Enter the Governor. I was introduced to The Walking Dead television show first before I even knew about the comic. When the Governor debuted in Season 3 of the show, I knew something special was happening. He felt like the kind of genuine, over the top villain that one might find in a Marvel comic. David Morrissey’s portrayal of the Governor was spot on, and he still remains my favorite villain on the show to this day. So when I decided to read Kirkman’s comic iteration of The Walking Dead story, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of The Governor in that medium. Needless to say, I was not disappointed! The first issue he is introduced, and he’s planning on feeding our heroes to his zombie pets! Say what you will about the psychotic Governor, but he knows how to make a first impression! I am sure one of Rick’s most keen regrets is that he followed that damn helicopter. How different might things have been if his group just ignored it and stayed in their prison fortress? Questions like that make for fun speculation and discussion among fans, but one imagines that such questions kept Rick up at night long after the Governor becomes nothing more than a nightmarish memory. But the difference between a nightmare and the Governor is that when one awakens from a nightmare, no lasting damage is suffered. Contrarily, the Governor exacts a brutal toll on Rick and company, and they will never be the same again as a result of their painful conflict with him.

Amidst the dramatic introduction of the dastardly Governor and Carol’s continued mental deterioration, there is a small scene with Tyreese and Axel as they are spending an anxious night sitting in lawn chairs near the gate waiting for their companions’ return. Axel mentions that he prefers the world as it is with the dead walking to the way it was before society came crashing down. This may seem like an absurd position to take, but there exists countless times in The Walking Dead (both the show and comic series) that people who were nobodies in a functioning society rise to the occasion and become better versions of themselves. In Axel’s case, his prison becomes a post-apocalyptic fortress, and he goes from having zero liberties to having a new lease on life as he successfully integrates into Rick’s group. Consider also Glenn. Before the world ended, Glenn was a pizza deliver boy who stole cars just to keep his head afloat financially. Now he is an expert scavenger, has a very healthy relationship with Maggie, and is always an asset in even the most trying of situations. Daryl and Carol (both from the television series) are two other examples of how the zombie apocalypse can be a catalyst for extraordinary growth.

One last little note is that I really want to recommend checking out Jay Bonansinga and Robert Kirkman’s compelling book series centered around the rise and fall of the Governor. It ties into the comic storylines in intriguing ways, and watching the meek Brian Blake evolve into the psychotic Governor is quite a compelling revelation. It definitely adds many complex layers to what is observed in the comic book concerning the Governor. more