Walking Dead Creator Robert Kirkman Unable To Attend SDCC

The brains behind the brain eating zombies of The Walking Dead will not be making an appearance on San Diego Comic Con 2015 this weekend.

The Walking Dead writer and creator Robert Kirkman is passing on the pop culture extravaganza as he recovers from a minor throat surgery. Despite his absence, he encourages fan to attend and enjoy the panels and events he would otherwise attend, as outlined in the letter to fans below.

People of Earth,

It is with tremendous regret that I must inform you that I will not be attending Comic-Con International in San Diego this year. I won't be at the Skybound Comics panel in room 7AB on Thursday, 7/9, from 12-1pm or our Skybound Entertainment panel in room 6BCF from 3:30-4:30pm that same day. I won't be at the WALKING DEAD or FEAR THE WALKING DEAD panels in Hall H Friday, which are taking place at 12pm and 1pm, respectively. I won't be at the OUTCAST TV show panel in room 6DE on Saturday, 7/11, from 3-4pm. I won't be signing at the Image Comics/Skybound – booth #2729. I won't be at the Skybound Fifth Anniversary and AIR Premiere event. I won't even be across the street at the Walker Stalker Fan Fest located at Petco Park, where you can get a hands on experience with OVERKILL'S THE WALKING DEAD ahead of its 2016 release. Unfortunately, after years and years of being healthier than my physique would indicate I had to have minor surgery on my throat. Nothing serious, but in the aftermath of such a fun experience, it comes with a brief duration of time where I'm unable to speak so all that pink business inside me can heal. As luck would have it, that period of time overlaps with Comic-Con.

This is the first Comic-Con I'm missing in well over a decade. While I'm bummed that I can't be there, there's nothing keeping you from enjoying all the fun events I mentioned above despite my absence. Have you seen Andrew Lincoln's eyes up close? You don't want to miss those! Don't pass up the opportunity to ask both Patrick Fugit and Kim Dickens how much I enjoyed their performances in Gone Girl (hint, a lot). Believe me when I tell you the trailers we're debuting for each of these three TV shows and Skybound's first feature, AIR, are phenomenal and you're definitely going to want to be among the first to see them. The Skybound booth is going to have all kinds of ridiculously awesome stuff at it, including a crossbow that fires littles foam darts. I've been terrorizing people around the office with it for months.

I plan on making my triumphant Comic-Con return next year, you've been warned. Until then I'll just be catching up on work and eating a lot of ice cream. So go to a panel, buy an overpriced hotdog, and think of me when you're buying Transformer toys. I wish you all a fun and safe Comic-Con. Someone please be sure to bootleg the Deadpool trailer for me!

-Robert Kirkman

Over 10 years of perfect attendance at Comic Con International ruined! Damn you, health! I think we can find it in our hearts to forgive Kirkman for his absence, though.

The writer currently has two shows in production at AMC, The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead, a movie coming out titled Air, writes multiple comic book titles including The Walking Dead, Outcast and Thief of Thieves, works on video games, and soon will give the big screen a go as he lends his pen to the Transformers franchise. A little rest might do him some good while we bask in the glorious news, trailers, and other goodness from titles he has left his mark on erupts out of San Diego.

For complete coverage of San Diego Comic Con, stay tuned to our San Diego Comic Con 2015 news reel!

via Skybound