The Walking Dead #46

February 16, 2008

The Walking Dead #46 (Image Comics)
By Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard

Even on The Walking Dead it’s hard to find a comic that startles you to such a degree that you’re literally left with your jaw hanging open and your eyes bugging out. The Governor’s forces are lining up, preparing for their assault on the prison where our heroes are holed up. Many of them are preparing for battle, others are reaching out for some human comfort in what may be their final moments. In the enemy camp, Tyrese is being held captive, and one of the thugs reports the death of another one of “our” guys. This is a comic where you’ve come to expect that anything can happen, and because of that what happens in this issue isn’t really all that shocking. But how it happens… now that is a mind-blower. The big scene in this issue is so harsh, so brutal, and so gut-wrenching that even someone who’s been following this story from day one will be horrified, appalled, and absolutely engrossed. This is one of the most engaging chapters of The Walking Dead yet.

Rating: 10/10

The Walking Dead #45

The Walking Dead #45 (Image Comics)
By Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard

Having just barely repulsed an attempted invasion by the Governor and his people, the heroes of this comic turn their attention to their own wounded, including Rick, who’s taken a potentially fatal wound. Some of the crew want to go on teh offensive, others want to run and hide. The only thing they can seem to agree on is that Hell is coming. As usual, Kirkman has really invested a sense of realism in these characters, in their fear for the situation, and a true chilling doubt about their chances of survival. In fact, if the last page is to be believed, we’ve suffered the first casuality in the bloodbath Kirkman has promised. He’s working very hard to convince us that no one is safe in this book, and he’s succeeding. It’s hard to imagine this comic getting any better, but Kirkman seems to raise the bar here all the time.

Rating: 8/10

The Walking Dead #43

The Walking Dead #43 (Image Comics)
By Robert Kirkman & Charlie Adlard

It’s pretty rare that I walk into my local comic shop only to hear the shopkeep tell each regular customer, as they enter, “Walking Dead is gonna tick you off.” So when that’s what happened Wednesday, I knew this would be an issue worth reading. And he was right, this is a comic that will frustrate many people, but not because it’s bad. Last issue ended with the Governor — last seen after being butchered by Michonne some months ago — and his army beginning an attack on the prison occupied by our heroes. This issue plays fill-in-the-blanks, telling us what happened to the governor from the moment Michonne left him and the moment he charged the prison, ending on the same page as last issue. It’s an interesting issue, and I have no doubt that some of the information we get here will prove vital in the future, but my comic shop guy was right. After being so jazzed up at the end of last issue, I just wanted a little bit more. A good issue, to be certain, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I felt a teeny little letdown.
Rating: 8/10