I first picked up this graphic novel on a whim (maybe a year or so before the show). It was a zombie story and I was on a zombie kick. At the time I was starting to wind down from my zombie phase, but this graphic novel was revolutionary to me. The drawings black and white, but they were perfect for the content. The story and dialogue were both compelling, the characters fleshed out, and by the end of this book I just had to read what happened next. Brilliant intro to what has now become an international success.