Older brother to Daryl, Merle comes from an abusive home in the mountains of Georgia and turned to drugs and crime early in life. At first meeting, he is racist, spiteful, mean spirited and deeply cynical traits that get him into trouble with his fellow survivors in Atlanta. His relationship with Daryl is complicated by their shared past of abuse and neglect and Merle has no patience for anybody, especially his younger brother, who dares disagree with his singular worldview. It cant be denied, however, that Merle is extremely useful in a fight. He has a (brief) military background and mastery of firearms.