The Walking Dead series has done a fairly good job of sticking close to its source material, despite deviations in character arcs and events. The show continues to soldier on after shedding a few key characters and paving the way for new ones.
Fans will always be set on the original family of survivors who went through Hell in a world gone to Hell, but chances are they came from the comic book series of the same name. Today we’re examining some core Walking Dead characters, and how they were supposed to look in comparison to their comic counterparts.
CAROL
![The Walking Dead: How Each Character Is Supposed To Look](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Walking-Dead-Looks-Carol.jpg)
The Carol of the comics and the TV show are vastly different in almost every aspect, despite a similar origin story. TV show Carol started off with a pixie haircut, and it took her years to develop a long gray mane.
By contrast, comic book Carol kept a slightly longer bob cut for much of the series. The two share physical differences thanks to how their stories play out as well, with Carol shifting between looks as much as she shifts between being alone, and part of a group.
MAGGIE
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It could be argued that comic books Maggie is much more rugged than her TV take. She’s less feminine, more aggressive in looks and tone, although their characters share largely identical personality traits (with minor story differences).
TV show Maggie is capable of exercising a toughness and a softness at the same time – a fact that would probably aid her charisma, and make her a better leader.
EUGENE
![The Walking Dead Eugene Comics TV Shows](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Walking-Dead-Looks-Eugene.jpg)
Eugene’s comic book and TV show appearances are often more alike than they are separate, but there are some key differences. Comic book Eugene lacks in the looks department, while TV shows Eugene simply needs to lose a few pounds to work with what’s already there.
The comic book character summons the redneck far more often than the TV show version, not seeming to care about his appearance, whereas the TV character simply follows his own style.
HERSHEL
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Comic book Hershel is quite different from his TV counterpart in many ways, notably his age. TV show Hershel looks more correct for the part, thanks to a face full of sage wisdom, experience, and kindness. Comic book Hershel looks a bit on the younger, thinner side, which makes it harder to sell his wisdom.
It could also be due to the fact that late actor Scott Wilson played the part with such magnificence that it soured the comic book version entirely.
SOPHIA
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The character with perhaps the biggest difference between comic and TV forms is undoubtedly Sophia, simply due to the fact that her comic self managed to grow up. The TV show only gave us a brief glimpse of her as a child, before she was tragically turned into a walker.
In the comics, Sophia is adopted by Glenn and Maggie before moving on to marry Carl Grimes, and give birth to a daughter. As such, she undergoes perhaps the strongest evolution of any character in the Walkerverse.
SHANE
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The Shane of the Walking Dead comics looks a bit more like the every-man. He’s the guy you wouldn’t be surprised to see teaching softball to the kids before running out to grab a six-pack to enjoy the game with his father-in-law. TV show Shane capitalizes on Jon Bernthal’s characteristic bad boy looks by zeroing in on his mental instability.
The two differentiate in emotional delivery, as well. TV show Shane plays his cards close to his chest, rarely succumbing to any emotion other than paranoia, whereas comic book Shane appears to wear sorrow on his sleeve.
THE GOVERNOR
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Brian Blake (aka the Governor) looks vastly different from his comic book source character in many ways. For starters, his eye patch sits on the opposite eye, but the physical differences between the two-run far beyond that.
Comic book Governor looks far more like a menacing mercenary in appearance, with long, slightly unkempt hair, a tough guy’s goatee, and an aggressive feature set. TV Governor is better able to sell his fake charm, thanks to a more disarming facade.
ALPHA
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Bald head aside, the comic and TV representations of Alpha differ in many key ways, not the least of which is the face. TV show Alpha sells the fact that she’s completely lost her marbles in a world gone mad. She’s filthy, she’s unkempt, and she honestly believes she’s already dead.
Comic book Alpha is more subtle when it comes to her appearance. She hasn’t lost her femininity, and she’s capable of displaying a softness in her expression that TV show Alpha cannot quite muster.
NEGAN
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The TV series was blessed with an excellent Negan in the form of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who single-handedly manages to steal every scene he’s in. While he has become the signature face of the character, his comic book alter-ego is a bit different.
While both characters are tall, comic book Negan is clearly the more physically imposing and intimidating of the two. He also sports a slicked back receding hairline and a more chiseled face to sell his toughness.
RICK GRIMES
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In contrast to the TV show, the comic book Rick Grimes went the shaggier route rather quickly and stayed that way. Not until Season 9 would TV show Rick embrace his comic book alter-ego’s look, right down to the elongated beard and shortened hair.
Rick spent much of the show alternating between clean(ish) cut and ragged. Upon arriving in Alexandria, he cleaned himself up while letting his hair grow out more. It’s also worth noting that comic book Rick Grimes loses his hand early on during the group’s confrontation with the Governor, which never occurred in the TV show.