Comic Review: The Walking Dead #115
The problem with these looooooong story arcs in comics is that, more often than you’d like, you get somewhat useless issues where nothing really happens. Welcome to issue 115 of The Walking Dead. In the argument of trades vs. monthlies, these issues make me side with the former. It’s not horrible but when you deliver an issue titled “All Out War” you’d think there would be more than just words thrown back and forth. For the love of Jebus, can we get this ball rolling? And yes, I meant “Jebus”. Even Jesus is boring in this issue (still Team Jesus though).
Rick and the Survivors are waking up (everybody apparently banged everybody the night prior) and getting set to attack Negan and the Saviors. Then there’s a comic-montage of them packing up, some pep-talk for Rick, some pep-talk for those going with him, some pep-talk for Carl because he’s getting left behind and he’s all stupid-sulky, a long drive to Negan’s Sanctuary, and finally, an ultimatum given by Rick that Negan brushes of by revealing his own secret twist. Nobody dies. No zombies.
What we do get, in the positive column, is some great artwork by Charlie Adlard. Whether it’s a bruised and sexy Andrea walking around in her underwear or a close up of Rick’s face which effortlessly returns a fire to his eyes that has been missing for a while, Adlard really nails the wordy drama of this issue by delivering some epic frames. It almost makes you forget about the lack of action. Almost.
As for Negan’s twist ending I spoke of early, you knew the guy was going to have something up his sleeve. It does seem kind of a pussy move for a guy that evolved into whatever power he holds by pure brute force. Hiding behind the loved ones of the Hilltop definitely strays from the Negan I thought I knew. The dude who would grab his bat, hop the fence, and start busting heads no matter the circumstances. Is he smarter than I thought? Probably. He’s still the best villian this comic has ever seen so I’ll take it for now.
But, seriously, can we get this war started? Bi-weekly issues until the end of the arc should move things along nicely. It just so happens to coincide with the series’ tenth anniversary too. Hold on to your butts. Eventually.
Rating: 6/10