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The Walking Dead (Single Issues)
The Walking Dead #56
From its humble beginnings five years ago The Walking Dead has grown into an undisputable cult hit. In this special anniversary issue the characters we've grown to love look back on how this world has affected them, what they've gained and what they've lost... and a look ahead at where they go from here.
32 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2008
7 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Robert Kirkman
2,777 books6,963 followersRobert 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 8, 2020
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.
October 28, 2024
The last issue's cliffhanger left me with an intense, uneasy feeling, especially with the haunting image of Maggie hanging from a tree. I could hardly wait to pick up Issue #56, hoping to get an answer to the agonizing question of whether or not Maggie survived. The weight of that cliffhanger and the implications of Maggie’s fate lingered heavily over this issue, setting up for a deep and tumultuous continuation of the story.
The issue opens with an incredibly intense and harrowing scene. Glenn discovers Maggie hanging lifelessly from a tree, a result of her overwhelming grief and trauma after losing her father and brother. Glenn’s scream cuts through the air, and the group rushes over. Abraham, in a rare display of leadership mingled with cold pragmatism, steps up and cuts her down. When he finds her lifeless, he coldly decides that the best course of action is to end her suffering permanently by shooting her in the head before she has a chance to reanimate. But before he can pull the trigger, Rick intervenes, shoving a gun to Abraham's head and warning him that if he harms Maggie, he'll regret it. Tensions between the two men reach a boiling point, and it seems like we’re moments away from bloodshed. Just as the standoff crescendos, Maggie suddenly gasps for air. Against all odds, she's alive.
This moment is filled with relief and disbelief for everyone present, but especially for Glenn. Maggie’s survival doesn't bring immediate peace, however. Instead, she retreats into herself, refusing to talk to anyone, even her husband. The weight of what she attempted lingers, casting a heavy emotional shadow over the group. It’s clear that the world of trauma and violence has pushed her to a breaking point, one from which even Glenn's love struggles to pull her back.
Later that evening, Andrea and Dale share a poignant moment, reflecting on Maggie’s struggles and the impact on young Sophia, who now views Maggie as her mother figure more than Carol. This subtle conversation highlights the emotional toll on everyone and how each of them has been forced to adapt, particularly the children.
Rick, meanwhile, continues to wrestle with his own guilt and inner demons, as he feels the weight of his past decisions, especially those related to the loss of his wife Lori. Abraham confronts him, warning Rick never to point a gun at him again, and Rick responds by making it clear that he won't hesitate to do what he deems necessary to protect the group, even if it means crossing lines with Abraham. Their clash is a reminder of the fragile alliances holding the survivors together, and just how easily these bonds can fracture under the strain of survival.
The following day, Michonne offers Rick some consolation, reinforcing that his decisions have often been the right ones, even if they come with guilt. However, Rick’s self-loathing remains a persistent shadow, and he dismisses her reassurance, feeling that nothing can absolve him of his perceived failures.
This darkness in Rick becomes all too real when he’s suddenly attacked by a zombie while alone in the woods. In a desperate moment, he yells out to Abraham for help. Abraham hesitates, gun aimed toward Rick but seemingly wrestling with whether or not to shoot him at all. Just as the tension builds to an almost unbearable level, Abraham finally fires, killing the zombie and sparing Rick. Afterward, Abraham’s internal conflict boils over as he retreats to Rosita, shaken by his near-fatal hesitation. He confesses to her that, in that moment, he felt an urge to harm Rick rather than help him, and he pleads with her to keep him from killing again. Abraham’s struggle is raw and deeply unsettling, adding a new layer to his character and revealing just how fragile his own sense of morality has become.
This issue was a rollercoaster. It’s like Kirkman has mastered the art of making readers think they've reached a low point, only to throw another emotional twist that leaves us reeling. Maggie’s attempted suicide was haunting, and I felt an overwhelming sadness for her and Glenn. The fact that Maggie survived felt like a miracle, but the reality of her mental state still casts a heavy, somber mood over the entire group. Glenn’s desperation to keep her alive, even when all hope seemed lost, was such a powerful and heart-wrenching moment that it left me both frustrated and relieved.
Rick’s ongoing guilt about Lori and his struggle to lead without cracking under pressure are palpable, and his moral compass continues to feel warped by the unending darkness they live in. But it’s Abraham who really stood out in this issue. His inner conflict is deeply disturbing; he’s a complex character caught between his desire to survive and the haunting urge to do harm. His moment of hesitation with Rick felt like a pivotal point, revealing just how close the line between friend and foe can be in a world ravaged by chaos.
Kirkman has done it again—each issue plunges further into the fragility of the human psyche, forcing us to confront the harrowing effects of prolonged survival and grief. I can’t help but be pulled deeper into this world, and each page leaves me with more questions than answers. For now, I'm left to wonder how this group, already fractured and bruised, will find the strength to carry on.
The issue opens with an incredibly intense and harrowing scene. Glenn discovers Maggie hanging lifelessly from a tree, a result of her overwhelming grief and trauma after losing her father and brother. Glenn’s scream cuts through the air, and the group rushes over. Abraham, in a rare display of leadership mingled with cold pragmatism, steps up and cuts her down. When he finds her lifeless, he coldly decides that the best course of action is to end her suffering permanently by shooting her in the head before she has a chance to reanimate. But before he can pull the trigger, Rick intervenes, shoving a gun to Abraham's head and warning him that if he harms Maggie, he'll regret it. Tensions between the two men reach a boiling point, and it seems like we’re moments away from bloodshed. Just as the standoff crescendos, Maggie suddenly gasps for air. Against all odds, she's alive.
This moment is filled with relief and disbelief for everyone present, but especially for Glenn. Maggie’s survival doesn't bring immediate peace, however. Instead, she retreats into herself, refusing to talk to anyone, even her husband. The weight of what she attempted lingers, casting a heavy emotional shadow over the group. It’s clear that the world of trauma and violence has pushed her to a breaking point, one from which even Glenn's love struggles to pull her back.
Later that evening, Andrea and Dale share a poignant moment, reflecting on Maggie’s struggles and the impact on young Sophia, who now views Maggie as her mother figure more than Carol. This subtle conversation highlights the emotional toll on everyone and how each of them has been forced to adapt, particularly the children.
Rick, meanwhile, continues to wrestle with his own guilt and inner demons, as he feels the weight of his past decisions, especially those related to the loss of his wife Lori. Abraham confronts him, warning Rick never to point a gun at him again, and Rick responds by making it clear that he won't hesitate to do what he deems necessary to protect the group, even if it means crossing lines with Abraham. Their clash is a reminder of the fragile alliances holding the survivors together, and just how easily these bonds can fracture under the strain of survival.
The following day, Michonne offers Rick some consolation, reinforcing that his decisions have often been the right ones, even if they come with guilt. However, Rick’s self-loathing remains a persistent shadow, and he dismisses her reassurance, feeling that nothing can absolve him of his perceived failures.
This darkness in Rick becomes all too real when he’s suddenly attacked by a zombie while alone in the woods. In a desperate moment, he yells out to Abraham for help. Abraham hesitates, gun aimed toward Rick but seemingly wrestling with whether or not to shoot him at all. Just as the tension builds to an almost unbearable level, Abraham finally fires, killing the zombie and sparing Rick. Afterward, Abraham’s internal conflict boils over as he retreats to Rosita, shaken by his near-fatal hesitation. He confesses to her that, in that moment, he felt an urge to harm Rick rather than help him, and he pleads with her to keep him from killing again. Abraham’s struggle is raw and deeply unsettling, adding a new layer to his character and revealing just how fragile his own sense of morality has become.
This issue was a rollercoaster. It’s like Kirkman has mastered the art of making readers think they've reached a low point, only to throw another emotional twist that leaves us reeling. Maggie’s attempted suicide was haunting, and I felt an overwhelming sadness for her and Glenn. The fact that Maggie survived felt like a miracle, but the reality of her mental state still casts a heavy, somber mood over the entire group. Glenn’s desperation to keep her alive, even when all hope seemed lost, was such a powerful and heart-wrenching moment that it left me both frustrated and relieved.
Rick’s ongoing guilt about Lori and his struggle to lead without cracking under pressure are palpable, and his moral compass continues to feel warped by the unending darkness they live in. But it’s Abraham who really stood out in this issue. His inner conflict is deeply disturbing; he’s a complex character caught between his desire to survive and the haunting urge to do harm. His moment of hesitation with Rick felt like a pivotal point, revealing just how close the line between friend and foe can be in a world ravaged by chaos.
Kirkman has done it again—each issue plunges further into the fragility of the human psyche, forcing us to confront the harrowing effects of prolonged survival and grief. I can’t help but be pulled deeper into this world, and each page leaves me with more questions than answers. For now, I'm left to wonder how this group, already fractured and bruised, will find the strength to carry on.
November 19, 2020
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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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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October 26, 2019
Welp, guessed Maggie was gonna be okay, well obviously not mentally. Rick and Abraham are basically just two guys going 'I know what's best', 'no I know what's best!' etc etc. Although in this cause Rick did know what's best because if Abraham got his way Maggie would have got a bullet in the head.
I thought it was interesting with Abraham confiding with Rosita that he wasn't sure if he was pointing the gun at Rick before the zombie attacked or not, kinda gave me Shane vibes from the show. Eh, I still like Abraham, probably more than Rick to be honest, he just has more character, I'd feel safer around him. Now watch me eat my words at some point in this comic series.
x
I thought it was interesting with Abraham confiding with Rosita that he wasn't sure if he was pointing the gun at Rick before the zombie attacked or not, kinda gave me Shane vibes from the show. Eh, I still like Abraham, probably more than Rick to be honest, he just has more character, I'd feel safer around him. Now watch me eat my words at some point in this comic series.
x
December 26, 2021
I was hooked the first couple pages, love the art and especially the zombies and the post apocalyptic setting 😻🤩🧟♂️🔥🔫
May 12, 2016
Holy shit! Maggie just tried to hang herself! I hope that she's not really dead, and that Glenn or whoever does CPR and it brings her back. I want Maggie around for a long time.
I get where Abraham's coming from, with him wanting to shoot Maggie to make sure she doesn't come back as a zombie. But he could wait a little while and see if they're able to revive her.
If they can't revive her, then Rick and the group should let Abraham go ahead and shoot Maggie. I don't think anyone else would be able to do it, as they actually knew her.
Whoo! I'm so glad that Maggie's still alive and that Abraham didn't get to shoot her. Also, I'm glad that Glenn didn't lose the woman he loves. He'd have been a wreck for a long time.
Holy shit, things sure are hostile between Rick and Abraham. I hope if they're stuck together for a while that they eventually learn to get along. They need to be fighting enemies and zombies, not each other.
I really do like Rick and Michonne's talks. With each other they almost seem normal. I hope they become good friends and that Michonne stays alive for a long time.
That TOTALLY fucking sucks! Rick can't even go to the bathroom without getting attacked by a zombie. I'm glad Abraham saved him, but the guy didn't need to be a dick about it.
I think that they should let the horses go. It sucks because they'd probably die soon after being let go, but that's just how it is. I agree that the horses are slowing the group down.
The scene between Sophia, Maggie and Glenn was sad. I hope that Sophia has Glenn and Maggie around to look after her for a long time. It's bad enough her birth Mom killed herself.
Abraham needs to chill the fuck out before Rick ends up killing his ass. If he keeps freaking out like that, and letting his rage get the better of him, Rick or someone else is going to kill him.
I get where Abraham's coming from, with him wanting to shoot Maggie to make sure she doesn't come back as a zombie. But he could wait a little while and see if they're able to revive her.
If they can't revive her, then Rick and the group should let Abraham go ahead and shoot Maggie. I don't think anyone else would be able to do it, as they actually knew her.
Whoo! I'm so glad that Maggie's still alive and that Abraham didn't get to shoot her. Also, I'm glad that Glenn didn't lose the woman he loves. He'd have been a wreck for a long time.
Holy shit, things sure are hostile between Rick and Abraham. I hope if they're stuck together for a while that they eventually learn to get along. They need to be fighting enemies and zombies, not each other.
I really do like Rick and Michonne's talks. With each other they almost seem normal. I hope they become good friends and that Michonne stays alive for a long time.
That TOTALLY fucking sucks! Rick can't even go to the bathroom without getting attacked by a zombie. I'm glad Abraham saved him, but the guy didn't need to be a dick about it.
I think that they should let the horses go. It sucks because they'd probably die soon after being let go, but that's just how it is. I agree that the horses are slowing the group down.
The scene between Sophia, Maggie and Glenn was sad. I hope that Sophia has Glenn and Maggie around to look after her for a long time. It's bad enough her birth Mom killed herself.
Abraham needs to chill the fuck out before Rick ends up killing his ass. If he keeps freaking out like that, and letting his rage get the better of him, Rick or someone else is going to kill him.
September 14, 2014
Of course, you get two alpha males together and they decide to have a pissing contest. Though, it was good to see some character development from Abraham. This issue has really shown that every single character is suffering from some level of PTSD, even the kids. This was a mostly character driven issue, that's really just setting the next arc up.
April 3, 2015
EPIC FAIL HAHA.
December 14, 2015
Great! Really enjoy seeing the differences between the show and the comic.
January 3, 2017
Abraham don't play homie
November 20, 2019
This was a slow moving issue. There are tensions among the survivors that are brought out especially between Abraham and Rick.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews