Negan’s villainous group “the Saviors” were one of the most memorable factions in The Walking Dead, though as revealed by Robert Kirkman, their “original” name was much less evocative, but somehow still oddly fitting, considering the quixotic sense of humor that their leader would become famous for over the remainder of the comic’s run.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #96 – written by Robert Kirkman, with art by Charlie Adlard – is a full-color rerelease of the original black-and-white issue, first published in 2012. The updated issue also includes what has become a staple of the Deluxe reprint, Kirkman’s “Cutting Room Floor” section.

Analyzing his own handwritten notes for the issue, Kirkman noted that his placeholder for the name of Negan’s people was simply “The Bad Group” – commenting that it “does have a nice ring to it,” though ultimately it was likely for the best that the author went with something more specific.

Before They Were “The Saviors,” Negan’s Crew Was “The Bad Group”

The Walking Dead Deluxe #96 – Written By Robert Kirkman; Art By Charlie Adlard; Color By Dave McCaig; Lettering By Rus Wooten

Introducing Negan leading a band of marauders called “The Bad Group” would have changed the tone of the series, a shift that would have had a ripple effect as the comic progressed.

The appeal of Robert Kirkman’s annotations to The Walking Dead Deluxe has been the wealth of insight he has shared with fans into the evolution of the comic’s story. Kirkman has revealed details about his dynamic creative process, which involved plotting far ahead and regularly planting seeds of arcs for the future, while also being highly flexible when it came to altering plans and changing directions as dictated by the story itself. Case in point: while Kirkman had the idea for Negan and the Saviors early on, their character concepts were still taking shape just issues before their debut.

The Walking Dead #96 represented a major turning point for the series in more ways than one, with none being more evident than it heralded the imminent arrival of Negan. The Saviors are perhaps the franchise’s stand-out antagonists, and Negan himself would go on to be one of The Walking Dead’s most memorable characters, even earning the prestige of being Robert Kirkman’s favorite. Before their “Saviors” identity was established, however, the author had a short-hand for the villainous faction, as he explained in the author’s notes to The Walking Dead Deluxe #96:

Heh…The Saviors originally being called “The Bad Group.” Never actually meant to be their name, but it does have a nice ring to it.

As Robert Kirkman explained, “The Bad Group” was never going to be the final name for the Saviors on the page –but even he admits that it would not have been totally inappropriate for them, either. What makes this particularly noteworthy, in any case, is the way that it highlights how even a single, seemingly minor decision can alter the trajectory of a story. In other words, introducing Negan leading a band of marauders called “The Bad Group” would have changed the tone of the series, a shift that would have had a ripple effect as the comic progressed.

Even Robert Kirkman Suggests “The Bad Group” Would Have Fit Negan’s Sense Of Humor

The Walking Dead Deluxe #96 – Available Now From Image Comics

There was a certain line Robert Kirkman wouldn’t cross when it came to humor in The Walking Dead , and calling Negan’s people “The Bad Group” would have straddled that line, if not outright overstepped it.

Robert Kirkman’s comment that “The Bad Group” as a name for Negan’s faction “has a nice ring to it” might have been in jest, but it may also strike the reader as a tacit acknowledgment that the name would have been congruous with the character of Negan as fans would come to know him. While The Walking Dead wasn’t entirely humorless through the first one-hundred issues of its run, Negan’s arrival introduced a dimension of almost-perverse levity to the series.

Notably, this was not “comedic relief,” but rather another layer of tension and discomfort for both characters and readers alike to contend with. In a sense, there was a certain line Robert Kirkman wouldn’t cross when it came to humor in The Walking Dead, and calling Negan’s people “The Bad Group” would have straddled that line, if not outright overstepped it. That is to say, it might have fit Negan’s sense of humor, and even perhaps Robert Kirkman’s, but not The Walking Dead’s.

“Suspension of disbelief” – upon which all stories depend, to some degree or another – is an endlessly tricky thing. It often seems as though any given story can only ask so much of its audience. With its zombie outbreak premise, The Walking Dead requires a large suspension of disbelief from the reader upfront; as funny as it might sound, something as simple as calling its new villains “The Bad Group” would have risked testing the limits of readers’ investment in the story.

The “Saviors” Name For Negan’s “Bad Group” Fits The Tone Of The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead #96 Marks The First Use Of “Saviors”

His official introduction, and the brutal murder of fan-favorite character Glenn, would solidify the idea that the “Saviors” name was a macabre joke. In this way, it managed to be ominously amusing, without being as overt as “The Bad Group.”

More than a matter of humor, the name of Negan’s “bad group” – and any group in The Walking Dead – was about fidelity to the tone of the series, which remained consistent throughout its run. Calling Negan’s people “The Bad Group” would have represented a shift, or perhaps it is better to say a compromise of the story’s tone, which could have begot others, in the process changing the comic by degrees each time. Robert Kirkman’s comment that this was never actually considered as the group’s final name suggests he recognized this at the time.

While fans can only speculate about the “What-ifs?” of The Walking Dead so much, Kirkman’s annotations in the Deluxe rerelease certainly serve as a prompt to do so. It also affords readers the opportunity to scrutinize the decisions Kirkman did make in greater context. By identifying what makes “The Bad Group” not work as a name, a clearer picture of what makes “Saviors” so much more fitting emerges; that is, it also contains Negan’s trademark wicked humor, but in a way that matches The Walking Dead’s own style.

Introduced as the Saviors in Walking Dead Deluxe #96, it is made immediately clear that they are anything but. Even before his introduction in The Walking Dead #100, this is the first hint at the dark irony that was so central to Negan’s character. His official introduction, and the brutal murder of fan-favorite character Glenn, would solidify the idea that the “Saviors” name was a macabre joke. In this way, it managed to be ominously amusing, without being as overt as “The Bad Group.”

The Introduction Of The Saviors Was The Walking Dead’s Sharpest Turning Point

Revisit Negan’s Entrance In The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 – Available November 6

With The Walking Dead Deluxe #100, and the introduction of Negan, coming soon, the rerelease of The Walking Dead is certain to shift into an even higher gear, just as the series itself did.

Considering how large Negan’s presence looms in The Walking Dead franchise, it can sometimes be forgotten that he arrived more than halfway into the comic’s run. The Walking Dead #96 represents the conclusion of the final arc before Negan’s arrival, meaning that it closes the door on one era of the series, and opens the door to another. Robert Kirkman’s comments in the Deluxe reprint of the issue say as much, and it is certain that his notes over the next several issues will be heavy with the weight of what is coming.

For fans of The Walking Dead, the Deluxe reissue is an indispensable resource; for those who didn’t follow the comic issue-by-issue during its original release, this is an opportunity to do in full-color, while for long-time fans, it is an opportunity to relive that experience. For both, Robert Kirkman’s commentary on his iconic series is endlessly fascinating. With The Walking Dead Deluxe #100, and the introduction of Negan, coming soon, the rerelease of The Walking Dead is certain to shift into an even higher gear, just as the series itself did.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #96 is available now from Image Comics.