Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead, has riled up die-hard fans of the franchise by teasing that the current Deluxe full-color reissue of the series “could just keep going” after it reaches the final issue of the comic. The Deluxe editions’ reflections from Kirkman have been perhaps their greatest aspect, and his tease of a possible continuation raises expectations considerably.

In The Walking Dead Deluxe #100, Robert Kirkman reflects on the state of Deluxe once every issue is recolored. Rather than just end the Deluxe run once the final issue is released, the Walking Dead creator suggests continuing with a sequel. In Robert Kirkman’s own words, “…it’s possible we just keep going with Walking Dead Deluxe #194….”

Whether he actually follows through with that teaser remains to be seen, but the bigger question at hand is whether he should continue as such, a question fans are honestly divided on.

A Continuation Of The Walking Dead Risks Messing With The Original Run’s Satisfying Conclusion

The Walking Dead #193 – Written By Robert Kirkman; Art By Charlie Adlard; Released In 2019

The original Walking Dead comics ended with issue #193 and, by that point, numerous long-running characters had their stories concluded. Sophia and Carl get married and have a child, Michonne becomes a judge in the Commonwealth, and Maggie Greene becomes the President of the Hilltop. Even the final three words of The Walking Dead are perfect. The characters, society, and most importantly, nature were healing, in an incredibly hopeful ending to a bleak universe. All of that perfection would be undone with a continuation.

An ending like The Walking Dead carries an underlying message that no matter how bleak things look, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. Undoing that message suggests that only bleakness ever lies ahead.

The nature of storytelling always calls for conflict, and so any future storyline that expands upon The Walking Dead in sequel form is bound to create a new conflict. A sequel series, or a sequel issue, are not likely to showcase the characters still living optimistic, happy lives. There’s going to be something that will disrupt it. An ending like The Walking Dead carries an underlying message that no matter how bleak things look, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. Undoing that message suggests that only bleakness ever lies ahead.

No Matter How “Perfect” The Walking Dead’s Ending Was, Some Fans Still Want More

The Arguement For A Sequel Series

Alternatively, expanding The Walking Dead once more would certainly satisfy any fans wanting more, and fit right in with a pop culture that continues to be enamored with the live-action franchise. At the same time, it gives creator Robert Kirkman another opportunity to bring the story closer to his originally intended ending, which was for the zombies to take over the world. Some, Kirkman himself included, would call such an ending “bleak, sad, and terrible,” but that’s exactly how the Walking Dead creator intended the franchise to be, and a sequel could bring things closer to his original vision.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 is available now from Image Comics.