Image Comics / Skybound Entertainment has revealed a set of variant covers for issue #163 of The Walking Dead. There is a full color version and a black and white version that will be available along with the regular cover version. The image depicted by cover artist Dave Stewart is of Rick Grimes, the main protagonist of Robert Kirkman’s ongoing story, who has donned the attire of the infamous, vile, antagonistic villain Negan. What is in Rick’s hand in the cover art? Is it a Colt Python, the famous .357 Magnum that Rick Grimes is famous for carrying? Nope. He is holding Lucille, Negan’s barbed-wire wrapped baseball bat.
The books are meant to coincide with Image Comics’ 25th Anniversary celebration. Along with Invincible # 133 and Outcast # 25, The Walking Dead # 163’s “regular cover” will be priced at twenty five cents. Unfortunately, the FOC (Final Order Cutoff), for these issues was January 9th 2017, the day prior to writing this article. So be sure to reach out to your local comic book shop and add this to your pull list to ensure you will be able to add a copy to your personal collection.
The issue will be on comic book shop shelves on Wednesday February 1st, 2017.
Image Comics/Skybound Entertainment is pleased to reveal a very special limited variant cover for Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s THE WALKING DEAD #163. With artwork by series artist Charlie Adlard, THE WALKING DEAD #163 Cover B will feature full colors by Dave Stewart and an image of series protagonist Rick Grimes dressed in series antagonist Negan’s characteristic leather motorcycle jacket and holding the iconic Lucille barbed bat.
THE WALKING DEAD #163 begins an all-new story arc which will explore the aftermath of the Whisperer War.
Limited quantities of both THE WALKING DEAD #163 Cover B by Adlard and Stewart and THE WALKING DEAD #163 Cover C (B&W version) by Adlard will be available on Wednesday, February 1st—the official date of Image Comics’ 25th anniversary. Final order cutoff for comics retailers is Monday, January 9th.
