The Walking Dead #75 – Review

By: Robert Kirkman (writer), Charlie Adlard (art), Cliff Rathburn (gray tones) & Russ Wooton (letters)

The Story: Is Rick Grimes… Our hero… Suitable for decent company anymore?  Or has he been so screwed up by his experiences leading a group of survivors through a zombie-infested countryside that he’ll never be the man he once was?

Grade: A-

[SPOILER ALERT – I’M JUST GOING FOR IT WITH THIS REVIEW, SO IF YOU DON’T WANT IT SPOILED, STOP NOW!!!]

What’s Good: Let’s start with the fact that we’ve had 75 issues of zombie-infused survivor-horror thanks to Kirkman, Adlard & Rathburn.  Most superhero comics from DC/Marvel don’t last that long and this creative team really hasn’t put out a crappy issue nor are they running out of story.  We still don’t know what caused the zombie plague, whether it is localized to the United States or whether zombies can even do things like swim (I’d love to see them hop a sailboat now that they’re in DC).  Bravo!  Bravo!

The big spoiler in this issue is that Rick is now the bad guy.  When we left off in issue #74 we saw the cowardly priest telling Douglas (the leader of the community where the survivors have found safety) how many bad things Rick and gang had done.  I figured that this knowledge would cause tension between Douglas and Rick, but I was dead-ass wrong.  It turns out Douglas knows darn well what Rick has had to do and applauds him for it.

But, as the issue unfolds, it is clear that Rick is so mentally and emotionally damaged by his time in the wild that he just can’t do this polite society thing anymore when he flips out on a guy who is abusive towards his wife and kid.

A Few Videos For The Walking Dead…

Robert Kirkman Tours the Set

Follow Kirkman through the set of a devastated gas station as he describes watching Andrew Lincoln portray Rick Grimes.  Play Video.

See how it all begins when artist Tony Moore’s original artwork is brought to life by the animators at Juice Films and voice actor Phil LaMarr.

The Walking Dead #73 – Review

The Story: Our plucky band of survivors continues to settle into an enclave near Washington, D.C., but are things too good to be true?  Or are the survivors too warped by their experiences on the outside to even know what “normal” is anymore?

[NOTE ABOUT SPOILERS: Knowing how many people read The Walking Dead in trade, I’ve always been very aware of not spoiling this wonderful title for others.  Thus, the normal “What’s good” and “What’s not so good” are going to be short and vague.  I might mention whether something shocking happened in the issue, but I will not say what that shocking thing is.  I am also going to put the “Grade” at the top of the article.  HOWEVER, way down below “What’s not so good” will be discussion of the issue THAT WILL INCLUDE SPOILERS.  So, if you just want to know whether the issue was any good: read the “Grade”.  If you want to know why: read the “What’s good”/”What’s not so good”.  And if you want to know it all: read the whole article.  Just please don’t read the whole thing and then bitch….]

Grade: B+

What’s Good: This issue continue the slow burn that has been going since our band of survivors found apparent sanctuary in a walled encampment near Washington, D.C.  I give Kirkman, Adlard and Rathburn a LOT of credit for how they’re handling this story-arc.  The three creators are working in perfect harmony and building an incredible amount of tension.  The art makes it clear that our main characters are some seriously disturbed people. I’m amazed month-after-month how much range of emotion Adlard and Rathburn convey.

What’s Not So Good: Not much, but I find myself wanting this story arc to come to a sort of climax!  It isn’t much of a complaint because the slow-burn is working so well right now, but after reading this entire series and knowing what Kirkman is capable of doing (see issue #48), you find yourself almost holding your breath when you turn the page.

Conclusion: Another tension building issue of my favorite comic series.

SPOILERS AND DISCUSSION BELOW

The Walking Dead #63 – Review

by Robert Kirkman (writer), Charlie Adlard (pencils and inks), Cliff Rathburn (gray tones), and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: Our group goes looking for Dale before finally finding Father Gabriel’s church.  We also finally meet the much-hyped “Hunters.”

What’s Good: This arc looks to be a great one as for the second month in a row, we get an absolutely stellar issue. I really enjoyed the fleeting glimpse that Andrea got of the Hunter and the panicked paranoia it inspired.  While it’s not as unsettling as the midnight sighting last month, the Hunters are working really well as a horror device.  As the series has worn on, the actual zombies have become less frightening so it’s refreshing to have a new presence in the book that actually puts fear in me. With the Hunters, the horror has returned to the Walking Dead.

Speaking of which, Kirkman once again delivers another crushing, shocking ending. The man truly has no mercy for his characters. I highly advise a reader to NOT– by any means, look at the final page before reading the rest of the book.  You really don’t want to spoil the shock here, which is delivered with pitch-perfect, expert pacing.

The final scene also does well in distinguishing these hunters from the Governor’s forces. This is clearly a new kind of threat, simpler perhaps, but also more brutal.

The Hunter leader Chris is creepy as hell, but also fascinating. Considering the ending, I look forward to hearing their logic expanded upon. It’s a really promising start to a new host of enemies and a new aspect of survivor psychology.

One has only to look at this issue’s ending to see that Kirkman loves his shocks and thrills. For this reason, I loved that Gabriel’s story was actually fairly mundane and subtle; horrific yes, but because it wasn’t at all shocking or surprising shows just how much us readers have come to accept the desolate world Kirkman has crafted. Gabriel’s story is dark, but its poignancy comes from how depressing it is without being surprising, that something so horrible is now so run-of-the-mill.

Adlard delivers the art that Walking Dead readers have come to know and love. That said, I particularly enjoyed his drawing of Gabriel’s church, which evoked a “classic horror,” Night of the Living Dead feel.  The eery, night-time chapel almost felt like an homage that worked really well in black and white. I also loved the final two pages depicting the Hunter’s encampment; from the glowing firelight, to the shadowed faces, to the calmly insane features of their leader, Adlard succeeds in furthering the deeply unsettling nature of this new threat.

What’s Not So Good:  Nothing of note.  That said, readers should note that Carl is entirely absent, so don’t expect any more developments regarding his recent actions. This issue is more or less entirely centred on the hunt for Dale.

Conclusion: The Walking Dead #63 contains all things that a good horror comic should have. Pick it up! It’s good to see TWD returning to its visceral, generic roots.

Grade: A-

-Alex Evans

News: Robert Kirkman Guarantees: On-Time in ’09!

Starting this January, Robert Kirkman gives his books the one thing fans have demanded for years – guaranteed ship dates!

“That’s right, kids, this time it’s for real,” said Kirkman. “Every single one of my titles – WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN and BRIT – will now be guaranteed to ship by their solicited date. This isn’t an empty promise and I’ve taken that extra step of hiring Aubrey Sitterson, an editor for my entire line, a guy you may know from his days at Marvel.”

Aubrey Sitterson, who first worked with Kirkman on titles such as THE IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN and MARVEL TEAM-UP, has been quietly working with Kirkman for the last several months, ensuring the upcoming resolicited books hit their target date.

Sitterson said, “I spent years wrangling Robert at the House of Ideas. Now, I’m champing at the bit to crack the whip and mix whatever metaphors necessary to get every last one of his books out on time – no exceptions and no excuses!”

The guaranteed ship dates will begin this January, with ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #12, BRIT #12, INVINCIBLE #58 and THE WALKING DEAD #57.

News: Walking Dead #50 Sells Out, Highest Ever Print Run!

WALKING DEAD #50 sells out with all-time high orders; second printing on its way!

In less than a day after release, WALKING DEAD #50 has sold out at the distribution level despite a record high print run, but a second printing is on the way.

“Like INVINCIBLE #50, we printed more than we’ve ever printed before to ensure there were more than enough to meet demand,” said series writer Robert Kirkman. “However, this one sold out even faster and the subsequent orders really blew us away. We’re going to print even more than usual for the second printing in an effort to make sure everyone gets their copies. With 50 behind us, Charlie and I have our sights set on issue 100, so this sell out and record sales on our most recent issue are excellent signs of the health of this series and how easy it will be to meet our new goal… and exceed it!”

WALKING DEAD #50 marked a major turning point in the series, with a long-time character taking center stage after a devastating attack on the prison base. Now a new era begins with our cast once again on the road. To celebrate the sell out, the second printing will feature an all-new cover by series artist Charlie Adlard.

WALKING DEAD #50 2nd printing, a 32-page black and white comic book for $2.99, is due in stores this July.

Walking Dead #50 – Review

By Robert Kirkman (writer) and Charlie Adlard (artist) and Cliff Rathburn (colors)

I realize Robert Kirkman doesn’t like holding up storylines for the sake of milestone issues, and for that he gains much respect from me as a reader. That said, I can’t help but express my disappointment for Walking Dead #50 – not just as a milestone issue, but as a normal standalone issue itself.

This 50th issue finally gives little Carl a chance to let out all the angst and sadness that’s built up over the last few issues (and perhaps months/years). His reaction is pretty genuine considering the emotional trauma he’s been through. And as night and day pass, Carl fights with himself and his unconscious father until he finally comes to an understanding that in the end, he’s still a kid. This is a nice, personal story of growth and I have no doubt it will prove more rewarding as time passes and Carl takes a larger role in the Walking Dead storyline.

However, having this story for a book’s 50th issue just doesn’t feel right. A milestone issue like this needs to have a more significant story. Perhaps if we had some flashbacks of Carl when he was younger where we saw memories of his parents, or perhaps if we saw how he and his mother escaped the zombie infestation before meeting up with his father – stories like these would have proved more rewarding. Even making this issue double-sized and giving us a hint of the new status quo or a new character would have served as something more momentous. Instead, we’re left to sulk by ourselves in our own self pity… like little Carl himself.

Congratulations to Kirkman, Adlard, and Rathburn for making it this far. They’ve crafted one of the most engaging reads in the medium and have continued to grow their fanbase. Here’s to 50 more issues. But please, don’t give us another issue like this for issue #100. (Grade: C)

– J. Montes

A Second Opinion

I am going to have to disagree with Jason here, but not because I take issue with any points that he made, which are all totally valid. I enjoyed this issue quite a bit because I honestly think that if some earth shattering event had occurred, it would have felt somewhat forced. Kirkman literally shattered The Walking Dead foundation in issue #48 and there was no reason to shake up the status quo again so soon. While a part of me thinks that maybe this milestone should have been what #48 was, there is no denying the emotional impact that this issue has. Carl gets the spotlight here and, honestly, it’s about time that he let it all out.

I actually applaud Kirkman for telling the story that he wants to tell and not giving into the temptation to shake things up just because this is a milestone. The Walking Dead #50 is all about the emotional toll the recent events have had on Carl and it works extremely well in that regard. Congrats Mr. Kirkman, it has been a great ride so far. (Grade B+)

-Kyle Posluszny

Resurrection #4 – Review

By Marc Guggenheim (writer) & David Dumeer (artist)

Universal Studios recently optioned this comic to become a movie. 9 out of 10 times, that means, nothing, but I can imagine the story being on the big screen. The thing is, there’s probably going to be lots of changes to the story to make it more interesting, because the comic isn’t doing anything for me. If they just keep the premise, I’ll be a happy camper – that’s the book’s selling point. It fails in execution and I could care less if the studio got rid of everything else.

The storytelling in this issue doesn’t work for me. The three story lines are lost in 22 pages and we get little progression in all the plot threads save one. This series might work in the long run as a trade, but individually, the issues aren’t worth the time. I don’t care for the characters, and when one of them bites the dust I remain unphased. It’s like a poor man’s Walking Dead, really.

With the current story the president is still trying to reassure everyone who’s the boss, making sure they get his point. Meanwhile, the alien bug is still on the loose with the doctor doing everything to cover its tracks. Back in the spaceship, Simon (Tulley’s bodyguard) gets a revelation from the bugs and we’re given a confrontation. Yep, that’s it. Basically if you missed issue #3, you haven’t missed anything at all. Nothing’s happening and it’s frustrating.

Unfortunately for Resurrection, there are other books that I want to read and I can’t wait anymore for it to pick up the pace. Even though there are two more issues remaining to complete the story arc, I  just don’t  care. Maybe I’ll check out the trade when its released, but for now, this title’s lost a reader. (Grade: D)

-Daniel Yanez

The Walking Dead #48 – Review

By Robert Kirkman (writer), Charlie Adlard (art), Cliff Rathburn (colors)

This is, hands down, the best and most emotional issue of The Walking Dead yet. Everything is spot on perfect: The pacing, the art, the dialogue, the pay-offs, and the drastic direction this book takes. Robert Kirkman deserves accolades for delivering on his “No one if safe” promise. This issue will shake you to the core and leave you an emotional train wreck.

I can’t and won’t go into the details of the story because of the sweeping changes that take place, but I will say that if you’ve been a reader since the first issue, prepare to be traumatized. Everything has been building towards this, and to be honest, I thought we’d get this conclusion at issue #50. Instead, we get a rousing ending to the war at the prison, the governor, and the fate of the survivors.

There’s a few threads left unresolved, but you know how you read a typical issue of Walking Dead and it’s over way too quickly and you have to wait maybe a month or two to see what happens next? Well, this issue completely satisfies, doesn’t leave you hanging (to a degree), and is paced out perfectly. This is what makes picking up the single issues rewarding to me. A lot of credit also has to go to Charlie Adlard who does some brilliant panel work – not to mention a very ominous double page splash. His interpretations of Kirkman’s script are spot on and hard hitting.

I have no idea what Kirkman has planned from here on out. It takes a lot of guts to shake things up on the level he did here.  But the future is now completely wide open. (Grade: A+)

– J. Montes

The Walking Dead #46 – Review

By Robert Kirkman (writer), Charlie Adlard (art), Cliff Rathburn (colors)

It’s time again for The Walking Dead! How long has it been since last issue? It seems like two or three months ago!

The first third of this issue involve some quiet time in the prison. We see Rick preparing his son for the worst case scenario, unlikely strangers taking comfort amongst themselves, and small moments of family bonding. And then everything goes to hell. The cover of this issue doesn’t lie or mislead. What happens in the mid-section of this book is real and incredibly brutal. The Governor is a bastard, we know that, and he prepares his second round assault on the prison. But then we get one hell of a surprise.

Reading this issue reminds me why I prefer reading the trades. One can literally finish an issue in 5 minutes. And then what? You’ve got to wait a month (or much longer) for the next issue. It sucks, but waiting 4 months for a trade is worse – and that’s the only reason why I pick up the issues.

Robert Kirkman once again hooks us from page one and doesn’t let go. This series is consistently good and Kirkman has made well on his promises that no character is safe. Riveting. (Grade A-)

– J. Montes

A Second Opinion

I started reading the series a week ago based on Jay’s recommendation (I stole all his books) and now it sucks because I’ll have to wait a month in between issues. I didn’t pick this series up before because I thought it was “just another zombie story”. This series is extremely well done, with characters you grow to love and hate. Kirkman doesn’t want us to feel safe; any of the character is at risk.

This mantra is confirmed again with this issue. The Governor doesn’t have enough strength to hit with one hand, so he strikes several times, making for one hell of a brutal assassination. I do wonder why the survivors didn’t shoot at the governor while doing his deed (and out in the open). At least they could have saved one of them, (if Michone was captured as the Governor said). I saw the covers for future issues and it doesn’t look good for Rick and company. (Grade: B+)

-Daniel Yanez