The Walking Dead Issue #84 Review

Title:  The Walking Dead
Issue #:  84
Writer:  Robert Kirkman
Artist/Cover:  Charlie Adlard
Gray Tones/Cover Colors:  Cliff Rathburn
Letterer:  Rus Wooton
Editor:  Sina Grace
For:  Image Comics

After last month’s “game changing”  issue, things were looking pretty bleak for Rick.  Not only did he have to abandon Jessie and her son Ron in a gang of zombies, but part of Carl’s face got blown off leaving him on the verge of life and death. And if that wasn’t bad enough the zombies have broken through the walls and are now infesting the Alexandria Safe-Zone! It makes one wonder how Kirkman can work his way out of this situation.  But in true Kirkman fashion he does somehow and in a spectacular gore-filled way!But before all of that the subject of Carl’s status comes up and is the hot topic.

In issue #83, Kirkman instilled in all of us the fear that Carl may die after being shot in the head/eye by Douglas as he was being swarmed by zombies and firing his gun randomly.  For me, this fear transformed into a kind of dare for Kirkman, daring him to kill Carl off because I really wanted to see what would happen to Rick if Carl were to die. But, regardless Rick takes Carl to Dr. Cloyd who at first can’t stop Carl from bleeding but apparently is able to stop the bleeding and bandage Carl’s head as Rick, Michonne, and the other survivors haphazardly kill loads of zombies who are attracted to the noise of the generator that Dr. Cloyd is using to help Carl. And even though Carl is still in the danger zone it kind of seems like he will survive, albeit without an eye or cheekbone and if, in fact, he does not die it will still be interesting to see his recovery and how he will cope with his new disability.  It will also be interesting to see where Kirkman will take the character of Carl after all of this.  Will he have a more negative outlook on life?  Will he be the one negative that holds Rick back from his plans?  Or will he have a more positive outlook on life?  This event will undoubtedly change the boy and the significance of this change will have some kind of direct affect on Rick.

What should also be mentioned is Rick’s speech which he gives to the unconscious Carl which is both moving and haunting.  Rick states that people are the problem and the undead are a manageable threat which unfortunately is painfully obvious.  He continues by saying that he see’s the mistake he made by running after the safe-zone walls failed and that because he chose to do that Jessie and Ron lost their lives which he will have to deal with.  Rick finally comes to the conclusion that he finally see’s that with the right plan, proper training, and if everyone helps out and sticks together the Alexandria Safe-Zone can become stronger, safer  and more secure and that the road to this ideal will be long and hard but after thinking about the potential he finally found some kind of hope for himself and hopefully for everyone.  And we do see a seed of this ideal being planted when Abraham Rosie, Michonne, and everyone else help Rick kill the zombies that are threatening and maybe this is the beginning of it.

This vision Rick has will of course play out in the next storyline of the series and even if they don’t get to his exact vision, it will be a hell of a ride.  But even more important, to me, it sounds like Rick is finally getting his act together to hold on to what he has here and what he does not want to lose because he see’s the potential in it and it is their home.  And if he does succeed in his plan it seems like he will finally be happy.  I’m worried though because what if people don’t agree with his vision?  What if people have plans of their own for Alexandria and if they do how will that play out? Or what if Kirkman decides to kill of Carl instead, will Rick stick to his plan? And will Rick finally become the leader and hero that we’ve always wanted him to be? I hope Rick will succeed with his plan and everyone agrees with it, and that a new Alexandria will emerge in the old ones ruins.  And I hope that Rick will become a great leader where in the past he’s failed maybe he’s learned from his mistake and finally see’s true and if the survivors in Alexandria need anything it is a leader that will be strong and one that will take command of Alexandria.  But maybe I’m being too hopeful because like everything, while it is a good plan I’m sure someone will object to it or something will go wrong. And it certainly seems so.  It seems like there still could be trouble in the future, but for right now, Rick and all the survivors seem to have a little more hope then they once had and in doing that Kirkman not only gives his characters hope, he also gives us hope for the future of the series.

What’s also worth noting is Charlie Adlard’s art.  Charlie Adlard usually does a great job with every issue, but this issue in particular blew all the others away.  Whether it was Rick giving his speech or the trail of dead zombies left after Rick, Abraham, Michonne and everyone else get through with their ass-kicking, Adlard is never short of visuals that wow you.

Overall, the “No Way Out” storyline and this issue were pretty good and I look forward to reading the next chapter of this series because there is so many ways Kirkman can take it and if I can judge what will happen next, I’m pretty sure I can say that there is absolutely no telling which way he will take it because there are so many different directions that will eventually shape the outcome of the future of the survivors.  And while the ending may not be what some people wanted or expected it seems like a good ending for a trade paper back.  But in the end Kirkman never gives too much away, the answers will come (as always), we just have to painfully wait for them.

As always thanks for reading.

-Dane

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