The Walking Dead #45

The Walking Dead (Single Issues)

by Robert Kirkman

It's all been leading up to this. No one is safe. Not even our hero, Rick Grimes.

Genres: Comics, Horror, Zombies, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

28 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2007

About the author

Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.

Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.

In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.

Reviews

[Laina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I'm not sure that I like Alice being in charge. I mean, I know she's the only one who has any sort of medical knowledge whatsoever in Rick's group, but still. She's going around and giving orders like she's the leader. I'm not so sure if I like that.

And again, Lori's tears still have no effect on me. I just find her useless and want someone to kill her so we can be done with this bitch already. Carl, I can understand. He's just a kid and is scared his Dad's going to die.

I've gotta admit, I'm surprised that Patricia volunteered to give blood for a blood transfusion for Rick. I never in a million years would've thought she would do that.

I'm in complete agreement with Dale. It's time for him, Andrea and the kids, and anyone else who wants to go with them, to get the fuck out of the prison. The Governor's gonna come back and do a lot worse next time.

I like the way that Michonne thinks and I like her plan with Tyreese. The only problem is that like they said, they don't have the manpower. What if they go and attack The Governor and end up getting killed? That's two less people to defend the prison, which would be really bad for the group.

Well, I'm glad that Tyreese and Michonne made a plan on what to do in any situation before they left the prison and went to Woodbury. I was afraid they were going to wing it and end up getting killed.

And once again, Lori's being a first class bitch, and to Dale of all people. He's just a nice old man for God sakes and she's being so terrible to him. I agree with Dale about them needing to get out of there.

Although I do sort of get Lori's point, especially about not leaving Rick behind. After everything they've been through, with and without Rick, if I were her, I wouldn't leave Rick behind, either.

I kind of like that Glenn and Maggie are leaving with Dale, Andrea and the kids. I feel like they would be a lot safer leaving the prison. Now if only the rest of the group would see sense.

And now Hershel's words seem ominous and make me worried that something's going to happen to Glenn or Maggie. I don't want anything to happen to them, as they're my favorite characters.

I'm not too sure it's a good idea to be messing with grenades. I mean, there's a better chance they'll go off on Rick's group, and not on The Governor's people and that would be bad.

Axel just cracks me up with the stuff he says. "Well, I hope God brings more grenades." Oh my God, it's really not even a funny line, but I can't help cracking up laughing as I read it.

I'm so glad that Tyreese and Michonne took out some of the people from Woodbury. Even if they had only taken out one person, I'd still consider it a success, because it's one less enemy for Rick and the group to fight.

I love that one of the first things Rick did when he regained consciousness was ask to hold Judith. I think that a man holding their baby is one of the sweetest things ever.

I agree with Rick. All those members of their group that left, and Tyreese and Michonne going after The Governor at Woodbury is crazy. They're all needed at the prison to help protect it.

Oh shit, The Governor and his group have Tyreese. I hate that they have him and I'm worried they're not gonna ask questions, that they'll just go right ahead and kill him.

Yeah, right. That guy who is part of The Governor's group that said he killed Michonne, is full of shit. He's too much of a wuss to have actually killed her. And Michonne's a hell of a lot smarter than him.

[Tiffany Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume: The Walking Dead
Title: Made to Suffer, Pt. 3
Creator/Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Charlie Adlard
Colorist: Cliff Rathburn
Cover: Charlie Adlard; Cliff Rathburn
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Publisher/Date: Image/ 12/12/2007
Length/Format: 36/ Digital Comic
Issue#: 45

It's all been leading up to this. No one is safe. Not even our hero, Rick Grimes.

Previously. Woodbury, led by the Governor, finally attacked. It wasn't pretty. Rick and Andrea have both been shot.

The Best.

Andrea was only out for an hour to an hour and a half and Dale was keeping watch on her the whole time. She ends up being upset about everything, but at least she's awake.
Patricia is type O-, which means she is a universal blood donor and is a vital member of the group right now for a change. She is actually going to end up saving Rick's life.
Michonne is a beast with her sword! She turns into a completely different type of person when she has a hold of it.
The Worst.
Axel is still complaining even after Alice bandages him up. He seems to be milking the situation to take it easy and not have to do anything.
Dale wants to leaves and takes Andrea, Glenn, Maggie, Sophia, and the twins, Ben and Billy. At the same time Michonne and Tyreese go out to try and kill more from Woodbury and see if they can get a shot at the Governor.
The Ugly.
Rick awakens but only to find that his group has separated. He starts to think they just aren't going to be able to do it and survive.
Tyreese was caught and Gabe shows up with Michonne's sword, stating to the Governor that he blew her brains out.
The Differences.
The group doesn't separate at this time in the TV series. In the TV series there is a somewhat small reprieve after the Governor retreats.
The Governor tends to go off the deep end, even in the TV series with having not experienced such torture at the hands of Michonne. After completely failing to take over the prison, he retreats with the people of Woodbury and ends up killing them all when they get to a safe distance away. Only Martinez and one other goon is left. They leave the Governor shortly the next morning after resting a short period of time later.
Tyreese isn't with the prison group nor with the Woodbury group that attacks at this point. Instead Tyreese and his sister (character only from the TV series) are left in charge of protecting the remaining residence of Woodbury.
Those Remembered. A small few of the remaining scouts from the Woodbury group, killed by Michonne with her sword.

Recommend. To the fans of The Walking Dead Universe, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn, Rus Wooton, Robert Kirkman, The Governor, zombies, horror dramas, and apocalypse stories.

originally posted: http://tiffanyfoxbooks.blogspot.com/2...

[John Michael Martinez (Elio. Journal) · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the moment Issue #45 begins, the tension is relentless. After the chaotic battle in the last issue, Rick's group is battered, bleeding, and on the edge of survival. There’s this underlying dread woven throughout the story that amplifies every encounter, every decision, and every bit of hope that slips away. It’s hard not to be gripped by fear for the fate of Rick and his group as the Governor’s wrath lingers ominously.

The issue kicks off right where we left off: Rick collapses from his gunshot wound, his life hanging by a thread. Alice, ever the caretaker, springs into action, ordering the group to rush him to the infirmary. Amidst the chaos, no one knows where Lori, Patricia, or the children have gone, adding a layer of frantic urgency to the situation. Alice tells the others to inform Lori, setting off an emotional search for any remnants of stability.

Meanwhile, Andrea regains consciousness with Dale, Ben, and Billy nearby. It turns out she’s incredibly lucky; though she was shot in the head, the bullet only grazed her skull. She’ll carry yet another scar, but she’ll live—a glimmer of hope amidst the carnage. In another part of the infirmary, Axel is reeling from a wound to his arm, and Alice bluntly tells him he won’t be able to use it for a while. With Rick’s life teetering on the edge, and Axel’s injury slowing him down, morale dips. Lori and the kids watch in dismay as Alice works to keep Rick alive, the weight of loss already settling on everyone’s shoulders.

Taking charge, Alice calls a crucial meeting. She explains that Rick needs a blood transfusion, and Patricia steps up, revealing her O-negative blood type—a universal donor. With a mixture of fear and determination, the group rallies to keep Rick alive, with Alice warning Lori that things could still take a turn for the worse.

As Rick’s life hangs in the balance, Dale proposes a radical idea to Andrea: leave the prison behind. He argues that the prison may be what the Governor’s group wants, and to stay means risking their lives. Andrea, however, clings to the loyalty she feels for the others, expressing her reluctance to abandon their friends in such a dire time. But Dale persists, reminding her that survival may require making hard choices. With deep resignation, Dale decides to take the RV and leave with Ben, Billy, and Sophia if necessary, offering sanctuary to anyone willing to follow.

The exodus begins as Andrea, Dale, Sophia, Ben, and Billy head toward the RV, where Glenn and Maggie eventually join them. Glenn heads back to gather their essentials, while Maggie takes a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to her father, Hershel, and her brother Billy. As the group drives away, Hershel, overcome by the emotional strain, lets out an expletive—a raw testament to the pain of losing yet another piece of his family. Hershel, Billy, and Axel steel themselves for what lies ahead, gathering what little ammunition they have and placing their faith in divine intervention.

Back in the infirmary, Lori holds onto a memory of Rick’s childhood, recounting a story about his brother Jeff. When Jeff was teased for an injured ankle, Rick bravely stepped in to defend him, even if it meant facing the bullies alone. Through tear-filled eyes, she relives the memory, her love and admiration for Rick rekindling as she prays for his recovery. Miraculously, Rick stirs awake, dispelling her fears momentarily. With typical grit, he brushes off his injury, demanding to continue the fight. Upon hearing of the group's departure, he admits that their chances were slim before, and now they’re even bleaker. The contrast between his physical frailty and mental resolve underscores his leadership, even on the brink of death.

Meanwhile, Michonne and Tyreese make a daring decision to infiltrate the woods and pick off the Woodbury soldiers before they can regroup. Though Tyreese is hesitant, Michonne’s confidence in their stealth and skill convinces him to agree. They arm themselves with riot gear and slip into the forest, determined to weaken the enemy. Their first target is James Steagal, who unwittingly becomes Michonne's next victim as she slices him with her katana in a flash of brutal precision. As they try to hide the body, another soldier spots them and fires a warning shot before Tyreese knocks him out. Now exposed, Michonne and Tyreese press forward, determined to hit the Governor’s soldiers hard before retreating.

Their attack doesn’t go unnoticed, and soon Michonne and Tyreese find themselves outnumbered and under fire. Despite their original hit-and-run plan, Michonne insists on continuing the fight. They weave through the trees, evading bullets, and regroup for a final push. Tyreese, ever the loyal warrior, follows her, though he knows their chances grow slimmer by the second.

As tensions reach a boiling point, the Woodbury soldiers capture Tyreese, while Michonne’s fate is left in harrowing ambiguity. Gabe claims he managed to shoot her as she attempted to escape, yet there’s no body to confirm the kill. The Governor, fueled by vengeful rage, demands answers, his grip on control tightening as his desperation grows.

Issue #45 delivers a brutal blow, showing how unrelenting survival can be when faced with not only the undead but also the cruelty of human nature. I have to say, Michonne and Tyreese’s brave decision to go on the offensive had me rooting for them, though the risks were so high. Bringing someone like Andrea as a sniper would have strengthened their strategy, adding a layer of caution and covering their backs. But Michonne’s warrior spirit is admirable; her confidence in her own skill is both inspiring and terrifying given the circumstances.

Dale’s decision to leave, though painful, is understandable but leaves a sour taste. It feels as though he’s given up on the hope of maintaining a place to call home. His sense of loyalty wavers, and it’s hard not to feel betrayed by his choice to abandon the group. His focus is so set on survival that he’s willing to leave friends behind—a choice that resonates but also stings.

The final reveal with Gabe’s announcement about Michonne’s apparent death shocked me. The mere idea of Michonne—such a powerhouse—falling is unsettling, yet the lack of a confirmed body keeps hope alive. I was expecting Tyreese, who is less inclined to use guns and more of a close-combat fighter, to be the one struggling against their firepower. But Michonne’s fate has me on edge. There’s no confirmation yet, and until I see it, I refuse to accept her loss.

This issue leaves you with the sense that nothing is certain in this world, and survival often comes at an excruciating cost. The lines between hope and despair blur, and it’s hard not to feel the weight of each character’s choices bearing down on them.

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a huge fan of the show, I wanted to see how the original writing started and how the show writers followed and deviated from the comics. My dislikes were that the comics are much more crude, crass, and unnecessarily violent. I did like the change in relationships and how people worked together differently, and the comics have a different creepiness feel than you get watching it on TV. Overall, I prefer the show, and probably will not finish out the comic book series.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the entire series.

Rick Grimes is a strong-willed deputy who missed the end of the world because he was in a coma for a month after getting shot in the line of duty. Shaken, starving and confused, Rick escapes the horror of the abandoned hospital only to be met with something far more terrible. Not only has the world ended, but the dead have learned to walk and to kill without mercy. After learning that his wife and son have fled to Atlanta from a single survivor and his son, Rick goes on a journey to reunite with his family and search for more survivors.

Rick quickly has to come to terms with the fact that the world has ended and only a select few survived. The dead have risen from their graves and they prey on the living. In a world where every minute feels like hours, where there's no such thing as law and order, where finding a small meal is a tremendous task, the walking dead are quite possibly the least threatening thing for the survivors to have on their breaking minds. Humanity is pushed to the brink of destruction, forcing them to embrace their cruel and primal nature in order to survive. Sometimes you have to be more concerned about who you let into your community so they don't kill you in your sleep and steal everything you once cared about. Rick has no choice but to abandon the ways of law and order that he's upheld as an officer for so long in order to protect the few loved ones he has left. He has to become a monster to protect his crew or risk being devoured by those who became more monstrous than him and even the walking dead.

Despite zombies running the world and having the series named after them, what really sets this series apart from the average zombie apocalypse tale is the focus on realism and the daily struggles, flaws and depth of the characters. There's plenty of badass zombie killing action, but the action often takes a back seat to give the characters plenty of times to share their extremely tragic yet endearing stories, grow through mutual suffering and learn to adapt to a world that has left them to die. Even after the world has ended, many people still can't see eye to eye. They turn on each other and kill each other when they should come together. Others form alliances in spite of their differences and try to rebuild over the corpse of everything that was lost. The daily human drama and conflict is more intense than any monster apocalypse could hope to be.

We watch Rick struggle to balance his old moral code with the many necessary evils he has to commit in order to survive and make the world a better place for the ones he holds close. We watch people like Glen, Dale and Maggie attempt to find love in spite of having every reason to be filled with fear, hate and self-loathing. Characters like Michonne have to learn how to forgive themselves and convince themselves they deserve to be loved despite all the blood on their hands. We watch the weak like Carl and Andrea become strong and sometimes the strong become evil like The Governor. Even monsters like the wicked yet oddly lovable Negan are given the chance to find new ways of redeeming themselves by struggling alongside the other survivors that have all been changed by the horrors of the fallen world.

The pacing is extremely slow and I can understand why that may be a turnoff for a lot of people, but I eventually learned to enjoy watching the characters grow, overcome their trauma, find meaning in life and learn to love again. The characters are forced to do many terrible things to survive and it haunts them every waking moment. The ways they overcome these regrets is very realistic, human and hopeful. The slow pacing really gives the feeling that we're living beside these people. The way every tiny detail of their lives and who they are is explored makes them feel very real and believable.

When I first started reading the series, I wasn't expecting it to have such an uplifting ending. It seemed so bleak and nihilistic for a long time and things would go horribly wrong even when they seemed to be going so well, but the finale channels all the pain, suffering and betrayal of the previous volumes and tops it off with a very touching and inspiring finish. This was never a story about hopelessness. It's about learning to appreciate the little things, learning to forgive yourself and learning to move on even when it's hard. When everything seems lost there's always more to be found, even when we believe otherwise because we convince ourselves that we don't deserve to be happy ever again. Instead of dwelling on what was lost, strive to try and make things better than they were before.

I've never been a huge fan of zombie apocalypse stories, but The Walking Dead had enough heart and strong social commentary to make me stick by the characters until the end and I enjoyed every moment of their long trial.

***

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[Anadyr21 · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this issue, this look bleak for out characters. This is the "breather" issue, to set us up for the confrontation.

[Dannuel Delizo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wont be able to handle Michonne's death. Let her live!!

[Kelsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second issue that states in the description, 'it's all been leading up to this'. Stop saying that! Leading up to what?!
Dale, Andrea, Glenn, Maggie, Sophia and 2 other kids, that I don't know the name of, took off in the RV, they got outta dodge real fast. Then Michonne and Tyreese went after the Woodbury crew in hopes of taking a few out.
All the while Rick is recovering from his shot to the stomach, but he's up & about realising he can't handle what's happening, with half his group up & leaving.
It then returns to Michonne & Tyreese taking out a couple of Woodbury folks out & Tyreese getting captured in the process, and Michonne apparently had her brains blown out but we all know that's not true. That character, the larger fella (forgot his name) is essentially Merle from the show because he lied about killing Michonne too.
x

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recovery after the first attack. Injuries, but the survivors are still alive. Several decide to leave because they realize the Governor just wants the prison. Not an an exciting issue to read, but it is about the beginning of regrouping.

[cia sunshine ☭ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s crazy how different the comics are from the show, yet it is as entertaining. I love seeing the interactions between different characters in the comics vs the show. I just love the concept as well. It’s awesome.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad Dale was wiser in the tv show...

[Kaoyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Varias cosas de las que ha sucedido no me las esperaba. En este tomo y el anterior Andrea se ha convertido en mi favorito y amo cada vez mas a Rick.

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked the first couple pages, love the art and especially the zombies and the post apocalyptic setting 😻🤩🧟‍♂️🔥🔫

[Bio Logic · Rating 3 out of 5]

All characters donned their plot armors to fight both living & undead.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! If you are enjoying these particular comics with the governor, I recommend reading the books, "The Walking Dead, The Governor Series". That series gives you much more background and depth into the governor and what goes on in Woodbury. Really enjoy seeing the differences between the show and the comics.

[Sannie Hald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh how i HATE Dale. I am so glad he isn't in the TV show no more.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

They really could've used Alice for the show to be the doctor instead of Hershel. Dale is an idiot...

[Ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh dios, realmente, realmente odio al gobernador.

[Jipi Perreault · Rating 4 out of 5]

That damn van...

[Burton Olivier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might be the first issue in this reread that I have absolutely no recollection of