There’s one “Walking Dead” character we know is safe after the Season 6 finale. He’s the only one who’s definitely not in pee-pee pants city, and now it appears he’s going to be around for a while.
While talking with The Huffington Post, “Walking Dead” artist Charlie Adlard revealed, “Negan is definitely back. I’m pretty sure for the long haul.”
Adlard is referring to Negan’s return in the comic book after being locked away for a bit, but since the comic is way ahead of the show at this point, you should probably get used to seeing him around.
Though Adlard says he obviously can’t “confirm or deny” anything, and stresses how it’s ultimately creator Robert Kirkman’s decision who lives and who dies in the series, Negan is among the artists’ favorite characters to draw and he’s looking forward to what’s ahead.
“I don’t really know what his final game plan is, which is exciting,” Adlard said. “You don’t know where he’s going to go, which is probably quite unique in the character because you’ve pretty much got a grip on most of the characters ― good or bad. Whereas for Negan, you still think he could go either way, and I like that idea. Personally, I don’t think he’s as villainous as everyone assumes he is.”
Adlard’s thoughts might be a hard sell after the Season 6 finale. Negan clearly took out at least one of the main characters, and rumor has it there will be even more victims. For now, “villain” seems pretty accurate.
Still, that doesn’t mean he’s not a likable guy. Perhaps he’s even too likable.
Though Adlard was pivotal in creating the character, he adds that he has “mixed feelings” about Negan fans’ excitement.
In regard to a young boy dressed as Negan at San Diego Comic-Con, Adlard said, “You do kind of think, ‘Well, hang on, are those parents actually showing this [to that] young boy, about 5 or 6?’ You go, ‘Hang on, you’re dressing your child who really shouldn’t be seeing this.’”
With the fandom growing and Adlard’s thoughts on Negan’s future, be ready to see a lot more of the character moving forward in both the comic book and on the show. But even if Negan is around for a while, in the comic, Rick Grimes promises he’d be the one to kill him. Though Grimes is given the chance to kill Negan and (spoiler alert) lets him live, could he still be the one to end Negan’s run?
“Everything’s a possibility in ‘The Walking Dead,’” said Adlard, adding, “Whatever happens to Negan or Rick will be the opposite of what you assume is going to happen.”
“The Walking Dead” returns Sunday, Oct. 23.
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