The comic Gov is too real for TV, on HBO that would pass but not on AMC, from the jump, they had to tone him down and still make him scary, in the comic, you knew he was not playing games from the jump.
Toned down or not, I think they did a pretty damn good job with him, IMHO
You get to see both sides of him from the very first episode he's in...the charismatic charmer who can get a zombie-free city built, who has the unwavering support of a community who is recovering from the shock of a zombie apocalypse...and the absolutely batshyt insane and sadistic side of him, who interrogates and murders wounded men, and keeps heads as trophies.
Morrissey also has a helluva knack for showing how The Governor is letting that evil come over him more and more...he used to be pretty good with the mercy act, now he's clearly annoyed by having to pretend, and lately doesn't even bother anymore.