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The Walking Dead #85 – Review

Posted on May 25, 2011 by dfstell

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

The Story: The humans clean up after laying a massive smack down on the zombies in last month’s issue.

[SPOILER WARNING ]

What’s Good: Comics can’t be breakneck all the time.  The Walking Dead is a marathon that alternates lots of issues of quality character-building with an issue here or there of action and terror.  In issues #83 and #84, we got a LOT of that action as the zombies came pouring into the “safe zone” outside of Alexandria and the humans (led by Rick) decided that this was the time and place to make a stand.  In those issues, you could just see that “a lot” of zombies were killed, but this issue really drives it home as we see the survivors setting about burning all the corpses.  Wow….that’s a whole lot of dead zombies!

What makes Kirkman such a good writer is how he can bounce from the action of last issue to the calm and post-traumatic stress of this issue.  After spending the last ~10 issue being certain that the survivors were going to be driven out of Alexandria by the zombies, I love that we’re getting to see them learn from the mistakes that allowed this near catastrophe to take place and make affirmative efforts to fix the situation.  Rick and his gang seem to be 100% in charge of Alexandria now.  When they first got there, they were the guests, were worried about fitting in and didn’t want to rock the boat.  Now they’re in charge and have all kinds of plans to fortify their living quarters.

Kirkman also isn’t above giving us an “Oh Shit!” moment when Rick’s girlfriend comes lurching out of the pile-o-zombies, lurching towards people with her almost severed hand from where Rick chopped her with his hatchet because she was slowing the group down and was going to get Carl killed.  As if the scene of Rick chopping her to save his and Carl’s lives a few issues ago wasn’t harsh enough, having her reanimated corpse lurching back to life just shows that Kirkman really isn’t pulling his punches.
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The Walking Dead #84 – Review

Posted on April 27, 2011 by dfstell

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

The Story: After the shocking events of the last issue, the survivors need to man-up.

What’s Good: [SPOILER WARNING]

If you thought that this issue would continue the bloodbath we got last month, you would be wrong.  After issue #83 (where Jesse and Ron got gobbled up by zombies, and where Rick chopped Jessie’s wrist with an axe to get her to let go of Carl, and where Carl got shot in the head due to some very unsafe gun handling by Douglas), I really expected this to be the issue where Kirkman thinned the herd again and distilled our core group back down to a few members before moving TWD on to the next set piece.  And Kirkman probably could have written that story as a pretty good issue even if he’s already shown us THAT story (in issue #48)… But, what we get instead is something completely awesome!

Rick and company decide that they’re taking a stand.  It starts organically with one-handed Rick fighting the zombies to give the doctor time to work on Carl, but just as things look bleak for Rick, Michonne comes flying in with her katana, leading her and Rick to fight back-to-back against a whole herd of zombies.  Of course we all expect Michonne to be the first of the survivors to suck it up and get down to business, but what happens next is truly incredible.  One by one, the survivors peek out of the houses where they have been hiding and go running out into the fray.  It isn’t too surprising that Abraham springs into action; he’s a military man after all. But some of the coddled survivors from the settlement, the fat science teacher and even Gabriel the priest come running wielding blunt instruments.

The fat science teacher even has the best couple of lines of the issue.  First, as he opens the door to the church to go to the rescue, he tells the priest, “C’mon Gabriel.  You can’t sit this one out” and later, when Abraham suggests that he take a breather in the turmoil he says, “This is a story people are going to tell.  I’m a part of this — I’m not giving up.”

And that’s this issue in a nutshell…  It’s all about a group of survivors who have been running for their lives from zombies and they are SICK of it; and by running this gauntlet they are born again.  In the end, they kill every single zombie that came into the compound and have retaken control of their destiny.

If you’ve ever recommended The Walking Dead, you’ve probably used the phrase, “It’s actually not about zombies.”  Well, maybe it wasn’t about zombies for the reader, but until this issue it was about the zombies for Rick and the other characters.  By the end of this issue, the zombies are, as Rick says, “a manageable problem.”
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The Walking Dead #83 – Review

Posted on April 2, 2011 by dfstell

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.
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The Walking Dead #82 – Review

Posted on March 9, 2011 by dfstell

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

The Story: Zombies are breaking into the safe little enclave.

What’s Good: [SPOILER WARNING]

It’s amazing how an issue like this– that features the first full-on zombie swarm since around issue #58 or so– has so many great human moments.  When we broke away at the end of issue #81, the zombies were pouring into the compound through a weak place in the wall, and Morgan (who has been with us since issue #1) got bit.  I love that we quickly see Michonne come to the rescue.  Not only is she kinda the group’s resident badass, but this is her back in her element.  Remember how much trouble she had adapting to life inside the walls?  Remember all the issues she was having with her relationship with Morgan?  Even though she does seem to legitimately care about Morgan, this is what Michonne does: she chops up zombies and otherwise protects the group.  Without that, she’s a fish out of water and she’s the one who might almost be happier with a more frenzied state of affairs.

As things go from bad to worse and our survivors realize that there is no way to hold the compound, they are forced to retreat into the homes.  It struck me that this series has come completely full circle.  For all the experiences that our survivors have been through, they’re back to having nothing but window glass between them and hordes of zombies.  At this moment, none of these folks are in any better shape than any of them have been since the outbreak.

Other great little bits in this issue…  1) Seeing the minister have a chance for redemption by opening the door to let some folks being chased by zombies into his church.  Remember how we learned that during the initial outbreak that he’d refused to open his doors?  The unfortunate thing is that in drama, that kinda noble sacrifice doesn’t usually get rewarded with a long life.  2) Andrea isn’t going anywhere.  I mentioned this in my “pick of the week”, but you just know that she’ll do something to help.  And….she too is revisiting a scene from the past.  Remember how Andrea is the one who came to save the day when the gang escaped from the prison?  3) And how about Carl?  What an freaky thing that a boy who thinks he is 8 (since they may have missed his birthday), is trusted by his dad to watch over the dude who got bit by the zombie because everyone knows that Carl would put a bullet between the dude’s eyes if he wakes up a zombie.  Could there be a bigger statement on how screwed up these people are than trusting an 8 year old to have the judgment to euthanize a guy if appropriate?  4) And Rick has again come right back to putting his own child’s safety above everything else.  Can’t say I blame him, but this hasn’t been a theme for a long time in this story.

I also love how Kirkman ends this issue.  He’s spread out all of our favorite characters, and while you know that some of them are going to escape and probably some of these groups are going to meet up to continue the story, it’s pretty unlikely that everyone is going to escape.
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The Walking Dead #81 – Review

Posted on February 9, 2011 by dfstell

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

The Story: Attack of the zombies OR “You gotta sink those fence posts in concrete!”

What’s Good: [This review contains spoilers] Kirkman has been teasing the hell out of us readers for ~6 months with this whole “No Way Out” storyline.  We’ve had teaser images and hints of what might go down, but he’s used the intervening issues to do some outstanding character building work on both his main characters and the supporting cast.

Big events abound in this issue as Kirkman gives his characters a final few panels of the good life before a weak fence post proves to be the undoing of the happy little enclave.

Kirkman covers some HUGE ground with Rick.  Remember the slumber party at Rick’s house from last issue (with the widow of the abusive husband that Rick executed a few issues ago)?  While some people might see it being icky that Rick sleeps with her, is this widow really less emotionally damaged than Rick?  Who’s taking advantage of who?  And it seems that this single night with a desperate woman is going to help Rick move on with his life.  Anything that makes him get rid of The Telephone…  Tom Katers (of iFanboy, Around Comics, Tom vs. Aquaman) made an excellent point a few months ago: The Telephone is the first and only time in TWD that we’ve seen anything that wasn’t real.  When we saw those word balloons coming from the phone, that was Rick’s insanity speaking.  But, we have never had another thought bubble or narration box in TWD.  The Telephone needs to go and if these events help Rick leave The Telephone behind, this story will be stronger and more cohesive going forward.

We also get a wonderful reversal of fortunes as Glen hatches a planl to rescue Andrea from the guard tower.  Kirkman builds the hell out of the tension as the rescue party shimmies over the mob of zombies because you just know that someone is dying in this issue.  Will it be Glen?  Will it be a redshirt?  But, just as we are convinced that Glen and Andrea are the ones in trouble, suddenly they are the safe ones as the enclave is undone by wobbly fence posts.

Month after month, Charlie Adlard just nails this series.  I almost feel like it is a shame that most of the credit during the launch of the TV show was given to Tony Moore.  Moore may have started it, but this is Adlard’s series now.  His framing of scenes to build the tension or the way his characters convey emotions is top-notch.
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The Walking Dead #80 – Review

Posted on January 5, 2011 by dfstell

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

The Story: No Way Out begins.  Will the zombies get a snack?

What’s Good: This issue was a bit of a tease.  [SPOILER warning]  The thing that makes this comic series and book so special is that it isn’t just a ZOMBIES ATTACK story.  So, it would have been disappointing in a way just to have someone leave the gate of the enclave open and have the zombies swarm in.  What we get is a scenario where our protagonists are now surrounded.  They’re safe, but there isn’t an obvious way out of the enclave…and Andrea is stuck in the tower on sniper/lookout duty.  So what we have is more of a siege scenario: No one is getting eaten, but no one can leave either.

After depriving us of some all-you-can-eat zombie-on-human action, Kirkman gives us some great character work.  A few issues ago, Douglas basically ceded leadership of the group to Rick and we see Rick really rise to the occasion.  The guy who was cracking up a few issues ago, just needed a crisis.  His message is basically: Stay calm.  We’re safe for now and we’ll figure something out.

But the superstar moment of this issue happened when the battered widow of the man Rick killed a few issues ago asks if she and her son can stay with Rick & Carl.  In a dual scene, we see Rick and Jessie discussing Rick’s heroic nature (she admires him, he thinks he’s just doing the natural thing) but the heat is upstairs in an awesome scene where the other boy confronts Carl in the dark about how Rick “killed his Dad”.  Just about the time you get nervous for Carl, he deals with the situation is a way that shuts the other kid up AND leaves the parents completely unaware of what happened.  In some ways, I’m starting to see The Walking Dead as Carl’s story.  Much like the Star Wars films really ended up being the story of Anakin Skywalker (and not Luke), we thought this was Rick’s story, but I think in 50 issues we’ll say it was really about Carl, especially after a touching father/son moment in the middle of the issue.

Another cool thing about this issue is that there are so many ways the story can go from here.  Will the zombies find their way inside?  Will Andrea be safe?  Will Rick be sorry he distributed guns to everyone?  Will one of the precarious romantic situations boil over? It would be just like Kirkman if the true danger was the humans inside the compound.
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The Walking Dead #79 – Review

Posted on November 24, 2010 by dfstell

B y: Robert Kirkman (writer), Charlies Adlard (art), Cliff Rathburn (gray tones), Russ Wooton (letters) & Sina Grace (editor)

The Story: As life passes in the sleepy little enclave, danger is closing in.

What’s Good: The tension was just palpable in this issue.  It’s hard to discuss without getting a little SPOILERIFFIC so you’ve been warned.

Kirkman spends the entire issue bouncing from scenes inside the enclave (Note to Mr. Kirkman: Can you give this joint a name, please?) showing the survivors going about their lives and discussing the fallout from the last few issues.  The whole thing is a pretty classic horror movie set-up.  Show normal stuff.  Show impending doom and everything about this issue screams “BAD THINGS ARE ABOUT TO HAPPEN!!!!”  So, every time we leave a discussion of Rick and Andrea discussing her sniper skills during the shootout in the last issue to bounce over to Abraham and gang on construction duty, we kinda cringe.  I like Abraham, but you know he isn’t safe (since no one is safe in TWD).

Kirkman uses this tension very well and he doesn’t spoil his own stories by releasing 7 page previews of his comics, but he did start teasing issue #80 a few months ago.  We know that we’re headed for a big zombie mess in that issue, so Kirkman works with that and spends the whole issue just teasing us.  When you think about it, the zombies themselves haven’t really been a problem since Rick, Abraham and Carl got caught in the zombie herd around issue 58 or so.  That’s almost two years without a zombie attack.   It’s time.

The theme of this issue could also be “life goes on”.  We touch base with most of the major characters.  Budding romances are discussed.  Changes in leadership are afoot.  People are happy.  People are sad.  Andrea is wearing Dales hat.  But through it all, we keep seeing Abraham and gang doing routine zombie clean-up.  This won’t end well!
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The Walking Dead Vol.1: Days Gone Bye – Review

Posted on October 26, 2010 by dfstell

By: Robert Kirkman (writer/letters), Tony Moore (art) & Cliff Rathburn (gray tones)

The Story: A man wakes up from a coma to find the world has been overrun by zombies.

Review: News Flash!!!!!  There will be a TV adaptation of The Walking Dead beginning on AMC on Halloween night (Oct. 31, 2010).  Unless you have been under a rock, you will have already heard this news and if you are a big fan of the comic series, you have doubtless been telling family and co-workers how awesome the show should be.  Likely you’ve been hinting to these same people that you just happen to have a complete collection of The Walking Dead in the socially-acceptable-for-adults “graphic novel” format (since no only geeks would be seen to read -sigh- “comic books”) and would be very happy to loan these trade paperbacks out.

Or perhaps you are a non-comic fan who has seen the news of the show and believes that you should always read the book before you seen the movie.  So, you go on Amazon or drive to your local bookstore and look up The Walking Dead.  Where do you start?

Well, it is pretty easy with a series like TWD… You start with #1 which is the subject of this review and is titled “Days Gone Bye”.  This volume is not Watchmen when it comes to sales figures, but it is still making appearances on Top 10-20 monthly sales lists years after its release (which is an achievement in the flavor-of-the-day comics industry).

So, how is this volume that collects issues #1-6 of the comic series?  “We” all presume that this is what the first season of the TV show will be based upon, so is it good source material?  If you’ve never read comics, will you like it?  If you lend it to a co-worker, will they enjoy it or fling it back in your face?

What’s Good: Robert Kirkman does a wonderful job of establishing the basic story in this first volume.  That is the feeling of being alone, loss of family, join at reunion with people you had thought were lost and, of course, the zombies in the background.

It is very important to note that this series isn’t really been about zombies.  This comic is not “Night of the Living Dead”.  The zombies are a dull, background noise that kills characters when they least expect it or when they become careless.  Sure, there are a few “oh shit” moments in this volume where the survivors have to get away from the zombie hordes, but that is not the focus of the story.

So, if the zombies aren’t the focus, what is?  It’s the people, dummy!  Imagine being in a small group of ~10 survivors clinging together, starring at the end of the world.  How do you find food?  Where do you sleep?  And most importantly, who is in charge?  Is it the strongest?  The smartest?  The most vicious?  Although it becomes a theme in later volumes, there are seeds planted here about the breakdown of basic human institutions.
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The Walking Dead #78 – Review

Posted on October 20, 2010 by dfstell

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

The Story: Chaos comes knocking at the door of the walled enclave, setting a very bad sequence of events in motion.

[Spoilers lie below...]

The Walking Dead is another one of those series that never flings out a stinker, ho-hum issue, but this issue is better than most for a couple of reasons.  For one thing, we have a couple of funerals in this issue and that allows us to have a quiet moment for Kirkman to expound on the root nature of humanity in a post-apocalyptic world.  Does this environment show people as they really are, now that they are free of society’s expectations for behavior?  Or has this horrid world warped people so that they are not much better than the zombies wandering the wastes?

Then, just when things are getting all touching… BANG!  It’s action time as the enclave has to deal with that band of rednecks who have been popping up here and there for the last few issues.  I won’t spoil the outcome of the fight, but with Kirkman’s history in this series, you are on pins and needles because he has shown us time and time again that no one is safe.  And the big action leads to us recalling one truism that has been in place throughout this series: gunfire attracts zombies.  And….there is a lot of gunfire in this issue.  Oh boy!

As if that weren’t enough, we close the issue by touching on another constant theme since our survivors found this gated community: Is the fact that Rick Grimes is paranoid and slightly nuts a good thing or a bad thing?  He may not make good company in decent society, but it seems like the community might be glad to have him when the shit hits the fan.
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The Walking Dead #77 – Review

Posted on September 22, 2010 by dfstell

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

The Story: An issue for cleaning up emotional baggage combined with a reminder that the zombie wasteland is still a pretty scary place.

What’s Good: [Spoiler warning] If you follow the teasers released by Image, you know that TWD is headed for some big stuff around issue #80.  So, this issue felt like Kirkman doing a little bit of house cleaning before we get to anything big.  Most of this house cleaning is emotional and as we visit the characters in a series of short scenes at the beginning of the issue, we are reminded of what badly damaged people our survivors are.  In a way, this psychological damage is not exactly news, but it hits home more for me now that they are in the artificially safe walled-off suburb than when they were living in a prison or an old RV with zombies thumping on the walls.  The psychological damage is shown from so many angles that there is going to be something for everyone to identify with.

Of course, it wouldn’t be TWD without some violence or the threat thereof.  And, in this issue we get both.  In typical TWD fashion, the violence serves to show just how fragile life is.  TWD doesn’t play out like a video game where you get injured and have to rest to regain strength……these folks just die.  Healthy one second and then…..bang…..they’re gone.

As for the “threat” of violence, that is coming along on a couple of fronts that I don’t want to spoil any more, but makes me very eager to keep reading the title in the months ahead.

It sounds like a broken record, but AGAIN the art is just stellar.  Kirkman has said he will keep doing this book forever, but I think it’ll end when Charlie Adlard quits because I can’t see someone else doing these characters as well.  And I’m only partially kidding when I say that.
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Invincible #74 – Review

Posted on August 27, 2010 by paladinking


by Robert Kirkman (writer), Ryan Ottley (pencils), Cliff Rathburn (inks), and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: Our heroes run to the rescue as the Viltrumites attack the Coalition of Planets’ headquarters on Talescria.

What’s Good: Man, it’s about time.  It feels like forever since the last issue of Invincible, but I guess the fact that I’ve reacted so strongly to an additional month’s delay means that this whole Viltrumite War thing has managed to suck me in more than I expected.

I think that part of this is because that now that the Viltrumite War has begun in earnest, Kirkman’s attempt at a cosmic-styled adventure is actually quite a bit of fun, which I didn’t expect given how bland some of those set-up issues were.  However, when the stakes are this high and when all the key players are pulled together, the end result is fast, grand, and undeniably exciting.

Much of this is thanks to Ryan Ottley, who is putting out some of his best work to date.  Apparently, Ottley is just really, really good at cosmic stuff.  Everything is extremely vibrant, dynamic, bright, and wonderfully detailed.  The action sequences are bombastic, over-the-top fun that’s a real treat to read as well as look at.  I also can’t help but mention how much I like haggard, scruffy looking Mark.  This is just great stuff all around from Ottley.  Also, the Great Thaedus actually fights this month and man, that guy is just jacked underneath those unassuming robes.  I couldn’t help but laugh.

As far as Kirkman’s script goes, there’s a lot to like here.  I continue to enjoy Tech Jacket’s place, even though I never had any prior attachment to the character.  His powers add something really unique to the heroes’ power-set and general look, and his youthful voice and unassuming awkwardness is a nice fit.  I also continue to enjoy the growing chemistry between Nolan and Oliver, which remains unique and highlights not only Nolan’s role as teacher, but the more unique aspects of Oliver’s racial lineage.  Together with Mark, the three have a great dynamic.
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The Walking Dead #76 – Review

Posted on August 11, 2010 by dfstell

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

The Story: After beginning to crack up last issue, what will become of Rick Grimes.

Grade: B+

[SPOILER WARNING]

What’s Good: Whenever I review a comic that I am scoring highly, there is this huge temptation to talk about what happened.  This issue is outstanding in some ways for what doesn’t happen.  Let me explain…

In TWD #75, we saw that Rick basically cracked up and pulled a gun on the leader of this pocket of civilization he and the other survivors are living in.  The situation was only resolved when Michonne cracks him on the back of the head with a rock.  Now, I fully expected this issue to consist of Rick getting declared unfit for decent company and tossed over the fence.  That is probably what Rick would have done (remember what he did to the cannibals?) and that would be a cool story, but that isn’t what happens and that lack of punishment is what jumps out of this issue.

However, there are two things that happen in this issue that are very subtle.  One is why Douglas chooses to pardon Rick instead of throwing him to the zombies.  It comes down to specific events of the fracas that Rick caused in the last issue.  Basically, Douglas respects that Rick wasn’t attempting to abuse his power.  He was making a tough call to call out a wife-beater with no thought of personal gain for himself.  Further, Douglas respects that fact that Rick (as head of security) was crafty enough to get his hands on a weapon, but restrained enough to not immediately pull it on the wife-beater.  However, I do like that Douglas (and later Michonne) made it crystal clear that Rick needs to get his poop in one sock, or else….

The other subtle item in this issue is a possible rift between Rick and his son Carl.  At first, I was calling bullshit on Carl being angry with Rick for basically getting thrown in jail overnight.  But, then think about what this little boy has been through in the ~18 months that have elapsed in this series: zombie apocalypse, assumed dead father, mother shacking up briefly with another man, dad returns, many dead companions, expectation of a little sibling, pregnant mother killed, chased by cannibals, etc. with the topper being the two people that Carl has basically executed for being a menace to the group.  Then put that together with the comments that Carl has been making about how this “civilization” is make-believe, won’t last and will soften the group for the inevitable re-exposure to the zombies and it is clear that Carl is becoming the ultimate bad-ass that Rick tries to be. Either that or he’s going to become a full fledged psychopath.   The only thing that is a shame is that this series will never last long enough to see Carl as an adult.  He’s a great little character.

Oh yeah… Before I forget, we also see the beginnings of the civilization’s doom.  I’m pretty sure that this gang of rednecks that Glenn and the dreadlocked guy saw in DC while on a supply run are going to show up and cause trouble.  And….I’m fairly sure that everyone’s favorite sharpshooter, Andrea, is going to have something to do with it.
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The Walking Dead #75 – Review

Posted on July 21, 2010 by dfstell

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.
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Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark #1 – Review

Posted on June 29, 2010 by dfstell

Written and drawn by Jason Howard & Ryan Ottley.  Gray tones by Cliff Rathburn

The Story: A grizzly bear living in the ocean, a killer great white shark living in the forest… Mayhem and chomping ensue!

What’s Good: Everything!  This is the awesome sauce that I wish we got to see more of in the world of comics.  I had heard teasers for this comic for a few months and knew the general concept: What if a killer shark and a killer bear traded places so that the shark was chewing up campers and the bear is attacking fishing boats?  As it says on the cover, “They got mixed up!”   That sounded like a zany enough concept that I had to give it a try, but I didn’t really know what else to expect.

We get two stories.  The Sea Bear story (by Jason Howard, artist of Astounding Wolf-Man) starts off with the bear slaughtering a boat full of people and then zooms off into a zany story that includes cyborgs, killer robots and a sexy bear/human hybrid (yes, you read that right).  The Grizzly Shark story (by Ryan Ottley, artist on Invincible) is even more over the top.  Two scenes that stand out are a teenager who has been bitten in half being dipped into the campfire by his Dad to “cauterize the wound” and a buxom powerwalker getting chomped such that all that is left is the head and boobs.  The whole thing is completely tongue-in-cheek and simply outrageous.

Of course, with the artists also handling the scripting, the art is in perfect sync with the story.
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The Walking Dead #73 – Review

Posted on June 16, 2010 by dfstell

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
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Invincible #68 – Review

Posted on November 24, 2009 by paladinking

by Robert Kirkman (writer), Ryan Ottley (pencils), Cliff Rathburn (inks), FCO Plascencia (colors), and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: Dinosaurus attacks, Mark meets Eve’s parents, and several old foes of Invincible’s consolidate for their next big attack.

What’s Good: Well, you certainly can’t get on this issue for lack of plot progression.  This is a very brisk read literally jam-packed with action, humor, and happenings.  After last month’s dry affair, it’s also a breath of fresh air.

The issue’s generally strong because it hinges on the chemistry between Mark and Eve, which has been one of the bedrocks of the series for some time now.  Their affection, compatibility, and mutual understanding have always been well done, and this month is no different.  The two fit together as well as ever and their conversations are always a smooth, comfortable read.

Kirkman expands that dynamic outward this month, as Mark meets Eve’s parents.  What ensues is well-executed comedy that’ll definitely bring a smile to your face.  This comes largely thanks to Kirkman’s portrayal of Eve’s father.  The guy’s just the right combination of antiquated patriarchy and unnerving masculine perversion.  Kirkman essentially takes the “man’s home is his castle” complex to its most appalling heights, and it’s hard not to laugh, particularly when it comes to Ottley’s illustration of Mark’s reaction.

Of course, like any of Kirkman’s more dense issues, this book plants a number of very large seeds that impact the comic as a whole.  Mark hints at his more murderous Viltrumite side in a way that’ll have you wondering “what if” and the issue ends with a MASSIVE bombshell that’ll change the landscape of this series for the foreseeable future, if not forever.  Meanwhile, the plots with Conquest and those damned sequids also see substantial developments.

Ryan Ottley delivers the exact same quality we’ve come to expect out of Invincible.  That said, what takes this book over his average affair is the battle with Dinosaurus.  While Plascencia’s colors are clearly a boon, the giant red dino just looks absolutely awesome.  Having a fight with a giant dinosaur always rates high on the awesome scale, and Ottley makes the most of it.

What’s Not So Good: With so much stuff packed into 22 pages, the pacing of this issue was just all over the map.  The last portion of the issue was simply a string of unrelated major developments with absolutely no real attempt to segue between them.  It was more or less a series of completely isolated and detached two page scenes.

The mood of the book also suffers due to this hectic structuring.  With most of the issue being written in a light, comic tone, Kirkman’s failing to segue to his major developments makes the experience feel fairly jarring and off-putting.  For instance, the massive shocker at the end of the book is of a massively different tone from the pages before it, and it’s hard not to feel like you’ve been pitched a ball from left field.

Also, while I liked Oliver’s new costume this month, what the hell happened to him?  While it’s good to see Oliver finally grow older, I feel like we’ve experienced a sudden five-year leap between issues.  I’m sure Kirkman will use Oliver’s heritage as an out, but that doesn’t stop this from feeling lazy and off-putting.

Conclusion: The book’s pacing is a bit of a mess, but the strength of its characters and the sheer number of developments in its pages more than makes up for that.

Grade: B

-Alex Evans

 

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The Walking Dead #67 – Review

Posted on November 11, 2009 by pozzyfreak

By Robert Kirkman (Writer), Charlie Adlard (Pencils & Inks), and Cliff Rathburn (Gray Tones)

The Story: Rick has a heart to heart talk with his son and the scientist reveals a little more about himself.

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: Despite being a slow, slightly boring read as a whole, The Walking Dead #67 manages to satisfy, thanks to the key character moments/developments that Robert Kirkman focuses the issue on. The talk between father and son is heartfelt, honest, and personal, while the information about the scientist manages to be just the right type of thing needed to stir up the direction of both the series and the main characters (Abraham, in particular, benefits from the reveal). The stuff that happens had to happen at some point and, now that the plot beats are out of the way, the overall plot can, I’d assume, start to move forward once again.

As expected, the artwork by Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn compliments Kirkman’s script really well. Adlard captures realistic human emotion far better than most artists and since the latest Walking Dead is all about revealing character emotion, he really gets a chance to shine. Cliff Rathburn’s gray tones, as usual, elevate Adlard’s work and really capture the mood and tone of Kirkman’s book.

My only real complaint about The Walking Dead #67 is that the reveal about the scientist isn’t all that shocking or surprising. The moment adds a lot to the scientist, Rick, and Abraham as characters, but the twist itself is pretty lame. I’m certain most of Kirkman’s audience saw it coming shortly after the character got introduced.

Conclusion: Great character work more than makes up for the weak twist in The Walking Dead #67.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

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The Walking Dead #66 – Review

Posted on October 14, 2009 by pozzyfreak

By Robert Kirkman (Writer), Charlie Adlard (Pencils & Inks), and Cliff Rathburn (Gray Tones)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: It’s hard to believe that the “Fear the Hunters” arc ends with The Walking Dead #66. While it’s been really entertaining, I had initially expected it to run for longer than five issues considering how hard it was teased and pushed by Image prior to its launch a few months back.

The Story: Rick and his group deal with the hunters. Meanwhile, Dale accepts his fate and prepares for what’s next.

What’s Good: I really didn’t expect Robert Kirkman to pull the trigger on the hunter situation quite like he does right at the start of the latest issue of The Walking Dead. It’s a ballsy move that really pays off because there’s something undeniably effective and satisfying about bringing a true sense of finality (as far as it can exist in an ongoing series anyways) to the end of an arc. The grim scene that opens The Walking Dead #66 is visually restrained, yet it manages to be incredibly brutal regardless.

Now I don’t believe a comic ever has to call to mind another form of entertainment, but, that said, if done right, a string of cinematic panels can really add a lot to the visual presentation. Charlie Adlard’s and Cliff Rathburn’s execution of the opening scene is a prime example of cinematic style done right. By focusing on the aftermath and emotional reactions (which are strong throughout the book) as opposed to the actual violence that takes place, the artists make the scene pack far more of an emotional punch than a dose of ultra-violence ever could.

The Walking Dead #66 starts off with quite a bang, but the rest of the book is strong as well thanks to Kirkman’s dedication to his characters. Dale’s bittersweet scenes are well written and really bring home the sense that the characters have gone through a whole hell of a lot together. In addition, Rick’s dialogue that closes out the book highlights the emotional burden placed on someone when survival is a concern each and every day.

What’s Not So Good: This is a minor complaint, but The Walking Dead #66 ends a lot faster than most Walking Dead books. That said, Adlard and Rathburn use splash pages and large panels more than they usually do in an effective way so it’s totally understandable. Just be prepared for a quick read when you sit down with the latest chapter of Kirkman’s zombie series.

Conclusion: Harsh, yet effective, The Walking Dead #66 brings the “Fear the Hunters” arc to a satisfying close.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

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The Walking Dead #65 – Review

Posted on September 16, 2009 by pozzyfreak

By Robert Kirkman (Writer), Charlie Adlard (Pencils & Inks), and Cliff Rathburn (Gray Tones)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: While zombie stuff is definitely welcome, a showdown between humans in The Walking Dead always manages to ratchet up the intensity another few notches. I’m assuming the latest standoff will be no different.

The Story: Rick isn’t going to just sit around a church waiting to be killed. No, he has a plan to take the fight to the hunters…

What’s Good: It’s pretty well-established that Rick is a badass, and The Walking Dead #65 is all about making sure that no one forgets that. Sounds like a good read, doesn’t it? Rest assured that it is.

What makes the latest issue of TWD. work so effectively is that Robert Kirkman pulls a bit of a switch on the reader. Going into reading the book, I was all ready for a firefight… or at least some sort of small battle. What I got instead was something that wound up being much more intense and a hell of a lot more satisfying than some skirmish between groups of survivors. The way the entire situation with the hunters plays out, from the dialogue to the action, feels perfectly tuned to deliver a whole lot of awesomeness per panel.

The smaller, more intimate moments play out almost as well as the main event. Dale’s return leads to suitably emotional, realistic dialogue and one of the newer cast members finally gets a chance to actually do something for once. In addition, it’s cool to see how the main group of survivors continue to gel as they all spend more time together.

What’s Not So Good: While the majority of The Walking Dead #65 looks as impressive as the series always does (Translation: emotion, gore, and scene detail looks great), a few panels seem to be inked way too heavily. The inks muddle the pencil detail and tend to take something away from the few scenes where it’s noticeable. I also have to mention that a couple panels look way too oversimplified. While it’s understandable, given the size of the panels where it’s problematic, it still leaves the book looking a bit rushed at times.

Conclusion: Art issues aside, Great dialogue and an intense standoff make The Walking Dead #65 one hell of a fun read. Be sure to pick it up.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

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Invincible #65 – Review

Posted on August 24, 2009 by paladinking

by Robert Kirkman (writer), Ryan Ottley (pencils), Cliff Rathburn (inks), FCO Plascencia (colors)

The Story: An epilogue to the Conquest arc sees relationships solidified and a preview of threats to come.

What’s Good: This issues serves as something of a breather after the back to back hell-rides that were the Invincible War and the Conquest arc.  Given the non-stop emotional and physical destruction that has been wreaking havoc both on our characters and their world, I suppose an issue like this really was a necessity, as things needed to be slowed down a bit.

As always, Kirkman shows that Invincible’s greatest strength has always been its infectious characters and their decidedly human relationships.  The increased tenderness, comfort, and intimacy between Mark and Eve is enjoyable, as is the heated revelation of the guilt Mark’s mother Debbie feels regarding his injuries.  Both dynamics feel very real.

Kirkman does a good job in this issue, sewing things up.  Rex’s funeral was oddly touching and humorous, with Robot both giving a eulogy and tearfully listening to his own speech from the audience.  It was nice to see Rex’s growth recognized; as Kirkman does a good job of demonstrating the value of the character.

On art, the all-star team of Ottley, Rathburn, and Plascencia continues to be one of the best in comics today, with each man shining in his own right as always.  Several frames are memorable here, particularly the interrupted kiss between Eve and Mark (flying spittle included) and the positively geriatric-looking Invincible at the funeral.

What’s Not So Good: Unfortunately, while this issue is necessary pace-wise, as a single-issue there’s only so high a grade that I can give a purely transitional issue.  In fact, while the little character moments are solid, a good chunk of this issue reads like a Geoff Johns-like preview of things to come over the next year.  All look interesting, particularly the idea that Eve may not have done a perfect reconstruction job, but that doesn’t change the fact that this book serves only as a preview.  Aside from reminding us of still-active elements or informing us of new issues now in play, there isn’t really any forward movement on any of these strands.

Indeed, there are so many future storylines being hinted at here that it would be impossible for any of us to see development this month, so as a result, you get an issue that at times feels scattered, or at least thinly-spread.  Two strands that will probably come to carry entire arcs are only given a single page each.  It seems that this month, Kirkman was more content to reassure that he has a lot left for the series than actually putting out a fully satisfying comic book.

Conclusion: Some solid character moments in what is otherwise a 22-page preview. Nevertheless, it still manages to tantalize.

Grade: B -

-Alex Evans

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The Walking Dead #64 – Review

Posted on August 12, 2009 by pozzyfreak

By Robert Kirkman (Writer), Charlie Adlard (Pencils & Inks), and Cliff Rathburn (Gray Tones)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: It’s very cool of Image to pair #1 issues with some of their bigger titles. This month, Walking Dead fans get a taste of the first issue of Viking. Two comics for $2.99?! That’s a good deal any way you look at it.  And how about Frank Darabont doing The Walking Dead TV series for AMC!?  Hell yeah!

The Story: Dale has a secret that he’s kept from the cannibalistic hunters. Meanwhile, everyone deals with the loss of Dale in their own way.

What’s Good & What’s Not So Good: The worst thing about The Walking Dead #64? That it seems to be over in an instant despite the fact that there’s quite a bit of dialogue to read. The best thing about The Walking Dead #64? That proves, once again, that Robert Kirkman’s series is one of the best things you can possibly pick up from the comic shop on a Wednesday.

Intense, intelligent, and full of rather powerful (slightly heavy-handed) dialogue, the latest issue of The Walking Dead really fires on all cylinders. I continue to be impressed by how Kirkman manages to juggle his large cast without ever skimping on the character moments and drama (Andrea’s scenes pack a punch) that make the series so damn compelling. And while I can’t go into story details, I’ve got to say that I love what Kirkman has set up by the end of the third chapter of “Fear the Hunters.” It’s a classic “last stand” type of scene and Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn do one hell of a job making it look as badass as the situation feels.

Speaking of Adlard and Rathburn, I have to mention how well they handle some of the more dialogue driven scenes. The range of emotion on display is downright impressive and it really adds a lot to Kirkman’s strong, realistic character moments. While a few panels seem a bit oversimplified, The Walking Dead #64 is, for the most part, a very nice looking book.

Conclusion: You’ll have to excuse me if this review is a bit short. I’ve been reviewing The Walking Dead for a long while and, quite frankly, I’m running out ways to praise the series. It rocks.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

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Invincible #64 – Review

Posted on July 24, 2009 by paladinking

by Robert Kirkman (writer), Ryan Ottley (pencils), Cliff Rathburn (inks), FCO Plascencia (colors), and Rus Wooten (letters)

The Story: The fight with Conquest comes to its bloody end while a certain character makes his/her shocking return.

What’s Good: Once again, Kirkman brings the brutality. While it’s actually not as hard to read as last month’s issue, Kirkman still shows no mercy, delivering possibly the most vicious headbutting I have ever seen in a comic. He also writes a fantastically vengeful Mark, as it becomes all the more apparent that the angrier Mark gets, the more he sounds like the Viltrumites he opposes.

Kirkman also does a fantastic job of further developing Conquest, who almost shows a kind of vulnerability as he is forced to begin to take Mark seriously. His last line of the issue was brilliant, fully encapsulating what the character is all about: live or die, it doesn’t really matter; it’s all about enjoying the violence.

Ottley, Rathburn, and Plascencia may very well be the best overall art team in comics today, with every man enhancing the work of the others while also shining in his own right. Beautiful, glorious splashes meet dynamic panel layouts with violence that makes you feel every hit. The real achievement on art this month, however, is Ottley’s work depicting facial expressions. He hits every note absolutely perfectly in displaying each character’s respective emotions. Indeed, often times Ottley’s drawings of his characters faces actually do a better job of telling the story than Kirkman’s writing. From the tearful, bloodied Mark, to Conquest’s expression as Mark surprises/ impresses him, this is a masterclass by Ottley, who is the real star this month.

Of course, one can’t discuss this issue without a quick word on the huge swerve Kirkman drops on us this month.  It works especially well given Kirkman’s track record, which would not at all lead you to expect this (and perhaps  makes it more acceptable).  Most fans should be happy with it as it creates a touching moment at the end of the book that almost made my eyes water.

What’s Not So Good: Some fans, however, may find the swerve a bit irritating.  Kirkman has always been treading a thin line with his plot developments, occasionally being guilty of throwing twists out there purely for their shock value. Some may accuse him of that this month, and while I ultimately find this issue satisfying, they may not be entirely wrong. I also can’t help but lament a little over this development, which basically stops the book from going down the darker path that I thought it would. It does provide a heartfelt moment, but one can’t help but ponder the lost opportunities.

Perhaps most criminal, however, is how fast a read this book is. Ottley’s work is incredible, but I can’t emphasize how quickly this book flies by. If you thought last month was lightning, this month is even faster. It really is over before you know it.

Conclusion: About as fast a read as you can get, but definitely a good one.

Grade: B+

-Alex Evans

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Invincible #63 – Review

Posted on June 23, 2009 by paladinking

by Robert Kirkman (writer), Ryan Ottley (pencils), Cliff Rathburn (inker), FCO Plascencia (colors), and Rus Wooton (letters)

The Story: Invincible’s battle with Conquest continues with devastating consequences.

What’s Good:  This is a brutal, brutal issue; it’s actually difficult to read at points.  This is clearly the “Walking Dead” Kirkman at work here.  Everything is just so damned visceral as Kirkman holds nothing back on the violence front.  This is one of the nastiest superpowered beatdowns that I have ever read, with every hit Mark sustains being cringe-worthy.  Of course, this brutality isn’t limited to Invincible; Oliver’s beating is very hard to watch.  Bones break, teeth fly, and faces are turned into hamburger.

That said, let’s cut to the chase: someone dies in this issue.  It comes almost out of nowhere and again, regardless of the character and his/her popularity, Kirkman has no mercy.  The character dies in blood-splattered, crushing fashion.  Again, it’s not only hard to watch, but frankly hard to believe that Kirkman would actually have the balls to have one of his characters go out like that, face destroyed beyond recognition, Conquest’s fist bursting through his/her torso.  It’s a shocker.

I can’t overemphasize how much of a gut-punch this death was.  Not only is it a shocker strong enough to make even the most cynical reader’s jaw drop, but it also is a kick to the emotional stomach.  It is such a surprise and the manner in which it happens is unbelievable.  This is the closest thing Invincible has ever had to the infamous “prison massacre” issue of Walking Dead-fame.

The end result legitimizes Conquest as a scary, scary dude.  Comics often try for the “can anyone stop him?!” reaction that it has become so clichéd, so impossible to achieve, and yet through the gut-punch mentioned above (pun unfortunately intended), Kirkman manages to pull it off.  Conquest is just an utter psychopath, perhaps the most intimidating figure to ever inhabit a Kirkman comic.  He’s a  hard-nosed, almost instructive Viltrumite elder and yet he’s also a homicidal sadist.   The double page spread of Conquest, covered in blood, speaking to Mark after killing the above mentioned character will forever haunt me.

The art for this comic is unreal.  The gore is amazing, the level of destruction awe-inspiring, and the emotion present in the characters’ faces well-done.  This issue was clearly a real challenge to draw, and Ottley was definitely up to it.  I also can’t get over what an asset colorist FCO Plascencia has been to Invincible.  Since joining the team, it’s as though Invincible has “gone HD.”  Plascencia manages to make this issue feel like a high-budget blockbuster.

What’s Not So Good: The death in this issue was so indescribably devastating, that I almost wish it didn’t happen.  Do I think Kirkman made the wrong decision?  No, I don’t, but I’m definitely not without regret.  As you can probably tell, this isn’t really criticism on my part.  Really, it just shows how effective the death really was.  It wasn’t a misstep by Kirkman, but it was just so heart-rending.

Conclusion: One of the best single issues of Invincible, this is without a doubt the biggest shocker/development since Omni-Man revealed his true nature.  The series seems to be ready to take a darker turn, and I’m all for it.  I’m just not sure if I’m emotionally prepared for what’s to come.

Grade: A

-Alex Evans

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The Walking Dead #62 – Review

Posted on June 11, 2009 by pozzyfreak

By Robert Kirkman (Writer), Charlie Adlard (Pencils & Inks), and Cliff Rathburn (Gray Tones)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ve been looking forward to the latest Walking Dead arc ever since the first “The Dead Do Not…” teaser images showed up. Simple, yet effective, they did an excellent job of building anticipation for the future of the series.

The Story: Dale grieves, Carl lashes out, and the hunters make their first move….

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: I don’t normally write short reviews, but it seems appropriate for The Walking Dead #62 because it is a fairly average issue of a great series. The pages fly by, but beyond the necessary arc setup, not a lot actually happens during those pages. See the story summary above? Yeah…that’s pretty much it. Sure there’s a few great character moments and a zombie attack, but as a whole, the book reminds me of why so many people prefer to “trade wait” the series.

There’s really not a whole lot more I can add to my review. Especially considering that regular readers probably know exactly what type of issue The Walking dead #62 is. It has quality character work (though I’m unsure about Carl), effective art (that must carry the load at times) and enough story progression (what’s the deal with the hunters?) to justify it’s existence. Not much else to say…

Conclusion: An average issue of The Walking Dead is better than an average issue of…well pretty much anything else. Be sure to keep that in mind when you feel underwhelmed by what T.W.D. #62 offers.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

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The Walking Dead #61 – Review

Posted on May 18, 2009 by pozzyfreak

By Robert Kirkman (Writer), Charlie Adlard (Pencils & Inks), and Cliff Rathburn (Grey Tones)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: If I decided to judge The Walking Dead #61 just based on the cover alone, it would probably earn an “A” or “A+”. It features quite the striking image. Can the issue earn the “A” the cover deserves?

The Story: The group of survivors can’t believe their luck when they come across a van that runs and has a few mattresses in it. But joy turns to dismay when Andrea makes a very grim discovery that quickly changes the entire dynamic of the group. Add a mysterious priest into the equation and you have one issue of The Walking Dead that won’t soon be forgotten…

What’s Good: HOLY CRAP!! Seriously…While I won’t give anything away, I will say that the latest issue of The Walking Dead manages to disturb, shock, and intrigue just like some of its more previous issues have before. As for the visuals, Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn are at the top of their game for most of the book. They do a great job of capturing the drama, darkness, and tension that grips the cast. A few of the images are absolutely terrific-looking (though quite unsettling). As for Robert Kirkman, he delivers the chaos in a way that is both realistic and suitably emotional. In short, it’s an all around impressive outing for the entire creative team.

What’s Not So Good: A few panels look pretty weak, though the good to great definitely outweighs the bad. The very simple, rushed panels stick out like a sore thumb though, so they warrant a mention. As for the story it’s too early to tell if the shocks are there just for thrills or if they will truly lead the series in new and interesting directions. At least there’s no B.S. final page cliffhanger.

Conclusion: The Walking Dead #61 will probably stick with me for a long time. This is definitely something that should be read first on your list. Be sure to check it out!

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

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