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Salvation?

24 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

6 people are currently reading
157 people want to read

About the author

Robert Kirkman

2,777 books6,963 followers
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.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Artrix.
121 reviews15 followers
April 5, 2024
Carl en la serie no me caía nada bien, en los cómics es otro rollo
Profile Image for Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile.
2,454 reviews934 followers
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.
Profile Image for John.
450 reviews7 followers
December 18, 2015
Great! I am really enjoying TWD comics. All the comics in this series are really good but I think they have gotten so much better since issue 50. I also love seeing the differences between the comic and the TV show.
Profile Image for Michael Sorbello.
Author 1 book317 followers
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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October 29, 2024
Coming off the intense chase in the previous issue, I hoped the group would find some relief from the looming dangers, but instead, they are forced to face challenges that are just as dark and difficult, though in a different way. The trauma and moral complexities are really beginning to show through their decisions, adding a layer of tension even beyond survival.

The issue opens with Andrea stumbling upon a van in surprisingly good condition, with keys still in the ignition and even mattresses inside. It’s a rare find in their post-apocalyptic world, and it brings a spark of excitement to the group—Andrea even jokes that it’s like Christmas arrived early. Amid the levity, Carl, with his youthful innocence, asks if they had even celebrated last year’s Christmas. This brief moment of joy in finding some level of comfort emphasizes how scarce such opportunities have become.

Later, Rick, unable to sleep, picks up the phone he has been carrying around, longing for some sense of connection to his lost family. Lori’s “voice” surfaces, suggesting they need to discuss Carl, pulling Rick into a painful reminder of his past and the burden he carries as a father in such an unforgiving world.

Just as dawn breaks and the group is packing up, Andrea notices the twins, Ben and Billy, are missing. When she goes into the woods, she stumbles upon a horrifying scene: Ben has killed Billy with a knife, oblivious to the finality of his actions. Ben’s eerie detachment as he tells Andrea that he “didn’t hurt Billy’s brain” underscores his disturbing lack of understanding of life and death in this harsh world. Dale arrives, breaking down at the realization of what has happened, as Rick and Carl, who followed him, watch in horror.

The tragedy forces the group into a difficult discussion about what to do with Ben. Abraham is blunt, suggesting they “do what needs to be done,” while Andrea is horrified, unwilling to entertain the idea of harming a child. Dale’s paternal instincts kick in as he vehemently opposes any harm to Ben, but the underlying fear that Ben’s actions may be only the beginning makes Abraham’s argument compelling. Rick, ever the reluctant leader, considers the possibility, recognizing that Ben could be a danger to the group despite his age. Michonne, as always, provides a sober voice, pointing out that Ben’s inability to grasp the reality of murder is exactly why he’s a danger.

Their conversation is interrupted when a stranger appears out of the woods—a priest named Father Gabriel Stokes. Unarmed and out of food, he appears harmless, introducing himself as a former pastor who has been hiding out in his church. Despite his friendly demeanor, Abraham searches him for weapons, and Rick directs him to their supplies while maintaining a watchful eye.

Night falls, and as the group tries to get some rest, Dale confides in Andrea, vowing to watch over Ben in the van and prevent anyone from killing him. Andrea, though conflicted, respects Dale’s determination to protect Ben, but when Dale leaves to take watch, he doesn’t notice Carl sneaking out of his tent.

The next morning, a gunshot rings out, jolting everyone awake. They rush to find Ben’s body in the van, shot in cold blood. Dale collapses in anguish, accusing the shooter of cowardice. Andrea tries to comfort him, but Dale’s anger toward the unknown killer is palpable, turning his grief into a simmering resentment. The issue hints at Carl’s involvement, as he is seen running back to his tent, leaving readers questioning his role in Ben’s death. Rick, though confident in Carl’s innocence, receives knowing looks from both Dale and Morgan, who sense the boy may be hiding something. The story leaves us with this unresolved tension, making us wonder how much Carl has really been affected by the harsh world around him.

Before the group moves out, Father Gabriel offers to say a few words over the twins' graves, hoping to provide comfort, but Rick cuts him short, having little faith in his “theories” about the afterlife. Gabriel’s introduction adds an interesting dynamic to the group, with his faith contrasting sharply against the hardened realism the others have developed.

The issue ends with Abraham asking Eugene about the radiophone, though it’s revealed to be non-functional. As they depart, two unseen figures lurk in the shadows, signaling a potential new threat on the horizon and adding an ominous note to the issue’s close.

This issue was particularly heavy emotionally, and it makes you realize how unrelenting this world has become for these characters. Ben’s murder of Billy shocked me, though in hindsight, I can see the subtle hints that had built up to this. From the moment Ben showed disturbing signs—like tormenting the cat in an earlier issue—it became clear that he was struggling with his grip on reality.

I was captivated by the group’s meeting over what to do with Ben. It’s haunting to see them debating the fate of a child who doesn't fully grasp what he’s done but could very well be a ticking time bomb. Each person’s opinion reveals so much about them—Andrea’s steadfast compassion, Dale’s paternal protectiveness, and Abraham’s pragmatic approach all lend a different perspective to this grim decision. The group’s autonomy in handling such a moral dilemma emphasizes how removed they’ve become from the society they once knew, forcing them to confront issues that no one is truly prepared for.

Carl’s role in Ben’s death shocked me deeply. To think that he might have done it in cold blood raises questions about how this world is shaping him, and I’m torn between understanding his actions and fearing what they mean for his future.

Gabriel’s arrival and the cryptic threat of the lurking figures in the woods add new layers to the story, with the group’s safety once again hanging by a thread. Gabriel’s faith, though well-meaning, feels jarringly out of place in this grim world, making me wonder if he’ll bring comfort or only complicate matters further. And these hidden watchers make me anxious for what might come next; their motives are unknown, and the thought of yet another threat is unsettling.

In all, this issue was an intense exploration of survival and morality, pushing each character to their limits. It’s a reminder that, even in their quest to survive, the real danger sometimes lies within the group, not just outside it.
Profile Image for Kelsie.
296 reviews24 followers
November 24, 2019
Ohh this was a good one.
The twins, I whom I basically forgot about the majority of the time when reading the comics, follow the story of Mica and Lizzie from the show, but this time it's Carl not Carol who takes care of the remaining twin which was interesting, I kinda want to see how this effects him from now on. Morgan knows what's up though, will he rat him out? I love seeing how the comic and the show differs because part of me knows how all this goes down but another part of me doesn't, these small differences make bigger impacts.
Also we're introduced to Father Gabriel, couldn't really get much of a scope on him in this issue. And there were a couple of strangers lurking in the forest wanting to follow the group, could it be people from Alexandria? The Kingdom? The Hill Top? Or dun dun dun, the Saviours? Maybe that's too early for them just now but I'm having fun guessing. Oh and there were those cannibals as well at the Terminus, or did that happen already in the comics, hell I can't remember. Could even be a new group that wasn't introduced in the show too, of course.
x
Profile Image for Talita Macedo.
39 reviews
November 15, 2022
Depois de milénios estou retomando essa HQ. Anos atrás, quando estreou a série (12 anos atrás já, ME SINTO VELHA), eu fiquei maravilhada e, na terceira temporada, quando descobri (acho que só descobri aí ou só tive acesso aí, não sei) que era baseado numa HQ eu pausei a série pra poder ler primeiro. Porém nunca terminar as 193 edições e também nunca retomei a série (que já tem 11 temporadas e não acaba, socorro kkkkk).

Mas nunca é tarde para correr atrás do tempo perdido e cá estou eu lendo a edição nº 61, voltei logo com soco no estômago pra lembrar o quanto essa história é maravilhosa!! Ambas (série e HQ) carregam a mesma essência mas acho que os quadrinhos são ainda mais brutais. Nessa podemos ver o quanto esse mundo caótico pode bagunçar a cabeça de qualquer um!

#corridadaspaginas
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,736 reviews14 followers
February 1, 2019
Not one of my favorite issues because there is a lot of sadness. Quite a bit different than the tv series because I never saw the main action coming.
Profile Image for Laina.
237 reviews2 followers
May 13, 2016
First off, I'm glad they found that van and those mattresses. I bet they'll love being able to sleep inside of something sort of safe like the van, and they'll love sleeping on the soft mattresses.

Rick talking on the phone to Lori at night is creepy. He needs to snap out of it and move on with his life. It sucks that his wife died, but there's nothing he or anyone else can do about it.

Oh shit! I can't believe that one of the boys, killed the other one. It sucks that Andrea had to be the one to find the twins like that. I have to admit, I agree with Michonne and Abraham.

I'm not sure what they should do, but I wouldn't feel comfortable around that little boy after he killed his brother. While I don't agree with the idea of killing a kid in the normal world, in this world with what Ben's done, I agree that he needs to be put down.

How the hell is Gabriel still alive? He says he has no weapons and has been locked in his church since the beginning of this mess. How has his church not been broken into and overrun by zombies?

I know that Carl's the one who killed Ben and I'm glad he did it. Ben was likely to kill again, and the group wouldn't know what to do with him. So I'm glad Carl stepped up and did it.

Oh shit, who the hell is following Rick and his group now? Is it more people from Woodbury? But how the hell would those people even know where Rick and his group are? How long have these people been following Rick and his group?
Profile Image for RJ - Slayer of Trolls.
992 reviews191 followers
March 31, 2017
Lots going on in this issue. That horrible scene from the TV show with the two little girls plays out (with different participants of course). Father Gabriel arrives. Justice is dispensed by an unexpected party. And who is watching from the forest at the end? Yikes! Time to read the next one....
Profile Image for Wafa.
98 reviews21 followers
March 13, 2015
wow what Carl did just super speed everything the adults trying to figure out ,
Profile Image for Erik.
1,115 reviews11 followers
April 5, 2024
I wasn’t really a fan of Ricks talking on the phone arc. But geeez other stuff happens
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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