Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Walking Dead #143
Image Comics
Kirkman, Adlard, Gaudiano & Rathburn
"Walking Dead" rolls on with another set-up issue as the tension mounts. This comic presents a fantastic cliffhanger as the level of danger that the Whisperers represent is revealed. The comic stumbles a little bit through the dialogue but is generally a sharp comic book. This is another fairly strong issue in a strong series.
The book opens with some scenes from the fair. This basically allows some plot lines to see some daylight here and there but don't really help this issue along any. Alpha, the leader of the Whisperers, doesn't appear to do much while attending the fair.
The comic picks up when Rick and friends find the Whisperers. Rick immediately goes into tough-guy-mode but this doesn't seem to phase anyone. They aren't as glib about it as Negan had been but they definitely take Rick as someone that is in over his head. To be fair, he is presented that way and it seems to fit nicely. Rick then gets a nice surprise at the end of the comic book as he sees how serious the Whisperers are.
The book trips up in a couple of places. It is never clear whether the Whisperers are keeping Rick or Carl prisoner. Rick seems to believe they are both prisoner, Carl seems to act like he is not, Alpha doesn't really say one way or the other. Another confusing aspect of the issue is Carl's reaction to Alpha not being around. He needs to be restrained. Is that a reasonable reaction to not seeing someone for a day or a half a day? How can he assume, to this level of anger, that she is endangering his people? How can he assume she's even left the camp? It seems like better steps could have been taken to explain this logic.
Adlard delivers a solid issue on artwork. He's got one or two fantastic pages in the comic and he has one or two where he seems to let some details slide somewhat. Overall the comic book looks great and there are plenty of pages that pack in the tension and emotion. It's just another walk in the park for Adlard on art.
"Walking Dead" is driving towards a big issue. This is still just setting things up for that big issue but there is a nice cliffhanger to keep the reader coming back for more. The book struggles in some of the dialogue as it appears Kirkman allows for the characters to make assumptions that leave the reader to decide how they arrived at them. The comic book packs in some drama but doesn't put the reader on the edge of their seat. This is a good read, but an average "Walking Dead" read. Give it a look.
3.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
