecimentos e conhecer as pequenas diferenças que foram adaptadas. E lendo a versão em inglês ainda consigo melhorar meus conhecimentos no idioma!
    Report
  • Hiruma
    5.0 out of 5 stars Klasse Comic!
    Reviewed in Germany on September 9, 2014
    Ich gebe zu, ich bin erst durch die TV-Serie auf den Comic gekommen.
    Die Serie ist ja schon spitze, aber der Comic ist wirklich eine Klasse für sich. Toll gezeichnet, wahnsinns Szenerie und keine stumpfen Dialoge - man hat also richtig was davon.

    Für die Fans der TV-Serie: Es kommen hier zwar z.T. nicht die Charaktere aus der AMC-Serie vor, aber das gilt auch andersherum. Trotzdem absolut lesenswert und ergänzt nur den Spaß an der Serie! ;)
  • Nateothegreato2454
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quality
    Reviewed in Australia on May 20, 2023
    The quality of this comic book is phenomenonal, it felt very "fresh" and "clean". I love The Walking Dead so much and I have a big collection of Items that would easily add upto $300AUD. This is a great addition to it. I have 3 pop vinyls, 2 seven inch figurines (Negan and Daryl), a replica of Lucille, a 3d framed picture, a framed picture signed by Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus, and now ontop of that I have this beautiful comic. A must buy if you're a mega fan of The Walking Dead.
  • Teroth
    5.0 out of 5 stars English Way !
    Reviewed in France on October 7, 2012
    Aaaaah l'épique-zombie, la période actuelle en a fait une mode, mais j'ai connu the walking dead lorsque le tome 4 est sorti il y à quelques années en arrière, bien avant le tournage de la série, et fut séduit par cette ambiance ultra-sombre...
    Mais que ce soit bien clair, si vous aimez que les personnages auxquels vous êtes attachés survivre envers et contre tout, passez votre chemin, les protagonistes changent à la pelle et en font une série vivante, mais surprenante !
    De même, si vous avez aimé la série, ne croyez pas qu'il s'agit de la même chose sous forme de comics, certes, les personnages principaux restent les mêmes, mais des surprises de scénario vont vous clouer le bec assez rapidement.

    Enfin pour le côté anglais, à réserver à un public avec un niveau un poil développé, puisqu'ils parlent énormément en jargon/familier, chose auxquelles je n'étais pas habitué dans les séries conventionnelles.

    En tout cas, amateur de cervelle dégoulinante, je vous le conseille, je m'éclate en le lisant et compte bien continuer :)

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