By Comix
Originally, when I heard that Brutal as Hell was celebrating its five year anniversary, I was like “alright, lets do the top selling horror comics from each of the past years and call it a day,” mostly because I’m too lazy to decide for myself what was the best horror comics from the last few years are. I was thinking, okay, I’m going to see some Hellboy, some Constantine, Dark Justice, things like that, but something strange happened on my way to the internet. The Walking Dead absolutely dominated horror sales. In fact, not only did it dominate horror sales, it took over the graphic novel sales and solidly competed with DC and Marvel for single issue sales. Hell, it’s so big, it’s almost cool not to like it, but you do, don’t you? DON’T YOU?! DON’T LIE TO ME!
When the Walking Dead first came out in 2003, it flew pretty much under the radar. There was still a bit of a lull between the comic-splosion of the 90’s and the second wave we are currently in. The thing that really kept it going were two factors: lack of competing horror/zombie titles and Robert Kirkman’s kick-ass ability to write a story. While there were some very good comics out, such as 30 Days of Night and Hellboy, it was still a bit of a limited market, even with the booming horror movie scene. It wasn’t exactly revolutionary what The Walking Dead was doing, I mean shit, it was zombies, but Kirkman’s focus on the human element of an undead uprising is what really blew up the comic. It’s one thing to do a movie with a few of the characters freaking out at losing their arm, but doing an entire series about people freaking out at losing their arms is a whole different beast. Being forced to watch the protagonists carry on month after month into year after year of horrendous zombie and human madness is a staggering achievement that the author has managed to do in spades. It was these two factors (with probably more, like a consistent artist and growing zombie interest) that led to the series really launching in the latter half of the decade.
Starting with Brutal as Hell’s first year, 2009, the comic was barely cracking the top 300 comic sales, but interestingly enough, the graphic novels were sitting comfortably in trade-paperback section, with volume eight in the number five spot. It was at this time that though the single issues were not selling super well, the collected editions and subsequently, the series, was beginning to get a huge amount of recognition. Just two years later, The Walking Dead got an Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series followed by the TV series in October, 2010. I don’t think I have to tell you how hugely popular the TV show is, but of that year, Walking Dead: Vol One reprint landed on top of the graphic novel list. 2011 had the series take four of the top five highest selling graphic novel spots of the year and 2012 repeated the same success, only this time, with the issue Walking Dead #100 coming out number one on the single issue chart. In this past year, the series once again took the top graphic novel spot with a number twelve single issue success with Walking Dead #111.
So what does this all mean? Why should you care about a little known comic that shocked and surprised all of comic fandom while creating a multi-media franchise? Because you just answered your own question while asking it. The Walking Dead made comics acceptable again. Sure the Batman and Spider-Man movies helped bring around some geeky straddles, but The Walking Dead didn’t play off of nostalgia or gritty remakes, it brought and made its own fans. It proved that a good story and good character development is all it takes to become incredibly successful. In the past five years, it sold more graphic novels than any title from Marvel and DC, bringing in readers who usually wouldn’t go near a comic book. The show itself revived the TV horror industry. You think we would have American Horror Story or Bates Motel if The Walking Dead didn’t blast the door off its hinges? Maybe. But not nearly as successful and definitely not on prime time television. HBO maybe, but not anything your kids can click on. On top of all that, it broke up the monopoly that DC and Marvel had over, well, everything. The series allowed for smaller comic companies to take a swing at the big leagues, including the silver screen, creating a beautiful time to be a comic fan.
So, I guess if I had to pick the most successful horror comic of the past five years, it’s gotta to be the Walking Dead. Nothing has come close, but it’s opened the door for more to try.