The Walking Dead Issue #82 Review

Title: The Walking Dead
Issue: #82
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist/Cover: Charlie Adlard
Gray Tones, Cover Colors: Cliff Rathburn
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Editor: Sina Grace

If you put all of the gore, action and whatever else aside, I think above all The Walking Dead (directly or indirectly) is a test that takes place within certain circumstances, in our case the zombie apocalypse. It asks many questions but the one that is most relevant to this issue is the question of self preservation or group preservation which in the end may bring up thoughts that you may or may not want to face. And while a zombie apocalypse is highly unlikely (although not impossible) I think it’s a great move on Kirkman’s part to include this test, I think it was brilliant on his part to show how quickly things are not as they seem.

Issue #82 is one of the best issues we’ve gotten in awhile with one of the best scenes I’ve personally read, but I won’t get into that till later. What is really apparent here is how quickly certain characters forget the relationships and bonds that they formed with other people and how quickly they are ready to outright abandon these people out of some kind of guided altruistic idea. What makes them this way? And can we really and honestly blame them for such an act? And while it would be stupid for me to answer such a subjective question I can make the argument that under certain circumstances (a) we cannot judge ones acts of desperation and (b) there is no such thing as a 100% altruistic act. We can’t judge these people because for all we know we may do the same thing or make the same decisions that these characters do and in the end outside of themselves they cannot be judged or held responsible for their acts because there is no one to regulate the outcome of certain situations and actions. And when it comes down to it (like I’ve said before) there is no right or wrong to be tried thus there would be no blame and blame cannot be put on the blameless because we can’t judge what’s wrong or right. Just like Morgan didn’t blame or put any kind of judgement upon Carl for killing Ben because Carl isn’t the same kid he was back before the outbreak, he will not judge Carl for killing Ben. On the other side of things we also can’t blame Rick for wanting to gather Carl, Jessie and whoever else and make a run for it because he is doing what’s good for his son and the people he truly cares about while he, in a sense, forgets about everyone else because there is no such thing as a true altruistic act. It is both physically and mathematically impossible for one to commit a 100% true altruistic act and while Rick may be saving everything that’s important to him he sacrifices the relationships with the other people that he’s forged. Could he really leave Andrea, Glenn and Maggie behind just to save Carl, Jessie, and whoever else? And that’s only a question IF he actually does it. Anyways, the answer to those questions are truly subjective ones and can’t be answered by someone else only you can answer it.

Besides all of that, issue #82 was a huge improvement over the past 2 issues, it had the perfect blend of horror, gore, and drama all while presenting a coherent story that flows nicely and doesn’t get caught up in itself and overall it is a well-written issue that doesn’t compromise on anything even when things get hard to face Kirkman bears it and shows the dark side of the human soul where hopelessness runs rampant, and not to mention there are some pretty cool scenes like the part where Rick and Morgan are rescued by a katana wielding Michonne who proceeds to chop the heads off of a couple of zombies and who cuts Morgan’s arm off to save his life, or all the scenes with Andrea, I can’t help but feel that in certain ways she is the strongest character emotionally and mentally in the entire series. But what stands out the most is the scene with a possibly fatally wounded Morgan talks with Carl who was supposed to watch over Morgan just in case he dies and comes back as a zombie. That scene is both heartbreaking and intriguing as we see Morgan giving advice to Carl, mistaking Carl for his son Duane. Morgan tells Carl that he cannot lose his innocence, he cannot stop caring about people because every time anyone stops caring about other people you lose a bit of your soul and it is alluded that Morgan has done so many bad things that he has lost his soul which is a very haunting thing to say when your (possibly) on your deathbed. This scene has got to be one of the most memorable scenes I have ever read in this series because it is heartbreaking in it’s origin and haunting when thought about in a future sense, because of the fact that if you take what Morgan said literally, Carl will probably have no soul when he dies if you take into consideration everything that his Father Rick has done. But what strikes you the most about this scene is the way Kirkman uses words and dramatic pauses, it fit’s perfectly because it has an everyman kind of feel to it but it reaches far beyond someone saying something to you and like I said before this is where Kirkman succeeds. Another thing that I applaud is Charlie Adlard’s art, his art never looked better and it looks like he refined his skill even though I’m sure he didn’t, because it looks a little more sleek, sharpened, and stoic all while keeping it grounded and gritty, which we are all used to.

Overall, Issue #82 was a giant step up from 80 & 81 which kind of turned me off of the whole No Way Out story arc, but issue #82 has got me a little more invested, interested, and excited about the No Way Out Storyline, yet another great read. Things are gearing up for a huge climax and judging from this issue the end of this storyline looks like it will be groundbreaking and shocking.

As always thanks for reading!

-Dane

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