Magna (The Walking Dead)

Leader of a group of survivors in the zombie apocalypse.

Magna is a fictional survivor from both The Walking Dead comic and TV series, played by Nadia Hilker. She leads a small roaming group with a spirited nature, and in both versions, she is a lesbian character.

Quick Facts

Series

The Walking Dead

First

Comic:
"Issue #127" (2014)
Television:
"What Comes After" (2018)

Last

Comic:
"Issue #193" (2019)
Television:
"Rest in Peace" (2022)

Portrayed by

Nadia Hilker

Creator

Robert Kirkman; Charlie Adlard

Adapted by

Angela Kang (The Walking Dead)

Partner

Comic:; Yumiko (girlfriend)

Spouse

Television:; Yumiko (wife)

Facts from the source article.

Appearances

Magna leads the survivors from Richmond who enter the Alexandria Safe-Zone two years after the fall of Negan and the Saviors. At the start of the zombie apocalypse, she is among survivors who reach a nursing home near Washington D.C. While moving through the east side of Washington, a massive herd of walkers being routed by Paul "Jesus" Monroe and other Alexandrians surprises Magna's group, causing them to lose their trailer, belongings, and one member.

After rescue and arrival in Alexandria, Magna and her group are interviewed by Rick Grimes and Andrea for permission to stay; initially comfortable, they soon distrust the community's idyllic life. In the war against the Whisperers, Magna serves importantly in the militia, aiding victory. After Rick's death, Magna and her girlfriend Yumiko live together in Alexandria after the community joins the Commonwealth. Magna first appears in "What Comes After" fleeing a walker herd; she and her group defend themselves but become surrounded and are rescued by an unknown person, later revealed to be Judith Grimes.

Development and reception

Nadia Hilker portrays Magna. The character entered the recurring cast with the ninth-season episode "What Comes After" and was promoted to series regular starting the tenth season. Alex McLevy of The A.V. Club, reviewing "Silence the Whisperers," praised Magna's development, noting that Hilker is a magnetic actor but that the character is limited to sniping at Yumiko over decisions. In a Fanfest News interview, Hilker said working for Robert Kirkman felt great and that she had not yet realized how big it is, describing the cast as a family with mutual support and the shooting as brutal but fun, like summer camp.

Ryan DeVault of Monsters and Critics wrote that Hilker, previously known for Luna on The 100, would soon be best-known for Magna. John Saavedra of Den of Geek! praised Hilker's portrayal, stating that Magna was introduced to freshen the show in season 9 and that with Danai Gurira exiting, Hilker might shine as the new badass with a blade.