The Walking Dead Issue #85 Review
Title: The Walking Dead
Issue #: 85
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Penciller/Inker/Cover: Charlie Adlard
Gray Tones/Cover Colors: Cliff Rathburn
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Editor: Sina Grace
For: Image Comics
After everything that happened in the “No Way Out” storyline all of the drama and death one can only wonder where Kirkman will take his story next. If you take past experience with the comic into consideration you are pretty much out of luck because Kirkman has proven time and time again that anything can happen. And Issue 84 & 85 definitely gives us a hint to what’s going to be going down in this new storyline and sets into motion the foundation for where Kirkman is going to take his story, and knowing that issue 85 is the first issue of a new storyline Kirkman states his intentions and puts the wheels in motion. Even though Kirkman doesn’t push too hard plot wise in this issue, he certainly gives us something to look forward to in the future even though we have no clue where the story will be going. But that doesn’t matter quite so much yet in this issue he is laying the foundation for a bigger building or in the survivors case a safer and bigger safe zone. But more than anything this issue feels like a revamp of sorts with an all new outlook and feel that may or may not bring on a new era for The Walking Dead.
Things have definitely changed for better or worse. Sure people who were once alive are now dead but more importantly some people have changed particularly Rick. It seems like Rick is finally going to be the leader we always wanted him to be he seems to know what’s right for the community, himself and Carl and it looks like his future based plan may be equally advantageous for everyone and while this new plan may not come to fruition we are definitely going to be seeing a new Rick that will be combined with the old one. But Rick aside, this issue seems like it’s built upon smaller moments like Rick and Carl’s little moments, Maggie and Glen, Andrea and Spencer, and especially Rosita and Abraham because it was a bit unexpected to see the fallout between, also the scene where Rick admits his guilt for leaving Jessie to be overwhelmed by zombies even if it is brief it says a lot about the characters and it shows that even though the survivors may have a more positive outlook not everything is ok. But more than anything it’s great to see the survivors working together again , throwing out ideas that they think will make Alexandria a little more safe and secure, they all definitely seem a little more wiser because of the events of the “No Way Out” storyline.
I also like how Kirkman ended this issue because he fills us with so much hope, I can’t remember the last time I felt like things were moving and progressing in a positive direction with people that have their minds together and rather than being strapped down with internal struggle and grief seem to become greater than themselves in their fight to survive. But, if past experience with this book has shown us anything, it is that this new found hope will be inevitably dashed by some unforeseen force again and again but hopefully this new situation that the survivors find themselves in will work and will be a little more permanent. Another thing I liked about this issue was the fact that Kirkman has still not resolved the Carl situation obviously because things like this can‘t be simply resolved but we still don’t know if he’s going to pull through or God-forbid pass away he‘s still teetering on the edge of life and death it seems. Along with everything else it’s also a transplant from the “No Way Out” story and a pretty good source of tension which supplements the story nicely. The Carl situation is kind of weird though, Carl is kind of in the same exact position Rick was in the first issue of The Walking Dead. Although Rick wasn’t shot in the eye, Rick was in a coma and Carl is now in a coma after being shot. It’s kind of a weird coincidence and story if you ask me and one that will be very interesting to see play out.
There is no doubt that this was a really good issue writing wise but I should talk about Charlie Adlard’s art. Charlie Adlard has been catching a lot of flak for his art in these past couple of issues particularly the last issues of the “No Way Out” story. In this issue Adlard’s art is as great as ever, sure there aren’t a lot of zombies or action scenes but his art has never been better. It’s nice to see art that isn’t so labor intensive, it allows the artist to fully realize his ideas and refine it if it’s necessary. As far as I’m concerned Adlard’s art has never dipped in quality whatsoever and is always a superb compliment to Kirkman’s writing.
Overall Issue #85 was another great issue with a lot to offer, Kirkman is certainly laying the foundation for another great and thrilling storyline and there is more than enough intrigue here to whet any Walking Dead fans appetite new or old, and I know I say this a lot but I can’t wait to see where this one is going!
As always thanks for reading.
-Dane
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Carl zombie will be in issue 86.