The Walking Dead #1 | 10th Anniversary Edition in Full Color

The Walking Dead #1 10th Anniversary Edition celebrates the comic that started one of modern horror’s biggest franchises. Released in October 2013, this special edition revisits the original 2003 story by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore. Most importantly, it presents that landmark first issue in full color for the first time.

Dave Stewart provided the colors for this anniversary release. His work gives Tony Moore’s familiar artwork a dramatically different appearance. The original series became famous for its black and white presentation. That makes this color edition an interesting companion piece for longtime Walking Dead collectors.

The story begins before Rick Grimes understands that his world has ended. Rick is a police officer working alongside his partner, Shane. During a dangerous confrontation, Rick is shot and eventually falls into a coma.

When Rick awakens in a hospital, everything has changed.

The building appears abandoned. Medical staff are gone, normal life has disappeared, and the dead are walking. Rick slowly discovers the horrifying reality surrounding him. His confusion allows readers to experience the ruined world at the same time he does.

Rick escapes the hospital and begins searching for his family. He finds a bicycle and eventually reaches his home. Lori and Carl are gone, leaving Rick with even more questions.

His next encounter introduces Morgan Jones and Morgan’s young son, Duane. Duane initially mistakes Rick for one of the dead and knocks him unconscious with a shovel. Morgan later explains what little he knows about the disaster.

Rick learns that people had been encouraged to seek safety in larger cities. Since Lori has family near Atlanta, he believes she may have traveled there with Carl.

Before leaving, Rick visits his police station and gathers weapons and supplies. He shares equipment with Morgan before beginning his search. One especially emotional moment has Rick returning to a badly injured walker he encountered earlier. He chooses to end her suffering before continuing toward Atlanta.

These scenes establish much of what would define The Walking Dead. The horror matters, but the human reactions matter even more. Fear, family, grief, uncertainty, and survival become central themes from the very beginning.

Robert Kirkman’s writing introduces Rick without revealing every answer about the apocalypse. Tony Moore’s artwork gives the opening chapter its distinctive visual identity. Together, they created the foundation for a comic series that would grow far beyond its modest beginnings.

Collectors should remember that this is not the original 2003 first printing. It is the 2013 10th Anniversary Edition. However, that distinction gives the comic its own appeal.

The issue reproduces the debut story that introduced readers to Rick Grimes, Shane, Morgan, and Duane. It also includes additional anniversary material and showcases the original story with Dave Stewart’s colors.

The cover recreates Tony Moore’s famous image of Rick standing outside a shattered storefront as walkers surround him. Stewart’s coloring gives the familiar scene a striking new appearance.

For Walking Dead collectors, this edition represents a celebration of the story that began everything. It offers the original opening chapter in a presentation unavailable when readers first discovered Rick Grimes in 2003.