13. Science Dog
Robert Kirkman's influence on the TV show adapted from his comics is plain to see for any fan, even if the narratives often move away from the actual events represented in the comics (such as characters dying at different times, or the invention and introduction of entirely new characters who never appeared - usually, in the interest of creating dramatic tension, and shocks for those who are familiar with the comics.) The Walking Dead creator is an executive producer on the show, and retains some creative influence, even on departures from his own source material. And though fans may have been worried that Kirkman's voice might have been trampled somewhat by the influence of Frank Darabont and the writing team behind the show, there was an early nod that proved that the show makers knew exactly where their respect was due. Particularly knowledgeable Kirkman fans will have recognised the design on Carl's T-shirt in the image above, as the mark of Science Dog, another creation by the comic book creator. The character first appeared in Kirkman's Invincible, as a comic within a comic book hero, evolved from a dog by a lab experiment that made him super-intelligent and strong. The fact that Carl seems to be as devoted to Science Dog as Invincible's Mark Grayson suggests that The Walking Dead TV universe is the same universe as Invincibles, making a ridiculously good cross-over a (probably unlikely) possibility.