Fans of The Walking Dead comic book series appreciate the television adaptation's relatively faithful depiction of the story yet there are, of course, some major differences, and Negan's first words to Carl in the comic highlight the sharpest divides. While the TV series generally stayed true to the comic, there are notable moments where the balance between adhering to the source material and introducing new elements becomes particularly significant.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 written by Robert Kirkman, with art by Charlie Adlard revisits the pivotal first interaction between the two characters, one that foreshadowed Carls future in the series, offering one of the most striking examples of the profound influence Carl Grimes had on the overall narrative of the comic, which was ultimately not the case in the series.

As detailed in the monumental issue, Carl's initial meeting with Negan occurred after the antagonist and his crew of Saviors captured...