Quite the appropriately epic 100th anniversary cover for Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead one can expect from Frank Quitely.

In retrospect, it was seemingly an impossible feat for Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead, independent comic book series with a horror theme to survive the punishing comic book market, let alone being adapted into one of the most successful TV series ever and celebrating its one hundredth issue.

With the 100th issue hitting the stands this July 11th, Scottish comic-book artist Frank Quitely has been commissioned for a variant cover and IGN has the exclusive unveil. Hit the jump for the cover.

For those who missed out USA Today's earlier unveiling of the equally chilling regular cover by series artist Charlie Adlard, we have embedded it right below.

On the cover, creator Robert Kirkman wryly described, "You can't see it, but (hero cop) Rick is actually holding a birthday cake in his hand. Or, I guess, his only hand."