Having created legendary franchises like The Walking Dead and Invincible; through his career, Robert Kirkman has proven to be one of the leading voices in the comic industry. Next, a collaboration decades in the making finally comes to fruition, as Kirkman, writer Benito Cereno, and artist E.J. Su debut their new book Blood and Thunder. 33123h

Void Rivalsshocked the comic book world in 2023 when it was revealed to be a part of the new Transformers and G.I. Joeshared continuity, but Robert Kirkman's new series is perfect for fans who know nothing about those long-running franchises from the eighties. In fact, it continues the likes of Invincible and The Walking Dead in giving Kirkman an outlet to tell another long-running story in the monthly comics medium.

Robert Kirkman has a new comic coming this year, as The Walking Deadco-creator is bringing the new series Blood & Thunder to a comic book store near you. Kirkman has mastered horror and superhero fiction with blockbuster franchises like Walking Dead and Invincible - now the celebrated writer is looking to conquer the cyperpunk world with a new series focusing on a bounty hunter in a far-future world.

Robert Kirkman, creator of comics like The Walking Dead and Invincible, may have started his career at Marvel Comics, but he hasn't had much good to say about his time at the House of Ideas over the years. In a memorable 2020 interview, the writer and producer said that during his time at Marvel, he thought that company officials resented his indie success and that he did not feel like he "needed" Marvel.

Warning: MASSIVE SPOILERS for Invincible ahead

Few comic book series are riper for Easter eggs than Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead. Indeed, the fact that it is based on one of the oldest and most storied genres in horror gives it decades of zombie conflict to tap into. For one of the series’ quirkier hat tips, however, the creators went outside the culture of the undead for an interesting reference of a more personal nature.

The increased use of artificial intelligence in comics has industry veterans like The Walking Dead co-creator Robert Kirkman very worried. In the previous half-decade alone, artificial intelligence in media has rapidly evolved from a short-term novelty to a concerning form of technology that threatens to overtake the careers of human content creators. Due to this expedited development, creators, businesses, and lawmakers must decide what is or isn’t an appropriate use of AI in the entertainment industry. Understandably, many creators fear the negative impacts AI may have on their careers and creative expression.

Robert Kirkman and M. Night Shyamalan are both influential creators, unified by the lasting impression they've left upon their respective mediums – but one way they are radically opposed is in their feelings on creator cameos. M. Night is known for appearing on-screen in his own work; Kirkman, meanwhile, disavowed appearing in adaptations of his stories, particularly The Walking Dead, specifically citing Shyamalan's cameo habit as something he didn't like.

The Walking Dead is a brutal comic book story that sees series protagonist Rick Grimes and the rest of his ragtag crew of survivors do their best to live in a world overrun by the undead. When asked about where his inspiration for the series came from, Robert Kirkman reveals that not only is his zombie-tinged narrative inspired by the many horror films of yesteryear, but that it was also Kirkman's parents who unintentionally helped him dream up the bloody tales he would eventually tell.

Robert Kirkman is known for his successful 2000s-era comics like InvincibleandThe Walking Dead, but the famed writer is keen to cite the “extreme” comics of the previous decade as major influences on his work. Kirkman lists Image Comics founders like Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld and Erik Larsen as hugely influential on his own work, defending an era of comics that most are quick to dismiss altogether.