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Iconic The Walking Dead zombie was nearly a bit different

By Adam Carlson

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 05: Robert Kirkman, and Dave Alpert speak onstage during The Walking Dead Universe, Including AMC's Flagship Series and the Untitled New Third Series Within The Walking Dead Franchise at New York Comic Con 2019 Day 3 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden October 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for ReedPOP )
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 05: Robert Kirkman, and Dave Alpert speak onstage during The Walking Dead Universe, Including AMC's Flagship Series and the Untitled New Third Series Within The Walking Dead Franchise at New York Comic Con 2019 Day 3 at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden October 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for ReedPOP ) /
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It would have been a bit weird if The Walking Dead hadn’t changed an iconic walker.

By now, fans have come to find a lot of iconic things about The Walking Dead. Throughout a 15-year comic book run, ten seasons of the flagship show, spinoffs, webisodes, video games, and much more, there have been memorable things that stay in the minds of people.

One of those iconic things is Bicycle Girl. As part of the first issue of comics and the first episode of the AMC television drama, seeing the female zombie on the ground near a fallen bike was a big way to introduce Rick Grimes to what the living had become in an up-close and personal fashion.

However, it wasn’t always the Bicycle Girl that fans know that was planned to go into the story. As revealed in the Cutting Room Floor section from the first issue of The Walking Dead Deluxe comics, the walker was a bit different originally.

Here is what TWD creator Robert Kirkman had to say about the change:

"“Bicycle Girl was originally intended to be a kid. Between the plot and the script, I decided an adult woman cycler would be sadder, or have more of an emotional connection to Rick. Don’t know if I agree with that at this point, might have been better as a kid.”"

It would have been slightly amusing to watch Rick Grimes riding a bicycle far too small for him away from the walker. But, as far as the identity of the walker itself, Kirkman couldn’t have gone wrong with a kid or an adult woman.

Rick’s goal after leaving the hospital was to find his wife and son. Using an adult woman or child for the walker near the bicycle would have worked to foreshadow a possible death of a loved one. Going with an adult made the scene play out much better on television, and should confirm that Kirkman made the right decision, even if he still questions it.

In fact, Bicycle Girl was the inspiration for the first Webisode based on The Walking Dead titled “Torn Apart” and it can be WATCHED RIGHT HERE.

What do you think? Would you have preferred Bicycle Kid as the iconic walker on The Walking Dead or do you like it as Bicycle Girl as it is? Let us know your preference in the comment section!

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