This article is about the Comic Series character. You may be looking for her TV Universe counterpart. For other pages with the same name, see: Alpha |
“ | We are animals, Negan. Civilization is a myth. That is the truth this world has taught us. We have not risen above our baser instincts... that is what always has and always will drive us. That... ugliness you saw back there? Don't look away... stare into it... see what we are. That is the only way to free yourself.
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"Alpha" (real name unknown) is a main character and an antagonist, as well as a survivor of the outbreak in Image Comics' The Walking Dead. She was the leader of a large survivor group known as the Whisperers and is the mother of Lydia. After several skirmishes that resulted in the deaths of two Hilltop guards and several Whisperers, Alpha sets and example by decapitating twelve of the joint community members. She served as the primary antagonist from Volume 22: A New Beginning to Volume 26: Call To Arms.
Overview[]
Alpha is shown to be a cunning, cruel and sociopathic woman who is a strong leader to those in her group. She appears to take great pride in her leadership abilities and seems to enjoy the position of power. She gives the impression of no longer possessing any emotions or affection, as shown when she coldly rejected her own daughter's attempt to embrace her, telling her to call her "Alpha" instead of mother.
She emotionally and physically abused her daughter by allowing others to rape and abuse her. Despite this she does show care for her child, when she asked Rick to protect her after she is disowned for being weak, tearing up in secret. Later she breaks down, revealing she truly misses her daughter and hoped by giving her away she would become stronger.
Despite that, Alpha's savageness is very evident, being almost completely remorseless, killing not just for survival but as a message towards her enemies and those who defy her. She is highly intelligent, using her people to contain one of the largest herds ever encountered by the survivors.
Pre-Apocalypse[]
Location Unknown[]
Very little is known about Alpha's life prior to or as the outbreak began, except that she had a daughter named Lydia.
Post-Apocalypse[]
Alpha survived the initial stages of the outbreak, after which time she and her daughter either joined or formed a group of many survivors that eventually evolved to become the Whisperers. She eventually became their leader. Based on what she said to another Whisperer, she may have fought for her place as leader several times before.
A New Beginning[]
After Dante attacks the Whisperers who killed Doug and the other Hilltop guard, he goes to check to see how they had attacked him. Later, Alpha comes up behind him and aims her shotgun at him.
Whispers Into Screams[]
Alpha holds Dante at gunpoint, explaining that these are the Whisperers' lands, and his people will learn to fear them.
Alpha is then seen at the gates of the Hilltop. She introduces herself along with her army to Maggie. Alpha removes her mask and shows her face, claiming to mean no harm. She claims to only want her daughter, Lydia. In exchange, she will give back Ken and Dante, who are unharmed.
The trade proceeds, with Ken and Dante returning to the Hilltop and Lydia goes back with the Whisperers. Lydia thanks her mother for saving her, but she replies that Lydia should call her Alpha like everybody else. Alpha, Lydia, and the Whisperers depart into the forest.
Alpha is then seen marching in the woods, with her daughter beside her and the entire Whisperer army. Alpha says that Lydia should stay in the center because she doesn't have a skin suit and they'll have to craft another one, to which Lydia replies she tried to tend to her suit as best as she could. Seemingly unknown to her, she's being followed by Carl.
Life and Death[]
When the boy stops to rest, Alpha approaches him, asking why he followed them. Carl responds he wanted to make sure Lydia is safe, and makes it clear that it was his decision to do so, and the Hilltop has nothing to do with it. After a brief conversation, Carl is allowed to travel with them to their camp. While travelling to their camp, Alpha tells Carl that they don't have camps and instead live how they were intended to live (Without shelter, instead huddling together for warmth). They then arrive to a large group of people, disguised in the same costumes with camp fires, livestock and other necessities.
Soon, Alpha approaches Carl, and, after noticing the latter's aggression, reminds him that he's still a captive. She announces that there is no other way, and that she must learn more about Carl's people.
Later on, Alpha manages to sneak inside Alexandria-Safe Zone to learn more about the communities. She meets Earl Sutton who was asking about her work (machetes and spears she is showing off at her tent). He asks her how long ago she joined the communities, to which she responds that she joined them very recently.
Alpha manages to get back to the Whisperers' camp, where Rick Grimes is already there to save his son. She then approaches and says that she isn't impressed upon seeing Rick after all of the things she had heard about him. Rick tells him that he does not appreciate being held captive and that he would like to leave with Carl. Alpha says that she wishes he was never held captive. Alpha is holding a blood-stained machete.
Alpha says that she encountered some trouble on the road home and that it was unavoidable. Rick asks her what she has done and if she has hurt Andrea or Michonne before being punched by a Whisperer. Rick says that he will remember this as he wipes blood from his mouth. Alpha tells one of her people to go clean the machete and then tells Rick that he is in no position to threaten her and needs to be broken of the habit of threats. She tells Rick that the two of them will be going for a walk as Rick shouts that he will not leave Carl. Alpha threatens to kill Carl if Rick does not comply, forcing him to cooperate.
Rick is now at the gun-point by Alpha as they walk. The duo pass an overgrown gas station and a freeway. Rick asks her that if she planned on killing him that she could have saved them both a lot of time. Alpha states that although she is willing to kill Rick, she has no desire to. Alpha tells Rick to stop talking and to keep his voice down. Rick then asks Alpha where she is taking him as Alpha points to a building ahead of them.
Alpha and Rick approach a four-story building with a small water tower on top. Alpha tells Rick that the building is clear and the two go all the way to the roof of the building. Alpha tells Rick to go to the edge and look. She tells Rick that she wants him to see that she will destroy everything he has built in this world, everyone he has loved in this world, and that this is not an empty threat. Rick then looks over the edge with Alpha to see a massive herd below.
After showing Rick the massive horde of roamers, Alpha takes him off the building and takes him back to the Whisperers camp. Rick asks Alpha what she wants from him, she replies he has nothing to offer her. She proceeds to mock Ricks "fake" way of life and say how they are like children playing pretend. "You've built a shrine to world long dead," Alpha says how her people are the ones who live truly and live a life of freedom. Rick then questions her about her ideology about the Whisperers being free despite them referring to their leader as "Alpha" and having to sleep in the cold and wear dead human skin.
As Alpha and Rick returned to the Whisperers camp, Rick tells Carl that they can leave peacefully however Carl refuses to leave Lydia. He tells Rick that the Whisperers rape Lydia and Alpha allows it and he confronts Alpha about it. Alpha claims that rape is a power of the natural world and making it excusable. Lydia breaks down telling what has happened to her and Alpha is disgusted by her show of emotion and strikes her in the face calling her weak. She preaches how in order to survive in the new world one needs to be strong and she too breaks down. Rick separates them and Alpha whispers to him that they can provide the safety to Lydia that she could not. She then disowns Lydia and tells her to go with Rick and Carl. Alpha informs Rick that she has marked a border that separates them and the Whisperers and that they are not to cross that border or her horde will cross into their side. Rick takes Carl and Lydia and they leave.
No Turning Back[]
Alpha wanders into the forest and stops, propping up against a tree she begins to cry until she is greeted by a fellow Whisperer. The Whisperer understands that Alpha is upset for sending Lydia away but thinks she did the right thing, since Lydia wasn't strong enough to be part of their group. Alpha worries that he thinks her weak for showing emotions. He assures her she won't have to worry about him but urges her to make sure no else will know. She agrees and swiftly cuts his throat. Another Whisperer witnesses the end of the confrontation and asks what happened. She tells him that the other Whisperer had tried to challenge her for her position. She wipes her knife clean and they walk away, leaving the body to be processed by the land.
Call to Arms[]
As he arrives at the Whisperer's camp, Negan jovially talks about the type of skin suit he would like after joining them, as he is taken to Alpha. Alpha demands to know who he is, Negan introduces himself, then declares that he is in love.
Alpha proceeds to interrogate Negan as to who he is and what his business is within her lands, while constantly having to reject Negan's advances toward her, which she deems "annoying". When Beta intervenes in their conversation, revealing Negan's lie about his affiliation with the Alexandria Safe-Zone and its allies and about being an escaped prisoner, Alpha declines Beta's request to kill Negan. Alpha asks Negan if he's afraid of dying then asks why he came to them. Negan pleasantly suggested he had a "hell of a lot" to offer her and the Whisperers.
Beta questions Alpha, saying that Negan is breaking all the rules they abide by. Alpha roughly asks Beta if he challenging her. Beta immediately drops to one knee and apologizes. Alpha forgives him and tells him to leave. Negan mockingly bends his knee, asking if Alpha accepts him as apart of the Whisperers. She does, but when Negan asks, says he cannot have a "skin suit" until he earns it. Later, Negan is attacked by two walkers and pinned down. Alpha tells him that he has earned his knife back and gives it to him, allowing him to kill the walkers.
After witnessing the attempted rape of a young Whisperer, Negan questions Alpha's leadership of the Whisperers. He calls her an animal, to which she agrees. She tells him that this is nature and it is the only way people will get stronger. She replies that she has to be strong for the Whisperers, and then admits that she let her daughter be raped. She tells Negan that she is not strong. Negan opens up to her, but then tells her that "It's all a game, Alpha... And you're not fucking winning". She says that maybe Negan does belong with them. Negan replies that maybe he does... and proceeds to slit Alpha's throat and cut her head off, saying he doesn't want to be with them.
The Whisperer War[]
Beta finds Alpha's headless corpse and mourns her loss. Some other Whisperers arrive and note that Negan isn't there to claim his title. Beta says he would never allow him to become the alpha, that he did not intend to claim the title himself. He doesn't want there to be another alpha ever—they will be guided by her words. He informs them that they will kill everyone.
Later, Negan presents Alpha's decapitated and zombified head to Rick and Andrea. It can be assumed that she was put down off panel as there would be no reason to keep her zombified head.
Death[]
- Killed By
- Brandon Rose (Indirectly Caused)
Brandon releases Negan hoping that he will help him warn the Whisperers of an impending attack by the Militia. Negan, however, kills Brandon and, instead, integrates himself with the Whisperers until he can make his move.
- Negan (Alive)
After a lengthy conversation about Alpha's leadership of the Whisperers and whether he belongs with them, Negan proceeds to slit Alpha's throat, before fully decapitating her.
- Unnamed Alexandria resident (Zombified, Off-Panel)
Even though Alpha's brain was not destroyed, she was most likely put down off-panel.
Killed Victims[]
This list shows the victims Alpha has killed:
- Olivia (Alive)
- Josh (Alive)
- Carson (Alive)
- Tammy Rose (Alive)
- Luke (Alive)
- Erin (Alive)
- Ken (Alive)
- Amber (Alive)
- Larry (Alive)
- Oscar (Alive)
- Rosita Porter (Alive)
- Rosita's unborn child
- Ezekiel (Alive)
- 1 unnamed Whisperer
- Numerous counts of zombies and unnamed people
Relationships[]
For a more in-depth look at Alpha's relationships, read here: Alpha (Comic Series)/Relationships
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Appearances[]
Issues | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
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Book One | |||||||||||||
Book Two | |||||||||||||
Book Three | |||||||||||||
Book Four | |||||||||||||
Book Five | |||||||||||||
Book Six | |||||||||||||
Book Seven | |||||||||||||
Book Eight | |||||||||||||
Book Nine | |||||||||||||
Book Ten | |||||||||||||
Book Eleven | ✔ | ||||||||||||
Book Twelve | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
Book Thirteen | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||||
Book Fourteen | ✔ | ||||||||||||
Book Fifteen | |||||||||||||
Book Sixteen |
✔ | Appears | ✔ | Voice is heard |
👁 | Appears with no lines | ✔ | Appears in a flashback |
✔ | Appears as a walker | 🖼 | Appears in a photograph/video |
✔ | Appears as a corpse | ✔ | Appears in a hallucination/dream |
Gallery[]
- For more images of Alpha, please visit Alpha (Comic Series)/Gallery.
Trivia[]
- Alpha is the third and final major recurring antagonist in the Comic Series, the first being the Governor and the second being Negan.
- She also has the second longest lifespan out of all 3 major antagonists in the comics.
- She is the first major antagonist to be female.
- She is the first major antagonist without an actual name as 'Alpha' is the term used for the leader of the Whisperers.
- She is the first major antagonist to be killed by another major antagonist in the comics.
- She is also the first major antagonist to become zombified in the comics.
- In the Letter Hacks of Issue 158, Kirkman states that killing Alpha was one of the hardest deaths ever.
- Alpha being decapitated by Negan is ironic as she now receives the death that she gave to the twelve innocents in Issue 144.
- Alpha has the least number of appearances for a main character, only appearing in 12 issues alive.
- Alpha, along with Rick, Andrea, Billy, Michonne, Brian, Abraham, Paul and Negan, has killed the most named characters, either as a zombie or as a living person.
- While her real name was never confirmed, it's possible that her name was Dee, as that is her TV counterpart's real name.[1]