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With a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, Rick and crew seem to have finally gotten the opportunity to relax in this apocalyptic zombie hell-hole they call home. But now that their guard is down, disaster strikes, and Rick finds himself in a position no father or husband should be.

32 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

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About the author

Robert Kirkman

2,621 books7,158 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
504 (47%)
4 stars
395 (37%)
3 stars
152 (14%)
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11 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Jon Nakapalau.
6,809 reviews1,066 followers
October 28, 2024
This issue was a gut punch - things fall apart so fast - really intense. I find myself thinking tactically when reading TWD: splitting up into 'teams' was a bad idea; Rick needs to focus on core competencies when they recon a new area. Members of the group should have been loading the RV up with some of the canned food they had found! Real shocker of an ending!
Profile Image for Chris Greensmith.
1,013 reviews12 followers
February 22, 2021
"If you see anything, fire a shot, we'll be back here as soon as we can."
We moved on from Wiltshire Estate a bit quicker than I'd have liked, but we went from that disaster right into the lap of another....... how many bullets has that boy taken?
Profile Image for Meegz Reads.
1,550 reviews132 followers
February 12, 2016
Um, whoa. That ending. Curious to see how it continues ...
Profile Image for Paulina ෂ.
834 reviews
June 18, 2026
[3,5]

Nos fuimos de Wiltshire más pronto de lo que me hubiera gustado, pero la buena dosis de zombies no faltaron. Ahora tomando la vida de Donna y con un muy estúpido Allen que a pesar todas las advertencias dispara el arma, ocasionando que se vean rodeados por hordas de caminantes en segundos. Aunque apenas logran escapar con vida, es el final de este número lo que me deja en shock. Le han disparado a Carl y no sé qué más puedo esperar al ver lo mucho, pero muuuuchooo que cambia la historia dependiendo el medio.
Profile Image for benita.
689 reviews65 followers
August 12, 2024
After a safe and good nights sleep in issue #9 they spread out and search the other properties to see if there are any unwanted guests there. They also reflect on life, how Carl may not grow up to remember the world before the zombies, and also their unborn baby that will never know what it was like. Danger ensues🧟‍♂️💪🔫 As always, the comics are easy to read and the story is uncomplicated to follow✌️
Happy reading!♥️
Profile Image for Regina Hunter.
Author 6 books57 followers
May 13, 2018
I feel that if they've cared enough, they would have taken the town from zombies. Lock the gate and cut them down.
Profile Image for Garth.
1,390 reviews
January 31, 2026
2026 - 365 Days of Whatever Is On My Comic Book TBR
Day 31
Profile Image for zach.
669 reviews
August 19, 2026
Dropping like flies. I won’t be surprised if over half of them are dead in the next 20 issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2024
Issue #9 of The Walking Dead shifts from a brief moment of hope to absolute chaos, intensifying both the emotional drama and the survivalist action. The idea of Wiltshire Estates as a safe haven is immediately shattered when the group discovers the hidden truth about its dangers. This issue stands out for its mixture of tension and heartbreak, amplified by the sudden loss of Donna and the emotional toll it takes on Allen.

One of the most powerful and heart-wrenching moments in the issue is Allen's devastation after Donna's death. His desire to stay with her, despite knowing she's gone, showcases the weight of grief in this post-apocalyptic world. Rick's role here is also significant—he convinces Allen to focus on his kids, urging him to prioritize their survival even as he wrestles with his own loss. It's a poignant reminder of the relentless choices that survivors have to make in this new world.

The chaotic action scenes, particularly in Wiltshire Estates, highlight the raw danger that the group faces. The sheer pandemonium of fighting off walkers and trying to escape adds a layer of intensity to the issue. While the TV adaptation of *The Walking Dead* has its differences, I found the comic's portrayal of Otis accidentally shooting Carl more grounded in its simplicity. The comic version feels more realistic to me—Otis, in a moment of panic, mistakes Rick's group for walkers, a mistake that could easily happen in a world of constant fear. This version contrasts with the TV adaptation's scene where Otis accidentally shoots Carl through a deer. I appreciate the comic's focus on the grim, immediate reality, though I also liked the TV version for Carl's reflection on life.

The pace of this issue was relentless, and by the time Carl is shot, the emotional and physical exhaustion of the characters is palpable. Carl's injury, especially, takes the story to an even darker place, and Rick's reaction is a mix of horror and fury that resonates deeply. This is one of the first moments where Rick is pushed to the brink, showing just how fragile his sense of control can be in this world.

The issue opens on a quiet note, with Rick waking up in Wiltshire Estates. The group has taken refuge in this seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood, and for a brief moment, there’s hope. Lori and Rick discuss Carl, who has been deeply affected by the recent deaths of Amy, Shane, and Jim. Lori laments that their unborn child will never know the world as it once was, and she wonders if Carl will ever get to experience the normal milestones of life, like driving or going on a date. It’s a somber reflection on the future that seems impossible in their current world.

Meanwhile, there's a tender moment between Carol and Tyreese, hinting at the growing bond between the two. At the same time, Donna contemplates Dale and Andrea’s relationship, drawing a sense of hope from seeing them find comfort in each other, even in the face of loss.

However, the calm is short-lived. As the group prepares to search the homes for supplies, Rick stumbles upon a sign buried in the snow that reads: "ALL DEAD DO NOT ENTER." This warning comes too late, as Donna is attacked by a walker while exploring one of the houses. Her sudden and brutal death is a devastating blow, and it sends the group into chaos. Allen’s reaction is heart-wrenching as he begs the walkers to leave her alone, firing his gun in a futile attempt to save her. His raw grief is palpable, and Tyreese has to physically pull him away from the scene.

Rick quickly orders the group to retreat, but Allen is nearly broken by his loss and wants to stay with Donna’s body. In one of Rick's most emotional moments in the comic so far, he urges Allen to think of his children, pulling him back from the brink of giving up completely. It’s a tense and sorrowful exchange, highlighting the weight of responsibility that survivors like Rick and Allen bear.

As they make their escape, Rick and Tyreese face more danger. Tyreese discovers Julie and Chris in an intimate moment and orders them to get dressed as they prepare to flee the zombie-filled building. The group’s escape is thrilling, with Rick and the others leaping onto the RV as it plows through the undead. The sheer panic and adrenaline of the moment are palpable, making it one of the most intense sequences in the issue.

After their narrow escape, the group is left shaken, and Allen is inconsolable over the loss of Donna. The twins, Billy and Ben, ask about their mother, and Allen’s tearful confession that she’s gone is a painful moment that underscores the high emotional stakes of the series. Rick, ever the leader, tries to comfort him, but the enormity of Allen’s grief is too much for any words to truly soothe.

Later, Rick, Tyreese, and Glenn set out to search for food, but they come up empty-handed, further emphasizing the harshness of their reality. Meanwhile, Carl insists on joining the group in their hunt, showing the growth of his character as he becomes more involved in the group’s survival efforts. Rick, however, remains protective, reminding Carl not to shoot unless instructed.

Just when things seem to calm down, disaster strikes again. As they search the woods, Carl is shot. The shooter, Otis, appears horrified by what he’s done, claiming it was an accident. Rick’s response is one of pure anguish and rage—his immediate reaction is to point his gun at Otis, threatening to kill him. The issue ends on this emotionally charged cliffhanger, leaving readers desperate to know Carl’s fate.

Issue #9 perfectly balances emotional depth with heart-pounding action. The loss of Donna, the near-destruction of the group’s hope for safety, and the shocking injury to Carl create a gripping narrative that feels both tragic and relentless. Rick’s growing leadership is put to the test, and the toll of constant loss is clearly wearing on the group. This issue, in particular, serves as a reminder that no place is truly safe in this world, and that death can come at any moment. The combination of raw emotional moments and tense action makes this one of the standout issues of the series so far.
Profile Image for Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile.
2,497 reviews956 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 Ashley.
493 reviews73 followers
November 25, 2015
Given the cliffhanger last issue I thought I'd like this one better but I didn't. I think more people should have died than the character who did. Interested to see what happens now that Carl is shot and I liked how it was different than the tv show version of it.
Profile Image for Michael Sorbello.
Author 2 books324 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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Profile Image for John.
451 reviews7 followers
July 24, 2015
This was one was good also. I really liked the cover on this comic. It was neat to see the housing development they went into was the same one that Phil and Brian left in the first Governor book.
Profile Image for Agung Wicaksono.
1,133 reviews18 followers
March 14, 2023
Tempat yang awalnya dirasa cocok untuk dijadikan pengungsian selanjutnya, ternyata tidak sesuai yang diharapkan. Ketika Rick sedang menjelajah untuk memeriksa keadaan, ia menemukan tulisan dilarang masuk karena ada banyak zombie di tempat itu. Namun, keadaan sudah terlambat ketika salah satu pengungsi tiba-tiba diserang oleh para zombie. Suara letusan tembakan yang diarahkan ke para zombie malah membuat makhluk tersebut semakin banyak. Dengan rasa panik, Rick dkk. masuk kembali ke dalam mobil van untuk kabur dari sana.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for No_One.
294 reviews
July 17, 2024
Similar to Invincible’s pacing throughout, this issue moved at a brisk pace, and honestly it worked. Kirkman does this, move plot along rather quickly, but here it served the story well, whereas in Invincible, sometimes I felt like he could have taken his time.

I actually like that they moved on from Wilshire Estates rather fast. If this were the show, they’d have spent a whole season there and had various firefights with enemy factions.

Anyway, damn, how quickly things can fall apart in this universe. But hey, these are humans just trying to survive. And they’re far from perfect.

Profile Image for Vitor Dantas.
111 reviews
December 30, 2025
Melhor do que os outros dois,mas ainda falta algo.

Não tô conseguindo sentir muita emoção com as coisas que acontecem aqui.

Fiquei mais triste pelos filhos da Donna do que por ela em si.

O final foi bem parecido com o final do episódio 1 da 2ª temporada da série,mas com o Tyreese no lugar do Shane.
Profile Image for XenagabHeiclaforever.
293 reviews
March 11, 2018
Ya la cosa comienza a ponerse intensa a partir de este tomo. Realmente tenían razón cuando me dijeron que cada tomo es más intenso. Joder lo de la ciudad ha sido todo así de repente y rápido.

¡Pobre Allen!
Profile Image for Kelsie.
298 reviews24 followers
September 5, 2018
Well that 'safe haven' wasn't safe at all; zombies for daaaays.
Didn't really care for Donna so no loss for me.
Then boom! Carl got shot. Do I see Hershel's farm in the future? With Hershel's infinite ammo? I hope so.
Carol & Tyreese are my OTP now. Get it girl.
x
Profile Image for Melanie.
2,928 reviews14 followers
January 15, 2019
I cannot find my old Shelfari review for Issue #9. I would not have skipped it. Seeing that Carl was shot I'm thinking it was very similar to the tv series, and enjoyed.
Profile Image for Lewys.
95 reviews2 followers
September 16, 2024
Casi se me olvida, que leí esto en un ratillo que tenía así libre. A ver si lo retomo y le doy más continuidad. Vivan los zombies!
Profile Image for M. Ashraf.
2,456 reviews131 followers
February 16, 2025
The Walking Dead
Issue#09
Volume#02
Robert Kirkman

Clearing the estate from Zombies
"ALL DEAD DO NOT ENTER"
Donna gets bitten
Carl is shot
And we meet Otis for the first time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews