2011 Cryptozoic Walking Dead Season 1 trading cards helped the company make a big and early splash in the hobby. One of Cryptozoic’s early sets, it was an immediate monster hit that launched a juggernaut line.
The set’s popularity can’t be pinpointed to one reason. There are several. From autographs to costume cards to simply being one of the first major sources of collectibles from the show, it resonated with fans and collectors. That popularity hasn’t waned much even as the show isn’t the same cultural phenomenon it once was and Walking Dead trading cards are no longer being made.
2011 Cryptozoic Walking Dead Season 1 Checklist Overview
The base set has 81 cards, the vast majority of which are recaps the major events from the ten first season episodes. The strong imagery makes for a lot of interesting and striking shots.
It’s not all recaps, though. The start of the set has a checklist and profile cards for seven of the original leads.
2011 Cryptozoic Walking Dead Season 1 Autographs and Other Inserts
Autographs are one per box. The checklist has just eight signers. However, with each signing two different cards, there are 16 total. All have significant roles in the show’s early episodes. Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, John Bernthal, Chandler Riggs and Michael Rooker are among the actors with autographs.
It is worth noting that Laurie Holden, who played Andrea, has Season 1 autographs that fill in the gap near the top of the checklist. However, her cards were included in Cryptozoic’s Season 2 set.
Wardrobe Cards with pieces from the show’s costume are also one per box. The full set has 18 cards, although one was only available with the set’s binder. Twelve come from key characters. The remaining six are from Walker-worn costumes.
In addition to these are some exceptionally rare cards that were distributed via redemption. The first two have badges from Rick and Shane and are done as one-of-one oversized cards. There are also 18 additional cards with a cut up badge from one of Rick’s uniforms.
Sketch Cards are some of the most valuable cards in 2011 Cryptozoic Walking Dead Season 1. More than 20 artists worked on the set. Landing 1:288 packs, sketch cards are case hits.
Rounding out the checklist are nine Walker Gold Foil (1:6 packs) and nine die-cut Duplex Behind the Scenes (1:12 packs) inserts.
2011 Cryptozoic Walking Dead Season 1 Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards on eBay and check current market values.
Set size: 81 cards
Cards per pack: 5
Packs per box: 24
Boxes per case: 12
Release date: December 16, 2011
Shop for 2011 Cryptozoic Walking Dead Season 1 packs and boxes on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
81 cards.
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1 Checklist
2 Rick Grimes
3 Lori Grimes
4 Carl Grimes
5 Shane Walsh
6 Andrea
7 Dale
8 Glenn
9 Frustrated Lawman
10 Dedicated Lawmen
11 Fateful Decision
12 Rude Awakening
13 What Happened?
14 Don’t Open!
15 Carnage!
16 Finally Home
17 Friendly Survivors
18 Batter Up!
19 Morgan, Protective Father
20 Friendly Advice
21 Scrounging for Weapons
22 Back in Uniform
23 Out of Gas
24 God Forgive Us
25 No Gas Required
26 Unfettered Lawman
27 Welcome to Atlanta
28 Not a Good Sign
29 Rookie Mistake
30 Glenn to the Rescue
31 Narrow Escape!
32 Trapped!
33 Drastic Measures
34 Disguised as Walkers
35 Diversion
36 Someone’s at the Door
37 Stranded
38 Base Camp
39 Joyride
40 Reunited
41 That’s My Deer!
42 Can’t Let a Man Die
43 Nothing’s Killed Him Yet
44 Plan of Attack
45 Done Talking
46 Clear a Path
47 Merle’s Gone
48 WTF?!?
49 Follow the Corpses
50 Get the Guns
51 Don’t Bring the Geeks
52 We Need Glenn
53 Where’s the Van?
54 The Calm
55 Invasion
56 Happy Birthday
57 Protect the Camp!
58 Close Call
59 If You’re Out There
60 Cracks in the Friendship
61 Laying Amy to Rest
62 Green Eyed Monster
63 United Front
64 Vulnerable
65 Is It Safe?
66 Keep Moving
67 This Is Hope
68 Sanctuary
69 Enhanced Internal View!
70 Out of Juice
71 I Thought There’d Be More Time
72 The Last Hope
73 We’re Out of Here
74 Well Enough Alone
75 We’re All Done Now
76 His Motivation
77 An Open Door
78 Secrets
79 Andrea Loses Hope
80 Make a Run For It
81 We Choose Hope
Autographs Checklist
16 cards.
1:24 packs.
A1 John Bernthal as Shane Walsh
A2 John Bernthal as Shane Walsh
A5 Steven Yeun as Glenn
A6 Steven Yeun as Glenn
A7 Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes
A8 Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes
A9 Emma Bell as Amy
A10 Emma Bell as Amy
A11 Lennie James as Morgan
A12 Lennie James as Morgan
A13 Michael Rooker as Merle Dixon
A14 Michael Rooker as Merle Dixon
A15 IronE Singleton as T-Dog
A16 IronE Singleton as T-Dog
A17 Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon
A18 Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon
Wardrobe Cards Checklist
18 cards.
1:24 packs.
M18 exclusive to set’s binder.
M1 Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes
M2 Sarah Wayne Callies as Lori Grimes
M3 Sarah Wayne Callies as Lori Grimes
M4 Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes
M5 John Bernthal as Shane Walsh
M6 John Bernthal as Shane Walsh
M7 Steven Yeun as Glenn
M8 Laurie Holden as Andrea
M9 Emma Bell as Amy
M10 Jeffrey Demunn as Dale
M11 Norman Reedus as Daryl
M12 Military Walker
M13 Greg Nicotero as the Deer-Eating Zombie
M14 Walker
M15 Walker
M16 Walker
M17 Walker
M18 Rick’s First Kill – binder, 500 copies
Wardrobe Redemption Cards Checklist
3 cards.
R1 Rick’s Sheriff Uniform Patch – 1/1, oversized
R2 Shane’s Sheriff T-Shirt Patch – 1/1, oversized
R3-R20 Rick’s Sheriff Uniform Patch – 18 copies
Duplex Behind the Scenes Checklist
9 cards.
1:12 packs.
C01
C02
C03
C04
C05
C06
C07
C08
C09
Sketch Cards Checklist
26 cards.
1:288 packs.
Edward Cherniga
Heather Cromwell
David Day
George Deep
Dan Gorman
Patrick Hamill
Ingrid Hardy
John Haun
Chad Haverland
Chris Henderson
Chris Hoffman
Gary Kezele
Brian Kong
Lak Lim
Rich Molinelli
Victor Rodriguez
Scott Rorie
Jim Seeber
Tim Shay
Bob Stevlic
Vince Sunico
Bianca Thompson
Chris Thorne
Gabby Untermayerova
Jason Walker
Wu Wei
Walkers Gold Foil Checklist
9 cards.
1:6 packs.
W01 Deceptive
W02 Shelf Life
W03 Careful With That Gun!
W04 Take Aim
W05 Always Carriers
W06 On the Move
W07 Vicious
W08 Dead and Buried
W09 Omniurnal
Box Topper Postcard Checklist
1 card.
Zombie Face (New Season Oct 16)
Promo Cards Checklist
P1 Main Cast
P1 Woods Zombie – Non-Sport Update Magazine
P2 Main Cast – Philly Non-Sports Show
P3 Rick Grimes with Axe – General Distribution
P4 Rick Grimes, Teddy Bear Walker – Season 1 Special Edition Blu-ray