Who Is Siddiq In ‘The Walking Dead’ Comics?

Spoilers for The Walking Dead comic books.The world of The Walking Dead continues to expand with […]

November 26, 2017, 1:30pm

Spoilers for The Walking Dead comic books.

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The world of The Walking Dead continues to expand with the introduction of another comic book character, Siddiq, to the live-action series.

Season 8’s premiere episode introduced a lone traveler (played by Avi Nash), who was discovered by a wandering Carl (Chandler Riggs). The man was rattled and hungry, and a less suspicious Carl approached — only for big bad dad Rick (Andrew Lincoln) to scare the man off with intentional warning shots. Carl would later return to the spot to leave behind a pair of canned food and a note saying “sorry,” a kind gesture spotted from the bushes (unbeknownst to Carl).

In Robert Kirkman’s long running comic book series, Siddiq is an Arab-American survivor who first appeared in The Walking Dead #127. The issue — the start of volume 22, “A New Beginning” — sees the survivors of the Alexandria community begin to rebuild after war with Negan and the Saviors.

Siddiq is first seen interacting with Andrea as lead of a boarding room construction crew in a lush and thriving Alexandria — an Alexandria that holds Negan, leader of the Saviors, as its prisoner. Later, in volume 26, Siddiq is part of a patrol watch on a gate with Annie, and the two are present when Rick and Michonne learn Negan has escaped.

With the arrival of a new group of enemies known as The Whisperers — and on the precipice of another war — Siddiq is sent to the coastal Oceanside community to recruit fighters, only to run into Pete, captain of fishing boat The Companion, where Siddiq served as first mate (in The Walking Dead: Michonne video game). Siddiq’s request is turned down by Pete, who tells him they can’t spare any of their already small group of survivors.

Siddiq would enter into a romantic relationship with Rosita (played in the show by Christian Serratos), who married Eugene (played in the show by Josh McDermitt) after the death of Abraham (played in the show by Michael Cudlitz). Rosita would later become pregnant, but as Eugene would find out, he wasn’t the father.

In issue #170, Eugene, Siddiq, Magna, Yumiko and Michonne are on a trip towards Ohio when Siddiq is surprised by a trio of walkers while on watch. He’s rescued by Eugene, with Magna telling him he’s “A hell of a lookout.” Later, after reaching an empty Pittsburgh, Eugene approaches Siddiq.

“I surmised something was up,” he says. “You’ve been acting weird for days.”

“I’m sorry, you — you saved my life… and I… that wasn’t the start of it,” Siddiq says. Something is up. “I’ve been feeling like sh—t for months.”

He continues. “You’ve done so much work for the good of us all–spent all that time out there studying herds… designing that windmill… then you even saved my life… oh, god…”

“Siddiq, please–what’s wrong?” Eugene asks.

“It’s Rosita,” Siddiq admits, tearfully. “She–she loved me.”

In his tearful confession to Eugene, Siddiq admits he fathered Rosita’s child. Siddiq told himself concealing the truth was protecting Eugene and sparing his feelings, but he admits he was only protecting himself.

“I just didn’t want you to know what I’d done,” he admits. “I can’t hide it anymore. I’m sorry, Eugene. I am.” Rosita was in love with him, Siddiq says, breaking to Eugene the revelation that Rosita was going to leave him. “Thanks for… thanks for telling me,” Eugene says.

Siddiq cries. “I’m sorry, I really am, she just… with you gone so much, she got lonely and… nobody wanted to hurt you.” Eugene understands and comforts Siddiq.

With Eugene’s live-action counterpart on a different trajectory in the show — Eugene is Team Negan where he serves as a Savior lieutenant — it’s doubtful Rosita would ever enter into a romantic relationship with the genius, no matter how sweet his mullet. Still, episode 8×05 of the show set up one of Eugene’s heroic comic book moments and the most recent episode introduced a major decision Eugene will have to make — and his reaction to it will answer where Eugene’s loyalties truly lie.

While the show mostly sticks to the source material, there are often major deviations — both in deaths and romantic relationships — and with Siddiq’s early entrance into the show, it’s possible Rosita/Siddiq could become an item sooner than later. After being sidelined with a bullet injury sustained in 7×16 and a cameo appearance in 8×01, Rosita returns in 8×06, “The King, The Widow, and Rick.”

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.