Robert Kirkman Named a Walking Dead Villain After His School Bully: “F*** That Guy”

As a gamer with a keen interest in comic books and a soft spot for dark narratives, I must admit that the creation of The Governor in Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead is nothing short of chilling. Having grown up in Lexington, Kentucky, and attended Breckenridge Elementary just like him, it’s hard not to feel a shiver down my spine whenever I think about Phillip, the school bully who inspired this monstrous character.


If you’re named Philip and went to Breckenridge Elementary with Robert Kirkman in Lexington, Kentucky, there’s a chance that the villain from the comic book series “The Walking Dead Deluxe,” who shares your school history, may have some striking similarities with your past. In the latest issue, Kirkman revealed that he named the comic’s first major antagonist after his school bully – a character known as The Governor, portrayed as a sadistic, psychopathic individual with a dark past involving rape. (It’s worth noting that in the comics, The Governor’s real name is Brian Blake before he adopts Philip’s name; on the television show “The Walking Dead,” David Morrissey’s character was named Philip Blake and used Brian as an alias.)

In Kirkman’s latest edition of “The Walking Dead Deluxe” #101, it is mentioned that the school bully from Breckenridge Elementary in Lexington, Kentucky was a boy named Philip. This name, according to Kirkman, serves as his abbreviation for unsavory characters. He ensures that he will never bestow a positive character with the name Philip; they will always have some degree of villainy attached to them.

The author of both “Invincible” and “Void Rivals” cautioned against using that specific character’s name for every ill-intended or poor quality character in his works, stating that Philip was the first such individual he had encountered who acted maliciously without reason, leaving a lasting impact. Kirkman then expressed his disdain towards this character by saying, “I can’t stand that guy.

In issue #27 of “The Walking Dead,” the sinister character known as the Governor made an appearance, inflicting severe harm on Rick Grimes by severing his hand. During this same period, he committed despicable acts against Michonne, Tyreese, Hershel, Lori, and Judith Grimes, resulting in their deaths during an attack on the prison. This villain, arguably one of the most twisted in “The Walking Dead,” was responsible for a series of horrific acts. Eventually, Michonne exacted her revenge on the Governor, subjecting him to gruesome mutilation and torture until he was left near-dead. In a climactic moment, she gouged out his eye with a spoon.

In “The Walking Dead Deluxe” #33, as recounted by Kirkman in 2022, the issue sparked much debate. Kirkman aimed to portray the world as ruthless as he imagined it could be without flinching from difficult subjects… Whether it was for good or ill, that was the goal of that particular issue.

In simple terms, Issue #101 of “The Walking Dead” Deluxe edition, which features a vibrant color reprint, is currently available for purchase from Image Comics.

Read More

2024-11-21 03:10