Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Walking Dead #119Walking Dead #119
Image Comics
Kirkman, Adlard, Gaudiano & Rathburn

Part five of 'All Out War" manages to turn the tide on the battlefront. This issue delivers a solid rise in the tension as the issue builds to the cliffhanger. When taken in the larger context of the arc this issue feels extremely collapsed in terms of the timelines which isn't a bad thing necessarily. The comic does manage to entertain and it definitely makes the reader eager to see what happens next.

The comic begins tamely enough as there are a number of somber pages. Characters mourn and discuss the deaths of characters that passed in previous issues. The comic, at this point, feels very much like a breather issue. Then Michonne steps in and slaps Ezekiel because Ezekiel is buckling as a leader.

The issue's tempo changes drastically after this incident. While the moment was slightly humorous the comic then gets serious. Rick begins to connect the dots of what effect Ezekiel's failure means for the rest of them and then the comic rushes towards a cliffhanger ending that involves a threat at Rick's doorstep.

The comic book is definitely a read that builds quickly and delivers a payoff at the end. However, the comic book has some holes that if studied too closely make the comic appear lazy in spots. For example, Rick's community is in a war, they know they are in a war and no one is one the wall or looking out. They don't have one shooter looking at the front door waiting to pluck off the threat that simply stands at the gate. It makes for good drama but definitely feels a bit lax in terms of execution.

Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle ReviewsThe artwork is the usual detailed and dramatic presentation. The story has a lot of characters that are in various states of mourning and the art captures that well. When the confrontations occur near the end the artwork adjusts appropriately. This art is very consistent and definitely enhances the story and helps the pace of the book.

Walking Dead is a good read. This arc is a solid arc. While the comic series has definitely had better storylines this one seems to be delivering something that could end up being really epic. For now, this issue does a good job of holding the reader's interest long enough before raising the tension for a superb conclusion. This issue is worth checking out.

4 out of 5 Geek Goggles