Description

Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye               Sealed Hardcover     
Featuring the Retailer Incentive with an exclusive Red Foil-Embossed Limited front cover.  Awesome!!
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Tony Moore
Inker: Tony Moore
Colorists: Tony Moore & Cliff Rathburn
Letterer: Robert Kirkman
Cover by: Tony Moore

An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months society has crumbled: There is no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally begin living. Rick Grimes is not prepared for this. A couple months ago he was a small-town cop who had never fired a shot and only ever saw one dead body. Separated from his family he must now sort through the death and confusion to try and find his wife and son.

Also features:
Introduction by Robert Kirkman
“Thank You” letter from Robert Kirkman

Story/Spoilers
In issue #1, The story opens with Officer Rick Grimes and his partner, Shane, in a standoff with Reggie who has escaped from prison. Rick tells Shane to cover him while he flanks Reggie. The escaped con, however, manages to shoot Shane’s gun out of his hand, then proceeds to shoot Rick.

It immediately cuts to Rick in a hospital bed waking up. He tries to get up but falls to the floor. He yells for a nurse, but no one comes. After waiting for several minutes, he gets up on his own and gets dressed. He explores the hospital, but finds it deserted. After riding in an elevator to another floor, he is startled when the door opens and a corpse falls into the elevator. Once again, he yells for help, but no one answers. He discovers the cafeteria door blocked with a board and decides to investigate. Once he opens it, he finds the room full of zombies. He is attacked, but is able to get away unscratched after tumbling down the stairs. He attempts to find some means of transportation but only finds a bicycle which is guarded by a half-eaten zombie. After stumbling back in disgust Rick grabs the bicycle and pushes it down the road. Overwhelmed, he falls to his knees and briefly cries before getting up and riding the rest of the way. When he arrives at his house he finds it ransacked and deserted. Upon exiting, he is hit over the head with a shovel by Duane Jones, and knocked unconscious. Duane’s father, Morgan, comes running up and scolds the young boy, telling him that Rick is alive and not a zombie.

Rick wakes up in the Jones’ residence and, and is invited to have dinner with Morgan and Duane. Rick is confused and starts to panic, but Morgan calms him down and is surprised to learn Rick is clueless about the apocalypse. Rick reveals how he was shot, put in a coma, and doesn’t know what is going on. Morgan tells Rick that not much is known about what caused the outbreak, but, that the media was informing everyone to relocate to large cities so that everyone could be protected. Morgan decided to take his chances in a small town, and says the power has since gone out and he knows nothing else. Rick mentions his wife, Lori, had family in Atlanta and that she may have gone there with their son, Carl.

After talking, Rick, Morgan, and Duane go to the police station where Rick works. Morgan cautiously asks Rick if he minds him and his son taking residence at his neighbor’s house, but Rick tells not to worry about it. Rick thanks Morgan for driving him to the station, and takes him to the armory. He leaves him to choose weapons while Rick goes to change into a police uniform. Rick equips himself with guns and a car. He also gives Morgan a car. Morgan proceeds to thank Rick before they are interrupted by a zombie pushing up against a chain-link fence. Rick wants to shoot it, but Morgan stops him, since the zombie can’t get them and he might need that bullet later. Morgan and Duane plan on staying in the small town, so Rick and Morgan wish each other well and Rick mentions he will come back later for the two. Before Rick leaves for Atlanta, he walks over to the bicycle zombie and tearfully shoots her in the head.

Next in issue #2, After traveling all night, Rick arrives in Georgia. He finds a gas station and is frustrated that it’s out of gas, just like the previous ones. He continues driving until he runs out of gas. Continuing his journey on foot, he goes to inspect a nearby farm. After knocking on the door and receiving no answer, he enters the house. To his horror, he discovers the entire family dead, having committed suicide. After rushing outside and vomiting, he goes to inspect the barn. There he finds a horse and a hatchet inside and continues traveling to Atlanta on horseback. On the way to Atlanta, he starts rambling to the horse about when Carl was born to make him feel better, but it doesn’t.

Rick finally makes it to Atlanta and initially finds it deserted. Some zombies spot him and start to follow him, with their numbers growing slowly but surely. It isn’t long before Rick runs into a street full of zombies. He tries to turn around, but the way he came is blocked by zombies as well. He gets thrown from his horse and, as most of the zombies attack and devour the horse, others turn their attention to Rick. He uses the hatchet he found at the barn to protect himself, but is soon surrounded and begins to use his gun. He runs into an alley when suddenly, a young man named Glenn grabs Rick and tells him to follow him and to stop shooting. Glenn grabs the ladder to the fire escape and hurries Rick to follow him. Rick says he’s never seen so many zombies, but Glenn assures him that’s nothing and that, if he had gone fifty feet more into the city, he wouldn’t have survived. They climb to a rooftop and Glenn proceeds to jump to the roof of the other building. Rick is hesitant, but jumps when he realizes he has no choice. From that point they make it down the building and make a run for the woods, which are about a block away. Glenn says that the zombies are slow and that they should easily maneuver around them. He also warns that one bite from a walker will kill you.

The two finally make it to the edge of town near a wooded area. Glenn is surprised Rick is so inexperienced, but Rick explains that he was in a coma. Rick asks Glenn what happened to the people in Atlanta, and Glenn informs him the zombies were those people. Glenn explains that the government tried to herd everyone into the cities, but people started dying and turning into walkers. In the space of a week everyone in Atlanta had died. Rick falls to the ground as he fears that his wife and son are now dead. Glenn consoles Rick and tells him that he is with a small camp of people and brings him along. Glenn tells him the camp is mostly made up of latecomers who tried to get into Atlanta, but couldn’t, so they set up camp in the woods. Rick asks if that’s safe, but Glenn assures him they have cars for shelter and take turns keeping watch. He adds that they’re camping close to the city as they figured it’d be easier for the government to find them when they stopped the outbreak.

Just as Rick gets to the camp, he sees his wife, Lori, and his son, Carl. All three embrace, happily reunited.

Next in issue #3, Shane comes up to greet Rick. Rick is happy to see him and Lori says that Shane helped her and Carl escape to Atlanta. Shane then shows Rick around the camp and introduces everyone. The young man that helped Rick in the city is Glenn. There is Allen and Donna and their twin boys, Ben and Billy, Dale (who owns the RV), Jim, Carol and her daughter Sophia, and sisters Amy and Andrea. Everyone leaves Rick and Lori to be reacquainted.

That night, Rick and Lori talk. Lori apologizes for leaving Rick at the hospital. He forgives her saying that he was happy that she was doing what was best for Carl. Rick asks if Dale is enough to keep watch. Lori begins explaining the situation of how very few zombies have come near them. Rick, finally thinking about the situation they are all in, admits that he is scared.

The next morning, Rick wakes up and meets Shane as he comes out of his tent. Shane mentions that Dale’s camper has a working shower and he wants to go hunting with Rick after he takes one. Rick takes his shower and upon exiting, meets Dale. Dale tells Rick that he shouldn’t trust Shane. He says Shane is a good man and helps out around the camp, but Shane isn’t happy that Rick is back because he has had his eye on Lori. Rick appreciates Dale’s concern, but reassures him that Shane was only keeping Lori and Carl safe. Rick laughs it off as he leaves the camper and heads off with Shane to hunt. Meanwhile, Lori, Carol, and Donna go down to a stream to wash clothes. The others stay at camp to watch the kids.

As Rick and Shane are hunting, Shane mentions to Rick that he is glad that he brought some guns. So far they only had Shane’s side arm and Dale’s rifle. It’s been hard to hunt, and they have only been eating what Glenn can get from his trips into the city. They hear a rustle and come across a zombie, named “Front”, eating a deer. They note that it is oblivious to them standing there. They question whether it would be safe to eat the deer.

Back at the stream, Lori tells the story of how she met Rick to Carol and Donna. They finish the washing and head back to the camp. Just before they get to the camp, Allen, who is keeping watch atop the camper, sees a walker right behind the women and yells for them to look out. Allen tries to shoot the walker, but Donna is in the way. Suddenly, Dale, who was out cutting firewood, comes up from behind and decapitates the zombie. They are relieved until they notice that the head of the walker is still sputtering and moaning. They are shocked to see it still alive.

Back at Rick and Shane’s position, the two are debating taking the deer when the walker finally notices them. It starts to stand up but Rick impales it in the head with his axe. They suddenly hear a gunshot and run back to the camp. They get back to see that Allen has shot the head of the walker that attacked. Allen tells Dale that they should get the body into the woods and away from the camp. Rick immediately runs up to Lori and consoles her as Shane looks at the couple with jealousy.

Next in issue #4, That night, after the zombie attack, Shane is keeping watch. Rick visits with him and the two discuss the situation. Rick believes that the group needs to move on. He feels that it’s too dangerous to be near Atlanta where so many zombies could attack the small group. Shane believes the group should stay put, believing that the government is coming to clean up the mess and if the group stays put, they will be easily found by rescuers. Rick finally concedes, but, says that they need to train everyone to use a gun and that everyone should be armed. Shane asks how they will get enough guns and Rick says he will think of something.

The next morning, Rick talks to Glenn and asks him if he has seen any gun stores on his trips into Atlanta to get supplies. Glenn doesn’t recall, but, asks Jim and he gives them the location of a store. Glenn goes to find his map, and while he’s gone, Rick talks to Lori and tells her he is going to help Glenn to get some guns. Lori isn’t happy about it, but, he reassures her that he will be fine. He also mentions that he is going to teach Carl to shoot a gun, and before Lori can fight him on the subject, Rick and Glenn head into Atlanta for supplies.

As Rick and Glenn walk toward Atlanta, Rick asks about Jim’s mental state. Glenn says that Jim is the only known survivor from Atlanta, and he watched his family torn apart by zombies when he escaped. Glenn suddenly stops and says that the gun store is about 5 blocks further than he has ever gone into the city. He says there is no way the two can possibly do it. Rick says he has an idea and takes Glenn to Front, the roamer that he killed the day before. Rick says he notices that zombies don’t mistake themselves for a living person, and he believes the reason is smell. Rick chops up parts of the zombie and tells Glenn to rub it on his clothes and put a few pieces in his pockets. Rick hopes that by smelling like the zombies, the zombies won’t attack them. The two proceed into the city limits.

As soon as they arrive, they walk up to a zombie, to see how well the theory works. At first it appears that the zombie is going to attack Rick, but it settles down as Rick moves back. As they walk further in to the city, they notice that none of the zombies are coming after them. Rick also mentions how it is a gloomy day. The zombies on the streets don’t attack them either and Glenn notices the zombies don’t seem to be alerted by them talking. Rick supposes that they can’t tell the difference between grunts and conversation.

They arrive at the gun store to see a large crowd of zombies. Rick tells Glenn to remain calm and grabs a shopping cart to carry more guns. He uses his hatchet to break in and tells Glenn to hurry as the zombies are starting to notice they’re acting different. They grab as many guns and ammunition as they can and exit. As they do, Rick mentions that it is starting to rain. A zombie starts to approach them but Rick kills it with his hatchet. It begins to downpour and the two start to run as the rain begins to wash away the zombie smell. The zombies take notice of Rick and Glenn and attempt to attack them. The cart crashes and Rick begins shooting the zombies while Glenn picks the guns up. A zombie bites Rick’s shoulder but he manages to kill it, and the pair are able to continue their escape. The two get outside of the city limits and Rick tears off his jacket, relieved to see that the roamer did not break his skin. Rick asks Glenn not to tell Lori about the close encounter.

Meanwhile, back at camp, Shane and Lori are talking. Shane tries to console Lori, saying that Rick will be fine. He tells her to come back to the camp, and that he will keep her company. Lori refuses Shane and tells him that he needs to stop trying to make advances at her since Rick is back. Shane says, “But what about that night when we – on the road down here?” Lori, her back to Shane, says, “That night was a mistake.”

Next in issue #5, Three weeks after getting the guns, Rick and Shane are teaching everyone how to shoot. Rick compliments Donna, saying that she has come a long way since they started. She thanks him, but adds that she’s nowhere near as good as Andrea, but Rick admits that he and Shane probably aren’t either. Both Rick and Shane compliment Andrea’s shooting, but she brushes it off as nothing too complicated. Rick jokes that she should try telling his wife, before going to fetch Carl for target practice. As Carl runs off in excitement, Lori angrily glares at Rick. During practice, Rick commends Carl for his shooting. Carl asks if this means he will get to carry a gun like everyone else, and Rick supposes it does. With that, Shane concludes the practice and invites everyone back to camp, determining that everyone is now capable of defending themselves. Rick announces that Carl will now be armed, and while he acknowledges that some may be uncomfortable with this, he reaffirms his stance that everyone at the camp should carry a firearm, and assures the others that he will take Carl’s gun away if he ever pulls it out outside of an emergency. Afterwards, Rick tries to convince Lori that Carl is safer this way, but Lori snaps back that Carl is seven years old. She doesn’t believe it to be a good idea, and bitterly supposes that the end of the world means she doesn’t get a say in parenting her own son. Rick reiterates that he will take Carl’s weapon away if he treats it like a toy, but Lori angrily storms off. As the group heads back, Dale complains about the distance of the range from the camp, but Shane points out it’s better than them attracting a pack of zombies to the camp with their shots.

Upon their arrival, Allen welcomes them back. Rick thinks that Allen could use some firearm practice too, but the latter prefers to stay and guard the camp, as he doesn’t wish to find walkers digging through their stuff and isn’t fond of the long walk to the range either. Donna shows her disgust of Andrea and Amy sleeping in the camper with Dale, deeming it “unchristian”. Lori retorts that being judgmental is as well, prompting Donna to storm off in a huff. A couple of days later, Rick, Shane, and Dale go to get firewood. Rick mentions how Donna keeps complaining about Andrea and Amy sleeping with Dale in the camper, to which Dale adds that Donna hasn’t shown any gratitude to him for saving her life. Rick jokes that Dale has earned the right to the company of two pretty young woman, since they’d be screwed without his camping equipment. Dale stresses that nothing is going on, and admits that he is too old for such adventures anyway. He explains that the two simply keep things clean, and give him some comfort since his wife passed away a couple months ago. Rick assures him that he doesn’t have to explain himself to them, and dismisses Donna as “just an old housewife who doesn’t have soap operas to keep her small mind occupied”. After chopping wood for a while, Dale suggests they head back to camp, believing it to be enough for the cookout. Rick isn’t so sure, and says that it will probably get quite cold tonight. This prompts Shane to suddenly snap at Rick that he is tired of his complaining, as he knows it’s getting cold. He stresses that they’re going to be fine, and refuses to move the camp. Both Rick and Dale are taken aback by Shane’s outburst, with Dale commenting that Shane has problems when the latter leaves.

That night, the group gathers around a fire and feasts on a deer Shane shot earlier. Rick praises Dale’s camping equipment, before asking the others what they did before the outbreak. Dale recounts that he worked as a salesmen for forty years, and spent two years traveling with his wife, Erma, with the RV they bought. He mournfully remembers how his wife died at a campsite eighty miles south. After he buried her, he traveled to Atlanta, having family in the city and due to having heard on the radio that it was safe, but was blocked off upon arrival. He adds that he found Andrea and Amy along the way, and gave them a ride after their car broke down. Amy says that she was a physical education major and that Andrea was driving her back to college, while Andrea reveals she was a clerk at a law firm, and jests that the job is one of the few things she doesn’t miss. Glenn says that he was a pizza delivery boy in Macon, and reveals that he was in a bad financial situation, so much so that he was considering begging his parents for help, despite never wanting to speak to them again. However, despite not having these problems anymore, he would gladly take them all back if it meant everything going back to normal. Allen says that he was a shoe salesman in Gainesville, supporting the rest of the family. Jim simply says he was a mechanic. Rick and Shane recount their stories, and Carol mentions that she used to sell Tupperware and her husband was a cars salesman, who had killed himself after watching his parents die in front of him. Amy excuses herself and goes to the RV to use the bathroom. She is startled by a zombie, but fails to notice a zombified Reggie sneaking up behind her. The survivors watch in horror as Amy is bitten on the neck, before Rick and Shane gun down the undead assailants. Rick and Andrea try to save Amy, but to no avail, as she bleeds out moments later. Shane alerts Rick to the presence of more zombies, which begin to swarm into the camp. Rick instructs Lori to hide with the children inside one of the cars, while the rest of the group pull their guns out to fight off the invaders. Dale tries to get Andrea to safety, but the latter refuses to abandon her sister. Lori leads Donna, Allen, Carol, and the children to safety, but the group is cornered by some zombies. Lori attempts to shoot a zombie advancing towards her, but fumbles and drops her gun. Before she is killed, Carl picks the gun up and shoots the zombie in the head. Carol is nearly bitten as well, but is saved by Glenn. As the group continue to fight, Jim is grabbed by a zombie and tumbles with it to the ground. He furiously beats it with the but of his gun while yelling at it for killing his family, until he is stopped by Shane. Once the attack is over, Andrea shoots Amy in the head to prevent her from turning into a zombie. Lori apologizes to Rick for doubting him. As they embrace, she is alarmed when she notices Jim has been bitten on the forearm, but the latter dismisses it as “just a scratch”.

Finally in issue #6, The survivors hold a funeral for Amy. Shane says he loved Amy because she always had something to say. Donna also says how Amy and her may have not gotten along, but she loved her. She states how she loves everyone and that everyone loved Amy, especially. Jim has perhaps his biggest speech and says nobody deserves to die like this and that she should have lived her life and went to college. Rick and Dale also bring forth their sadness. While everybody leaves, Andrea is still crying over Amy’s grave.

Jim’s health starts to deteriorate after being bitten by a zombie during the camp attack. Jim tells Donna about his garage boss, who he says was the first person he saw who turned. Jim thinks he’s lucky because his boss turned in a couple of hours. Donna suggests that maybe it won’t happen to Jim and then exits the tent where Jim is incapacitated. Allen asks how he is, and Donna says that he’s worse. She says Dale’s wife turned in half a day. Lastly, they both think it might not happen to him.

Meanwhile Rick, Carl, and Shane go hunting and Carl tells Rick that they don’t need as much food, because Amy is dead and Jim is too sick to eat. Shane yells at Rick saying it wasn’t his fault. Rick tells him they should have left the camp when they had a chance. Shane still thinks the army is going to save them. Carl is seen crying and runs off. Rick goes after him. Meanwhile, Dale is trying to cheer Andrea up, and Donna tells everyone Jim’s request. They bring him to Atlanta and leave him under a tree where he tells them to leave him, and that maybe he will meet his family once again. They say their goodbyes and then depart.

The following day they wake up and Shane tells Rick to get ready to go hunting. Rick tells Carl to stay behind so that he and Shane can talk. Shane starts yelling at Rick and punches him. Lori then punches Shane, which causes Shane to mentally snap and run off. Rick goes to follow Shane, and Carl follows his father in turn. Dale asks Lori if she is okay, and she replies, saying that they’ll never be normal again at this rate. Rick catches up to Shane and Shane starts yelling at Rick about how he can’t live like this anymore and goes off ranting about how he has nothing left and how Lori would have changed and loved him if Rick hadn’t returned. Shane then points his gun at Rick, and is about to shoot him when Carl shoots Shane in the neck. Shane dies, choking on his own blood. The book ends with Carl saying: “It’s not the same as killing the dead ones, Daddy”, and Rick replying, “It never should be, son. It never should be.”

Hardcover reprints/collects: The Walking Dead (2003 – 2004) Issues #1-6.  Image Comics

Hardcover is bagged and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: Image Comics
Publication Date: 2006
Format: BW, 144 pages, HC, 10.5″ x 7″
ISBN: None Stated

Collectible Entertainment note: Hardcover is Brand New & Factory Sealed.  Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Walking Dead and/or Horror collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Very Highly Recommended.

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