The Walking Dead writers are known for writing for some of the best characters. Characters with beautiful story arcs that touch fans' hearts. In fact, these characters are what drive the story of The Walking Dead forward and open a variety of themes to explore.
Robert Kirkman, creator of the original comic book series, is to thank for bringing some of these iconic characters to life. However, it's surprising to find that some of the characters who play such important roles in the television series were never part of the original story.
In this article, we've highlighted seven popular characters from The Walking Dead who were created exclusively for the television adaptation and never appeared in Kirkman’s comic series.
1. Merle Dixon
Merle Dixon was a hot-headed Southerner who created all sorts of trouble for Rick's group. He was the group's first human antagonist. Someone who wasn't the best person to be around before the apocalypse started, and an even worse person after the old order of the world slipped away.
Merle never appeared in the comics, but they created him for the show to pose a challenge to the group. He was the first glimpse into the idea that walkers wouldn't be the only thing that survivors had to worry about. Over time, humans became the worst of the apocalypse. Since humans were so eager to survive, many were willing to do anything, no matter the cost. Societal laws and the old ways of living no longer held them back, and morals were thrown out the window when it came to survival.
Merle was always the kind of person who looked out for himself more than others, but he soon realized that was no way to live when he risked his life to save his brother, Daryl, and the rest of the group. He gave up his life to make up for his past mistakes, and Daryl cherished that sacrifice.
Overall, Merle was a great addition to the series. He helped shape Daryl as well as the rest of the group, and it was enjoyable to watch his dynamic with his brother.
2. Daryl Dixon
Daryl Dixon hadn't even been written when Norman Reedus auditioned for the show. Michael Rooker had already landed the role of Merle when Reedus auditioned using that character's lines. He was hoping to get any role in the series, but didn't think he'd get anything considering the role of Merle was already taken. However, season 1 showrunner Frank Darabont called Reedus up and told him that he had created a new character just for him.
The character of Daryl Dixon quickly became a staple character of the series. Daryl begins the zombie show as a character similar to Merle, but he eventually becomes a compassionate figure willing to risk his life for those around him. He became Rick Grimes' right-hand man and a central character to the story of The Walking Dead.
Daryl even enriched many of the characters' development throughout the show, including Carol Peletier's. Her friendship with Daryl ends up helping both of them grow into strong survivors.
3. Sasha Williams
In the comic books, Tyreese Williams never had a sister. Instead, he had a daughter named Julie. In the show, however, they decided to create the character Sasha as Tyreese's sister. Sasha was strong and courageous, known for fighting for those she loves. The complete opposite of Julie, who was the group's babysitter and no longer had the motivation to live in the apocalypse. Julie's life ended due to suicide when she made a pact to die with her boyfriend, Chris.
However, towards the end of Sasha's life she began to display similarities to the character of Julie. After Bob and Tyreese died, she was in this low part of her life. Life got even harder for her after her boyfriend Abraham was killed. In the end, she committed suicide, similar to Julie.
However, she killed herself while trapped by Negan, hoping to kill him in walker form. Sasha's character was resilient, showing the hardships of losing your loved ones in the apocalypse and trying to move on by finding more to fight for.
4. T-Dog
Theodore Douglas wasn't in the comics as well. In the show, T-Dog was a character who helped protect the group. He had his struggles with Merle at the beginning of the first season and was given the keys to unlock Merle's handcuffed hand from the roof.
T-Dog eventually dropped those keys down a drain, which would change the course of history of the show. Because T-Dog dropped the keys and left Merle handcuffed to the roof, characters like Daryl were able to grow into completely different people. They became important members of Rick's group.
Merle's influence was no longer a hindering factor all because T-Dog dropped the keys to his handcuffs. Later in the third season of the show, T-Dog went on to save Carol by risking his life. He fed himself to the walkers so she could get away. After his death, Glenn described T-Dog as a caring person who drove his church van to the elderly homes to assist with evacuations when the apocalypse began. Glenn said he saved his life "a thousand times."
5. Beth Greene
Hershel Greene had many children in the comics, but Beth wasn't one of them. She was created just for the TV series. Beth begins the show as a background character who slowly starts to develop into a valued member of the group.
She had a rough start transitioning into the new zombified world. After her mother's zombified corpse is put down by Rick's group on the farm, Beth finds herself in a catatonic state. She even tries to end her life because she believed there was nothing left to live for and that she'd eventually be torn up by walkers.
Thankfully, Beth wasn't able to go through with it and as a result she transforms into a strong character loved by fans. She becomes the babysitter of the group during the prison days and develops a beautiful amount of optimism for someone who tried to commit suicide in the past.
After her father dies, she learns from Daryl how to track and how to carry herself when she's taken to the hospital. Beth knew how to look for the good in people, and she inspired those around her to do the same.
6. Enid
In the comics, Carl Grimes had a relationship with Lydia and eventually married Sophia Peletier. In the show, however, he had a relationship only with Enid, who never existed in the comics. Enid comes to Alexandria shortly after losing her parents. She knew how to survive in the apocalypse by herself and would sneak out of the walls of Alexandria as an escape.
Carl soon meets Enid after spending a lot of time outside of any sort of societal community. They eventually develop a relationship, understanding how it is to fight to survive. After Carl dies, Enid pushes on and learns how to help others through medicine by studying under Siddiq.
Enid's decision to become a doctor saved lives and led her to be able to perform the amputation of Aaron's arm when it was crushed in the second episode of the ninth season. However, Enid would also meet a sudden death like Carl when the group found her head on a pike after being decapitated by Alpha.
7. Milton Mamet
During the third season, Milton Mamet was one of the Governor's right-hand men. He assisted him with information and any of his scientific needs. While he was never in the comics, he seems heavily influenced by the comic book character Dr. Stevens. In the comic book series, Dr. Stevens is Woodbury's primary doctor. He is a smart and friendly character, who soon befriends Rick and tries to escape Woodbury after fearing the Governor's sick actions. Sadly, Dr. Stevens is bitten before he can escape and dies.
Milton reminds me of this character because he also grew fearful of the Governor. He was always too afraid to speak up to him, and when he did, he met his end. Milton tried to help Andrea escape the Governor and was a friend to her in Woodbury when she didn't know who to trust. In the end, the Governor infects Milton with the zombie virus by letting a walker bite him. Then, Milton's zombified corpse goes on to infect Andrea, resulting in a devastating death for Rick's group.
The Walking Dead is streaming on Netflix.