The Walking Dead: Compendium One

I liked the show Walking Dead, and after Season Two, I felt like I should read up on the comic. To be honest, I had low expectations of it due largely to the fact that it's a comic book and not a novel. I did like the series Plague of the Dead novel and the Dying to Live novels, but never have I read anything related to comics on it. I figured it was a 50/50 shot.Glad to say that I was wrong and now I'm ordering Book 5, 6, and 7.I'd like to clear up some stuff here. First, the comic reading order is rather confusing. To say honestly, Compendium One is the correct starting point and it covers issues 1-48, so you get the story from the point of where it started to about midpoint. From there, it gets a bit confusing to what to read next and I had to do a bit of research. You can start with issue 49, but to me I rather not be ordering the comics repeatedly in the mail. You can wait for Compendium Two which I think is coming this fall near where Season Three of Walking Dead will start, or you can just pick up Book (And I stress that you should pick up BOOK not volume but BOOK) 5, 6, and 7 which covers the events from issue 49 to about issue 90-ish someplace.I think the main thing I was surprised with is how much the comics differ from the show itself. I think a lot of characters were changed around and after reading the comics, I can say my favorite character would have to be that of Andrea. In the show she appears to be fragile and at the same time learning to be tougher through her experience. I think the show was slow to develop this and it was not until the very final episode of Season Two that really showed Andrea was tough. In the comics she gets shot at, cut, and still keeps on and on top of that she's a critical member of the group that probably surpasses that of Rick and the others.The biggest change I think is the story flow. The comic, like the show, mainly focuses on the characters and their struggles. However, I felt in the show it was very slow paced and focused too heavily on inner group gossips and fighting. In the comics I felt that they all were on the same page and knew what to do and they had only one fight with Rick who talked some sense into them and they all agreed that he's the leader. Also in the show they heavily focused the entirety of season two into Hershel's farm which in the comics was a very limited stay.I must also say that Shane, Rick, Lori, and his son Carl have big changes with the show. I felt that in the show, Carl come off as a brat and spoiled but in the comics, I felt Carl was a lot more mature for his age and also echo that of his dad. I felt that Carl also stood up for himself and protecting his family but at the same time with the mind of a child he has trouble comprehending the situations but understand that what must be done need to be done.I felt that between Shane and Rick and Lori, I felt the comic did a much better job to show that Shane really went into the deep end and needed to be killed because he was unstable. I felt in the show, they made it appear as if the group of survivors somehow caused Shane to become insane and that they caused him to have to be killed. I felt in the comics they made it appear as if Shane went off into the deep end himself and brought the situation upon himself.I also felt that between Rick and Lori their relationship was much better than the show. I feel that Rick sometimes run off and Lori had to be a sort of den mother worrying about Rick. I feel that Rick is a much better leader than the show. I feel that in the comic they were unsure of Rick at first and I think later they realized that he's a good person and the one that keeps the group together. I feel that in the show, they made it appear as if Rick has to constantly convince the group that it's for the better while in the comics, they make it appear as if Rick has a strong bond with everyone in the group and they look at him for advice and leadership in situations.Also the show didn't provide one the the best villain: the governor. Or at least he'll probably make an appearance in Season Three, but the overall thing in the comic, they had a huge battle with the governor who seemed to lost his sanity somehow. As a matter of fact, I downloaded the Kindle Book novel on the governor and am in the process of reading it and will probably write a review after reading it. In any event, the Governor is insane and he leads a group of about 40 survivors and to the others he appears normal and caring, but underneath it all, he gone off into the deep end. You'll be amazed by the cruelty he inflicts upon Rick and his group and I felt they did it wonderfully and by the end of Compendium one you'll be glad if not satisfied by how the governor ended up.I must say overall that after having finished Compendium One that I felt bad. I felt very attached to the characters and the artist drew the characters wonderfully. The story is powerful and you feel right with them in their struggles. In my opinion anyone who watched the show should definitely buy the comic. I am currently waiting on my shipment of books 5, 6, and 7 so I can continue reading the comics. Overall very pleased and have to say a must buy for any zombie genre fan.

Worth the read

I wish there were better instructions, sometimes I was unable to get free by frame. But other than that it is awesome.

The media could not be loaded. The book came to me in perfect condition. I am hooked to the story. It is bigger than I expected but honestly not a big deal. The compendium doesn't separate the book by issues, but by chapters, so you won't see the cover art for each issue but it's still great and I got it on sale so it was very worth it. If you watched the show, it ranges from the start at the hospital, up till after the Governor. I do not regret my purchase.

So much more enticing than the show. Its raw and its great. Once you feel the characters catch a break it just keeps getting worse and worse.

best comic ever fr

I am so glad I read the comics. I've watched the television series and although I like it a lot, but I have several issues with it. The best part about the comics is they tell the raw gritty story uncorrupted by TV writers. The television show is great but it also has far too many contrived TV plot devices. They add people who don't exist in the comics, subtract key people, give corny stereotypical names like "T-Dog" and "Vatos", and stray away from too many shocking situations and romantic relationships from the book that they feel aren't suitable or appealing enough for television. Two of my biggest gripes is what the TV writers did to both Andrea and Tyrese.(Spoiler alert if you haven't yet read the first 16 volumes of the comics or watched up to season 4 of the TV show)****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************If they stayed even remotely faithful to the comics, both Tyrese and Andrea would have played much more important roles in the scheme of things. In fact, Tyrese would be the second most important player only to Rick up to the prison siege and Andrea would be more vital to the story than any of the other characters not named Rick or Carl. Instead, on the TV show, both Andrea and Tyrese are relegated mostly to a supporting cast role while Darryl was created out of the blue to basically play the bulk of the role that both played in the comics, right down to a hinted romance with Carol. Speaking of which, Carol, saw her bit role in the comic blow up into a leading role on the TV show. And poor Morgan just gets a cameo here and there instead of going the cast before they get to Alexandria. They're almost to the point where he would die anyhow, so what's the point of introducing him now? It's obvious the TV show is carefully crafting and changing things for ratings or to appeal to certain demographics. Darryl is cool and all but I definitely like Tyrese's story arc much better. Also, I don't care how many kids she kills or threatens, nor how many cookies she bakes, Carol is nowhere near as fun to follow or an relatable as Andrea is in the comics. The sharp-shooting take no stuff Andrea is far better than the cozying up to the Governor, reckless, short-lived Andrea of the TV show. Once again, it's like they took all of comic Andrea's toughness along with all of comic Carol's goofiness., recklessness and short life span and reversed them for the TV show. Now Carol is suddenly the tough as nails remorseless survivor who lives a long time while Andrea is the reckless needy doomed character who dies before they leave the prison. They changed too much in the interest of being "television friendly". Think about the Lizzy moment of the TV show and how shocking it was. It was probably the most shocking moment on the television show. The comics are filled with moments like that. No one is safe, no one is spared. It makes for a more gritty and gut wrenching experience.****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************(End of spoilers)If you want the real undiluted walking dead story, I implore you to read the comics. Television may have the extra gore and filler dramatic moments but if you want the real story that's not afraid of offending anyone and free of corny plot devices and dumb stereotypes, read the books. I guarantee you'll see most of the characters in far different light than the TV show. I like the TV show but the original comic story is far and away better, at least to me. I find it much more enjoyable than the television show. You're missing a ton of the story if you rely exclusively on the television show for TWD experience. The TV show just makes too many compromises on the original story to make it more universally appealing and less offensive. Compendium three was announced for a fall 2015 release.

Was delivered 100% as described! Basically brand new, slight shelf wear. This was fairly priced and shipped quickly. Would absolutely recommend this seller and will definitely order from them again! Thanks!