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Zombies in a herd are a force of nature. They don't operate on logic or reason.
―Eugene 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.

Comic 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.

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

  • Donna
  • Otis
  • Clint Mansell
  • Smitty
  • Red
  • Austin Ballard
  • Morgan Jones
  • Jessie Anderson
  • Ron Anderson
  • Douglas Monroe
  • Tobin
  • Bruce
  • Bernie
  • Millions of uninfected civilians, survivors, animals, bandits, and soldiers.

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 arrives there searching for his family. Another herd was later seen attacking the camp in the outskirts of the city. It is possible that these walkers were the same ones seen in the city but were separated from the group. [4]

The herd of walkers are also seen on the highway moving out of the city of Atlanta. The group pull up to the vehicle congested highway, finding no way to pass, and to make matters worse Dale's RV breaks down when the radiator hose bursts again. The group scavenge for supplies from the abandoned cars when suddenly Rick spots the herd of walkers approaching. He tells everyone to hide under the vehicles as the groups wanders onward past the survivors. [5]

Later, a herd of walkers that migrated out of Atlanta (previously seen at the beginning of Season 1) attack the Greene Family Farm.[6]. 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 Prison. The area is known as the "Red Zone" by the people of Woodbury, Georgia.[7]

A herd not far from the red zone is found by Daryl, Tyreese, Michonne and Bob in "Isolation". It is numbered at 7,500 walkers.[8]

The fighting between the prison group and The Governor's militia in "Too Far Gone" attracted a herd of nearby walkers which eventually occupied the ruined prison, rendering it unhabitable. Clara, the woman who committed suicide in "30 Days Without An Accident", was among the walkers.

Daryl and Beth hid from a herd in the trunk of an abandoned car in "Still" during a thunderstorm. As it took multiple hours for all walkers to pass, as evidences by time lapses in the scene, it can be assumed it was a large herd passing by.

TV Series Members

Killed Victims

Appearances

TV Series

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4


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
  • 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.
  • Charles
  • Brie
  • Ben Paul (Determinant)
  • Ed
  • Diana
  • Lee Everett (Determinant)
  • Peter Joseph Randall (Determinant)
  • Nick
  • Troy
  • Carlos
  • Sarita (Determinant)
  • Sarah
  • 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. "Vatos"
  5. "What Lies Ahead"
  6. "Beside the Dying Fire"
  7. "When the Dead Come Knocking"
  8. The Talking Dead; Greg Nicotero
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