The Walking Dead star Danai Gurira explains Michonne's zombie pets

The season 2 finale of The Walking Dead featured the arresting image of a hooded, katana-wielding figure carrying around two zombies in chains. That walking warrior was none other than Michonne, one of the most popular characters from the comic book on which the AMC drama is based. Now the woman who plays Michonne, Danai Gurira, gives some insight into those armless, jawless zombies known as "pets," which we will see much more of when season 3 premieres on Oct. 14.

Gurira took a minute out from posing as a badass for one of our four new Walking Dead EW covers to discuss where the pets come from ("They are connected to Michonne's past," she says — but will it be the same past as the comic?), as well as why she keeps them chained by her side ("She's realized she's the higher life form. So how do you make the lower life form work for you?").

Check out more fresh intel on Michonne's zombie pets — as well as footage from our photo shoot — in the video above. And you can buy the Michonne EW cover (or all four Walking Dead covers in a special bundle pack) right here.

For more Walking Dead news, follow me on Twitter @DaltonRoss.