The Walking Dead follows Rick Grimes and survivors in a zombie apocalypse, focusing on human drama over horror. Robert Kirkman's long-form storytelling across 193 issues created comics' most successful horror series. The series' willingness to kill major characters kept readers on edge. Its realistic portrayal of survival, leadership, and morality resonated worldwide. The AMC television adaptation became a cultural phenomenon, running 11 seasons. The franchise spawned multiple spin-off shows, games, and merchandise, making it one of comics' most successful properties.