Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
'NO WAY OUT' BEGINS! Being surrounded by a wall keeps things out-but it also keeps you in.

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2011

5 people are currently reading
136 people want to read

About the author

Robert Kirkman

2,774 books6,957 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.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
202 (45%)
4 stars
164 (36%)
3 stars
69 (15%)
2 stars
9 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for RJ - Slayer of Trolls.
991 reviews191 followers
March 31, 2017
Nothing better than a large gathering of the undead to make people want to start hooking up like crazy.
Profile Image for Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile.
2,447 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 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.

***

My Social Media

My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...

My Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/michael_sor...

My Wattpad Account: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Michael-...

My Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/SorbelloHorror

My Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/michael.sorb...
Profile Image for Kelsie.
296 reviews24 followers
September 12, 2021
We open with Bruce getting munched on ... I have forgotten who Bruce is so erm, RIP m'dude. Abraham cloncks him over the noggin to stop him coming back as a zombie ... with what looks like a baseball bat, interesting.
Ooooooo Holly and Abraham. But like come on, you really cheating on Rosita?
Rick gives a big speech to basically say 'shut up and stock up' so the herd of zombies around them will hopefully lose interest. Meanwhile Andrea is stuck up the bell tower, but honestly, she's probably the most capable out of the lot of them.
Giving Carl his gone back? We sure about that?
Does being surrounded by zombies turn people on? Rick and Jessie, Michonne and Morgan, Holly and Abraham ... I mean, good for them, I guess?
x

November 30, 2024
This issue marks the beginning of one of the most iconic arcs in The Walking Dead universe: No Way Out. Knowing what’s coming, the tension is already palpable. I was eager to see how Rick and the group would adapt to the looming danger, and I was curious how their new dynamics, especially within the Alexandria Safe-Zone, would unfold.

The issue starts with sheer chaos. Abraham’s group, tasked with clearing the zombies outside Alexandria’s walls, is forced to retreat when they realize the horde they are facing is far larger than anticipated. Bruce’s fate is sealed when he is bitten, and Abraham, showing his hardened resolve, kills him swiftly to prevent his reanimation. Holly’s reaction is emotional and raw—her slap across Abraham’s face is not just out of grief but a reflection of the humanity they are all clinging to. Abraham’s attempt to console her hints at a deeper connection, possibly romantic, adding another layer of complexity to his character.

Back inside the community, Rick immediately takes control. His leadership is pragmatic and decisive: increasing patrols, setting up night watch shifts, and suggesting that the community consolidate into fewer homes to conserve power. His decision to open the armory is telling—it shows his understanding that everyone must be prepared to defend themselves, signaling the gravity of the threat. Jessie’s concern about the food supply feels realistic, and Glenn’s suggestion to ration supplies offers a glimmer of hope amidst the growing fear.

A significant subplot involves Abraham’s tangled relationships. His conversation with Rosita in front of Holly feels like a quiet storm brewing. It’s clear that Holly’s feelings for Abraham run deep, but the unspoken tension between the three of them suggests things could unravel fast.

Meanwhile, Douglas’s breakdown is heartbreaking. Once the leader of Alexandria, his sense of failure is consuming him. His vulnerability, as he confesses to his wife Regina about his loss of control, adds emotional weight to the story. It’s a stark contrast to Rick’s composed demeanor and further emphasizes Rick’s ascendance as the true leader of Alexandria.

On a more personal level, Michonne invites Morgan on patrol, and their dynamic is fascinating. Morgan’s quiet apology for still grieving feels genuine, and Michonne’s response shows her compassion. But the most intriguing moment is when she addresses her katana, almost as if it were a living companion. Her words, “I hope you’re not too comfortable up there,” suggest that she is grappling with her inner conflict over allowing herself to open up again.

The interactions between Rick, Carl, Jessie, and Ron add layers of complexity. Rick gives Carl a gun, teaching him responsibility in the face of danger, a stark reminder of how much Carl has grown. Jessie and Ron’s arrival at Rick’s door brings more tension. Ron’s confrontation with Carl about Rick killing his father is intense—Carl’s cold, unapologetic response highlights how hardened he has become.

The final scene is unexpected yet inevitable. Jessie’s passionate kiss surprises Rick, and his hesitation shows the conflict within him. He wants to protect her, but he is still grappling with his past losses. This development adds an emotional twist that will undoubtedly complicate future events.

This issue is a masterclass in pacing and character development. Rick’s calm, calculated leadership contrasted with Douglas’s breakdown was striking. The complexity of Abraham’s relationships added emotional depth, and Michonne’s moment with Morgan added a touch of humanity amidst the chaos. Jessie’s kiss at the end was shocking but felt like the natural progression of their growing connection. Overall, this issue expertly sets the stage for the No Way Out arc, building suspense while deepening character dynamics.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Small Bites continues to be a hilarious parody series, providing comedic relief from the intense main storyline. I was excited to see how they would lampoon the events of Issue #80, especially the grim fate of Bruce.

This issue follows the zombified Carlos Neri and his undead family, wandering aimlessly in search of food. Their deadpan, emotionless expressions are humorously contrasted by their determination to find their next meal. The Neri family is almost portrayed as a dysfunctional yet relatable zombie family, which is both absurd and hilarious.

The humor peaks when Bruce, refusing to listen to Abraham’s warnings, stubbornly shoots at approaching zombies. Predictably, he is overwhelmed and devoured—by none other than the Neri family. His final moments are exaggerated to ridiculous extremes as he calls out for God, begging for mercy, while the undead Neris feast on him without a care.

I couldn’t stop laughing at how Small Bites transformed Bruce’s tragic death into a darkly comedic spectacle. The Neri family’s deadpan antics and Bruce’s over-the-top cries for help were both hilarious and oddly endearing. This parody is a perfect example of how humor can offer a refreshing perspective on even the bleakest of stories. Small Bites Issue #11 delivers another entertaining, laugh-out-loud take on The Walking Dead universe, making it an absolute joy to read.
Profile Image for Laina.
237 reviews2 followers
May 18, 2016
Oh damn! I hope Abraham and the others are able to get to the gate and get inside quickly. Well, I'm glad that Abraham was able to think clearly enough to put Bruce out of his misery.

I'm glad Rick came up with a plan on the fly. The military truck won't keep the zombies out for long, but at least it'll be helpful to them for a little while, which is what they need.

I think Holly needs to get a grip and leave Abraham alone. She's all over him way too much to be normal. If anyone saw them together, they'd think that Abraham was cheating on Rosita with Holly.

I like that Rick's giving them a pep talk to help calm everyone down and try to get them all thinking clearly. He's pretty good at that, when he's not out doing all kinds of crazy shit.

Go Glenn! That's smart thinking, mentioning rationing the food. I like that he's one of those people who's able to keep their head in a crisis. I like that Rick's jumping into taking care of everything.

That's good thinking about reinforcing the walls, and starting a night-watchman outfit, to keep an eye on the place. Good idea about putting lookouts on the roof's, too. I'm sure they'll need them.

Another set of good idea, everyone sharing houses. It'll keep them all safer that way. I also like that Rick's opening the armory and letting everyone take weapons. They all need to be able to defend themselves if it comes down to it.

I feel like Abraham and Holly are spending a bit too much time together. I don't know if he's cheating on Rosita with her, because we haven't seen them hook up, but it's just a feeling I have.

I'm glad that Rick gave Carl his gun back. I feel like Carl will feel a lot safer now that he has it back. Maybe it'll also improve his mood and get him to stop acting like a little shit head.

Aww, I loved the scene between Rick and Carl. Especially when they talked and then hugged. I really want to see more scenes of them, as I like their father/son relationship.

I like Rick was okay with letting Jessie and Ron stay with him and Carl at their house. I know that things between them were tense since Pete died, but I'm glad they're getting past it.

Douglas is stupid. Instead of crying and apologizing to someone who'd already dead, he needs to get his head out of his ass and talk to Rick and the other's and start making plans to defend the place.

I don't like that Carl was such a dick to Ron. He needs a swift kick in the ass. As much as I don't like Ron, the kid's struggling to deal with losing his Dad and doesn't need Carl's bullshit.

I like that Rick and Jessie are talking and getting to know each other. I also like that Jessie knows she and Ron can trust Rick and Carl. That she knows they aren't like Pete was.

I really do think that Rick and Jessie are going to hook up. Even if it's just a one night stand. The way things are going, I don't think Jessie's up for another more than that right now.

I don't really understand the relationship between Morgan and Michonne. I know that they like each other, but I feel like they run hot and cold all the time and it gets confusing.

Huh, so now Rick and Jessie have had their first kiss. I wonder if things will keep going from there, or if one or both of them will regret it, and it'll end up stopping there.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.