Joe (The Walking Dead)

"See now that's right. It's not some damn lie. Look we can settle this, we're reasonable men. First we're gonna beat Daryl to death, then we'll have the girl, then the boy, then I'm gonna shoot you and then we'll be square."

- Joe, to Rick Grimes

"C'mon fella', suicide is stupid. Why hurt yourself when you can hurt other people?"

- Joe, to Daryl Dixon

A survivor of the zombie apocalypse and brutal leader of The Claimers, Joe is the primary antagonist of the second half of the 4th season of the Walking Dead. He and his men are first encountered by Rick Grimes, who was resting in a house while recovering from wounds given to him during his fight with The Governor. The Claimers arrived in the house, and Rick was forced to strangle one of their members during his stealthy escape. He is nearly spotted by Joe, but the dead Claimer comes back as a walker and causes a distraction.

Joe is then introduced to Daryl Dixon, a member of Rick's group who had gotten separated from the group after the fall of the prison, as he collapses from exhaustion and contemplates suicide after losing his companion Beth Greene. Joe talks him out of it, and allows him to become one of the Claimers. Later, Daryl butts heads with Len, another Claimer, over who has proper claim to a rabbit Daryl kills. Joe explains how the rules of claiming work to Daryl, and splits it between the two of them. Len later attempts to frame Daryl by putting his half in Daryl's bag and claiming he stole it, but Joe catches him in the act, and has the other Claimers "teach him the way". Daryl discovers Len's corpse, and making it clear they beat him to death. Joe also reveals to Daryl they intend to do the same to Rick when they find him.

Joe, using the Terminus signs scattered about, manages to track down Rick, holding him at gunpoint as the other Claimers prepare to rape and kill his son Carl and his fellow survivor Michonne. Daryl interjects in an attempt to save his friends life, but Joe calls Daryl a liar and allows the others to beat him nearly to death. Rick managed to escape from being held at gunpoint and fought Joe, though he was overpowered, with Joe mocking him by saying, "What the hell are you gonna do now, sport?" Rick bit into Joe's throat, tore out his jugular, then kills the other Claimers, who were too shocked to fight back.