Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Walking Dead #134Walking Dead #134
Image Comics
Kirkman, Adlard, Gaudiano & Rathburn

Walking Dead provides a heart-racing comic every once in a while and this issue is one of those books. I'm not sure this will stand the test of time but I enjoyed the action in this comic book and it came from both an expected front and an unexpected one. I recommend checking this out.

The main action sequence comes almost throughout the first half of the comic book. Jesus is surrounded by people dressed in zombie skins as well as real zombies. He appears to be surrounded and on the verge of either death or surrender. Jesus fights back and it is fantastic. The only thing that could have made these pages better would have been a few creative killing methods. The only one that comes close is the head that gets scalped. Other than that it seems to be mostly sword play of the normal variety.

When this cools off we then get a double feature as Carl and Sophia are confronted again by some bullies. This is where the comic really ramps up the tension because they are still just kids. These pages are fantastic.

This issue proves that this comic is about the terrible things people do to each other, seemingly for little and not generally for survival. The book has a fast pace and doesn't try to do anything beyond settling these two fights. There aren't any random two pages where characters are advancing some, odd, long-running plot. It's all self-contained to this comic book.

The downside is that the characters take on GI Joe-levels of toughness. Jesus plays the roll of Snake-Eyes while Sopia plays the Lady Jane type character. They become near invincible if they can fight back against such overwhelming odds. It's cool to watch, just as it is when Snake Eyes fights off 50 ninjas, but is this really a good thing for the long run?

Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle ReviewsThe artwork is very good. The fight scenes in the beginning have a nice flow and they seem to work logically most of the time. It is tough to ignore how Jesus sends his horse galloping away but he's basically right next to him when he needs him (or is this a different horse?). Also, the black backgrounds during the fight scene make it tough to place where some of the characters are, specifically Darius. Overall, the artwork makes this story come alive and adds a nice layer of tension to the book.

Walking Dead needed this issue. This is the kind of issue that keeps you guessing as you turn the pages in a way that only this series can provide. I like that there were two sets of action in this book and it is a good reminder of why I like this series so much. If you are new to this series in the last couple of years then this might be the first taste you get of the confrontations that makes this comic a great read.

4.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles