The Walking Dead introduced its fair share of iconic villains throughout its epic 193-issue run, with the foul-mouthed Negan receiving one of the bloodiest introductions of any character in the history of the comic book medium. Immediately becoming a foe fans loved to hate, Negan’s debut issue was a critical and financial success, with series creator Robert Kirkman recently revealing what record it broke and why Negan’s debut helped achieve this incredibly impressive feat.

Making his presence known in 2012’s The Walking Dead #100, Negan didn’t waste any time showing what he was about, with his profanity-spewing R-rated personality, signature barbed-wire-wrapped bat Lucille, and brutal murder of fan-favorite character Glenn, instantly making him a villain worth hating.

Custom Image by Brian Colucci

Benefitting from the bloody debut of Negan but also building on the hype surrounding the centennial chapter of this series and the almost concluded “Something to Fear” storyline Negan and his Saviors eventually defined, The Walking Dead Deluxe #101 confirms that the original release of issue #100 “outsold every comic published for over a decade prior.”

Negan’s Walking Dead Comic Debut Shattered Sales Records in the Industry

The Walking Dead Deluxe #101 – 2024 (Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Dave McCaig)

Reminding fans how historic this issue was upon release, series creator Robert Kirkman, in the supplemental behind-the-scenes “Cutting Room Floor” column, reminisces on how “absolutely white-hot” The Walking Dead was in the early 2010s, with this landmark hundredth chapter moving “over 380,000 copies of its FIRST printing.” Outselling every independent comic released since The Darkness #1 hit 357,000 copies sold in 1997, The Walking Dead #100 took over third place at 383,612 issues sold, with 1992’s Spawn #1 and 1995’s Witchblade #1 holding onto the coveted top two spots at 1.7 million and a 1 million sold, respectively.

Also, it’s fun to remember how absolutely white-hot this book was at that time. The book was so popular, we could see tens of thousands of copies of a cover that was… a section of a bloody baseball bat. Wild. People may not remember, but issue Nº100 sold over 380,000 copies of its FIRST printing. It outsold every comic published for over a decade prior. In fact, you had to go all the way back to 1997 to find a comic that outsold it, and that comic was a special issue of The Darkness , also published by Image, from fellow Image partner Marc Silvestri. People seem to forget what a powerhouse Image Comics actually is. It’s an institutional brand in comics after being around for over 30 years.

Already a success if reaching its 100th chapter is of any indication, this issue’s record-breaking sales came at a time when interest in Rick and his group’s survival was at an all-time high, with the introduction of a ruthless but no less iconic villain in Negan setting up a dangerous new chapter of this zombie-filled saga, starting with Glenn’s death. At the time, AMC’s The Walking Dead was at peak popularity between its second and third seasons, with the show’s cast dealing with the other sadistic villain of the franchise, The Governor, perfectly dovetailing with Negan’s debut in the comic.

Robert Kirkman Remembers How Historic The Walking Dead #100 Was When It First Released

Making sure to thank Image Comics for being an “institutional brand in comics,” Robert Kirkman acknowledges how this issue “was a real turning point for the series” and how “Things only got crazier from here,” all thanks to Negan’s unpredictable antics that shook up The Walking Dead’s already intense story for issues to come. The Walking Dead’s comic book universe concluded its zombie-infested story five years ago with a surprise finale that no one saw coming, with Negan’s debut 100th issue remaining one of the most significant sales feats in the entire history of the series, if not the medium.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #101 is available from Image Comics.