Villordsutch reviews The Walking Dead #112….
“Carl and Andrea are faced with the unthinkable.”
Finding words that can explain how great this issue is extremely difficult, though I shall give it a go. This comic moves along at a frantic pace yet the story stays strong and tight. There is so much potential energy stored in this issue it powers your hand as you plough through these pages. There’s your review, you can go and buy it now but if you’d like to read more I’ve expanded on it below…
So far, this issue is my favourite of the few Walking Dead comics I have read. Yes, yes I know – I have only read three Walking Dead comics, but I’m hooked and this is my favourite so far. Back off! I kid, I kid… I love you really.
As you can possibly tell from the opening paragraph I quite liked this issue. After last month’s brilliant comic I didn’t have much of an idea where this would possibly end up. We finished off last time with Negan gutting Spencer (a challenger to Rick’s leadership), and we follow straight on from this with Spencer lying dead on the floor and Negan remembering he never found out where the pool table was. A few hours later Rick returns and here the Clash of Captains begins. From this point on whilst you’re reading, you become oblivious to the surrounding world. Watching the events unfold you start to wonder how Rick has managed to survive for so long with the erratic, ill-planned moves he makes. Negan clearly plays chess whilst Rick plays draughts (checkers to our American cousins).
What is interesting to me is that Negan has respect for Rick and I could easily see Rick, if he lost some morals, becoming a firm friend and lieutenant for Negan. I’d like to say he wouldn’t, but you never know.
I find it rather exciting that such a talent exists out there where comics can consistently be created which are so powerful that they make you feel for the characters and what is happening/will happen, but this is what Robert Kirkman achieves. So far over these issues I’ve wanted the story to continue as soon as I turn the final page, nothing feels padded or drawn out to fill empty space. These three issues make you want to buy the graphic novels and one day I will. Really I will.
The writer alone doesn’t make a comic and thanks is also due to the pens and pencils of both Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn. To a newcomer, the artwork may appear to be simple black and white pictures though they will soon find how good it actually is and how well it complements Kirkman’s words. From the shadows falling across a face to the wild eyes of Rick, the art is the perfect partner. Each panel needs to be looked at to set the mood of the piece, and you can’t just skim along, racing to get to the end for the final page. Doing this will give you no pleasure, nor give the time spent on the comic the attention it deserves.
You need to buy this.
Villordsutch is married with kids and pets. He looks like a tubby Viking and enjoys science fiction. Follow him on Twitter.
Originally published July 12, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
