The Walking Dead

Norman Reedus Says Daryl Is Influenced By Comic Characters, And Vice Versa

Of all the characters on AMC’s The Walking Dead, it’s hard for some to wrap their heads around the […]

Of all the characters on AMC’s The Walking Dead, it’s hard for some to wrap their heads around the fact that Norman Reedus’ fan-favorite Daryl Dixon character never has been and never will be a part of Robert Kirkman’s comics.

Videos by ComicBook.com

However, according to Norman Reedus, there are a number of characters on the black and white pages who draw characteristics from Daryl, while Daryl is also a combination of several roles from the same pages.

Speaking to Reedus in an exclusive interview ahead of The Walking Dead‘s return for Season 7, ComicBook.com heard Reedus’ perspective on Daryl’s influence on the comics and vice versa.

“I know Daryl has influenced characters that have been written in the comics books since Daryl’s been on the show,” Reedus said. There was a time when I thought I was in the comic books. I saw a cover and he kind of faked people out. It made people think it was me and it wasn’t me. That comic book character, I think, was influenced heavily by Daryl and where the show was at at the time.”

As for who Reedus is referring to, we can only assume it’s the character who closely mirrors him on television: Dwight. It’s not just the crossbow that signifies Dwight’s similarities to Daryl. The character is deeply conflicted and battles with internal struggles in ways that Daryl Dixon has through six seasons on The Walking Dead.

Which comic book character do think most closely resembles Daryl Dixon?

Following the premiere of The Walking Dead’s seventh season, ComicBook.com will be live with Dwight actor Austin Amelio for a recap of the brutal episode and a look into the future of the series on After the Dead.

The Walking Dead returns for its seventh season on October 23 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC. For complete coverage and insider info all season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.

[MORE TWD on ComicBook.com: What we know so far | Who dies in Season 7? | Is Rick losing a hand? | Daryl’s comic influence | All out war is coming | Was the cliffhanger smart? ]