Walking Dead Comic Reading Order: All 32 Volumes

The Walking Dead is a comic written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. It began in October 2003 and ended in July 2019 with issue #193. Tony Moore drew the opening issues, and Charlie Adlard drew the rest. The comic is complete and collected in 32 paperback volumes, from Days Gone Bye to Rest in Peace.

Read the volumes in number order. Each is a chunk of one continuous story about a group of survivors, so later books give away earlier events. Our checklist lists all 32 and remembers where you stopped.

Compendiums

Image has also collected the comic in larger Compendium paperbacks, and Compendium Volume 1 gathers the first eight volumes. They hold the same story, so choose by format. Read the product description to see exactly which volumes each book contains.

For adults

The Walking Dead is graphic and violent, and it is written for adult readers. It is a different experience from the TV series, so you can read it even if you have not watched.

Questions people ask

How many Walking Dead comic volumes are there?

There are 32 paperback volumes collecting all 193 issues, from Volume 1: Days Gone Bye to Volume 32: Rest in Peace. The comic ran from October 2003 to July 2019 and is complete. Volume 32 holds seven issues, while the others hold six. Image also sells Compendiums and other formats of the same story.

What order should I read The Walking Dead comic in?

Read the volumes by number, starting with Days Gone Bye. It is one continuous story, so skipping around will spoil events and confuse the cast. If you buy the Compendiums instead, read them in order too, starting with Compendium Volume 1, which collects the first eight volumes.

Is the Walking Dead comic finished?

Yes. The final issue, #193, was released in July 2019, and the story is collected in 32 volumes. That means you can read the whole story without waiting for new releases. Check Image’s site if you want to confirm the current editions, since publishers sometimes reissue books in new formats.

Do I need to read the comic to follow the TV show?

No. The TV series is a separate adaptation, and its story differs from the comic in many ways. You can enjoy either one on its own. The comic is the original, so it is a good choice if you want Kirkman’s own version of the story, and it ends where the author chose to end it.

Who drew The Walking Dead?

Tony Moore drew the opening issues, and Charlie Adlard drew the rest of the series, from issue #7 to the end. Robert Kirkman wrote every issue. Image Comics published it. The black-and-white art is a signature of the series, so the collections you see are mostly without color.

Is the Walking Dead comic suitable for teenagers?

We place it in our adult band. The comic shows graphic violence, death and disturbing events throughout. Publishers rate their own books, so check the listing, and look through a copy before giving it to a younger teen. For horror and survival stories at a gentler level, try the Comic Finder with the horror genre.

The Walking Dead comic in order

Compendiums

The Walking Dead checklist

Questions people ask

Keep reading

Invincible reading order

Best indie comics

Sandman reading order