The Walking Dead #108 Review

Let me start of by saying one thing first: There was ALOT that happened in this issue. I always find TWD to be a really quick read due to the way it is set up, as well as it being one of my favourite titles too probably. So, I was very very impressed at the amount of meaningful content there was in this issue. Everyone was excited to get out first look at Ezekial, but we got tons more than just that.

Starting with Ezekial, I think I am going to like this character quite a bit. In this one issue alone we were introduced to his "kingdom", and we also got a really good feel of what he is all about. He really does feel like a leader; and one that you want to have for sure. He seems to be quite a calm kind of guy, but also someone who isn't afraid to rise up when things are happening that shouldn't be. Oh, and he has a massive tiger too; which instantly makes him pretty cool to me. So it looks like Ezekiel  along with Ricks' crew, will be going up against Negan very soon, and I really can't wait for it to happen.

Also in this issue one of Negans' biggest supporters seems to have turned his back on his leader. I really enjoyed how this was teased in the opening scene of this issue. This particular scene also did a great job at getting across once more just how much of an asshole he can be. I am surprised no one has gone against him sooner, but then again, everyone is absolutely terrified of him; which is very easy not just to see, but also to believe. I am very much looking forward to getting to know more about this traitor. We have seen him before of course, but I am looking forward to hopefully seeing a different side to him.

My favourite scene of the whole issue has got to be the one involving Michonne and Carl fighting walkers. Carl started over overly confident, however something happened during this brief encounter that made him realise that he isn't all that after all. What I loved about this scene was seeing just how much Carl has grown and developed. He never looked out of place at all, and it was very easy to imagine him as a future leader. Then, all of a sudden, he was back to being the young boy. I loved all the self doubt here and I hope it is something Kirkman will leave lingering for a while. After all, it does make sense considering he is only a boy. We can't forget how experiences like this will probably affect him more than it would the adults.

I was very excited for this issue due to the tease of the introduction of the new character. What we got here was a lot more than that; as well as being slightly unexpected. There was some fantastic character development here, not just on the above characters mentioned, but also a few more in smaller scenes in this issue. I love how focused Kirkman still is on doing things like this. It is his baby and it is clear that he is still taking care of it in the same way as he has been from day 1. Charlie Adlards' art was also even better than usual in this issue. It truly is a great instalment, and one that I am sure TWD fans will enjoy as much as I did.

Rating: 9.3 / 10

The Walking Dead #106 Review

In #105 we were left wondering what was going to happen to Carl in this coming issue. At the end of this issue it is still not much clearer,  but you feel like you have learned a lot more about some of the minor characters current frame of minds; which surround the deal with Negan that the group had to make. This is an issue full of dialogue, but if you have been reading TWD for a while, then you know that this is not a bad thing at all.

Due to a lot of the recent focus being on Carl and Negan, it was nice to go back and see the others in the camp. There seems to be a bit of uncertainty about what to do at the minute, especially with Eric who seems desperate to leave with his partner.
It is also becoming more apparent that maybe it was not Rick's plan to send Carl into Negan's lair; which is something that I thought was a major possibility until this issue. It is clear just how stressed this whole situation has made him, as he and a team seem to be going out everyday to try to find his son. What I thought was really realistic about this was the way that Rick was behaving. He was not shouting and screaming erratically, which he would of done when he first found out that his son was missing. However, this seems to be a few days after so he seems a lot more focused on the task at hand, as well as seeming like he is thinking clearly.

There was also a hint of a tease in this issue of Spencer possibly becoming a bad guy within the group. This is something that I first thought might happen once Andrea starting to see Rick. This could be a really interesting development which I believe would benefit from a really slow burn build up. I guess we will have to wait and see.

The end of this issue saw Rick and the gang on their way to Negan's place, and happening to bump into the man himself on the way there. There were a few words exchanged along with a cliffhanger of a last page which makes me think really bad thoughts. I am hoping what was said was just a bluff, but with Negan you can never be sure.

This was yet another very solid installment in this monster of a series. It was also Charlie Adlards' 100th issue on art duties, and as usual he did not disappoint. His art style is unbelievably unique, and the thought of anyone else drawing this book just seems ridiculous.


Rating: 9 / 10

The Walking Dead #105 Review

Book of the month. I feel like ending my review right there. This book is amazing and is one of the best issues of TWD that I have ever read. Considering this is issue #105, that is pretty impressive. This book is nowhere near slowing down.

This issue focuses on pretty much just two characters; Carl and Negan. After the events of last issue that saw Carl gun down loads of Negan's men in his own backyard, we go into this issue wondering just how Negan will react. What was cool about #105 was how we got to see the way Negan runs his group of survivors. It is clear that they listen to him and respect him, but a lot of this seems to be out of fear. This is completely understandable though due to the fact that Negan most of the time acts like a complete freak. They way he spoke to one of his four wives ( yes, four ), sent a chill down my spine. The fear really jumped off the page, as we saw how Negan had ruined a relationship simply for his own gain.

Soon after this we see one of the most horrifying images of this series. Negan makes Carl do something which he did not wish to do, and the full page spread we are treated to actually made me wince. It is not a pretty sight. The way Negan reacted to this was also very strange. He laughed and made fun out of Carl like he was a child, which once again showed just how unstable and unpredictable this character is.

We also see how he treats members of his group who disobey the rules. Three words: hot, iron, face. It is not very pleasant. The book ends with Negan telling Carl that he still needs to decide how to punish him, which is extraordinary as Carl has been mentally broken down throughout the whole issue. You get the feeling that he thought he was big and tough, but after being in Negan's hands for a while, he has realised that he is only a boy and that he needs his dad.

I have read some theories that everything Carl is doing is part of Rick's grand plan to defeat Negan. I am not too sure, but I am willing to be we will find out next issue as we rejoin the group. This is a great series and you get the feeling that Kirkman is really stepping up his game. The Governor is currently the character dominating the TV series, but I really believe that Negan is more terrifying and much more of a threat. I am confident enough already to say that the next issue of this will no doubt be the book of the month.


Rating: 9.5 / 10

The Walking Dead #103 Review

If you are not reading this series then you really have to ask yourself why you are not. Either pick up the trades and get going right from the beginning, or start from the "Something to Fear" story arc which started in either issue #96 or #97 I think. This is a fantastic series, and it truly deserves all the rave reviews that it generally gets.

This issue continues right where we left off from last issue as we see Jesus following the prisoner they let escape. I really enjoyed the art in these panels which really helped give the feeling of tension as Jesus tried to remain hidden from the ex prisoner, while also attempting to keep up right behind him. They had no text whatsoever, so the art had to be spot on, which it was.

The main reason this issue will be remembered is due to the fact that it is Negan's second appearance in the series, and he is just as menacing as he was the first time around. He swears pretty much every other word, but not once does it feel forced or false. He truly is a terrifying,  messed up individual. The first thing he does is make Rick look after his barbed wire bat named "Lucille", showing straight away to the readers and to the group that he is in control of this situation. His conversation with Carl was also great, as Carl tried to stand up to the bully. I was on the edge of my seat as I read this, as I really believed that this man could do great damage to Carl, all the while not even worrying about it on his conscience later. His last line to Rick at the end of the issue may probably be the greatest text in a last page panel I have ever read in my life. I am not going to report what he said in this review, but it really is chilling.

The close up shots of Rick in this book also showed how he was really fighting his inner self, and how he was trying so hard to keep his control while Negan was bullying, and making demands of the group. When he told Denise to step down and let Negan's men take what they wanted from the medical department, the inner turmoil was clear to see. He hated himself for letting the group be trampled all over in this way, yet he knew he had too if his plan was to work.
Oh yes, Rick's plan. We do not really know what it is yet, but it is clear that there will be many more confrontations between Rick and Negan, and Rick may even have the upper hand in some of these due to his plan.

This was another great issue in the series, and I am sure it will go along way to help convince some people that Negan really is a terrifying threat. Put it this way, I think he may be more of a threat than "The Governor" was, and that really is saying something. Once again I really can not wait until the next issue. It always feels so far away!


Rating: 8.5/10