Negan’s villainous group “the Saviors” were one of the most memorable factions inThe Walking Dead, though as revealed by Robert Kirkman, their “original” name was much less evocative, but somehow still oddly fitting, considering the quixotic sense of humor that their leader would become famous for over the remainder of the comic’s run.
The Walking Dead Deluxe#96 – written by Robert Kirkman, with art by Charlie Adlard – is a full-color rerelease of the original black-and-white issue, first published in 2012. The updated issue also includes what has become a staple of theDeluxereprint, Kirkman’s “Cutting Room Floor” section.
Analyzing his own handwritten notes for the issue,Kirkman noted that his placeholder for the name of Negan’s people was simply “The Bad Group” – commenting that it “does have a nice ring to it,“though ultimately it was likely for the best that the author went with something more specific.
Negan’s Survival Made Walking Dead More Morally Complex — But Was It The Wrong Decision?
Robert Kirkman’s decision to keep Negan alive, and give him some manner of redemption arc, is one of the most pivotal in the Walking Dead series.
Introducing Negan leading a band of marauders called “The Bad Group” would have changed the tone of the series, a shift that would have had a ripple effect as the comic progressed.
The appeal of Robert Kirkman’s annotations toThe Walking Dead Deluxehas been the wealth of insight he has shared with fans into the evolution of the comic’s story.Kirkman has revealed details about his dynamic creative process, which involved plotting far ahead and regularly planting seeds of arcs for the future, while also being highly flexible when it came to altering plans and changing directions as dictated by the story itself. Case in point:while Kirkman had the idea for Negan and the Saviors early on, their character concepts were still taking shape just issues before their debut.
The Walking Dead#96 represented a major turning point for the series in more ways than one, with none being more evident than it heralded the imminent arrival of Negan. The Saviors are perhaps the franchise’s stand-out antagonists, and Negan himself would go on to be one ofThe Walking Dead’smost memorable characters, even earning the prestige ofbeing Robert Kirkman’s favorite. Before their “Saviors” identity was established, however, the author had a short-hand for the villainous faction, as he explained in the author’s notes toThe Walking Dead Deluxe#96:
Heh…The Saviors originally being called “The Bad Group.” Never actually meant to be their name, but it does have a nice ring to it.
As Robert Kirkman explained, “The Bad Group” was never going to be the final name for the Saviors on the page –but even he admits that it would not have been totally inappropriate for them, either. What makes this particularly noteworthy, in any case, is the way that it highlights how even a single, seemingly minor decision can alter the trajectory of a story. In other words, introducing Negan leading a band of marauders called “The Bad Group” would have changed the tone of the series, a shift that would have had a ripple effect as the comic progressed.
There was a certain line Robert Kirkman wouldn’t cross when it came to humor inThe Walking Dead, and calling Negan’s people “The Bad Group” would have straddled that line, if not outright overstepped it.
Robert Kirkman’s comment that “The Bad Group” as a name for Negan’s faction “has a nice ring to it” might have been in jest, but it may also strike the reader as a tacit acknowledgment that the name would have been congruous with the character of Negan as fans would come to know him. WhileThe Walking Deadwasn’t entirely humorless through the first one-hundred issues of its run, Negan’s arrival introduced a dimension of almost-perverse levity to the series.
Notably, this was not “comedic relief,” but rather another layer of tension and discomfort for both characters and readers alike to contend with. In a sense, there was a certain line Robert Kirkman wouldn’t cross when it came to humor inThe Walking Dead, and calling Negan’s people “The Bad Group” would have straddled that line, if not outright overstepped it. That is to say, it might have fit Negan’s sense of humor, and even perhaps Robert Kirkman’s, but notThe Walking Dead’s.
“Suspension of disbelief” – upon which all stories depend, to some degree or another – is an endlessly tricky thing. It often seems as though any given story can only ask so much of its audience.With its zombie outbreak premise,The Walking Deadrequires a large suspension of disbelief from the reader upfront; as funny as it might sound,something as simple as calling its new villains “The Bad Group” would have risked testing the limits of readers' investment in the story.
His official introduction, and the brutal murder of fan-favorite character Glenn, would solidify the idea that the “Saviors” name was a macabre joke. In this way, it managed to be ominously amusing, without being as overt as “The Bad Group.”
More than a matter of humor, the name of Negan’s “bad group” –and any group inThe Walking Dead– was about fidelity to the tone of the series, which remained consistent throughout its run. Calling Negan’s people “The Bad Group” would have represented a shift, or perhaps it is better to say a compromise of the story’s tone, which could have begot others, in the process changing the comic by degrees each time. Robert Kirkman’s comment that this was never actually considered as the group’s final name suggests he recognized this at the time.
While fans can only speculate about the “What-ifs?” ofThe Walking Deadso much,Kirkman’s annotations in theDeluxerereleasecertainly serve as a prompt to do so. It also affords readers the opportunity to scrutinize the decisions Kirkman did make in greater context.By identifying what makes “The Bad Group” not work as a name, a clearer picture of what makes “Saviors” so much more fitting emerges; that is, it also contains Negan’s trademark wicked humor, but in a way that matchesThe Walking Dead’sown style.
Introduced as the Saviors inWalking Dead Deluxe#96, it is made immediately clear that they are anything but. Even before his introduction inThe Walking Dead#100, this is the first hint at the dark irony that was so central to Negan’s character. His official introduction, and thebrutal murder of fan-favorite character Glenn, would solidify the idea that the “Saviors” name was a macabre joke. In this way, it managed to be ominously amusing, without being as overt as “The Bad Group.”
WithThe Walking Dead Deluxe#100, and the introduction of Negan, coming soon, the rerelease ofThe Walking Deadis certain to shift into an even higher gear, just as the series itself did.
Consideringhow large Negan’s presence looms inThe Walking Deadfranchise, it can sometimes be forgotten that he arrived more than halfway into the comic’s run.The Walking Dead#96 represents the conclusion of the final arc before Negan’s arrival, meaning that it closes the door on one era of the series, and opens the door to another. Robert Kirkman’s comments in theDeluxereprint of the issue say as much, andit is certain that his notes over the next several issues will be heavy with the weight of what is coming.
For fans ofThe Walking Dead, theDeluxereissueis an indispensable resource; for those who didn’t follow the comic issue-by-issue during its original release, this is an opportunity to do in full-color, while for long-time fans, it is an opportunity to relive that experience. For both, Robert Kirkman’s commentary on his iconic series is endlessly fascinating. WithThe Walking Dead Deluxe#100, and the introduction of Negan, coming soon, the rerelease ofThe Walking Deadis certain to shift into an even higher gear, just as the series itself did.
The Walking Dead Deluxe #96is 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.
