The decade's most celebrated zombie franchise has just conquered a new universe. Inspired by the New York Times bestselling comic book series—published since 2003 and winner of the Eisner Award—which spawned the successful TV series of the same name, The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor, the first volume of a trilogy, chronicles the origins of one of fiction's most evil characters.
Creator of the comics and one of the producers of the series, which has already broken several ratings records in the United States and was a finalist in several categories at the 68th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Television Drama, Robert Kirkman co-authored this novel with horror veteran Jay Bonansinga. The book introduces readers to a new core of characters—already well-known to comic book fans and expected to emerge soon in the upcoming seasons of the series, broadcast in Brazil by Fox. In the world of The Walking Dead, there is no greater villain than the Governor, the despot who rules the town of Woodbury. With his sick and very particular sense of justice, he forces prisoners to fight zombies in an arena, much to the delight of the bored residents. It's also not uncommon to see him tearing out the entrails of those who cross his path.
Voted "Villain of the Year" by Wizard magazine, he's the most controversial character in a world dominated by the undead. Now, fans will discover how he became this man and the origins of his extreme actions. To do so, they must learn the story of Phillip Blake, his daughter Penny, and his brother Brian. Together with two close friends, they form a no-nonsense resistance group. Their goal is to cross the state of Georgia, covering the 30 kilometers that separate Waynesboro from Atlanta. This seemingly simple mission is actually a challenge: we're in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Cities have been abandoned, the media is silent, and the only sound in the universe is the incessant moans of beings that were once human.
Struggling to find food, weapons, and safe hiding places, the five will face a landscape of utter desolation on their way to the legendary refugee center. Phillip's only certainty is that he will do everything to save his family. Who knows, maybe he'll even save his own soul. With a surprising ending, the plot reveals new elements and provides readers with clues to better understand the characters and fill in some missing pieces.
