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How TWD Helped Take Geek Culture Mainstream

May 2, 2014
Brian HuntingtonbyBrian Huntington
in Comics
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Hey guys, Brian here. One of our contributors, Alex Wilson, came up with a piece that helps contextualize TWD’s place in “geek” and mainstream culture. Here’s Alex:


At the age of 16 I stood staring at the end cap of a shelf in my local comic book shop in Nebraska. But little did I know this slight perusal of a book I hadn’t heard of before would turn into a borderline obsession. Growing up in Omaha the geek culture was spread thin between a few comic book shops and an oriental grocery store that sold Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokémon cards. For the most part, comic book culture was underground.

If I were to return to Omaha, my hometown, I would see a different picture. Geek culture holds a much stronger place in the city. Local bookstores prominently display graphic novels and other geek paraphernalia. People attend the midnight releases of large comic book blockbusters. A rendition of Evil Dead: The Musical was even put on at a prominent local theater.

Why the sudden uptake in acceptance of comic book and horror culture? Why does every city now have a zombie walk? What’s the driving force behind this rapid culture change?

Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead.

It’s hard to deny the overwhelming effect this comic book turned television program has had on the inclusion of those who would have been considered outsiders years ago. The Walking Dead may not have invented horror culture, or zombie culture, or geek culture, but it has given it a fast track to the mainstream. If you had said ten years ago when The Walking Dead was first hitting shelves that this book would become one of the most watched programs on television, you would have been laughed off as delusional. If you would have gone on to assert this television series would be Emmy nominated you would have been run out of town. Never the less, you would have been correct.

The Walking Dead has profoundly changed how the mainstream views a once unknown, undefined, and seemingly terrifying subculture. Comic book fans didn’t have much of a hold on popular culture. Writers and artists just made books for the small niche fan base that read comic books. Geeks were considered lesser than others. “Geek” itself was an insult. In recent years the word has been taken back, used now as almost a term of endearment in many circles.

I remember when AMC first announced The Walking Dead television series. I had people asking to borrow my first 48 compendium. Now that compendium is lost in a sea of people who have borrowed and then subsequently lent it to their friends. I don’t feel any sadness over loosing the hefty priced book, however. I’m just happy others get to enjoy its stories. Whenever someone who currently possess the book tracks me down and asks if I want it back I tell them to just give it to someone who hasn’t read it before.

I can walk into any Barnes and Noble bookstore and find stacks of Walking Dead merchandise, everything from toys to games to the books themselves. Many local comic book shops put up displays specifically for The Walking Dead.

This book has brought zombies and comic books into the mainstream. The success of The Walking Dead has given the film and television industry the confidence to take risks when it comes to geek culture. Ten years ago, if comic book movies or television hit screens, they were hokey, cheesy, and corny. Now these programs and films have hundreds of millions of dollars to work with. Shows like The Walking Dead have shown geek culture cannot only be brought into the mainstream, but can thrive.


Alex Wilson dropped out of cub scouts at an early age after he refused to sell popcorn for “the man.” Since then his life has entered into a downward spiral. He lives in the sinful world of comic books, folk punk, and seedy tattoo shops. You can find him bare knuckle boxing to pay his rent or tweeting about Teen Wolf on his Twitter, @mralexwilson.

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Tags: ArticlesComicsGeek cultureRobert KirkmanTWD

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Comments 20

  1. marco says:
    9 years ago

    Please keep the old logo on the comic, don’t keep the new logo that is too small

    Reply
  2. marco says:
    9 years ago

    This logo on the picture is awesome, I wish we could keep it for the coming issues and not the new small logo

    Reply
    • Jason Thomas says:
      9 years ago

      dude you are silly lol .

      Reply
      • marco says:
        9 years ago

        What makes you like the new logo ?

        Reply
        • Jason Thomas says:
          9 years ago

          It seems to be more clear to me I have a background in graffiti art so I like that kind of thing .. Truthfully I’m a fan of the story most of all so the changing of the cover is irrelevant to me for the most part . Plus I like change have you ever met people in their 30’s and 40’s still dressing the same as they were in high school ? It’s laughable. I give you one thing you are a very passionate person and whatever you put your mind to you will do big things.

          Reply
  3. marco says:
    9 years ago

    Indeed, The Walking Dead made me buy and read other comics like Chew, Invincible, Crossed…

    Reply
    • Bastet says:
      9 years ago

      Same here… Chew & Sheltered.

      Reply
  4. Jason Thomas says:
    9 years ago

    That was a very cool read .

    Reply
  5. Fortress Geek says:
    9 years ago

    I wonder how much of this can be attributed to the Walking Dead and how much to Marvel’s shared universe movies and the success of Game of Thrones. Really, it’s a giant wave of geekery!

    Reply
    • Stuart O says:
      9 years ago

      Agreed, while im sure the walking dead plays its part, there has been a wave of coolness growing for years, from the Nolan batman films, to wave after wave of marvel films, there has never been a better time to be a “geek” and I use the word cause I never saw my self as a geek ever, all the way back to the eighties when I first picked up 2000 AD and was forever hooked on comics, if it was dredd, batman or spider-man I devoured them all, they were always cool to me.

      Reply
  6. Chris Bigger says:
    9 years ago

    I have always been a zombie head wayyyyyy before it was cool. Man growing up playing the resident evil games that where good and had zombies. Watching movies like night of the living dead, dawn of the dead, shaun of the dead the 28 days/weeks later if it something to do with zombies I was playing it or watching it. Don’t get me wrong they were all not good some droped the ball but others hit homeruns. I was zombie before zombie was cool

    Reply
    • Jason Thomas says:
      9 years ago

      First zombie movie I remember watching was Return of the living Dead I was just a kid and I loved it . I’ve been a horror fan my whole life . Freddy Krueger, Leatherface , Chucky ,Zombies , Vampires, Werewolves ect. I’m very glad it’s catching on tv and comics in a big way .

      Reply
      • Stuart O says:
        9 years ago

        My first zombie film was dawn of the dead, my uncle sat me down to watch it at the age of around 10 ish, was hooked ever since, not sure if you can pick it up anywhere in the US but dead set was a mini series in the uk thatwas really good, I would recommend it to any dead heads 🙂

        Reply
        • Jason Thomas says:
          9 years ago

          I’m going to try to find that show ..

          Reply
          • Stuart O says:
            9 years ago

            You should, its from a while ago, but am sure it will be around the web somewhere. It was called Dead Set as it focus’ on people who are on a Tv show when the outbreak happens.

      • Chris Bigger says:
        9 years ago

        Yeah it’s like everyone is an expert on it now

        Reply
    • Jason Thomas says:
      9 years ago

      Ever seen Critters ?

      Reply
      • Chris Bigger says:
        9 years ago

        Why yes yes I have

        Reply
        • Jason Thomas says:
          9 years ago

          Old school .

          Reply
  7. rob milam says:
    9 years ago

    I have an idea about the New Beginning. The girl on the cover is the daughter of Maggie and Glenn or its Sophia all grown up. Just some thoughts cant wait until the 18th.

    Reply

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