“The Stupidest Book I’ve Ever Done”: The Walking Dead Creator Just Announced the Wildest Revival of All Time

At San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Robert Kirkman has officially announced the return of Battle Pope, one of his earliest comics, which the groundbreaking creator calls “the stupidest book [he’s] ever done” full stop. As Kirkman revealed, Battle Pope is set to be re-released in a 25th anniversary edition later this year.

Released in 2000, Battle Pope was the author’s formative work, which paved the way for The Walking Dead, Invincible, and his massive pop culture legacy.

Robert Kirkman Is Bringing Back His First Comic, "Battle Pope," To Celebrate 25 Years Of Success

The Author Announced A Reprint At San Diego Comic-Con 2025

Battle Pope, written by Robert Kirkman, with art by future Walking Dead collaborator Tony Moore, was originally released in 2000. The limited run of the over-the-top series was Kirkman's first foray into indie comic writing, and played a pivotal role in establishing his style and his creative interests, which would develop further in The Walking Dead and Invincible.

In Kirkman's defense, it's rarely a bad thing for a creator's "stupidest" work to be their earlier. Battle Pope might be a gonzo parody of a superhero comic, and it is more than a little bit playfully sacrilegious, something that is obvious from the title onward. Now, Kirkman is ready to expose a whole new generation of fans to Battle Pope.

It remains unclear whether Kirkman is planning new issues of Battle Pope, or if this is just a reissue of the original run, in honor of the anniversary of its debut. Coming out of the announcement at Comic-Con, fans should expect to learn more in the coming days and weeks.

Robert Krikman's Raw, Unfiltered "Battle Pope" Is A Must-Read For Fans Of His Later Work

The Author Is Celebrating As Battle Pope Turns Twenty-Five

Even if Battle Pope is just a reissue, this is the perfect time for Robert Kirkman to revive it. With the breakout success of the Invincible adaptation, and audiences' undying loyalty to The Walking Dead franchise, the appetite for everything Kirkman has never been stronger; Battle Pope will have the opportunity to reach a wider audience than it did previously.

For hardcore fans of Kirkman's work, this is a novel opportunity to revisit his most formative creative output. Battle Pope is a relic of the author at his most raw, like a punk band's first demo tape. It will be fascinating to revisit in the context of his more mature work, to discover how The Walking Dead and more evolved out of this first series.