The Walking Dead is back with their most shocking season debut leaving fans of both the graphic novels and television series reeling over some changes in the line up.  So with a spoiler warning, here are some character deaths from the comic book series that have been altered in the television show. 

***MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT CAUGHT UP WITH THE COMIC BOOK SERIES OR RECENT SEASON OF THE WALKING DEAD. ARTICLE CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN***

Abraham Ford

In the graphic novels, it is Rick Grimes who solely killed a group of Saviors to send a clear message to Negan. Negan sends Dwight to Alexandria to do the bat slinger’s dirty work. While Abraham and Eugene are conversing in the “safe-zone” of Alexandria about Rosita, Abraham is shot in the back of the head with a crossbow by Dwight. Abraham manages to say some parting words to Eugene about Rosita, “I want her to be happy without me like I am without her. I just want things to be right, do you understand? If she can be happy with you…GREAT. And than I just don’t-”  Abraham’s body is later found by Rick and Andrea.
In the television series, fans notice the comic book death of Abraham was given to Denise. Michael Cudlitz  (who portrays Abraham Ford) stated on The Talking Dead that Abraham was on “borrowed time” so to speak. Even graphic novel creator, Robert Kirkman mentioned that the death of Abraham in the graphic novels was underwhelming and he wished he would have given the character another death. Looks like Robert Kirkman got his wish when Abraham was selected by Negan to receive the fatal blows of his vampire bat, Lucille. In the end, both the graphic novel and television adaptation shared something in common: Abraham stayed a fighter till the end and he played a vital role in the group. Abraham will be missed from his physical strength to his one liners.

Glenn Rhee 

In the graphic novels, the group is ambushed in their sleep. Selected members are captured and then then corralled by The Saviors. Just as in the show, Negan lines up members of Rick’s group to be selected as his next victim. Negan, in the graphic novels, dismisses Glenn at first, his reasoning being that he did not want to be deemed a racist for his selection. However, just as in the show, Negan plays “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe” and Lucille lands on Glenn.

Once chosen, Glenn pleads for his life amongst others in the group. Unamused, Negan delivers a blow to Glenn. The series adaptation stayed with the graphic novels in regards to the death of Glenn from the lines used to the chilling visual of Glenn’s smashed skull. The only change was that Glenn was killed based on Daryl stepping out line and punching Negan in the face. This broke Negan’s only rule for the group that night, and made Glenn the second victim to Lucille that led into a fan uproar. Glenn’s death was one of the most heart breaking moments on television to date.

As a fan of both the graphic novels and the television series, I was happy to have the final words of Glenn be “I will find you,” despite the simple call for Maggie in the graphic novel. Fans were also given a dream like dinner where we saw Glenn and Abraham seated side by side with Glenn’s son in his lap which gave fans a tease to what could of been. The scene left not a single dry eye on Sunday and yet gave some small sense of closure for the characters.