20 The Walking Dead T-Shirts To Die (and come back) For!

Based on the popular ongoing comic series by Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead builds upon the cinematic tradition of filmmakers such as George Romero and Lucio Fulci. Striking a chord with society at the height of a zombie entertainment trend, The Walking Dead has become a massive pop culture phenomenon.

The story begins as police officer Rick Grimes awakens in a hospital to find himself in the middle of a desolate, post-apocalyptic world that is populated by murderous, flesh-eating zombies. These zombies include people who were once friends, neighbors and family. After finding his bearings, Grimes manages to reunite with his wife, son and partner, who have banded with a pack of other survivors. His charisma and leadership skills cause him to quickly take charge of the group. From this point, they embark upon a quest to stay safe from the zombie plague and perhaps find some sense of normalcy in this world turned upside-down.

Like most good monster stories, The Walking Dead is not primarily about the zombies. Rather, the zombies serve as a device to drive the plot so that the story can be revealed, relationships can be tested and the characters can develop. This plays into a number of themes that are present in both the comics and the show. Can people, even close friends be trusted when everyone is hungry and desperate to survive? How do the power structures of budding societies develop once the ones that were previously there have vanished? After a cataclysmic event, are people inclined to fill the same role that they used to, or can they once again aspire to be the person that they had wished they could be? These are but a few of the philosophical questions that The Walking Dead presents to its audience.

These ideas are shown perfectly by a cast that truly manages to bring the pages of the comic to life. British actor Andrew Lincoln plays the lead role of Rick Grimes and is entirely believable as a grizzled southern police officer who only cares about protecting his family. Rick’s son Carl is portrayed by Chandler Riggs, who we see grow up amid all of this horror and become an increasingly dark person. Norman Reedus of Boondock Saints fame is another standout performer on the show. He portrays Daryl Dixon, a new character that was created just for the show.

The Walking Dead continues to be a growing pop culture sensation. The show has been a big winner for AMC, the comics continue to sell and it has spawned many tie-ins, such as toys and award-winning video games. If you are a fan of horror or drama, you should definitely give it a watch.