In the latest issue of theDeluxereprint ofThe Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman named two villains he conceived of, who never made it into the comic series – one of whom is set to play a pivotal role in the upcoming spin-off graphic novel,Clemetine: Book Three, serving as the greatest antagonist yet for the hero of Telltale’sWalking Deadvideo game.
The Walking Dead Deluxe#104 –written by Robert Kirkman, with art by Charlie Adlard – includes a peek at the author’s handwritten notes for the series, which he points out includes a reference to “The Contractor,” a character concept that never materialized on the page.
Kirkman also used this annotation to tease “The Gardener,“another mysterious potential foe for Rick Grimes and his group of survivors. Now, it seems that some version of the character will finally appear in franchise canon, though how much this character has developed over the years remains to be revealed.
Negan’s Arrival Has Made Robert Kirkman Nostalgic For His Unused Villain, Including “The Gardener”: Here’s What To Know
Guiding fans through his notes-to-self from the time of The Walking Dead#104’s original 2012 publication, Robert Kirkman draws attention two words in particular: “The Contractor.” As the author explained:
Oh, and look up at the top right: “The Contractor.” That, ladies and gentleman, is an unrealized villain for the series. I don’t recall details on this particular villain. Cool name. Kind of a shame it never made it into the book. Some day I’ll have to tell everyone about “The Gardener.”
Arguably the most exciting part ofThe Walking Dead Deluxe– other than the visual treat of getting to view the original black-and-white art rendered in full, often-stunning color – are these behind-the-scenes tidbits from Kirkman. Given that Negan has just made his grand debut in the series once more, it makes sense that thefranchise creator’s focus is on villains.
The Walking Dead Team Felt Negan Was Too Extreme for TV: “They’ll Never Be Able to Put This In the Show”
According to Robert Kirkman, the adaptation of his long-running Walking Dead comic series had an unexpected impact on the direction of the story.
Especially witha project as ambitious and long-running asThe Walking Dead, writing is a garden of forking paths; every decision made is another not made, and both ultimately shape the final product. While Kirkman has no further details about “The Contractor,” he does admit to a twinge of regret that the character never materialized. Though it is possible they will – especially considering thatthe other character namedropped by the author, “The Gardener,” is finally set to appear in aWalking Deadcomic in 2025.
Clementine: Book Three– Written & Illustrated By Tillie Walden; Story By Robert Kirkman; Available July 30, 2025 From Skybound Entertainment
Originating as part ofThe Walking Dead’smultimedia foray into video games, Clemetine has been the eponymous main character of two graphic novel spin-offs so far, written and illustrated by Tillie Walden. In 2025, Walden will complete the trilogy withClementine: Book Three, which will feature a character named “The Gardener.” As the synopsis for the book explains:
Clementine finally has it all–a safe place to live, a girlfriend, and even a cat… but nothing lasts forever. And when Clementine suffers a loss unlike anything she’s ever faced, a new mentor called The Gardener offers her a new family, and a new way of living… but at what cost?
With Walden working from a story by Robert Kirkman,there is no doubt this “Gardener” is connected to his unused villain concept, but fans have to wonder whether the idea has evolved, or been adapted to fitClementine’scircumstances.
The release ofClementine: Book Threewill bring with it more answers, and in the lead up, it is possible Kirkman will drop more hints.
There is also the possibility there never was a “Gardener”, and that Robert Kirkman is engaging in some sly viral marketing inThe Walking Dead Deluxe#104. In any case, the release ofClementine: Book Threewill bring with it more answers, and in the lead up, it is possibleKirkman will drop more hints. In any case, fans of the franchise must wonder how different the series would have been had any of Kirkman’s unused ideas taken more of a root, and be grateful thatThe Walking Deadturned out as memorable and narratively satisfying as it did.
The Walking Dead Deluxe#104is available now from Image Comics.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as “walkers.” The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.
