Robert Kirkman once received criticism from readers about publishing a story inPlayboy– something the author said was a “stunt,” one designed to get fans ofThe Walking DeadTV series to pick up the comic, and hopefully, to keep reading comics after that. Whether fans agree with this tactic or not, revisiting this moment in the comic’s history offers some fascinating insight into Kirkman as a creator.
The Walking Dead Deluxe#97 – written by Kirkman, with art by Charlie Adlard – reprints the issue’s original fan letters section, in which the author defended his decision to publish a story inPlayboyMagazine. In 2012, fresh off the introduction of Michonne in the television series’ second season, Kirkman decided to do her origin story.
However, rather thantelling Michonne’s backstorywithin the main comic series,Kirkman opted to release it as a special six-page story published exclusively in the April 2012 issue ofPlayboymagazine, which he explained was done deliberately to draw in new fans.
Robert Kirkman Explains His Controversial Decision To Publish A Michonne Story In Playboy As A “Stunt”
As made clear by the fan letter printed inThe Walking Dead#97, and now reprinted as part of theDeluxeedition of the series, Kirkman’s decision to reveal key insights and background on Michonne inPlayboydidn’t sit well with some segments ofThe Walking Deadfandom. Many fans were outright disgusted by the move. In response, Kirkman explained his rationale behind the move:
Let’s set aside whatever opinion you have for Playboy for now and let’s just recognize that there are a large number of people reading Playboy that do not read comics. Same as there is a large number of people watching The Walking Dead.
That Michonne story was a STUNT…A stunt to get people to read comics. Admittedly, in particular MY comics, but in theory, only at first. You watch the show, you see the comic in Playboy, you buy a Walking Dead trade…if you like it, you get all the volumes, when you run out – you might eventually seek out OTHER books if you like it…
As explained by Kirkman, his goal with the Michonne story inPlayboywas to generate attention for the series.
Michonne’s First & Last Moments Show What The Walking Dead Is Really About
From beginning to end, Michonne’s arc aligns closely with The Walking Dead’s core lesson, finding middle ground between complacency and brutality.
This answer might not satisfy everyone – butit is a real answer, in which Kirkman does not seek to obscure his motivations, or equivocate about the purpose of the “stunt.” At a time when theWalking Deadseries was still gaining momentum, and the franchise was truly becoming the phenomenon that it evolved into, the author was willing to take a chance to capitalize on that. In his estimation, it was ultimately a move that he was willing to stand by – and that he believed benefited more than just himself, but the industry as a whole.
Was It Successful?
Kirkman considered the MichonnePlayboystory as a strategic opportunity to boost the popularity and sales ofThe Walking Deadcomic book franchise, while also expanding the broader comic book readership. Consistent with his acknowledgment that the publication was a stunt,Kirkman argued that it benefits not only himself, which is to be expected from an independent artist, but also comic book enthusiasts, including the critical fan themselves. By making comics more accessible, Kirkman believed the stunt had a positive impact on the community.
Robert Kirkman’s stunt was intended to be one small step forThe Walking Deadfranchise, but a significant leap for comic fandom, though the true extent of its influence may never be entirely clear.
As he summed up in theWalking Dead#97 letters section:
I’m willing to bet that Playboy Michonne story got us at LEAST one new lifetime comic reader…Could be 10,000, could be 500…but I KNOW it got us at least one. So, isn’t that a good thing?
If he’s right, and someone who likely would never have considered reading a comic book – orThe Walking Dead– if it hadn’t appeared inPlayboy, then many readers will be hard-pressed to argue with his logic. In this sense, Robert Kirkman’s stunt was intended to be one small step forThe Walking Deadfranchise, but a significant leap for comic fandom, though the true extent of its influence may never be entirely clear.
The Walking Dead Deluxe#97is available now from Image Comics.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as “walkers.” The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.
