The Walking Dead #83 – Review

By: Robert Kirkman (writer), Charlie Adlard (art), Cliff Rathburn (grays), Rus Wooton (letters) & Sina Grace (editor)

The Story: As the walled enclave turns into a zombie-filled death-trap, Rick & Gang make a break for it.

What’s Good: [Spoilers ahead.  If you haven’t read the issue, just skim to the bottom, see the “grade” and come back after you’ve read it!] Wow!  Damn!  That’s all that can really be said after an issue like this one.  One of my criticisms of The Walking Dead over the last few issues was that I was starting to feel like certain characters were “safe” and that (unfortunately) Kirkman was going to have to kill someone to make me really buy into the long-standing notion that anyone could die at any time in TWD.

Well, we don’t get a straight-up death of a major character in this issue, but we DO get something pretty traumatic that could lead to death.  Actually, I don’t see how this injury is anything but fatal.  The events of this story could play out in so many tantalizing ways.  If Carl dies, will Rick really have the balls to put a bullet in his own son’s head when he reanimates?  There is an interesting parallel with Morgan who was unable to “kill” his zombified son.  If Carl dies, what will become of Rick?  Will being without his child be a lifting of a burden in a way and free him up to be a better leader…. or…will it ruin him?

So, many other superstar moments in this issue.  Michonne spilling her guts to a dead man before getting her “game face” back on.  Goodness do I love Michonne!  How about Maggie and Sophia making a decision to stay behind and Rick being 100% willing to leave them because he doesn’t want to waste the time to try talking them out of it?  Amazing, considering all that Rick & Maggie have been through together!  How about Ron & his mom getting gobbled by zombies and Rick chopping off her arm to get her to let go of Carl? Sheesh!  Only a few moments earlier Rick and this lady were being all snuggly and now he is ignoring her pleas for help and hacking her arm to save his son.  What about how blatantly clear it was that the residents of this enclave simply can’t hack it when the shit hits the fan?  Our original gang is basically dealing with the zombies like they are old pros whereas the “civilians” are peeing their pants and firing guns wildly.  How about Andrea coming up with a pretty decent plan to help her friends inside the wall?  Did you really think she’d turn tail and run?  I know that if I ended up being in The Walking Dead, I want to be on the team with Rick, Andrea and Michonne.