Issue 1

Issue 1 is the first and the debut issue of Image Comics' The Walking Dead and the first part of Volume 1: Days Gone Bye. It was originally published on October 8, 2003. It was re-released in full color on October 9, 2013 as a special edition to celebrate the tenth anniversary of The Walking Dead.

Plot Synopsis
The story opens with Officer Rick Grimes and his partner, Shane, in a standoff with a criminal that has escaped from prison. As Rick attempts to flank the criminal, he is shot.

It immediately cuts to Rick in a hospital bed waking up. With no nurses or doctors around, he slowly makes his way out of the room to discover that the hospital is overrun by zombies. He is attacked, but, able to get away unscratched. He attempts to find some means of transportation and, only finding a bicycle which is guarded by a half-eaten zombie. After stumbling back in disgust Rick grabs the bicycle, which he uses to ride to his home. When he arrives at his house he finds it ransacked and deserted. Upon exiting, he is hit over the head with a shovel by Duane Jones, and knocked unconscious. Duane's father, Morgan Jones, comes running up and scolds the young boy, telling him that Rick is alive and not a zombie.

Rick wakes up in the Jones' residence and, after having dinner, Rick and Morgan explain their situations. Rick reveals how he was shot, put in a coma, and doesn't know what is going on. Morgan tells Rick that not much is known about what caused the outbreak, but, that the media was informing everyone to relocate to large cities so that everyone could be protected. Morgan decided to take his chances in a small town, and says the power has since gone out and he knows nothing else. Rick mentions his wife had family in Atlanta and that she may have gone there with their son.

After talking, Rick, Morgan, and Duane go to the police station where Rick works. Rick equips himself with guns and a car. He also gives Morgan some guns and a car. Morgan and Duane plan on staying in the small town, so Rick and Morgan wish each other well and Rick mentions he will come back later for the two. Before Rick leaves for Atlanta, he walks over to the bicycle zombie and shoots her in the head.

Credits

 * Rick Grimes
 * Shane
 * Morgan Jones
 * Duane Jones
 * Criminal
 * Bicycle Girl (Zombified)
 * Lori Grimes (Photograph)
 * Carl Grimes (Photograph)

Deaths

 * Bicycle Girl (Zombified)

Trivia

 * First appearance of Rick Grimes.
 * First appearance of Shane.
 * First appearance of Morgan Jones.
 * First appearance of Duane Jones.
 * First (and last) appearance of Bicycle Girl. (Zombified)
 * First (and last) appearance of the Criminal.
 * AMC created a motion comic for the first half of Issue 1. To see the motion comic, see Volume 1: Days Gone Bye Gallery.
 * As an April Fools' Day 2012 joke, Robert Kirkman and Chris Giarusso announced a new project at Emerald City Comicon: The Walking Dead for Kids. This announcement including a new issue one cover. To see the cover, see the Volume 1: Days Gone Bye Gallery.
 * This issue sold for $10,100 on eBay on November 14th, 2012.
 * This is the first issue to be released in full color.

Motion Comic
Motion Comic: The Walking Dead was released by AMC Digital of the first part of Issue 1 of the comic with animation by Juice Films. It was posted on July 20, 2010.

Development
The animation is based on the first 13 1/2 pages of the original The Walking Dead comic, created and written by Robert Kirkman and art by Tony Moore. It was released previous to the first season of AMC's TV Series.

Additional credits on the project include voice acting by Phil LaMarr as Rick, Shane, Criminal and Zombies, direction by Jake Strider Hughes of Juice Films, and original music score by Lennie Moore.

Credits

 * Shane
 * Rick Grimes
 * Criminal
 * Bicycle Girl (Zombified)
 * Lori Grimes (Photograph)
 * Carl Grimes (Photograph)