Cody Scot LaCrone

A lot of these issues, after the big bombshell in 144, were super hyped, especially with the idea that Negan would be utilized more in the story now that a new threat has arrived. Sure, there's some good savage moments with old Rick (old as in earlier in the story and age), but the hype was a bit too much for some of these issues. Negan doesn't really get to shine till future volumes. The contrast is nice with the more upbeat previous volumes, in preparation for the fair, and the depressing volume now post fair, after everyone finds out what has happened to their friends, families, and leader.

The first volume in the most valuable and popular modern era comic franchise, and one of the first comics I ever read. The Walking Dead remains my favorite comic series out there, and I re-read it every other year. Focusing on the first volume, Tony Moore, the artist, is just so good, and the first 6 issues are so visceral in appearance, specifically some scenes in issue 5, that leave a lasting impression. There's a reason Moore and Kirkman did the series in black and white: to get away with being more graphic, without inherent bloody imagery.

I think what really aids my enjoyment of this volume, aside from the addition of Jesus, is that it's mostly a winter volume, which we haven't seen since Volume 2, and since we don't really see the winter in the show, it's a nice change of pace again. It allows the dead to take a backseat to the story, and for the story to focus on actual survival. Food, shelter, rebuilding Alexandria, scavenging, etc. It's a nice actual calm before a future storm.

Now, another volume I gotta do the spoiler tag on to obviously talk about the deaths of Abraham and Glenn, one very sudden and shocking that came out of no where, and another that was drawn out. Great introduction to Negan and Dwight and the Saviors, and overall yet another strong volume that propels the plot forward into a new direction, which is the trend. Group finds a place, hunker down, new villain or threat emerges, group is sent into a spiral, they fight back and overcome, rinse and repeat. Just this time they've yet to lose their home, and there's far more on Rick's side, working in his favor.

So Negan may be a great character, and Ezekiel/Shiva are super memorable, but man, does this volume start a slow crawl to a war with Negan that'll last far too long. That's all I'm going to say about some of these.