Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Walking Dead #100
Image Comics
Kirkman, Adlard & Rathburn
The highly hyped anniversary issue is here and does not disappoint one bit. This series has been all about characters and the horrible things they do to each other during awful times and this issue is one of those moments. In many cases, anniversary issues are either a celebration of a title's history or the culmination of a big story arc. This is neither as it seems to fall right in the middle of an enormous story thread. What this issue does provide is a new low point for the survivor's to pull themselves out of. The aspect that makes this issue so good is the horrific brutality. If this is your first issue of The Walking Dead then your threshold is going to be tested immediately. This issue simply had my heart racing throughout and I was left wanting more. This, to me, is the sign of a great comic book.
Let's face facts; this comic book excels at killing off beloved characters. This issue presents a tense standoff between some of Rick's survivors and a group of nasty bad guys. Basically, one of the main characters is going to die as Kirkman throws the reader on the edge of their seat as the bad guys decide, out loud, which it will be. This also allows the reader to feel some of the pain that the entire group is going through, knowing one of them will be dead. It also allows a good-bye of sorts that we did not get for so many of the others that have died in this series.
However, that tension is only a piece of the equation in this issue. The reader's resolve is then tested as Adlard cuts loose on one of the most graphic and grotesque beatings this book has ever had. Adlard has been on a three week schedule for a while to get this issue out in time for the San Diego Comic Con and some of the details have been getting lost in the shuffle. Adlard does not skimp during the death sequence. Some of the panel's details are simply vomit-inducing as one of the characters is turned into a pile of mush that looks like a human turned inside out. It is amazing Adlard can sleep at night.
The obvious point out of this story is to hammer home exactly how badly Rick has failed the group. His carelessness and bravado have cost the group dearly and things appear to on the way to getting worse. Rick seemed to be on a path to that of the Governor, but he failed much quicker and perhaps just as badly as the Governor.
The issue isn't without some plot oddities. For example, the coordination of the pending attack on the compound seems to be certain, so why was this band of people out there on the road? Were they waiting to be summoned? The other strange point is how quickly Rick and company got lost on the road back to Jesus. How is it that this happened? Details like this serve the story but don't really add up when you take into account the characters involved.
Walking Dead is the best book on the stands. It deserves all of the attention it has been getting. Five years ago I never thought I would see issue one-hundred, and yet, here it is. This may not be the best issue of the series but it is in the top five. Just be prepared for some shocking scenes and some seat-of-your-pants tension. This is worth your trip to your store today.
5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
