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The Walking Dead (Single Issues) #Special
Walking Dead - L'Étranger et le Retour de Negan
Firmly set in the continuity of Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s beloved "The Walking Dead" series, “The Alien" sheds light on a corner of their undead universe we never dreamed they’d let us reveal, and you can download the entire 31-page (!) black-and-white special at PanelSyndicate.com for any price you think is fair.
54 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2016
4 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
Brian K. Vaughan
1,063 books14.2k followersBrian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site www.PanelSyndicate.com
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
September 4, 2023
Mr Saga, Mr Y The Last Man, Mr Brian K Vaughan is a allowed to write a one-shot in the land of The Walking Dead!
Did you know that Rick Grimes had a brother? A few days after the outbreak this book catches up with brother Grimes in Barcelona looking for a way to get home. Seeing BKV and Martin creates this OK story, further illustrates just how good Kirkman and co. are. Is this a must-read? Well in a kind of way yes... gives you some scope on the rest of the world. 7 out of 12, Three Stars.
2019 and 2017 read
Did you know that Rick Grimes had a brother? A few days after the outbreak this book catches up with brother Grimes in Barcelona looking for a way to get home. Seeing BKV and Martin creates this OK story, further illustrates just how good Kirkman and co. are. Is this a must-read? Well in a kind of way yes... gives you some scope on the rest of the world. 7 out of 12, Three Stars.
2019 and 2017 read
February 23, 2017
There are three things why you should read this one-shot comic:
1. It is FREE, (or at least a pay what you want item). So please support panelsyndicate.com!
2. It is an authorized TWD comic.
3. Brian K. Vaughan wrote this.
The Alien takes you to Spain as the plague infests the city of Barcelona. Here we meet Rick Grimes' brother Jeff (yes, you heard it right) as we get to peek at his personality as well as how the zombie disease spreads on a non-American soil.
Having just 28 pages, this issue has nothing much to offer other than a straightforward zombie story. All the zombie genre cliches are here: the zombie at your back, the unexpected zombie bite reveal, zombie fights, zombie saves and the sad human turning to zombie.
Art tries to mimic the black and white palette of TWD, but this is no Tony Moore. It lacks the detail and shading present in the original material.
The Walking Dead: The Alien is best read when you have absolutely nothing to do, it offers almost nothing except for a quick fix in your craving for something to read.
1. It is FREE, (or at least a pay what you want item). So please support panelsyndicate.com!
2. It is an authorized TWD comic.
3. Brian K. Vaughan wrote this.
The Alien takes you to Spain as the plague infests the city of Barcelona. Here we meet Rick Grimes' brother Jeff (yes, you heard it right) as we get to peek at his personality as well as how the zombie disease spreads on a non-American soil.
Having just 28 pages, this issue has nothing much to offer other than a straightforward zombie story. All the zombie genre cliches are here: the zombie at your back, the unexpected zombie bite reveal, zombie fights, zombie saves and the sad human turning to zombie.
Art tries to mimic the black and white palette of TWD, but this is no Tony Moore. It lacks the detail and shading present in the original material.
The Walking Dead: The Alien is best read when you have absolutely nothing to do, it offers almost nothing except for a quick fix in your craving for something to read.
December 16, 2021
An engaging trifle with a couple zombie chase scenes that adds a trivial and inconsequential tidbit to the Walking Dead mythos. Looks nice, reads fast.
December 13, 2016
This was good. Everybody talks about this comic and I kind of get it but, i think what is really awesome to see is how zombies invaded the entire world. This issue, at the moment, is the only one about these particular characters, in which one, Claudia, is a strong girl with a plan to return to U.S.A and helped Jeff just to get a flashlight. There's no character development and is understandable, this only had 32 pages so...there's so little space to do it, so story is simple, exactly what we expect from BKV, and the pictures are really good, fix perfect with TWD "original" issues.
April 20, 2016
Like anyone with good taste, Robert Kirkman is a huge fan of The Private Eye by Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente. He asked Vaughan to let Image publish a hardcover edition of the series. Vaughan would - IF Panel Syndicate could do a canonical issue of The Walking Dead (up til now only Kirkman has written for the title). The deal was done. The gorgeous Cloudburst edition of The Private Eye came out last year from Image Comics and today Panel Syndicate’s The Walking Dead: The Alien was released - and it was very good!
Unlike the main series which (so far) takes place exclusively in America, The Alien takes readers across the pond to Barcelona where the zombie apocalypse has infected nearly everyone. Young American backpacker Jeff awakens to find the city on fire before being attacked by a zombie - and is then saved by a knight in armour… on a moped. Jeff and the knight make a plan to take the sewers out to the port and escape on a boat to Ibiza before striking out for the States where rumour is a cure exists. But will they make it out of the city alive…?
The Alien is a pretty fun issue. It’s almost entirely non-stop action as Jeff and Claudia (the knight) battle zombies left and right in a desperate bid for freedom and there are some awesome sequences like what goes down on the boat. And as for the whole “canon” thing? Well, I’m not gonna spoil who Jeff is but it’s a cool reveal - totally forgot him being mentioned in the first Walking Dead book!
This issue is designed to be read sideways on a tablet like all Panel Syndicate comics but, in the tradition of The Walking Dead, it’s black and white (with some red splashed in of course), so Muntsa Vicente’s beautiful colours are missing. Still, fantastic artwork from Marcos Martin who lovingly draws his home city of Barcelona with its amazing architecture and then happily burns it down! Also, the sequence in the water has a Sin City flavour to it with its look and intensity which I loved.
Walking Dead fans: of course you’re gonna read this, you didn’t anyone to review the comic and give it a thumbs up! Everyone else: this one’s worth a read too if you’re a horror fan and want to read a fun “escape the zombies” story. Pick up a digital copy of the comic for yourselves over at www.panelsyndicate.com and pay what you want for it (even nothing, ya freeloadin’ jackals!).
Unlike the main series which (so far) takes place exclusively in America, The Alien takes readers across the pond to Barcelona where the zombie apocalypse has infected nearly everyone. Young American backpacker Jeff awakens to find the city on fire before being attacked by a zombie - and is then saved by a knight in armour… on a moped. Jeff and the knight make a plan to take the sewers out to the port and escape on a boat to Ibiza before striking out for the States where rumour is a cure exists. But will they make it out of the city alive…?
The Alien is a pretty fun issue. It’s almost entirely non-stop action as Jeff and Claudia (the knight) battle zombies left and right in a desperate bid for freedom and there are some awesome sequences like what goes down on the boat. And as for the whole “canon” thing? Well, I’m not gonna spoil who Jeff is but it’s a cool reveal - totally forgot him being mentioned in the first Walking Dead book!
This issue is designed to be read sideways on a tablet like all Panel Syndicate comics but, in the tradition of The Walking Dead, it’s black and white (with some red splashed in of course), so Muntsa Vicente’s beautiful colours are missing. Still, fantastic artwork from Marcos Martin who lovingly draws his home city of Barcelona with its amazing architecture and then happily burns it down! Also, the sequence in the water has a Sin City flavour to it with its look and intensity which I loved.
Walking Dead fans: of course you’re gonna read this, you didn’t anyone to review the comic and give it a thumbs up! Everyone else: this one’s worth a read too if you’re a horror fan and want to read a fun “escape the zombies” story. Pick up a digital copy of the comic for yourselves over at www.panelsyndicate.com and pay what you want for it (even nothing, ya freeloadin’ jackals!).
November 6, 2022
Having recently read the entire series of The Walking Dead for Halloween I decided to finally get around to the spinoff - The Alien. I'll be honest, I had no idea what to expect going into this and was simultaneously both surprised and underwhelmed.
The Alien is a fun little addition to The Walking Dead series offering a unique snapshot of life outside of the United States during the dystopian outbreak. It's surprising how well it fits in thematically with its parent series and everything feels in keeping with the atmosphere and presentation - including the black and white art style.
That said, it's an extremely short read - one that hardly justifies the hardcover treatment - all it really offers is a tiny tidbit to The Walking Dead series, which sort of leaves it all feeling a little bit pointless.
Overall, if like myself you're a massive fan of The Walking Dead then this is probably worth your time. It's well written and well presented with respect to the main series. However, if you're new to The Walking Dead or are ambivalent to the zombie classic then I'd just go right ahead and breeze on by.
___________________
My Score: 7/10
My Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
___________________
The Alien is a fun little addition to The Walking Dead series offering a unique snapshot of life outside of the United States during the dystopian outbreak. It's surprising how well it fits in thematically with its parent series and everything feels in keeping with the atmosphere and presentation - including the black and white art style.
That said, it's an extremely short read - one that hardly justifies the hardcover treatment - all it really offers is a tiny tidbit to The Walking Dead series, which sort of leaves it all feeling a little bit pointless.
Overall, if like myself you're a massive fan of The Walking Dead then this is probably worth your time. It's well written and well presented with respect to the main series. However, if you're new to The Walking Dead or are ambivalent to the zombie classic then I'd just go right ahead and breeze on by.
___________________
My Score: 7/10
My Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
___________________
April 21, 2016
Dumb, boring and pointless. No one cared about what this random character that was name-dropped over 10 years ago was doing. Likely no one remembered he existed.
Reviewers from actual legit sources are raving about Claudia, but why? She wears armor, and then she wears a bra, and then she makes innuendo while wearing a bra. Then she falls off a boat. Comparing her to Michonne, Andrea, TV-verse Carol, TV-Verse Sasha, or Molly, Clem or Jane from the games, she's a far cry from your standard TWD badass female.
Lame.
Reviewers from actual legit sources are raving about Claudia, but why? She wears armor, and then she wears a bra, and then she makes innuendo while wearing a bra. Then she falls off a boat. Comparing her to Michonne, Andrea, TV-verse Carol, TV-Verse Sasha, or Molly, Clem or Jane from the games, she's a far cry from your standard TWD badass female.
Lame.
August 1, 2018
This is brilliant. Far too short, give me more!!
January 13, 2020
Worth the read if only for the end, but definitely not something you’d want to read if you haven’t read at least some of the rest of the series.
This one shot issue follows Jeff, an American who finds himself stranded in Spain after the zombie apocalypse breaks out. He meets a woman named Claudia, and together they plan to find their way to America where they hear there is a cure.
Short but meaningful. I really enjoyed this one.
This one shot issue follows Jeff, an American who finds himself stranded in Spain after the zombie apocalypse breaks out. He meets a woman named Claudia, and together they plan to find their way to America where they hear there is a cure.
Short but meaningful. I really enjoyed this one.
February 5, 2018
Ahhh, not what I was expecting .. like Walkers vs. Aliens .. :p
But muuuuuuch better.
Really enjoyed the story and they came to a mouth opening ending..
But muuuuuuch better.
Really enjoyed the story and they came to a mouth opening ending..
August 5, 2020
Superbly executed, but left me craving more (as Walking Dead one-shots often do.)
I’d love to see Brian K Vaughan contribute more to this world.
It’s a short, action packed story with superb art and a very neat little connection to the main series. Definitely a must for fans of The Walking Dead and Brian K Vaughan!
I’d love to see Brian K Vaughan contribute more to this world.
It’s a short, action packed story with superb art and a very neat little connection to the main series. Definitely a must for fans of The Walking Dead and Brian K Vaughan!
October 5, 2020
Having not actually read the Walking Dead comics yet, this is technically my first direct exposure to the world outside of general pop culture knowledge.
A very self-contained story that ties into the larger series, Vaughan and Martin deliver a tight survival tale with strong art, emotional punch, and a character who finally dresses right to face a zombie horde.
Reading it is over in a flash, but it's tightly constructed from start to finish.
A very self-contained story that ties into the larger series, Vaughan and Martin deliver a tight survival tale with strong art, emotional punch, and a character who finally dresses right to face a zombie horde.
Reading it is over in a flash, but it's tightly constructed from start to finish.
March 6, 2022
A VERY brief read, but a cool one by none other than Brian K. Vaughan, with an important connection to the Robert Kirkman masterpiece. Recommended for fans, but don't pay a lot because it's super short!
July 15, 2017
Totally loved the tiny splash of red ink towards the end. Fits really well.
At first, I thought the author was going with an extraterrestrial spin as the source of the zombie outbreak. But 'The Alien' was actually referring to something else. Haha.
Wow! Was that Rick Grimes' kid brother?
At first, I thought the author was going with an extraterrestrial spin as the source of the zombie outbreak. But 'The Alien' was actually referring to something else. Haha.
Wow! Was that Rick Grimes' kid brother?
May 5, 2021
El virus es Global !!!, y tenemos una corta historia de zombies en Barcelona.
LO BUENO: Salir de esos campos desolados y de carretera en Estados Unidos, en Barcelona, con el ARTE ( SI,en mayusculas) del mousntruo Marcos Martin que se marca unas paginas hermosas, en composición, diseño, personajes, escenografia...todo es hermoso.Ah, y hay un rasro de color, que creo que nunca habia aparecido en Walking dead, y queda muy lindo.
LO MALO: Es muy, muy corto, loc ual obliga a que la gran mayoria de la historia sea un corre corre, además predecible, disfrutable, pero predecible.
LO BUENO: Salir de esos campos desolados y de carretera en Estados Unidos, en Barcelona, con el ARTE ( SI,en mayusculas) del mousntruo Marcos Martin que se marca unas paginas hermosas, en composición, diseño, personajes, escenografia...todo es hermoso.Ah, y hay un rasro de color, que creo que nunca habia aparecido en Walking dead, y queda muy lindo.
LO MALO: Es muy, muy corto, loc ual obliga a que la gran mayoria de la historia sea un corre corre, además predecible, disfrutable, pero predecible.
January 30, 2026
A tidy 3-star story, with a bonus star awarded for the neat backstory (that being its inception as an agreement between Image and Panel Syndicate, who decided they would allow the former to publish a physical hardcover edition of The Private Eye, if they were allowed to publish a canonical issue of The Walking Dead). Nothing serious, but fun!
August 12, 2016
Shit. In just one single issue Vaughan has managed to create much more interesting characters and story than Kirkman did in the first two volumes of The Walking Dead that I've read. Kudos, Panel Syndicate. Great job.
April 24, 2016
Fun little side story. I didn't find the characters all that interesting but the art is great and the ending is somber. I really enjoyed the little secret twist and the pacing was well done. Mostly action throughout, few dialog boxes along the way, made it a easy and simple read.
October 28, 2017
Walking Dead goes us to Europe, with a perfect plot twist!
I hope we get more Walking Dead all over the world!!!
My full review in Greek:
http://www.comicdom.gr/2016/04/24/the...
I hope we get more Walking Dead all over the world!!!
My full review in Greek:
http://www.comicdom.gr/2016/04/24/the...
April 25, 2020
Great one-off extension.
October 24, 2022
OLDEST trick in the book of comic books (the comic book?):
In the 80's, someone hit on the idea of making any new X-Men that came on board related to Cyclops somehow. Let's give him a brother. Then another brother who was born in spaaaaaaace! Then he'll have a son who he sends to the future for some reason. His dad? Why, a space-faring adventurer, of course!
But what people tend to forget with this is that if characters are related, but that's the entirety of their connection, their biological relation...who gives a shit?
Sure, if your brother is Hitler or Jesus, that'll do. But if your brother is a moderately famous superhero in the world of superheroes? Eh?
Anyway, that's what we get in this volume, and it has no real effect or purpose. It's pretty much based entirely on "Hey, I don't think Rick Grimes ever specifically said he DIDN'T have a brother, right?"
In the 80's, someone hit on the idea of making any new X-Men that came on board related to Cyclops somehow. Let's give him a brother. Then another brother who was born in spaaaaaaace! Then he'll have a son who he sends to the future for some reason. His dad? Why, a space-faring adventurer, of course!
But what people tend to forget with this is that if characters are related, but that's the entirety of their connection, their biological relation...who gives a shit?
Sure, if your brother is Hitler or Jesus, that'll do. But if your brother is a moderately famous superhero in the world of superheroes? Eh?
Anyway, that's what we get in this volume, and it has no real effect or purpose. It's pretty much based entirely on "Hey, I don't think Rick Grimes ever specifically said he DIDN'T have a brother, right?"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2018
"Insane cannibals aside...this has been the best day...of my life..."
Amazing. A great mini story, slightly expanding on the Walking Dead universe. I wont say much as I dont want to give anything away but definitely worth reading, its great! Not penned by Kirkman but Vaughan is a comic legend (Saga, L the Last Man, Paper girls) I want more of these... 5 🌟
Amazing. A great mini story, slightly expanding on the Walking Dead universe. I wont say much as I dont want to give anything away but definitely worth reading, its great! Not penned by Kirkman but Vaughan is a comic legend (Saga, L the Last Man, Paper girls) I want more of these... 5 🌟
April 12, 2021
Really awesome but just way too short, you'll find some nice references to the original walking dead, but it's not worth the exaggerated prices on ebay or the hardcover 20 dollar price, better off reading on a digital version, I think the heres negan one shot is much better, wish it had more barcelona references.
December 22, 2024
Found this while browsing Skybound’s Black Friday sale. I didn’t know there were in-universe stories I hadn’t read yet, so I rectified that real quick. This one and the YA Clementine trilogy, which I really look forward to.
This is a one off story featuring Jeff. Jeff is looking to find himself, do a bit of traveling while he does, and sadly finds himself quarantined inside Barcelona when the zombie apocalypse starts. He’s a good guy, which the reader finds out quickly, as he tries to save a kid from being attacked. He isn’t successful, but luckily he is saved by a Spanish armor wearing woman with a halberd. (That really got my mind racing on some museum robbing zombie stuff). Someone to ally with, and also someone with a plan to get out of Spain.
This was awesome frankly. Not only is it a canon story, it’s the first time we see something outside of America in the Walking Dead. There a mixed rumors that foreigners both brought the illness in, as well as America having the cure figured out. Readers of the series will know that’s not true, but it was cool to see another part of the world. This seems pretty close to break out as well, as Jeff seems kind of like an amateur still.
You’ll end up with lots of wondering about what could have been if this one off didn’t end. And what a solid reveal that I did NOT know about.
I really enjoyed the black and white art mimicking that of the full series, and the splashes of red were just perfect at the end.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-wa...
https://fanfiaddict.com/series-spotli...
This is a one off story featuring Jeff. Jeff is looking to find himself, do a bit of traveling while he does, and sadly finds himself quarantined inside Barcelona when the zombie apocalypse starts. He’s a good guy, which the reader finds out quickly, as he tries to save a kid from being attacked. He isn’t successful, but luckily he is saved by a Spanish armor wearing woman with a halberd. (That really got my mind racing on some museum robbing zombie stuff). Someone to ally with, and also someone with a plan to get out of Spain.
This was awesome frankly. Not only is it a canon story, it’s the first time we see something outside of America in the Walking Dead. There a mixed rumors that foreigners both brought the illness in, as well as America having the cure figured out. Readers of the series will know that’s not true, but it was cool to see another part of the world. This seems pretty close to break out as well, as Jeff seems kind of like an amateur still.
You’ll end up with lots of wondering about what could have been if this one off didn’t end. And what a solid reveal that I did NOT know about.
I really enjoyed the black and white art mimicking that of the full series, and the splashes of red were just perfect at the end.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-wa...
https://fanfiaddict.com/series-spotli...
September 10, 2017
Quick read about the walking dead in another country with a connection to the USA comic characters. The art isn't as great as the originals and lacks depth (it is very short) it does contain a load of zombies!
January 12, 2019
This was fun. The single issue about one American boy in Spanish city during the outbreak, desperately hoping to get back to the states to his older brother who's in hospital. This is playful, fun and I would like to read more.
April 26, 2021
Una curiositat en paral·lel a l’inici de la plaga de morts vivents amb una historieta que passa a Barcelona (el punt fort del còmic, bàsicament) i que té una connexió inesperada (però no gaire determinant) amb la trama principal.
L’he llegit a la FNAC, de peu, en cinc minuts.
L’he llegit a la FNAC, de peu, en cinc minuts.
August 16, 2024
Definitely not what I was expecting but it sure hit me in the stomach like it was intended to. This was my first Vaughan and I have to say, I really liked his style - definitely an homage to TWD but with his own voice. Plus I always like start-of-outbreak stories.
August 2, 2022
3 1/2 car trop court. Petit clin d’œil à l’original WD
November 29, 2023
BROTHER?!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews