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After a year of endless speculation—would it be Michael Rooker? Tom Savini? John Hawkes?—the role of The Walking Dead's ultra-badguy The Governor has finally been cast : English thesp David Morrissey. As we say at Stately Beat Manor, when in doubt, go Brit. Morrissey is a BAFTA-winning actor who has starred in a number of UK productions such as Meadowlands, State of Play, and The Deal.

With Image Expo's first day put to bed (the CBLDF party may still be raging on, but I had to cut out early to navigate some San Francisco transit construction), there's one strong theme coming out: Creators as People.

Get ready to hit refresh a few times. I'm sitting in the ballroom at the glamourous Oakland Marriott and the Image Keynote is about to begin.

The Image Expo grown into a roughly the sort of Friday crowd I'm expect to see at a Chicago Show, relative to the size. Two or three big lines and milling about for everyone else. Yes, Friday is always the best day for mingling at a show. A few more photos:

Image Expo is a go. Looks like a relatively quiet Friday at a regional con, so far. Which is to say it's going to be better access for the fans. When I arrived about 45 minutes before opening there were maybe 50 people already in line waiting to get in. With the gates open, I'm seeing a steady trickle of people arriving. Not preview night at San Diego, by any stretch of the imagination, but the Chew booth got bull rushed by at 15-20 people as soon as the doors open. A couple pictures from before the opening bell:

If you're going to be in the Bay area tomorrow through Sunday, you might think about dropping by the Oakland Convention Center for the Image Comics Expo. This is a combination 20th birthday party for Image Comics and a sorta/kinda replacement for Wonder Con, which has moved to Anaheim this year while the Moscone Center in San Francisco is undergoing a remodeling.

In advance of this weekend's Image Expo, Jamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen are teasing a new book at iFanboy but given the Daft Punk reference, smart money is on a a new PHONOGRAM. Two previous minis about the magical powers of pop music were cult favorites, resulting in mainstream work for both, an X-Men gig for Gillen but also McKelvie's famous quote about working on an indie book resulting in "a constant low level money anxiety." Regardless, its return would be a joyful thing indeed.

Ut oh, guys... it's a leap year! So if you're the type to skedaddle from matrimonial minded maidens, be sure to grab some reading material before you head off to the Valley of the Shmoon!

Even as the success of THE WALKING DEAD across all media has soared—it's basic cable's highest rated program—there has always been a bit of a silent partner on the book: co-creator Tony Moore who left the book after six issues. Although credited as co-creator on the series, he's been noticeably absent from promoting the book or TV series in its recent wild run of success. And now we know part of the reason why: he's just filed suit over his share of the profits of the book, profits he claims he has never had an accounting for and which he fraudulently signed away.

Wow, February 1 is a banner day in comics history. It is also the day that Image Comics was created—20 years ago. Via Facebook co-founder Jim Valentino shared a photo of the founders and one pal on that fateful day, from left to right Erik Larsen, Hank Kanalz, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, and Jim Valentino. They'e all still in the game, all better off than they were 20 years ago. Collectively, they've changed the industry a time or two. It was also a day when people wore denim shirts. Ah, what a time...

And also from Image...this Shep Fairey-influenced teaser for..something. Guess we'll have to be...calm until we find out what it's all about.

The first ever Image Expo is shaping up for the end of next month with the addition of Ed Brubaker, whose FATALE recently launched and has sold out. This is really looking like a zeitgeisty kind of show -- Image is scooping up formerly exclusive mainstream writers like a rescue boat in the North Sea, and the lineup of guests includes many with passionate followings.