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He has gone too far.

24 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2011

5 people are currently reading
155 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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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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 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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December 2, 2024
In Issue #89 of The Walking Dead, we continue to see the emotional and physical toll that the apocalypse has taken on the characters, especially Rick and Carl. The issue dives deeper into the tension and power struggles within the Alexandria Safe-Zone, showcasing the fracturing relationships between the Alexandrians and Rick's group. Nicholas continues to be a major antagonist, while Rick’s emotional vulnerabilities come to the forefront as he grapples with his son’s condition and the weight of leadership.

The issue opens with a heated conversation between Olivia, Nicholas, and Glenn. Nicholas expresses his disdain for Rick’s leadership, accusing him of leading the group to ruin. His paranoia reaches new levels as he insists that Rick will eventually turn on them, claiming that Rick would kill anyone who doesn’t obey his commands. Glenn overhears the conversation and is visibly troubled, especially as Nicholas, Olivia, and the others look at him as if he were part of their problem. This sets the stage for further conflict between the groups as Nicholas's conspiracy against Rick begins to unravel.

Andrea finds Rick in a vulnerable moment, hunched over and crying. The weight of leadership is beginning to break him. He confesses to Andrea that the stress and responsibility of keeping everyone safe have started to overwhelm him. While he brushes it off as just a phase, Andrea sees through his façade. Rick is more worried about Carl, his son, who has been emotionally distant and seemingly unaffected by the tragedies they’ve all experienced. It’s heart-wrenching to see Rick’s internal struggle, as he realizes that Carl, the little boy he once knew, may no longer be the same person. The lack of grief, the emotional numbness, makes Rick fear that Carl might be “too strong to grieve,” and in doing so, he might have lost the very essence of who he was.

The story also presents Glenn and Nicholas's escalating confrontation. Glenn tries to mediate the situation, urging everyone to stay united, but Nicholas, filled with growing resentment, attacks him. The fight escalates quickly, with Nicholas aiming a gun at Glenn, though Glenn manages to escape with a well-timed punch to the groin. The animosity between them is palpable, and it highlights the dangerous influence Nicholas has over the other members of the community. Despite being a part of the Alexandrian group, Nicholas is consumed by envy and fear, unable to see that Rick’s leadership is what has kept them alive for this long.

Meanwhile, Rick and his team, including Aaron and Abraham, return from their scavenging mission. Though they didn’t find much, the journey allowed Rick to get a better sense of the area around the Safe-Zone. He expresses frustration at how poorly Alexandria has been prepared for the outside world, questioning why they hadn’t already started barricading the streets with cars. Rick’s frustrations continue to mount, but there’s a flicker of hope that they might be able to fortify the area and better prepare for the challenges ahead.

The issue culminates in a climactic showdown at the Safe-Zone. Glenn bursts into the house, urging Maggie to arm herself as Nicholas follows closely behind. The tense confrontation builds as Nicholas insists that they need to “take Alexandria back,” claiming that Rick and his group are leading them to disaster. The drama reaches its peak when Glenn and Nicholas point guns at each other, with the fate of the Safe-Zone hanging in the balance. Just as things are about to boil over, Rick arrives on the scene, demanding answers. Nicholas, clearly rattled, makes the bold claim that he’s taking the place back from Rick, Andrea, Michonne, Abraham, and Glenn. It’s a moment of sheer audacity and delusion, as Nicholas fails to recognize the leadership and sacrifice that Rick and his group have displayed since the beginning.

This issue truly delves deep into the emotional struggles of Rick and his group. Rick, once a symbol of unshakable resolve, is now broken, revealing just how much the weight of responsibility has affected him. His vulnerability, particularly his emotional breakdown with Andrea, adds a layer of depth to his character that is often overshadowed by his tough exterior. The tension between Rick and Carl is also heartbreaking to witness. Carl, who has witnessed so much loss and suffering, seems to have shut down emotionally, leaving Rick feeling like he’s lost his son in a way that’s even more devastating than death.

Nicholas’s actions, on the other hand, continue to infuriate me. His jealousy and fear have twisted his perception of Rick’s leadership, and he’s blind to the reality that Rick has kept everyone alive through sheer will and experience. Nicholas seems to think that by taking control, he can somehow lead the group to a better future, but it’s clear he’s driven by self-interest and envy rather than a genuine desire to protect others. His actions are fueled by a dangerous mixture of arrogance and fear, and it’s frustrating to see him, once again, putting everyone at risk for his own gain.

I can’t help but feel sorry for Glenn in this issue. He’s the one trying to hold the group together, trying to be the peacemaker in the face of all this chaos. But it’s clear that the cracks in Alexandria’s foundation are widening, and there’s only so much Glenn can do to stop them from falling apart. His willingness to protect Maggie and their family at any cost is a testament to his character, but I fear that the situation is spiraling out of control faster than anyone can handle.

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

In Small Bites Issue #19, Carl is depicted in a bizarre and darkly humorous light. The issue opens with Carl, walking through Alexandria, wearing Ron’s face. It’s a grotesque and macabre sight, one that highlights Carl’s mental state following his coma. His friends are understandably disturbed, chastising him for his choice of mask, but Carl is unfazed. He claims that the reason he wore Ron’s face was because his own eye hole was too gross, a bizarre defense that serves to underscore his fractured mental state.

When Carl removes the face, his friends are horrified, but Carl’s detached, almost nonchalant attitude only adds to the sense that he’s not fully aware of the gravity of his actions. Andrea, in a rare moment of concern, suggests to Rick that Carl might be going crazy. Rick, in an unexpected moment of emotional release, finally admits that he is tired of pretending that Carl is okay. His own vulnerability, displayed in the form of tears, further emphasizes how much he’s been holding in. It’s a touching moment that shows Rick’s deep concern for his son, but it’s also deeply unsettling. Carl’s behavior, while disturbing, is his way of coping with everything that’s happened. And Rick, in his own way, is just as broken as Carl, unsure of how to help him.

Nicholas, of course, adds another layer of tension with his usual paranoia and bitterness. His criticisms of Rick are relentless, and his attempts to undermine him only serve to show how deeply his envy runs. Nicholas’s accusations that Rick is a psycho feel misplaced and hollow in comparison to the real emotional struggles that Rick and Carl are facing.

This issue presents Carl in a strange light, a stark contrast to the brave, strong boy he once was. His actions here, though darkly comedic in their absurdity, are a cry for help. It’s clear that Carl’s coping mechanisms are deeply disturbed, but in the context of the world they live in, it’s a raw and honest depiction of how a child might process such trauma. Carl’s behavior is a manifestation of his grief, confusion, and loss, and while it’s uncomfortable, it’s also heartbreakingly realistic.

Rick’s emotional breakdown, on the other hand, was a powerful and much-needed moment of vulnerability. It’s rare that we see him express his feelings so openly, and it really helps humanize his character. For so long, Rick has been the leader, the protector, the one who holds it all together, but this issue shows that even he is cracking under the pressure. It’s a poignant reminder that, despite his strength, Rick is still just a man, and his son’s emotional distance is perhaps the hardest thing he’s had to face.

As for Nicholas, his constant undermining of Rick and his group only serves to weaken his position. His delusion that he could lead Alexandria better than Rick is laughable, and his increasingly erratic behavior puts everyone at risk. His paranoia and jealousy are his downfall, and it’s frustrating to watch him continually make things worse for everyone around him.

The Walking Dead continues to explore the emotional and psychological impact of the apocalypse on its characters. This issue offers a deep dive into the complicated relationship between Rick and Carl, with both characters struggling to cope with the fallout of their past decisions. Meanwhile, the growing tension with Nicholas and his attempts to undermine Rick’s leadership add an element of danger that threatens to unravel the fragile peace in Alexandria. It’s a compelling issue that focuses on the internal struggles of its characters, setting the stage for even more intense conflict ahead.
Profile Image for Kelsie.
296 reviews24 followers
December 31, 2021
Nicholas, Olivia and (I don't know who it is, Spencer? - damn, with their hoods up I can't tell the male characters apart) some other fella want to kill Rick. Yeah these three ain't the brightest bulbs in the box.
Crying is healthy Rick, let it all out, don't let toxic masculinity drive you into the ground.
Okay, no punching Glenn, not allowed. Nicholas is practically the new Shane at this point. He's insane.
x
Profile Image for Laina.
237 reviews2 followers
May 19, 2016
I think Nicholas and anyone who follows him, is stupid as fuck. Especially if they think that Rick's just going to let them kill him, and him go down without a fight. Rick's nothing like that.

Oh shit. I hate that Glenn walked upon Nicholas and his cronies as they were talking about trying to kill Rick. Now I'm pretty fucking sure they're going to try and kill Glenn to keep him from telling Rick.

I like the conversation between Rick and Andrea. I think Andrea and Abraham are going to end up being Rick's best friends. I feel like he just has such a good bond with both of them.

The conversations that Rick and Andrea have, always leave me thinking things I never thought of before. I can understand how Rick's so scared of losing his son, but he's going to have to accept that after everything Carl's been though, he's technically not a little boy anymore.

Nicholas is fucking insane. He acts like he's better than everyone else, when he'd be doing a lot worse if he were in charge. And then going postal when Glenn pulled a gun on him? Fuck that. If I were Glenn, I'd have pulled a gun on the psycho, too.

Did Glenn just punch Nicholas in the nuts? I think he did if I interpreted the pictures correctly. Ha! That's fucking awesome. Good, now run Glenn. Run like hell and get a gun, because I know Nicholas isn't going to give up so easily.

I'm glad that Aaron and Rick were talking about making Alexandria more safe, and adding another line of defense against the zombies and against any possible attacks from other groups.

I must be weird, because seriously? I NEVER get tired of seeing Abraham or Michonne kill zombies. In fact, I wish that it happened more often. Like every few pages or so in the comic.

I'm glad that they found some clothes and I hope they can go back to get them soon. Even if the clothes aren't the right sizes, I'm sure someone knows how to work a sewing machine and can fix them up.

I'm glad that Glenn told Maggie to lock herself and Sophia in the bathroom, to hide from Nicholas and his cronies. There's no telling what he'd do if he saw them in the house with Glenn.

Really Nicholas? Because it seems to me that you're the only one who's NOT thinking clearly. You're stupid as fuck if you think you can take down Rick and his group. You're a wuss and you're just flat out NOT STRONG ENOUGH.

Nicholas, how the hell do you think you're going to take out every single person in Alexandria if they don't do what YOU want? Them versus you, isn't going to end well for you. You're outnumbered, asshole.

I'm glad that Glenn was able to get a gun to put in Nicholas's face, to let the other man know he wasn't going to take his shit or his threats. Also, I'm glad that Rick and the others got there. They got back just in time.

What can I say? I love Rick. I love that he challenged Nicholas and put the asshole in his place. If that moron wants to take on Glenn, Abraham, Michonne, Andrea and Rick, then he can go ahead and try. But he'd lose, badly.
Profile Image for gökçen.
30 reviews
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November 26, 2015
Sonundaki rick'in gideriyle, rick'in tekrar kalbimde taht kurması kaçınılmaz oldu.
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