The Walking Dead season 7 episode 1: The five most traumatic Negan moments

*MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SEASON 7 EPISODE 1 FOLLOW*

The Walking Dead has returned for season 7 and the premiere episode was the bleakest instalment in the show's history.

First appearing in the 100th issue of Robert Kirkman's graphic novels, the character of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) finally made his debut in the AMC series' season 6 finale - and more than made his mark as one of the most fearsome characters of all time.

Everyone involved with the show has teased that Negan's arrival marks a new era for The Walking Dead - and the season 7 premiere has cemented this notion in horrific fashion.

These are the most traumatic acts committed by the character in episode 1:

*Beware: major spoilers follow - and when we say major, we mean major*

1 | Negan kills Abraham

Someone had to go, and the moustachioed Sgt Abraham Ford (Michael Cudlitz) was that character. We see a shell-shocked Rick (Andrew Lincoln) recollect the 'eeny meeny miny mo' scene from the season 6 finale with the additional tag on of Negan bashing Ford's brains in, his friends powerless to stop. "Suck my nuts," the character says, remaining the Abraham we know and love right 'til the end. Taking a small break to laugh at his victim's final quip, Negan proceeds to continue working away at his head with Lucille.

2 | Negan makes Rosita stare at Abraham's battered head

You can say what you like about Negan but he's a very switched on man. With the other ten characters left visibly shaken by Abraham's brutal murder, Negan notices Rosita (Christian Serratos) - his former love interest - in particular refusing to look at his corpse. "Oh damn," he says. "Were you two together? That sucks." Waving the blood-soaked baseball bat in her face, he demands she look at what's left of his skull. Well, right up until Daryl (Norman Reedus) throws a punch at him, which leads to the below (brace yourselves).

3 | Negan kills Glenn

Now, this one I can't believe I'm writing. Just when fans assumed the other characters were off the hook, the new antagonist strikes again as punishment for Daryl's punch - this time on an unsuspecting Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun). "So - back to it," he exclaims before raining down on him in front of his horrified wife, Maggie (Lauren Cohan). "What, are you still there?' he taunts a dying Glenn, depravedly. "I just popped your skull so hard your eyeball just popped out!" The nine others watch on as Negan murders him, just after poor Glenn attempts his final words: "Maggie, I'll find you."

4 | Negan makes Rick cut Carl's arm off... almost

He wasn't stopping there. Not convinced Rick yet understood he was no longer in charge, Negan summons Rick Jr himself, Carl (Chandler Riggs). Announcing the "grand prize game," he draws a line on Carl's arm and gives Rick three seconds to cut it off. If he doesn't? Everyone will die. The only thing more disturbing than seeing a spluttering Rick begging Negan to stop is how he's one second away from doing it - just before Negan intervenes: "That is the look I wanted to see." Job done - Negan's his master.

5 | Negan kidnaps Daryl

This is the one that's going to make the group's revenge a hard prospect. Making Dwight (Austin Amelio) load Daryl into a van, Negan threatens that if his group's not obeyed, he will force Rick to mutilate his one-time right-hand man until the Saviors get what they want. "Welcome to a brand new beginning, you sorry shits," Negan says as his group disperses leaving behind two corpses and eight quivering wrecks.

The Walking Dead continues Mondays at 9pm on FOX.