In The Walking Dead Deluxe #108 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, Paul Monroe brings Rick Grimes and his people to a territory known as the Kingdom to meet the leader of that community: Ezekiel. Ezekiel (initially introduced as King Ezekiel) immediately comes off as threatening, mostly due to his pet tiger, Shiva, as well as his title of King. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Ezekiel will make a perfect ally for Rick, mostly due to the fact that Ezekiel hates Negan and the Saviors just as much - if not more - than Rick himself.
While the storyline of this issue is captivating, what’s arguably more interesting is the book’s backmatter, which shows some fan mail being answered by Robert Kirkman himself. The creator of The Walking Dead is asked, “would you have lengthened the opening storyline and Shane?” if Kirkman had known the book would last as long as it did. To that, Robert Kirkman writes back:
Robert Kirkman: YES, had I known the series would continue this long I would have totally expanded the Shane storyline.
Shane’s Story Would Have Been Expanded Upon in The Walking Dead
Robert Kirkman Admits He’d Keep Shane Around a Little Longer
Robert Kirkman admits that, if he could go back, he would expand Shane’s storyline, which is actually something fans might have picked up on years ago. Robert Kirkman has been very involved with the AMC live-action The Walking Dead series since the very beginning, and one of the biggest changes from the comic to the screen was the fact that Shane stuck around for so long.
Unlike in the comics, Shane made it all the way through the ‘Hershel’s farm’ storyline, and not just as a background character, either, but one who added major conflict to the story. It wasn’t until the end of that story that Shane met his end in the show, which gives fans a clue as to how he’d be handled in the comics if Kirkman knew the series would continue for as long as it did. And, honestly, Shane might have lasted even longer in the comics than he did in the show.
Indeed, Negan made it all the way till the end of The Walking Dead, and he’s one of the most vile villains in the series, which means Shane could have had a fair shot at making it all the way. Maybe Shane would have gotten a redemption arc? Maybe he would have fallen even further into villainy and aligned with someone like the Governor or the Saviors? Unfortunately, fans may never know what could have been for Shane, even if the television series gives fans a decent look at how long he would have made it if he didn’t get killed by Carl in TWD #6.
Walking Dead Creator Already Teased What Shane’s “Expanded” Story Would Be
Robert Kirkman Almost Had Shane Kill Rick
In The Walking Dead Deluxe #6, Robert Kirkman speaks to that ‘What If’ scenario, admitting that it was a genuine idea that nearly came to fruition. The scene basically would have played out the same, except Shane would have killed Rick, and Carl would have seen him do it in secret. At that point, Carl would hold silent hatred and resentment towards Shane, and The Walking Dead would have followed Carl for the remainder of the series, presenting Shane as his ultimate, personal villain. It’s an interesting idea, but ultimately the book was better off keeping Rick over Shane.
This Isn’t the First Time The Walking Dead Changed from Its Original Intent
Robert Kirkman Admits to Some Wild Ideas for the Series that Never Came to Be
Funny enough, the idea of Shane killing Rick isn’t the first time Robert Kirkman left some pretty wild plot points on the proverbial cutting room floor. In fact, in The Walking Dead Deluxe #84, Kirkman admitted in an answered fan letter that he originally intended to have the zombies win at the end of the series - and effectively end the series with its 84th issue.