The Walking Dead Is Finally Introducing The Real Version Of A Popular Comic Character

Published Aug 17, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT Kyle is a senior writer at ScreenRant and has been part of the team for over two years. Having led coverage on The Walking Dead projects alongside Rick & Morty, Kyle is well versed in numerous genres. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kyle is a passionate journalist who has a keen interest in TV and film. He has six years of experience studying journalism including a HND in Practical Journalism and a BA Honours in Journalism, Media and Communication and History. Alongside his love for TV and film, Kyle enjoys video games, football and Formula 1. Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3, episode 4, "Found/Lost."Despite being based on Robert Kirkman's hit comic series of the same name, AMC's Walking Dead universe has frequently deviated from the source material and forged its own legacy, which is why it remains popular over 15 years later. While not every change has gone down well, many characters are far better on TV compared to their comic counterparts. However, this can't be said for Dante, as the respected comic-book character was given a more villainous role in the adaptation, yet The Walking Dead: Dead City is redeeming this by introducing the real Dante. In the original story, Dante was first seen as part of Hilltop, becoming a prominent part of the community. He was a hard worker and loyal member of the colony, eventually developing a romantic interest in Maggie. She initially rejected his advances, a stance Dante respected and understood, but as time passed, the two eventually developed a romantic connection, and while it's unclear whether they stayed together, the comic seems to imply this was the case. In contrast, Maggie has yet to find another partner since Glenn was brutally murdered on The Walking Dead TV show, despite Dante's introduction. At first, he seemed like a reliable member of Alexandria, but it turned out he was a spy sent by Alpha, who sabotaged the community's water supply and killed Siddiq — Alexandria's most experienced doctor. This complete personality change didn't just deprive fans of a great comic character, but also Maggie of a potential love interest, making this big twist heartbreaking. Luckily though, all hope for Maggie isn't lost yet, and Dead City season 3's timeline means she may be ready to move on with a new survivor who is just like Dante from the comics. Luis Is Closer To Dante Than The Main Show's Actual Dante Luis is a completely new character who made his debut in Dead City season 3's premiere, but already, there are a lot of parallels to Dante from The Walking Dead comics. Like Dante, Luis is a good-hearted individual determined to help others whenever he can by working hard and growing his community. As a medical expert, he is absolutely essential to Maggie and Renata's group, and despite having a lot of stress placed on his shoulders, he is willing to operate under intense conditions for the greater good. He even helped train Maggie's son to become a doctor and has also made personal sacrifices to ensure the settlement maintains its energy source. The latest episode highlighted his more playful and sarcastic side, the same quirks that made readers warm to Dante. Of course, Luis has his own defining traits, such as his medical skills and his relationship with his sister, but Luis' calmness under pressure feels straight out of Dante's playbook, making it hard not to notice the similarities. Despite all of this, Dante and Luis' biggest connection is easily their dynamic with Maggie. In Dead City's latest episode, Luis and Maggie's road trip seemed to turn romantic for a moment, but this was simply part of Maggie's imagination. However, this feels like just the start of a potential relationship between them, as there are clearly feelings brewing alongside an unquestionable chemistry. With Dead City season 3 seemingly ending Maggie and Negan's feud, it finally allows Maggie to move on, hence her interest in Luis. Understandably, it may take time for this to develop into something more, but this potential romance further cements Luis as The Walking Dead's true version of Dante, since the TV adaptation was nothing like the comic character. Maggie x Luis Finally Shuts Down Those 'Negan Romance' Worries Considering how much fans adored Glenn and Maggie's relationship, it may be a while before everyone warms to Luis and his dynamic with Maggie, but it's certainly far better than the alternative. For years, seeds have been planted that The Walking Dead could potentially pull the trigger on a Maggie and Negan romance, which Luis' involvement appears to have shut down. Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan undeniably have great on-screen chemistry, but Maggie and Negan will always work better as enemies turned allies, rather than lovers. The fact that Negan also killed Maggie's husband in front of her very eyes is all the reason needed to never make them an item, let alone the years of history afterward. The conversation could at least be entertained if Negan had killed Glenn by accident, but he mercilessly bashed his skull in with a baseball bat to send a message, making the fact that Maggie has gradually learned to forgive him a miracle. Therefore, a romantic relationship is simply impossible, making Luis a far better fit for Maggie. The Walking Dead: Dead City season 3 will consist of eight episodes and premieres every Sunday on AMC/ AMC+. Having spent years trying to heal, Maggie certainly deserves happiness at this point, and opening up enough to let Luis into her life is the perfect next step. Dead City has already brought back the real Negan, and he still has a family out there, indicating a messy love story with Maggie is the last thing he needs. Instead, letting him continue his redemption arc and even encouraging Maggie to find love with Luis seems like the best outcome for all parties, and it may very well be the direction Dead City season 3 is heading in, which opens up an exciting future for the franchise. The Walking Dead: Dead City 8/10 Release Date June 15, 2023 Network AMC Maggie Rhee and Negan travel into post-apocalyptic Manhattan, a city isolated from the mainland and overrun by walkers and competing factions. Forced into an uneasy partnership, they pursue a dangerous mission tied to Maggie’s past. Created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard First TV Show The Walking Dead Latest TV Show The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Upcoming TV Shows More Tales from the Walking Dead Universe First Episode Air Date October 31, 2010 Cast Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chandler Riggs, Steven Yeun, Lennie James The Walking Dead is a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television series The Walking Dead in 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as "walkers." The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.