Robert Kirkman’s “The Walking Dead” is one of the longest ongoing serialized stories in comics. Rick Grimes and his band of survivors have had a long and difficult journey. Along the way many have been lost, alliances have been created, and badass moments are a dime a dozen.

So we here at Bloody Disgusting decided to compile a list of the top ten moments from “The Walking Dead” comic series. This is by no means all encompassing, there is simply too much awesome to contain in one list.

WARNING: Proceed with caution, this article has spoilers for the entire run of “The Walking Dead.”

Without further ado, here are Bloody Disgusting’s top ten moments in “The Walking Dead”

10. Rick and Martinez’s Excellent Adventure (Issue 36)

In “This Sorrowful Life” Martinez finds out The Governor cut off Rick’s hand, and decides to switch sides. However, Martinez escapes the prison with the first chance he gets. His plan was to give The Governor their location. Rick wasn’t having any of that shit. So he chases Martinez down in the RV. He nails him, crippling the bastard. Then he stands over him in a field. Rick looks wild as he chokes and curse Martinez. Martinez swears he just wanted to save the people of Woodbury. In the end, Rick chokes him to death and we learn that The Governor and Rick are not so very different after all. Plus it gives us one of the best panels in the history of the book.

9. Glenn Gets Facetime With Lucille. (Issue 100)

As “Something to Fear” approached issue 100, Glenn was a beacon of hope in this bleak reality. Glenn just decided to move to the Hilltop, he was happy. All seemed to be in order. For the first time Glenn couldn’t stop thinking about tomorrow. Then Negan charged onto the scene. He commands the page and picks apart each of the survivors. He makes it clear his goal is to break Rick.

He raises his baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire: Lucille. He has a dilemma. He simply cannot choose who to kill. Naturally like the psychopath he is, he leaves it up to chance. Glenn loses the most important game of eeny meeny miny mo in his life. Negan pounds Lucille into the back of Glenn’s head. Glenn’s skull smashes open and his eye pops out as he calls for Maggie. Truly touching stuff.

8. Dale Gets a Leg Up on The Hunters. (Issue 64)

Dale Horvath was an old curmudgeon with a heart of gold and a deep sense of morality. “Fear The Hunters” was hitting its full stride, and Dale had been bitten. He heads for the forest in an attempt to spare Andrea. However, during his escape attempt the Hunters capture Dale. He awakes to see his other leg has been amputated and the Hunters stand over him discussing their favorite types of human meat. Dale goes into hysterics, letting them know they’ve devoured tainted meat. The old fella gets the last laugh, and boy does he enjoy it.

7. The Governor Gives Rick a Hand. (Issue 28)

This list wouldn’t be complete without The Governor. The man who ran the small town of Woodbury with an iron fist was a force to be reckoned with. He took many things during his time on the page, but his first insane act remains one of his most memorable. The governor has just captured Rick. He forces two of his own to battle to the death surrounded by zombies. Rick, Michonne, and Glenn realize he is batshit insane. In this moment, he demands to know where Rick and his group are holed up, but Rick won’t break. So the Governor does the next logical thing. He continues his monologue, while he pins Rick on a table. He raises his knife into the air and slices off Rick’s hand. It’s unpredictable and insane, and it was one of the moments that made “The Walking Dead” what it was. After “The Best Defense” Kirkman made sure nothing and nobody was safe.

6. The Governor Forces Lori’s Maternity Leave. (Issue 47)

“Made to Suffer” was one of the most dismal and depressing story arcs in the series. The Governor had been established as a menacing maniac, and things at the prison had fallen apart. So in Issue 46 when the Governor arrived at the gates with Tyrese, readers were sure things couldn’t get any worse. The Governor calls out to Rick and to show that he’s serious beheads Tyrese in front of everyone. Things couldn’t get worse, well until two months later. The Governor has launched an out assault on the prison. Rick and his family attempt to flee, but Carl runs too damn fast.

In an attempt to keep up Rick widens the gap between him and Lori. The Governor orders Lilly to fire on the fleeing Grimes family. A shot tears through Lori’s back, she falls on top of baby Judith, and both die in a heap. It was a moment that began a new arc for the series and for Rick. Lori’s death changed him forever and made him value the safety of Carl more than his own life. The final panel of issue 47 remains incredibly impactful. Rick cradles the distraught Carl on the hillside overlooking the chaos at the prison, as they must press on into the wild unknown together, and with legions of undead behind them.

5. Carl and The Governor finally see Eye to Eye. (Issue 83)

The community has been compromised. In “No Way Out” Kirkman finally allowed readers to feel safe. The community was walled in, and several families were contributing to what seemed like a new age Woodbury. However, this being the Walking Dead, it didn’t take long for things to go to shit. The outpour of walkers against the wall proved to be too much. Rick suggests leaving the community to the group of refugees in his home. They take some time to prepare and decide to run for it. As soon as they get outside it’s clear they’re not ready. Things go to shit when Jessie just won’t let go of Carl. Douglas has lost his mind and is wildly firing his gun into the hoards of walkers. Rick pushes his way to Carl, and severs Jessie’s hand, saving his son. As he pulls Carl through the chaos, a wild bullet from Douglas’ gun catches Carl. The bullet takes half of his face with it, and results in one of the best panels in comic book history. Carl has never been the same since. This moment has changed him into a hardened, black soul. Instead of being defeatist about his disability, it endows him with a certain carelessness that has saved his life many times over.

4. Abraham & Rick: Road Warriors. (Issue 57)

“What We Become” proved to a troubling time for Rick and Carl. They were out on the road with a destination that seemed almost impossible to reach. Abraham and Rick were at odds over Maggie’s attempted suicide. Abraham was the foil to Rick, strong, domineering, and in control, it seemed as if it was time for Rick to deal with in-fighting yet again. Kirkman spins things on their head all in one moment. Abraham and Rick take off to the police station for supplies, taking Carl with them. Things seem incredibly tense. Things get worse when a gun in pointed in Abraham’s face. A group of sleazy hillbillies appear on the roadside and attempt to rape Carl. Rick goes into a frenzy and bites one of his attackers on the neck. Abraham wastes one of the attackers and shields Carl as Rick stabs the last one to death. This moment pushes Abraham to open up about what happened to his family. In a flash Abraham became more human, and his relationship with Rick strengthened. From this point on Rick and Abraham more or less lead the group together, their personalities conflicted but never to the detriment of the group. This moment was the foundation for the best bromance “The Walking Dead” had to offer.

3. The King. (Issue 108)

This one proves to be more of a mystery than the others. Yet, the introduction of Ezekiel in “What Comes After” is a big moment. Things have been out of control ever since Negan’s introduction. Ezekiel offers a beacon of hope along with an air of mystery. A couple issues later Kirkman treats us to a little more insight into the character’s past and motivations. Yet, his introduction tells us that he is a force to be reckoned with, and Rick aligning with The Kingdom was the right decision.

2. Two Guys a Girl, and Carl. (Issue 6)

This proved to be one of the most talked about moments in the series. The best friend dynamic is often compromised in times of great turmoil. Yet, Rick’s plight with Shane was so much more. Shane truly believed Rick was dead, and doing the right thing, he accepted the burden of responsibility for Rick’s family. Upon Rick’s return, Shane was never the same. His cozy little spot in the apocalypse was compromised. Shane and Rick were at odds over the same things. They wanted safety for those around them, and they wanted control.

This moment propelled The Walking Dead to more than just zombie survival, but a deep character drama. We felt the emotional plight of both of these men. Yet, when it came down to it, only one could survive. A public outburst shames Shane into running off into the forest. Rick chases him, and Shane has a breakdown. He’s emotional devastated and cannot continue. He draws his gun on Rick, and a bullet wizzes through his throat. Carl had enough, and was afraid for his father. He fired the shot that ended “Days Gone Bye” on a perfectly hopeless note. It defined the series.

1. No Bite, No Problem. (Issue 14)

Every zombie buff will tell you a zombie apocalypse needs rules. Conventions of the genre are often taken for granted. You get bit then you turn, destroy the head, and keep moving. Yet, in “Safety Behind Bars.” Kirkman decided to add his own spin to the mythology. Julie and Chris attempt a double suicide after having sex. Chris shoots too early and Julie doesn’t get a chance to return the favor. Tyrese tumbles upon the scene and Julie reanimates in his arms. It’s a shocking moment. Things change from here on out, because now dead isn’t dead. Dead means reanimation regardless of the cause. Every step the group takes forward they must now be mindful of this information. It was an excellently handled beat that defined “The Walking Dead” against all other zombie apocalypse stories.

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