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This article is about the Novel Series character. You may be looking for his appearance in the Comic Series. For other pages with the same name, see: Austin

The Governor's gonna keep us safe. This is the best situation in the world to start a new life.
―Austin to Lilly.[src]

Austin Ballard, or "Junior", is a main character that appears in The Walking Dead: The Fall of the Governor. He was a resident of Woodbury, a member of the Woodbury Army, and the boyfriend of Lilly Caul. He is described as "boyish with long dark espresso-brown curls, having deep-set eyes that sparkle with mischief." "In his leather bomber jacket and multiple strands of bling around his neck," he affects "the air of a second-tier rock star, an incorrigible bad boy."

Pre-Apocalypse[]

Atlanta, Georgia[]

Austin was born in 1981 and grew up in innocuous suburbs full of cul-de-sacs & Scout troops & weenie roasts and having had a good relationship with his two brothers, John and Tommy, who he thinks were great musicians. Every Halloween, he and his brothers would make a fire in a clearing in the forest and hold a ritual to burn the deceased's relics or their one-time items as a farewell and drink wine as sobriety.

In 2001, he went to Atlanta Technical College and got a degree from there, which he was studying to be a paralegal. He also spent his free time on the beach, surfing off the coast of Panama City Beach, Florida.

Post-Apocalypse[]

Woodbury, Georgia[]

Austin lost his brothers to zombies in the early days of the outbreak in Atlanta. He later came to Woodbury from the north in bad shape along with ten other survivors. He has easily shined to be the better at combat and is known as a flirt around town. He can also be seen being constantly mothered by Barbara Stern. He ends up having a relationship with Lilly Caul and can be seen helping her.

The Fall of the Governor - Part One[]

While he, Lilly, Martínez and others are on a supply run, they run into a bit of trouble in a store that ends with Austin being mere milliseconds away from death, but he is saved by Lilly. He is grateful towards her afterwards and the two spend a lot of time together.

One night, at Lilly's apartment, the two share a drink and proceed to have sex, which, unbeknownst to them, gets Lilly pregnant. Austin expresses that he will take care of the baby with Lilly and will do his best as a father. He mentions that he is happy about the situation, and feels even safer knowing The Governor is keeping Woodbury safe.

After they decided to keep the baby, Austin and Lilly did a ritual to bid farewell to their past, they dig a hole on the ground, then Austin threw in his beloved marijuana, said "Time to put away childish things, here's to a lifelong love affair with weed, you got me through a lot of rough shit, but it's time to go."

Then Lilly threw in Megan's photo, saying "Here's to my BFF, my gal pal, my old friend Megan, may she rest in peace."

Austin then threw in his brother's harmonica, saying "I'd like to drink to my brothers, John and Tommy Ballard, who got killed by walkers in Atlanta last year, great musicians, good dudes, I hope they're in a better place right now."

Finally Lilly bid farewell to Josh Hamilton: "Here's to an old friend of mine, he saved my life more than once. Hope we meet again someday."

After the ritual, Austin told Lilly he loves her, both of them look forward to the future, it is the first time since they settle down into Woodbury, they believe they could make it work and both of them and their baby will have a future here. Thus they are marching toward the tragedy.

The Fall of the Governor - Part Two[]

Austin takes part of the prison assault, witnesses The Governor's death at the hands of his girlfriend and takes refuge inside the prison. Austin reveals to Lilly that he was bitten while pinned down on the ground by a walker and decides to sacrifice himself to let the others flee, by distracting the herd.

Death[]

Killed By

After the prison assault the remaining Woodbury survivors including Austin hold up inside the prison, with no other way to escape. Austin, after revealing that he was precedently bitten by a walker, decide to distracts the horde of zombies to allow Lilly and the others to escape; he is killed and devoured in the process.

Killed Victims[]

This list shows the victims Austin has killed:

  • Himself (Sacrifice)
  • Numerous counts of zombies

Relationships[]

Lilly Caul[]

Lilly? Have I mentioned that I love you.
―Austin to Lilly.[src]

When Austin first arrived in Woodbury, he quickly grew attracted to Lilly, and would often flirt with her. She enjoyed his company, but never felt the same for him as he did for her, but one night after heavy drinking, the two engaged in sexual intercourse. Unknown to them, Lilly became pregnant. When he discovered this, he quickly matured, and promised Lilly that he loved her and would help her raise their child. Even when Lilly suffers a miscarriage, Austin still remains at her side.

In the end, he gave his own life to protect her.

Barbara Stern[]

Trying to teach Junior here something. It's like pulling teeth.
―Barbara to David.[src]

Although they were not seen together much, it is shown that Barbara cares for Austin and treats him like a son. Barbara would often mother him and get told what to do.

Appearances[]

Novel Series

The Fall of the Governor - Part One

  • "The Gathering"
    • "Chapter Three"
    • "Chapter Four"
    • "Chapter Five"
    • "Chapter Six"
    • "Chapter Eight"
    • "Chapter Nine"
    • "Chapter Ten"
    • "Chapter Eleven"
    • "Chapter Twelve"
  • "Showtime"
    • "Chapter Thirteen"
    • "Chapter Sixteen"
    • "Chapter Seventeen"
    • "Chapter Eighteen"

The Fall of the Governor - Part Two

  • "Battlefield"
    • "Chapter Two"
    • "Chapter Three"
    • "Chapter Four"
    • "Chapter Five"
    • "Chapter Six"
    • "Chapter Seven"
    • "Chapter Eight"
    • "Chapter Nine"
  • "Doomsday Clock"
    • "Chapter Ten"
    • "Chapter Eleven"
    • "Chapter Twelve"
    • "Chapter Fourteen"
    • "Chapter Fifteen"
    • "Chapter Sixteen"
  • "The Fall"
    • "Chapter Seventeen"
    • "Chapter Eighteen"
    • "Chapter Nineteen"

Descent

Novels 1 2 3 4 5
Rise of the Governor
The Road to Woodbury
The Fall of the Governor
Descent
Invasion
Search and Destroy
Return to Woodbury
Appears Voice is heard
👁 Appears with no lines Appears in a flashback
Appears as a walker 🖼 Appears in a photograph/video
Appears as a corpse Appears in a hallucination/dream

Trivia[]

  • Austin is the first character in the Novel Series that sacrifices himself to a mega-herd in order to save the group, with the second being Meredith Dupree and the third being Miles Littleton.
  • The picture used on this wiki is an assumption of what Austin looks like based on his novel description paired against background characters seen in the comics.

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