The Walking Dead: Why the US-Only Zombie Apocalypse? Robert Kirkman Explains

The Walking Dead is a massive hit! It's one of those franchises that has dominated the world of Comics and television shows for ages!

Walking Dead and its Locations

In the comic book version, Rick Grimes and the survivors move from place to place, avoiding zombies. Most places become temporary homes before hordes attack and destroy everything! It made fans wonder about these big locations in America. From Cynthiana, Kentucky, to Atlanta, Washington D.C., Alexandria and even Ohio (and The Commonwealth) the series really brought post-apocalyptic America to life!

Also Read: Creator of The Walking Dead Denounces "I Would Never Do That" is Rick Grimes Coma Dream Theory.

Why The Walking Dead Stayed in America

Fans wondered about why this wasn't a world spanning story! But Robert Kirkman, the creator of The Walking Dead explained this, showcasing the writer's priority! Kirkman says locations are secondary to compelling characters.

In an interview (found in The Walking Dead Deluxe #98), a fan wondered if there was a reason it remained only within the United States. Kirkman had an answer!

He basically stated that introducing places just for the sake of having more locations wasn't the point of The Walking Dead. It’s more about developing the characters!

New locations were only added if they added depth to the character's story!

Also Read: The Walking Dead: Robert Kirkman Admits He Overused One Trope (But It Makes Sense)

Iconic Locations

Live-action Rick to the right and his brother from the comic Jeffrey Grimes to the left Image

Some of the most iconic areas aren't just popular for their setting but really due to the events that took place. That means they aren't just backdrops, they play an integral part in the overarching narratives, particularly during intense, pivotal moments.

The prison is an amazing location!
Hershel's farm is equally important as this area served as a central point for character development.

It may be interesting that there is a Walking Dead comic book. Created by Brian K. Vaughan, which went outside of America! But Kirkman never really strayed away from his goal of developing compelling narratives. While this added variety it certainly deviated from the standard that Kirkman set, creating its own kind of originality!

Also Read: The Walking Dead: Robert Kirkman's Big Name Mistake

Walking Dead TV Show

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in The Ones Who Live, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in Dead City Image

The AMC series went to many more locations that wasn’t covered in the comic books. It adds new and exciting developments for a multitude of storylines!

What makes the tv series so popular, even so many seasons in is its continued creativity! Fans love the ever evolving show and what this ultimately created was an original show! Daryl Dixon and his new story in Paris shows that while locations were not paramount to Kirkman's writing for the comic version, they are able to open a fresh world of entertainment possibilities!

Also Read: The Walking Dead Creator's Regrets: Robert Kirkman Reflects on Comic's Dialogue

Kirkman's Approach

The success of The Walking Dead is incredibly impressive! Fans may appreciate how well the creators put together this compelling post-apocalyptic saga, focusing on building incredible characters that keep us captivated.

This helps to drive storylines and bring meaning! With all Kirkman’s statements. What is shown is a vision that emphasizes characters. The television shows were clearly taking the franchise to other realms with this new story. What Kirkman's original series was able to successfully showcase is that there's no reason to stray away from the original goals when writing, giving this story a sense of completion. The tv adaptation proved that more settings add layers but aren't always necessary to captivate audiences.