The Walking Dead #82: “No Time Bullets Here”

SPOILER ALERT! This is an overview/review of the most recent issue of The Walking Dead. There will most likely be story and plot spoilers so if you haven’t read it yet, and don’t want it spoiled, then bookmark this page, read the issue and come back to read and discuss this article. Thank you.

THE WALKING DEAD #82
Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Charlie Adlard
Published by: Image
Cover price: $2.99

NO WAY OUT continues!

It’s an all out zombie assault! Our group has been separated, many are missing and there is apparently no escape this time!

This is the part of the saga that DOES feel like a zombie movie! The community is being overrun by walkers and there is seemingly no way to stop them. Rick  and Morgan are attacked and, as seen last issue, Morgan gets bitten. Knowing there is a slim chance to save him he tells the arriving Michonne what happened and that the only way to possibly save him is to remove the arm. She has her trusty sword with her and handles the situation. As they retreat to get some aid for Morgan, Abraham and some of the others arrive to try to stem the tide of the undead.

Meanwhile, all Glenn, Andrea, Heath and Spencer can do is watch a swarm of zombies overtake their home. They have no way of knowing if anyone is alright and Glenn realizes it’s never been this bad. “I don’t see my life after this” he says, “I’m not going to survive this. I know it.”  This shows the impact of how bad this situation is. Glenn has survived since the very beginning and has rarely shown doubt or ever expressed that he’s going to die.

While this is going on, Morgan and Carl have a very interesting conversation. It seems Carl hasn’t gotten much ‘screen time’ lately, but this exchange between the two really gives us a feel of how much Carl has grown since the series began. He’s still a kid but he’s strong and is willing to do what it takes to ensure the survival of himself and those he cares about. Yes, he’s killed before. Twice by my count.

So, with walkers roaming the once safe streets of the community and the group effectively separated and fighting to survive as they have never before…where does that leave us? The answer is simple: Find a way out and run like hell. Rick decides, for his part, to leave as fast as possible then figure out a way to find any survivors. He’s back in ‘leader mode’ now, and a leader knows that sometimes you have to make the hardest choices a man can make. Even if it puts children at risk.

After so many issues of our friends becoming used to a ‘normal’ life having the threat of the zombies thrown at them so hard and fast makes this feel like an event, something you’d get from Marvel or DC Comics. It really is on that level. Only, in this book, if anyone dies they will never come back to life. No Time Bullets here.

Robert Kirkman has really turned up the volume for this story and it really is an edge of your seat event. The man is a zombie writing genius. Seriously, think about it: This is a book that takes place AFTER most zombie stories end. It’s been going since 2003 and has 81 issues to show for it. For all the talk recently about ‘diversity’ in comics, this shows that, yes, you CAN have a series with human characters and no flying men or shapeshifters. It isn’t easy but it can be done. It also can’t be forced. This series doesn’t try to be more than what it is. As its popularity grew over the last near decade, it didn’t add anything spectacular, it just kept doing what it does. It has to be said however that one of the factors of its continued, and growing, success has to be the art. Charlie Adlard has proven to be a great artist, carrying on from the standard set by Tony Moore.

Another great issue and a great way to compliment last week’s release of AMC’s The Walking Dead Season 1 on DVD and Blu-Ray!