Emerald City Comic Con: Walking Dead Artist Adlard: The Dixons Aren't Coming

During the Q&A session at tonight's Talking Dead with Michael Rooker and Danai Gurira panel at Emerald City Comic Con, a question was posed to the panelists: If Merle and Daryl Dixon were to join the comic book version of The Walking Dead, would Michael Rooker (who plays the character on the AMC television adaptation) hope to see his likeness on the page, and would series artist Charlie Adlard draw Merle that way? The fan didn't actually get through the question, though. He got as far as "If they were going to introduce Merle in the comics," and was interrupted by Adlard, who said, "...which won't be happening...". This didn't dissuade the fan, who pressed on, with Rooker saying, "Yeah, you know what? I don't know if I want to be in a comic, dude. Especially The Walking Dead comic--everybody's all dirty all the time and sweaty--everybody's kowtowing and running from the little zombies--bunch of wimps!" With that said, Adlard told the fan, "If [Merle] was brought in for The Walking Dead comic book, which as I keep reiterating will not be happening but if he were, of course I'd draw him as Michael because that's what Merle looks like. But that's kind of a moot point, isn't it?" Series writer Robert Kirkman has flirted with the idea of bringing the Dixons into the series in the past--or at least has tantalized reporters with the possibility in interviews. Back in March of last year, he teased io9, "I've definitely considered writing Daryl in to the comics. Norman is always pestering me about it." Back in January, rumors flew that Norman Reedus himself had teased a comic book counterpart to Daryl but no such reports have been substantiated. Earlier today, ComicBook.com reported on the PaleyFest panel at which Robert Kirkman said he likes the idea of some characters being unique to each world to help make each experience different, using Daryl as an example.