Link: http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/07/19/the-walking-dead-tv-set-visit-video/

Cool little MTV behind the scenes feature on The Walking Dead set, not a huge amount of zombie action but we do get to see Kirkman and Darabont looking pretty pleased with themselves.

Link: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/45461

Thanks to the guys over at AintitCool for these production shots from the filming of The Walking Dead TV show. The first image which is actually an official shot released by AMC (above) is the one that got me most excited. It looks like it's taken straight from the book and is the biggest indication yet that this series is on the right track and keeping faithful to the books.

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Some people have far too much time on their hands and all I can say is God Bless 'em. If it wasn't for people like Jason McDonald we wouldn't have this amazing Walking Dead themed Google map with issue by issue annotation. He's taken the time to map out the route taken by the characters in the Robert Kirkman written comic book by the events that happen in each issue but beware it's right up to date with issue #64 so if you're not caught up there could be spoilers.

The stunning brilliance of this effort got me thinking about all the other comic book maps I've come into contact with over the years and just how cool each one has been. Before we had the internet and the commonplace practice of viral marketing comic book maps were bringing a sense of the real world to fantasy locations such as Gotham City and Marvel's superhero packed New York. There's something so appealing about a good map, it helps build the world in your mind giving weight and real structure to places that as comic book fans we all know so well.

Sometimes the map can aid to help easily explain a change in status quo like this promotional map from the 1995 X-Men crossover event the Age of Apocalypse which supposed Professor Xavier died before forming the X-Men allowing alpha mutant Apocalypse to gain control of a world where mutants are the dominant species. This is not the marvel universe we know and love and the events and locations on the map help to demonstrate this whilst also adding that 'need to know factor' to the story. I particularly like the fact that London is the capital of the Human Council, as always good old Blighty stands up to the axis of evil.

CLICK IMAGE TO EMBIGGEN

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Link: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007161.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

It really is a great time to be a comic book fan, last month we got Fear Agent coming to the movies and this month we get Image comic's The Walking Dead possibly hitting the smaller screen. That's right folks according to Variety Robert Kirkman's zombie soap opera is said to be in development by none other than Frank Darabont. There is still no studio attached but given the popularity of the book and the talent involved finding a home for the show should be a given. It seems Joel Stillerman head of programming at AMC, the production company putting the show together, want's to keep true to the original vision and was attracted by the "quality of writing" on the book.

I've always said the Walking Dead would make a great tv show, low budget, ever changing cast and it's written in a way that the script is pretty much ready to go straight from the comic book. Of course as it was clearly my idea first I'll be expecting a royalty cheque in the post any day now ;)

Link: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090828-BendisKirkman.html

Brian Michael Bendis and Robert Kirkman have met up at this year's Baltimore Comic Con to 'debate' the issues brought up by the now infamous Kirkman Manifesto as previously discussed on this blog. A full report of the meeting can be found at Newsarama, and it's well worth reading what these men have to say as not only do they make a lot of sense but are both blessed with a wicked wit and sense of humour. Only these two men would start a debate by knowingly hurling a series of 'Fuck You's' at each other.

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Link: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17705

Robert Kirkman, writer of Marvel Zombies and Ultimate X-Men for Marvel comics has left the company in a whirlwind of controversy that has shaken the industry to it's core.

For those of you that haven't heard about the Kirkman Manifesto check out the link attached to this blog or click here:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17705

For those too lazy to do so here;'s a quick rundown on the series of events.
1. 30th July 2008 Robert Kirkman announces at San Diego Comicon that he has left Marvel Comics to become a partner at Image Comics, home to his successful creator owned titles Walking Dead and Invincible.
2. 13th August 2008 The Kirkman Manifesto video hits the net via Comic Book Resources (CBR). Kirkman lays out a call to arms to creators to publish more creator-owned titles and leave their DC/Marvel toys behind. He then goes on to suggest that DC/Marvel should fill this vacuum of exodusing creators by encouraging new talent to focus on younger content to bring a new younger audience into comics, leaving the more mature content to companies like Image and Dark Horse.
3. 14th August 2008 Kirkman explains his view on Word Balloon, the comic book conversation podcast, get it here:
http://wordballoon.blogspot.com/
4. 20th August 2008 Brian Michael Bendis (Bendis) a long time supporter and friend to Robert Kirkman (and coincedently Marvel's go-to-guy, currently writing Secret Invasion) responds to Kirkman's opinions expressed both in his manifesto and his Word Balloon interview, get it here:
http://wordballoon.blogspot.com/

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