When it comes to The Walking Dead, fans often assume that every character they’ve come to love originated in Robert Kirkman’s groundbreaking comic series. But the AMC TV adaptation introduced surprises that went beyond the pages, giving rise to entirely new personalities who would leave an indelible mark on the franchise.
In fact, one of the show’s most beloved characters wasn’t even part of the comics at all. Created exclusively for the television adaptation, this character quickly became a fan favorite as soon as they were introduced in the first season. Some might remember him as the brooding outsider with a crossbow slung over his shoulder, while others admired his fierce loyalty and quiet heroism. It's none other than Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus)! Another character who wasn't in the comics is Daryl's problematic brother, Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker).
So, why exactly weren't Daryl and Merle part of the original comics? Kirkman had no problem answering this question in The Walking Dead Deluxe #67, shared by ComicBook. He acknowledged that creating the Dixon brothers wasn’t just his idea alone. It involved a team of writers, including Jack LoGiudice, Charles H. Eglee, and Frank Darabont.
Kirkman then went on to mention that “logistical issues” prevented bringing TV characters into the comics, but he didn't specify exactly what those issues were. However, he did make it clear that including characters who were developed collaboratively for the show in the comics would have felt inappropriate. The comics were his original work, and he wanted to prevent the TV adaptation from influencing its story or direction.
Since the comics came first and were the source material that made the show possible, he wanted to keep it independent. In short, Kirkman kept Daryl and Merle out of the comics to respect the contributions of the writers who helped bring them to life and to protect the comic book series' original story. Oh, and because of the "logistical issues" that he mentioned.
“I would never have done it because it would feel wrong to bring the work of so many other people into the comic. I never wanted the show to change the comic, since the comic is what made the show possible, and I worried it could turn into a snake eating its own tail.”
Although Merle meets his demise in the original series, Daryl manages to survive and even gets his own spinoff show titled The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Two seasons of the zombie series have come out so far, and they both can be streamed on AMC+ and Netflix. The third season is set to start airing on AMC on Sept. 7, 2025. In addition, a fourth and final season has already been confirmed.
If you want to revisit The Walking Dead to catch Daryl's early days, you can do so on Netflix. The streaming giant has all 11 seasons available on its platform for you to watch and enjoy.