“I Do Credit Robert Kirkman”: How The Walking Dead Helped Launch Another Massive Horror Hit (by Accident)

The Walking Dead was a huge hit until the very end. But the unexpected final issue inadvertently helped a new horror franchise find success.

If it weren’t for The Walking Dead, horror fans one of the most popular recent horror series would never have become the sensation it is today. At a recent panel, Something is Killing the Children architect James Tynion IV revealed just how grateful he is to The Walking Dead’s Robert Kirkman for helping Tynion’s series become a success.

At 2024 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, James Tynion IV spoke at the panel, “The Worlds of James Tynion IV: A Decade at BOOM! Studios”. During the panel, Tynion reflected on how big the Something is Killing the Children franchise has grown as it hits its milestone fifth anniversary.

James Tynion IV: “I do credit Robert Kirkman in an indirect way because he surprisingly ended The Walking Dead in the summer of 2019 […] The issue was there weren’t a lot of horror comics on the stands, right? So retailers all over the country had a bunch of readers that liked reading a horror book every single month and they no longer had a new book. The next horror number one coming out was Something is Killing the Children #1 and it was up to us to actually capture that readership, but I think we did. So I do, I do thank Rob.”

Tynion admitted that while he didn’t count on his story’s success, he does, in part, credit Robert Kirkman’s sudden decision to end The Walking Dead. According to Tynion, he believes horror fans gravitated to his book since its first issue came out just a few months after The Walking Dead #139.

Something is Killing the Children Filled the Void Left by The Walking Dead

In the past few years, Something is Killing the Children has become one of the fastest-growing horror franchises in comic books. In addition to Erica Slaughter’s journey, fans have seen more of the ‘Slaughterverse’ the spin-off series House of Slaughter and one-shots like Book of Slaughter and Book of Butcher. But long before the Slaughterverse took the horror comic world by storm, The Walking Dead reigned supreme. Over a decade and a half, The Walking Dead grew from an ongoing series to one of the most successful horror franchises composed of video games, novels, and a groundbreaking television show.

It’s hard to say if Tynion is correct about his assumption, but The Walking Dead did end right before Something is Killing the Children #1 debuted. It’s understandable that horror fans would have sought a new series to get into and looked for an easily accessible book, especially from a creator like Tynion who’d already made a name for himself working on titles like Batman and The Woods. At the very least, Tynion believes that The Walking Dead’s sudden ending was a boon to his series, and he’s more than willing to credit Kirkman’s choice to end his series.

James Tynion IV is Grateful For How Things Worked Out with The Walking Dead

Of course, Tynion isn’t saying his series only succeeded because The Walking Dead ended right before his series’ debut. It just happened to work out that an incredibly popular book’s audience was left in a lurch, and Something is Killing the Children just happened to be the next book that any horror fan could easily get into. Given Tynion’s huge presence in the comic book world, it’s likely his book would have been a success regardless. But he’s willing to show appreciation to The Walking Dead for the boost James Tynion IV believes it gave his horror series.