I wonder if I'm reading a different book than most people. I'm current with the TV show (even though I keep thinking that I should stop watching it, as nothing happens), and decided to pick up the graphic novels on the strength of their reviews. Well, they're faster-paced than the TV show.
But that's the only "advantage", and I'm not sure it's that. It's too fast. We skip over all of the moments that would cause us to identify with the characters, whom I find to be universally flat. I was sorely disappointed to learn that one of the best scenes from the TV show - Rick hanging out with the man and boy that moved in next door to him - was only a few pages in the book, and elicited no emotional response whatsoever.
The art is kind of interesting, as long as one doesn't look at the characters too closely. (Although Glenn looks like Glenn, which I enjoy.)

I think the book was doubly disappointing after reading Kirkman's introduction - he goes on about how the book is supposed to be a social commentary and about more than just zombies popping out from behind things. Then what do we find? Neither.

I had [b:volume 2|138396|The Walking Dead, Vol. 2 Miles Behind Us|Robert Kirkman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298563748s/138396.jpg|133406] out from the library and got about 10 pages in before I realized that I just didn't care.