The Walking Dead: Alien, a story in the Walking Dead universe written by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Marcos Martin, will be released in an oversized 72-page hardcover edition on July 29 in comic stores and on August 4 in the book channel.

The story was published digital-first by Panel Syndicate, and then released in a special comic for Local Comic Shop Day, but has not previously been widely distributed.

"It’s remarkable what Vaughan & Martin were able to accomplish in one self-contained story," The Walking Dead writer Robert Kirkman said in a statement released with the announcement.  "A tale with so much heart and emotion told far more succinctly than I’ve ever been capable of."