The Walking Dead #183
Image Comics
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Charlie Adlard
After spending a couple of issues with Rick at Alexandria, The Walking Dead jumps to the Commonwealth. Michonne is slowly adapting to her new life and she is enjoying her time with Elodie.
The book starts with the two of them being escorted to a weekend resort of sorts. There is some trouble along the way, which serves as an excuse to add some quick zombie action, but nothing too serious. As they arrive, Michonne is stunned. The place looks and feels like nothing ever happened- it’s paradise on Earth. The entirety of the weekend is covered in a single page, showing us glimpses of a simple, pre-apocalypse life and reminding us just how much was lost.
Of course, things aren’t perfect and Kirkman doesn’t take long to remind us that. Michonne sees a bit of the “dark side” at the end of her vacation, but it’s nothing compared to what’s expecting her back at the Commonwealth. As she and Elodie return back, they witness extreme police brutality. Naturally, things escalate pretty quickly and violently.
What’s good
There is finally something happening!
The last couple of issues have been dull and uninspiring, but this one addresses a lot of the complaints. It picks up the pace from the get-go and never really lets it slow down. It covers a bigger chunk of time, but the issue doesn’t feel rushed and the actions don’t feel forced. There’s a lot of things happening and it serves as some seriously good world-building. The second act is basically an allegory for the cases of police brutality that have become prevalent in the recent years.
Adlard’s art is nice, as usual, so no complaints there. The book is easy to follow due to the simplistic paneling utilized in the book. There are some really nice looking scenes, especially the ones with the gals on the lake. I’d also like to point out that the last-page spread is just fantastic. It’s probably one of the most memorable pages in the last ten or so issues.
What’s bad
There isn’t really that much to complain about, really, which is truly a shocker. I could nitpick and say that the police brutality plot line might feel a bit out of place, but in the end, it serves the overall plot really well and moves the story in an interesting direction.
Actually, there is one thing. It’s a bit silly, but here it goes – Adlard’s tears are hilarious. I can never take a character too seriously when I see them crying because the tears look so silly. Adlard basically just draws two streams on the characters’ faces. It’s really bizarre and unintentionally funny.
Verdict
The Walking Dead finally feels like it might go in a bold and interesting direction after being really stale for a big chunk of time. Kirkman is pushing the ideological conflict between the two communities really hard and it’s starting to look like there might be a good story hidden in there. Hopefully, he won’t disappoint.
The Walking Dead #183
The Walking Dead finally feels like it might go in a bold and interesting direction after being really stale for a big chunk of time. Kirkman is pushing the ideological conflict between the two communities really hard and it’s starting to look like there might be a good story hidden in there. Hopefully, he won’t disappoint.
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Story
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Characters
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Art