One of the most popular comic book-based franchises that doesn’t feature a superhero is without a doubt The Walking Dead. Since debuting on AMC nearly ten years ago, the horror series has managed to carve out an enormous fanbase for itself in an entertainment landscape that’s already overflowing with zombies. In fact, it’s now getting ready for its tenth season, and has even spawned a spinoff show in the form of Fear The Walking Dead.
But in a somewhat shocking move, the comic book that started it all came to an end this week with issue #193. And while it was a sad moment for many, it’s now turned into a rather humorous occasion thanks to a Tweet from CNN. Though it’s since been corrected, the outlet originally wrote the following:
“Just as Marvel Comics closed the books on “The Walking Dead,” the company revealed that it’s bringing back another undead series: ‘Marvel Zombies'”
Obviously, The Walking Dead isn’t published by Marvel and is instead put out by Image Comics, and has been for its entire run. The fans made sure CNN knows this, too, as they’ve flooded Twitter with some amusing/angry responses to the not so little mix-up.
https://twitter.com/GmatrixArt/status/1146210633177653248
https://twitter.com/95percentcoffee/status/1146205317858058245
Jesus, @CNN..don’t you have researchers on your staff? How hard was it to search “who publishes The Walking Dead”? https://t.co/212N1xQzp8
— Jamal Yaseem Igle (@JAMALIGLE) July 2, 2019
Sorry Twitter, I slept all day. And I still feel like shit. So I’ll probably continue sleeping as much as I can for a couple of days. In the meantime, CNN actually reported that Marvel canceled the Walking Dead. Wow.
— bree (@thisisbree) July 3, 2019
Did you seriously just oof that? Great on you for correcting your mistake but you're supposed to be a trustworthy news outlet and yet you somehow thought Marvel comics publishes the walking dead?? pic.twitter.com/fcrEm1y25n
— Rene (@ReneTheFilmGuy) July 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/DoctorRagnarok/status/1146211641291411456
CORPORATE COMICS TRYING TO CASH IN ON WALKING DEAD YET AGAIN… (also holy shit Cnn. Get yer shit together) pic.twitter.com/dmUnZWEuyf
— READ RAVEN'S DOJO – Raven Perez (@ravensdojo) July 3, 2019
First @latimes, then @CNN, what's the next major outlet to massively fuck up comic-related news that an intern with Google could get right? No wonder you softball the administration when you can't even figure out who publishes The Walking Dead.
— Troy Brownfield (@TroyBrownfield) July 3, 2019
So you think Marvel has anything to with Walking Dead… pic.twitter.com/gB8qQ51nCy
— Darnell ate the last slice of pizza (@DarnellBebop) July 4, 2019
This is incorrect, as everyone knows that DC publishes "Marvel Zombies"
— Media-Ray (@Mediahead85) July 2, 2019
— I am inevitable (@NerdWeaponX) July 3, 2019
— BowtieZRcool (@bowtieZRcool88) July 3, 2019
— Chris Iannacone (@ChrisIannacone) July 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/Notsosmartguy95/status/1146221010137624577
True facts for true believers: Stan Lee, the creator of The Walking Dead, will be writing Marvel Zombies.
— Jennifer de Guzman Strikes Again🪲 (@Jennifer_deG) July 3, 2019
— screamin pete (@ScreaminWheat) July 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/kwanzer/status/1146207466780340225
Here's hoping Marvel doesn't cancel Batman too!
— Joseph Mallozzi 🏴☠️ (@BaronDestructo) July 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/noelvpascual/status/1146222551762255872
— borris (@ev4n2k4) July 3, 2019
While everyone makes mistakes, some of these Twitter users do have a point. I mean, it’s not hard to do a simple search and see who publishes The Walking Dead. And, as many mentioned, this isn’t the first time a major news outlet has mixed up something like this, either.
In any case, Image Comics’ beloved series is now at its end and though fans will still have The Walking Dead TV show to look forward to for the foreseeable future, the books that started it all will most definitely be missed.