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Herd

Revision as of 05:28, 18 March 2018 by WarGrowlmon18 (Message Wall | contribs) (→‎Post-Apocalypse)
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“
Zombies in a herd are a force of nature. They don't operate on logic or reason.
―Eugene Porter explaining a herd of zombies[src]
”

A Herd, also known as a Horde, is a large group of zombies. They are usually attracted by sound, leading a few individuals to come together, eventually finding and merging with new groups, growing larger and larger and even more ferocious.

Herds wander around without a real purpose until attracted by sounds or prey. Herds are notably more aggressive than smaller groups, and the presence of zombies around other zombies almost creates a "synapse", or "hive-mind" effect, with them able to react more quickly by watching what others do rather than acting on their own. Herds can smash through the heaviest of barricades, tear down fences, and completely overwhelm humans in waves of undead bodies, and are essentially the zombie population at its most dangerous.

Comic Series/Novel Series

Pre-Apocalypse

The name "Herd" was adopted from the terminology for a herd of cattle. Cattle typically bulk together to graze or for protection, and, if angered, a herd can form a deadly stampede. This formed the basis for the post-apocalyptic terminology for large groups of walkers.

Post-Apocalypse

Eugene Porter first mentions the herd in Issue 53 and explains what a herd is to the post-prison survivors in Issue 54.[1]

A herd of "about 2,000 or more" zombies is first encountered by Rick Grimes, Carl Grimes, and Morgan Jones in Issue 59, as they are traveling from Cynthiana, Kentucky, with Abraham Ford to rendezvous with the rest of the survivors.[2]

The herd are later encountered by the people of the Alexandria Safe-Zone in issue 79. The herd proceeds to surround the safe-zone leaving the survivors trapped inside. Eventually the herd break through the safe-zone's walls and start to devour many of the residents including Tobin and Douglas Monroe. When Carl is shot in the face and injured, Rick makes a final stand with the other survivors. They manage to repel and kill the herd and learn that the undead are a manageable threat. 

In Issue 127, the herd is seen when Paul Monroe and his team are steering the massive amount of zombies away from The Kingdom.

In Issue 143, an extremely large herd is seen when Alpha takes Rick at gunpoint to a building nearby The Whisperers camp. The herd is estimated to be nearing the ten-thousands.

In Issue 162, the herd from Issue 143 is seen nearing Alexandria, due to Andrea shooting a bullet in the air to notify the Alexandrians that the Militia is back from fighting in the war. The Whisperers took this at their advantage, with them not fighting anymore and letting the herd do its job.

Eugene explained:

  • "Zombies in a herd are a force of nature. They don't operate on logic or reason. If one of them even so much as brushes a hand against your door [where you are hiding]--and another one sees that, mistakes that as an attempt to get in--it's over. That one starts trying to get in--the one who did the accidental tap thinks something's inside all of a sudden--he starts beating on the door with him. They would kill you all."[3]

Comic Series Members

Killed Victims

Gallery

TV Series

Pre-Apocalypse

The name "Herd" was adopted from the terminology for a herd of cattle. Cattle typically bulk together to graze or for protection, and, if angered, a herd can form a deadly stampede. This formed the basis for the post-apocalyptic terminology for large groups of walkers.

Post-Apocalypse

The first herd of walkers appears in Atlanta, Georgia, when Rick Grimes arrives there in search of his family. The herd traps Rick in tank and devours the Siggard Family Horse.[4] With help from Glenn Rhee, Rick is able to escape and joins a group that gets trapped in a nearby department store by the herd. The group is able to escape from the store as the herd overruns it, leaving Merle Dixon trapped on the roof.[5] Merle is later able to escape and by the time Rick, Glenn, T-Dog and Daryl return to rescue him, the herd is gone from the store.[6]

A small herd attacks the Atlanta Survivor Camp at night, killing and infecting multiple people including Ed Peletier and Amy. The camp's defenders, particularly Shane Walsh, Jim and Morales manage to hold them off using a combination of guns and baseball bats. When Rick, Glenn, T-Dog and Daryl return from Atlanta, they help finish off the herd with weapons from the Sheriff's Bag of Guns.[7] The next day, the camp survivors burn the bodies of the dead walkers while making sure their own dead don't reanimate. The attack forces the survivors to abandon the location as no longer safe while Jim is later revealed to have been bitten and eventually chooses to be left behind to turn.[8] This particular herd is referred to as being more of a small pack compared to what is later seen by survivors.[9]

After Dale's RV breaks down on the Vehicle Jammed Highway due to its troublesome radiator hose, a massive herd of hundreds of walkers is spotted heading down the highway. Rick's group takes cover under various vehicles as the herd passes by and mostly avoid notice. However, T-Dog slices open his arm on a car door and attracts several walkers to him. Daryl is able to save T-Dog by killing a walker with a screwdriver then using the walker's corpse and a corpse from a nearby car to cover himself and T-Dog, effectively masking their scent and allowing the two men to play dead. One walker enters Dale's RV through its open door and attacks Andrea, but she is able to kill it with a screwdriver through the eye. However, after the herd appears to have gone, Sophia Peletier emerges from hiding only to be attacked by two straggling walkers who chase her into the woods. Rick kills the walkers using a rock to avoid notice, but Sophia disappears.[10]

At an unnamed high school while on a mission to get medical supplies for Carl Grimes, Shane Walsh and Otis spot a massive herd of walkers that appears to mainly be made up of the FEMA and military personnel as well as the civilian survivors that had been at the high school before it was overrun. The two are able to distract the herd with flares from an abandoned patrol car and retrieve the needed supplies, but make too much noise and are chased by the herd into the school.[11] The herd chases the two men into the gym where they create a distraction and escape out the gym and locker room windows respectively. However, both men hurt their leg and use up their ammunition as they try to escape to their vehicle in the parking lot. Down to his last bullet, Shane shoots Otis in the leg and escapes as the herd focuses on devouring the other man.[12]

Later, a herd of walkers that migrated out of Atlanta (previously seen at the beginning of Season 1) attacks the Greene family farm.[13]. It is unknown whether this is the same herd that was seen on the highway. In Season 3, a herd of walkers appeared to have settled themselves in and around the West Georgia Correctional Facility. The area is known as the "Red Zone" by the people of Woodbury, Georgia.[14]

A herd not far from the red zone is found by Daryl Dixon, Tyreese, Michonne, and Bob Stookey in "Isolation". It is numbered at 7,500 walkers.[15]

The fighting between the prison group and The Governor's militia attracts a herd of nearby walkers which eventually occupy the ruined prison, rendering it uninhabitable. Clara, a woman who committed suicide in front of Rick in "30 Days Without An Accident", is among the walkers.[16]

After escaping the overrun prison, Daryl and Beth Greene hide from a herd in the trunk of an abandoned car during a thunderstorm. As it takes multiple hours for all walkers to pass, as evidenced by time lapses in the scene, it can be assumed it is a large herd passing by.[17]

A massive herd is drawn towards Terminus by the gunfire from Rick's group's attempted escape. The herd is spotted by Carol Peletier and Tyreese Williams who hide with Judith until the herd goes by. Carol and Tyreese prevent Martin from using fireworks to draw the herd away from Terminus. In order to save her friends, Carol slathers herself in walker guts and makes her way to Terminus where she witnesses the residents fending off the herd. Using a rifle and Martin's fireworks, Carol detonates a large propane tank, setting Terminus on fire and destroying a large portion of the fence. The herd is able to invade Terminus, overrunning the residents despite their best efforts to stop the walkers. Carol is able to enter Terminus disguised as a walker and help free her friends who leave Terminus to be destroyed by the overwhelming numbers of the herd.[18]

When Abraham Ford, Rosita Espinosa, Eugene Porter, Glenn Rhee, Maggie Greene, and Tara Chambler are on the way to Washington, D.C., in "Self Help", a massive herd blocks their path on the road. This eventually leads to Eugene's confession that he does not know the cure to the outbreak.[19]

A significantly large herd numbering at 30,000 walkers [15] was first seen in the Season 6 premiere, "First Time Again". It was trapped inside a rock quarry near Alexandria. Rick and the other residents planned to direct the herd away, but as they were doing a trial run part of the barrier trucks fell and released the herd, forcing them to execute the plan immediately. As they were leading the herd away, half of it broke loose due to a horn and made its way towards Alexandria, eventually arriving right at the community's wall in "Now" and began to gather around in "Heads Up".

Another herd was also present in "Thank You" at an abandoned town that Aiden and Nicholas had previously scouted for supplies. During that previous run, an accident resulted in the death of Will, a former scout for Alexandria. The herd in that abandoned town was also responsible for the deaths of Sturgess, Annie and David. Later on, it led Nicholas to commit suicide after he and Glenn were cornered in an alleyway.

The section of the herd that broke off in "First Time Again" was able to enter Alexandria when the church watchtower, located outside of the wall, fell over in "Start to Finish". The herd flooded the streets, forcing all of Alexandria's residents to barricade themselves inside their homes.

In "No Way Out", the herd roamed the streets of Alexandria. Rick, Carl, Michonne, Jessie, Sam, Ron, and Father Gabriel used guts smeared on sheets to move through the herd unnoticed, planning to get outside and draw it away with cars at the quarry. Sam panicked before they could make it out and drew the attention of several walkers and was devoured. This caused a chain reaction that led to the deaths of Jessie and Ron and to Carl being shot in the eye.

Denise and Owen move through the herd but Denise is grabbed and Owen saves her resulting in him getting bitten, Denise promises to save him if they get to the infirmary.

They continue to move through the herd, but Owen is shot by Carol and - as a last stand - grabs several walkers to save Denise, she then sorrowfully leaves him to reanimate and heads towards the infirmary arriving at the same time as Rick, Michonne and an unconscious Carl.

In a fit of rage over losing Jessie and almost Carl, Rick heads outside to face the herd himself. Aaron, Michonne, Heath and Spencer head outside to help and soon Olivia, Eric and Bruce, join alongside the rest of the able bodied Alexandrians.

Glenn and Enid go together to save Maggie but Glenn is surrounded and is about to be devoured when Sasha and Abraham arrive and shoot all the walkers, saving Glenn.

Daryl pours all oil from the truck into the lake and fires his rocket launcher, creating a huge fire, all the walkers see this and walk towards it killing themselves, The Alexandrian army take this time to kill all possible walkers. This marks the end of the super herd.

On their way back from the Kingdom Rick and his group stumbles upon a herd on a highway near the Sanctuary cutting most of them in half with a wire between two cars and let some explode with TNT.

At the beginning of Season 8, the Militia lures a massive herd to the Sanctuary and take down its fences, effectively leaving the Saviors under siege while they destroy all of the Savior outposts. The plan is stated to be to use the herd to force the Savior lieutenants to surrender and allow them to kill Negan.

In "The Big Scary U," Negan and Gabriel Stokes are left trapped together in a wooden trailer while the situation in the Sanctuary grows more dire. Negan convinces Gabriel to work with him and they smear themselves in walker guts in an attempt to reach the entrance to the Sanctuary safely. Despite the walkers eventually seeing through the trick and attacking, the two men manage to make it into the Sanctuary. However, using walker guts in such a way leaves Gabriel with an infection that is making him progressively more ill.

In "Time for After," Eugene Porter tries to use a makeshift drone and music device to lead the herd away but is thwarted by Dwight. At the same time, Daryl Dixon, Tara Chambler and Morgan Jones work together against orders to break the Sanctuary walls and allow the herd in to finish the Saviors. Though they succeed, Eugene proposes a plan using most of the Saviors remaining weapons and ammunition to clear out the herd. As seen in "Honor," after managing to clear out the inside of the Sanctuary, several Saviors fire upon the remaining walkers outside from the Sanctuary's upper windows, allowing Saviors to pour out and kill most of the remaining walkers. According to Simon in "How It's Gotta Be," his men draw the remainder away and he threatens to use them against the Hilltop until Maggie agrees to his demands.

In "Monsters", after succumbing to his gunshot wound and dying, Eric Raleigh reanimates and stumbles off to join a nearby herd. The reanimated Eric is spotted by his devastated boyfriend Aaron who has to be held back by Scott from going after him.

In "Some Guy," Ezekiel and his surviving forces come up against a herd of walkers, mainly made up of the slaughtered Kingdom forces. When Ezekiel and Jerry get cornered, Carol sacrifices her chance to stop the remaining Saviors to save the two men. Fleeing, the three encounter a small herd near a polluted creek, presumably people who drank from the creek and died. Cornered, they are saved by Shiva who sacrifices herself so that they can escape.

TV Series Members

Killed Victims

Appearances

TV Series

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 7


Gallery

Video Game

Pre-Apocalypse

The name "Herd" was adopted from the terminology for a herd of cattle. Cattle typically bulk together to graze or for protection, and, if angered, a herd can form a deadly stampede. This formed the basis for the post-apocalyptic terminology for large groups of walkers.

Post-Apocalypse

A herd of walkers is seen following the train Lee's group is riding to Savannah. The group stops when a crashed gasoline tanker blocks the tracks, forcing them to to cut it loose from the bridge. They are still trying to remove it when Ben spots the herd approaching from behind. Everyone except for Omid and Lee, who were on the bridge cutting the tanker, get on the train to leave. The two then try to jump onto the vehicle. Lee makes it, but Omid lands badly, hurts his leg, falls off, and starts limping towards the moving train. Christa jumps down to help and they manage to get back on, temporarily escaping the herd.

The same herd later follows the track all the way to Savannah and trap Lee's group as they search for Clementine. They are later attracted to the city of Savannah by the ringing of church bells around the city. They later show up and claim the lives of many people in Lee's group including Ben and when he gets trapped in an alleyway by the herd. On his journey to the Marsh House Lee has to fight his way through the herd, killing dozens of walkers before getting to the Marsh House. Lee has to navigate back though this herd on his way out of the Marsh House with Clementine. However this time he does so undetected by using walker guts to disguise Clementine's and his scent from the herd.

Later on, a large herd amassed near an old hardware store and strip mall fortified by a group led by William Carver. Clementine, along with several people attempting to escape Carver's camp, alerted the herd using the store's P.A. system, and made their escape by covering themselves in blood and entrails from a few dead zombies, walking through the herd as it quickly overwhelmed Carver's camp, devouring Troy and Carlos.

If Clementine ends the game with A.J. she encounters a herd.

Video Game Members

  • B. Everett
  • Travis (Determinant)
  • Brenda St. John
  • Kenny Jr. (Determinant)
  • Jeff
  • Logan
  • Brie
  • Ed
  • Diana
  • Danny (Determinant)
  • Justin (Determinant)
  • Clyde
  • Bennett (Determinant)
  • Peter Joseph Randall (Determinant)
  • Beth
  • Nick (Determinant)
  • Rebecca
  • Natasha
  • Many unnamed Save-Lots Bandits and Crawford Residents
  • Countless zombified people

Killed Victims

  • Shawn Greene
  • Doug (Determinant)
  • Carley (Determinant)
  • Travis
  • David Parker
  • Mac
  • Brenda St. John
  • Andrew St. John (Determinant)
  • Danny St. John (Determinant)
  • Kenny Jr. (Determinant)
  • Charles
  • Brie
  • Ben Paul (Determinant)
  • Ed
  • Diana
  • Lee Everett (Determinant)
  • Peter Joseph Randall (Determinant)
  • Nick
  • Troy
  • Carlos
  • Sarita (Determinant)
  • Sarah
  • Luke (Determinant)
  • Many unnamed Save-Lots Bandits and Crawford Residents
  • Millions of uninfected civilians, survivors, bandits, and soldiers

Gallery

Trivia

  • The Herd is the Income Tax equivalent in The Walking Dead Monopoly.

References

  1. ↑ Issue 54, page 11
  2. ↑ Issue 59, page 14.
  3. ↑ Issue 60 Page 21
  4. ↑ "Days Gone By"
  5. ↑ "Guts"
  6. ↑ "Tell It to the Frogs"
  7. ↑ "Vatos"
  8. ↑ "Wildfire"
  9. ↑ "What Lies Ahead"
  10. ↑ "What Lies Ahead"
  11. ↑ "Bloodletting"
  12. ↑ "Save the Last One"
  13. ↑ "Beside the Dying Fire"
  14. ↑ "When the Dead Come Knocking"
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Talking Dead; Greg Nicotero
  16. ↑ "Too Far Gone"
  17. ↑ "Still"
  18. ↑ "No Sanctuary"
  19. ↑ "Self Help"
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