Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Walking Dead #96
Image Comics
Kirkman, Adlard & Rathburn
The Walking Dead rolls on with another issue that deals with some fallout of the previous issue while it builds to something much bigger on the horizon. Basically, we find out this new community is involved with the zombie-land version of the mafia and Rick aims to set things right. The book is a terrific book because it lets you into the mind of Rick and what he thinks and how he processes events that are unfolding. Month in and month out this is the best book on the stands.
Rick kills a man – a stranger to him - but a beloved member of this new community. Amazingly there is no fallout. Now, there could be down the road, but in this issue nothing happens to Rick. Jesus kind of takes him under his wing and leads him away. This shows the community to be tremendously weak. This is made more obvious by what Jesus tells Rick and friends later on.
Basically, the community is being held hostage by an outside group. This group roams around killing zombies. They are fed and supplied through this new community. In return, the community is kept safe from the zombies. It's very similar to the old mafia protecting businesses.
Rick sees this for what it is: opportunity. Rick can take on the new group and take their place in line to get supplies while offering the same protection. Over time the new community will grow into an army for Rick to presumably lead. This all fits perfectly into how Rick has been throughout this series. Rick sees the events and makes a judgment for how best to serve him and his friends. If Rick doesn't help the community then what's to say the new community won't tell the mafia where to find Rick down the road when they are scared and running low on supplies? In that scenario Rick and friends would be invaded and potentially unprepared.
Adlard is a horse. The man is producing a book every three weeks until San Diego in July. This issue doesn't cut any corners. He has two amazing double-page spreads at the end that really punctuate this issue. Adlard bakes in drama into the expressions on the character's faces like no other artist. The issue is simply an amazing visual display.
Walking Dead is an amazing ride. Kirkman is getting back to what makes this book so good: confrontation. I'm not sure how long it will take before Rick and company square off with this new group but I am looking forward to the buildup and the ultimate destruction. This is simply an amazing book and this issue is no different.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
