The Walking Dead #87

The Walking Dead (Single Issues)

by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard (Illustrator), Cliff Rathburn (Illustrator)

Andrea hopes Rick is right about things are going to work at the Alexandria Safe-Zone. Rick tells her if they're not going to work, they will make them work. Rick asks if Andrea is going to pick back up tomorrow morning, and she agrees. Rick is going to see Carl, who's still in coma. Andrea asks Rick if he minds if she tags along.
Abraham asks Aaron and Eric to cover the gates so they are fully secured and locked. Abraham tries to speak to Rosita, but instead she ignores him and curses him. She goes right to Eugene and tells him she's making some food for them. Eugene thinks it's a good idea and they leave. Aaron is surprised that Abraham and Rosita aren't in a relationship anymore. Abraham says it's not an issue, but Aaron thinks Abraham is staring at Rosita's butt like it's an issue. Abraham glares at him and Aaron apologizes and says he took it too far.

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

24 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2011

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

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick talks on the phone (again)

[Kelsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ricardo back on the phone again, speaking to imaginery Lori.
Lots of romance drama going on with Abraham, must be one hell of a catch.
Carl wakes up and asks for his mother ... just hand him the phone Rick.
x

[Laina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad that Andrea's really starting to care about Carl. If he makes it through this, maybe she'll really care about him and will want to make sure he's safe from now on.

I like that Rosita's being nice to Eugene. He doesn't have many friends in Alexandria from what we've seen of him so fat. I guess most people are still angry about his earlier lying.

Aaron and Eric are just awesome. Seriously. I could listen to them making cracks and jokes all day. They're just that adorable. I don't think I'll ever get tired of them in the series.

I'm glad that Andrea's being there for Rick and for Carl. I'm also glad that Denise said that Carl WILL wake up. Too bad she doesn't know when, as I know Rick will keep worrying until then.

I feel like Holly was coming on way too strong. But that said, Abraham didn't need to be such a jerk to her. It's not like she knows what's going on with him. All she knows is that he comes to her for sex.

Abraham has caused a huge mess. He should just keep his dick in his pants and not sleep with anyone until he figures out just what the fuck her wants. Him going back and forth between Rosita and Holly is just cruel.

So, did Andrea take the food that Spencer made for them to have together, and she had it with Rick instead? I don't like that she did that. That makes her seem like a bitch, to me.

I like that Rick went to the makeshift graves to talk to Jessie. I like that he apologized for getting her and Ron killed. So, is it hallucinations, or just his conscience showing the guilt he feels?

Whoo! I love seeing Abraham and Michonne working as a team to take out zombies. They are two badass motherfuckers and I love how dangerous they are both apart and together.

I like that Rick's showing Michonne how much he cares about her. I can't decide between her and Andrea, which one Rick will end up hooking up with first. For right now, it's a tie for me.

Oh God. Can we please be done with Nicolas? He's just crazy, almost like another Pete. The guy's going to do something crazy, I know it. So they need to put this asshole down quickly.

I love that Heath is sticking up for Rick and what he and his group are doing for Alexandria. Nicholas just makes me want to punch him in the face every single time he opens his mouth.

I know that Maggie wants to protect Glenn, that's why she approached Rick and asked him to keep Glenn from going on a run. But I hate that she did that behind Glenn's back, and I'm sure he will, too.

Aww! I'm so glad that Carl's alive and awake now. That'll be one less thing for Rick to have to worry about now. Aww, that's so sad that Carl forgot that his mom and Judith are dead.

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

In The Walking Dead Issue #87, the tension in the Alexandria Safe-Zone is palpable, as the group faces new challenges and struggles with their internal dynamics, all while grappling with the external threat of the zombie apocalypse. The issue begins with Andrea's concern for Rick, who is optimistic but burdened by the weight of leadership. He reassures her that even if his plans fail, he will make things work. Andrea, as supportive as ever, seems to have developed a deep affection for Rick, suggesting that she wants to spend more time with him, possibly to alleviate his grief and provide him with some comfort.

Rick is still haunted by the tragedy of losing Lori and Judith, as well as the ongoing battle to keep his son, Carl, alive. Carl remains in a coma, and Rick seeks solace in the company of others, particularly Andrea. It’s clear that Rick is desperate for any sign of normalcy or hope, especially regarding Carl's recovery. Denise, the doctor, offers Rick a glimmer of optimism by telling him that Carl’s vitals are stable and his brain activity looks promising. Still, Rick’s worry is palpable, and his unrelenting desire to know when Carl will wake up reflects the depth of his fatherly love. Andrea tries to comfort him, and while their dinner together might seem like a simple moment, it underscores the emotional connection growing between them.

The issue also highlights Rick’s sense of guilt, particularly when he visits the graves of Jessie and Ron. He tells them that he shouldn’t have brought them outside, clearly blaming himself for their deaths. However, his guilt is not only about the past. As he listens to a recorded message from Lori, his internal struggle intensifies. Lori’s voice on the phone accuses him of being responsible for her death and the death of Judith. This moment of self-doubt is a painful reminder for Rick that, in this world, even those who are gone continue to haunt him in unexpected ways. The phone call from Lori, though a hallucination or perhaps a coping mechanism, serves as a stark reminder of his guilt and feelings of inadequacy as a father and leader.

Abraham’s subplot in this issue delves deeper into his emotional turmoil, particularly in his interactions with Rosita and Holly. The tension between Abraham and Rosita is tangible; their relationship has clearly deteriorated, and the unresolved feelings between them only seem to add to Abraham’s confusion. He seems to be grappling with his own sense of guilt and dissatisfaction. When he’s confronted by Holly about his relationship with Rosita, he’s unexpectedly vulnerable, revealing that he feels guilty about his past actions. While he admits to longing for Holly during his time with Rosita, it’s clear that Abraham’s confusion extends beyond just romantic feelings. His internal battle between duty, guilt, and desire is starkly portrayed, and his interactions with Holly and Rosita serve to highlight the emotional cost of living in such a brutal world.

The scene with Holly is particularly intense. Abraham’s outburst, where he tells her he feels guilty for his feelings of relief, is loaded with emotional complexity. His acknowledgment that he feels pity for Rosita but is simultaneously drawn to Holly is reflective of the moral ambiguity that defines the series. Abraham, like Rick, is haunted by his own actions and emotions, and it’s clear that he’s struggling to reconcile his past with his present.

The Alexandria Safe-Zone remains a central focus, and in this issue, we see both the strengths and weaknesses of the community. While there is some optimism regarding Carl’s recovery, the group is still reeling from the aftereffects of past traumas. Abraham’s leadership is challenged when Nicholas, a new member of the group, expresses discontent with how things are being handled. Nicholas is still under the misguided belief that life was better before Rick’s group arrived, and his naivety is frustrating, especially when he dismisses Rick’s protective nature. Nicholas’s inability to understand Rick’s role in keeping everyone alive and safe only underscores the distance between Rick and the others.

Abraham and Nicholas have a tense exchange, with Heath acting as the mediator. Heath, though more pragmatic, understands that Rick’s actions, including taking the gun and dealing with the scavengers, were necessary for the survival of everyone. However, Nicholas seems to have a narrow view of things, and his failure to grasp the gravity of Rick’s decisions is a clear source of tension.

Meanwhile, Olivia informs Rick that the food supply is dwindling, and with winter approaching, the need for a scavenging mission is urgent. Rick’s decision to send Heath, rather than Glenn, on the mission is indicative of his protective nature. Rick’s growing concern for his group is clear, and his leadership is continually tested, as he must make difficult decisions to ensure their survival. This issue brings to the forefront the logistical challenges of life in the Safe-Zone, where resources are running low and the weight of leadership is heavy on Rick’s shoulders.

The issue concludes with Carl waking up, much to the relief of Rick and the others. However, Carl’s first words—“Where’s Mom?”—add a layer of complexity to the situation. Carl’s recovery is a hopeful moment, but his question hints at the emotional toll that the events have taken on him. Is Carl suffering from memory loss? Does he not remember Lori’s death, or is he still processing the trauma of losing her? This lingering uncertainty adds an unsettling note to what should be a moment of pure joy. It’s a poignant reminder that, even in recovery, the scars of the past are never fully erased, and the trauma of the world they live in lingers just beneath the surface.

This issue highlights the complex emotional dynamics of the group as they continue to struggle with their individual guilt, fears, and desires. Rick, Andrea, and Abraham are all facing significant emotional challenges, and the issue does a fantastic job of exploring how their pasts and internal conflicts shape their actions and interactions with others. The guilt Rick feels over Lori and Judith’s deaths is a constant weight, and it’s clear that, no matter how much he tries to move forward, the ghosts of his past will always haunt him.

Abraham’s storyline is especially compelling, as it delves into the emotional cost of living in a brutal world. His struggles with his feelings for Rosita and Holly show the complexity of human relationships in a post-apocalyptic world. He is caught between duty, guilt, and desire, and it’s clear that he’s wrestling with his own sense of identity and morality.

Nicholas’s naivety is frustrating, but it’s also a reflection of the larger issue at play in the Safe-Zone: the tension between those who are still holding onto a pre-apocalypse mindset and those, like Rick, who have been shaped by the brutal realities of survival.

Carl’s recovery is a bittersweet moment, as it’s clear that while he may physically recover, the emotional scars of the world they live in are far from healed. His question about his mother is a powerful reminder of the emotional toll this world takes on its inhabitants.

The Walking Dead Issue #87 is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. It doesn’t just explore the physical dangers of the world, but delves deep into the psychological toll it takes on its characters. The issue expertly balances moments of hope with crushing guilt, and the complex relationships between the characters make for an engrossing read. Rick’s leadership is continually tested, and his internal struggles add a rich layer to the story. The issue ends on a note of uncertainty, leaving readers eager to see what comes next for Carl and the rest of the group.

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The Walking Dead: Small Bites Issue #17 offers a darkly comedic glimpse into the psyche of Rick as he navigates the wreckage of his son’s room. Rick, now desperate for a connection with Carl, finds himself confronted by the mess and chaos Carl has left behind, including strange, vandalized photographs. It’s a deeply personal moment for Rick, one that illustrates his attempts to make sense of the wreckage of his son’s mind.

While Rick wishes for Carl to recover so they can rebuild their relationship, he’s dismayed by the bizarre and unsettling display of Carl’s belongings. This scene is an interesting one because it contrasts the tension and seriousness of the main series with a moment of levity and absurdity. Carl’s vandalism and strange items provide a quirky but honest portrayal of a young boy struggling with the trauma of the world they live in.

Every issue of Small Bites is a little off-kilter, and Issue #17 is no exception. It offers a glimpse into Rick’s state of mind, filled with dark humor and frustration. The juxtaposition of Rick’s desire to reconnect with Carl and his bewilderment at the mess Carl has left behind is both funny and poignant. The series as a whole doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I appreciate how it adds a unique flavor to the larger *Walking Dead* universe. It’s unhinged and unpredictable, and I can’t help but enjoy the ride.

[Tosca Wijns-Van Eeden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alexandria starts on rebuilding the walls, and tension about Rick's leadership starts to arise.
Love relations are also very tense and on edge. Though I do hate how most of the women in this group are portrayed as weak and needy of men protecting them. Grateful they changed this in the tv-show!!!

And Carl wakes up from his coma.

[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 😻🤩🧟‍♂️🔥🔫

[Ehab Fathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome back my dear son
welcome back Carl

[Dannuel Delizo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carl's brain was shocked. Memory loss is normal.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

coral, your mom died you dumb cunt ayyy lmao