I’m late in reporting on the latest issue of The Walking Dead. My apologies. However, let me tell you I had huge goosebumps this issue. I was thrilled. Be it baby steps, there has been movement in our story!
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
At the end of issue #113, Rick was sure that Andrea was dead. Negan was doing his thing again (being a jerk). And, as a reader, I was getting dizzy from this constant circle we’d been walking in. As issue #114 opened, I was convinced we were still walking. That is, until good ol’ Shiva jumped into frame. YES! Remember how Rick wasn’t sure that Negan had backup? Well, he did — and with a body falling from the sniper tower and Negan’s grip on him, it seemed that the gang was screwed. That is until Ezekiel’s tiger appears and saves them from Negan’s Saviors this issue. The bad guys retreat and, well, while that fun lasted a few pages, we sort of start wandering around again.
Rick has a heart to heart with Carl about his bravery in taking a shot at Negan. Despite this proving Carl’s potential, Rick says he must stay when they go to attack the Saviors. Carl is NOT happy, yet he understands. He makes Rick promise he will kill Negan this time. And Rick does.
Jesus then has his own heart to heart with Rick, telling him as great as Ezekiel is, Rick is the true leader. This is big. I’m afraid of what Ezekiel might think if he heard this. Jesus more or less states that Rick is their true king and savior. He is the one they are meant to follow. This exchange is powerful, yet I feel it is almost a premonition of more meandering storyline. And that, as we know, bothers me. We can’t have full action all of the time, but it seems that when we do get momentum in the series, we tend to immediately hit the brakes. Shiva attacking had me yelling “Finally!!!” And while we had that brief goosebump-filled moment, we sort of stopped short.
Again, we are just building up to the next confrontation, but the confrontations need to pan out. No more mini fights and retreating. The Walking Dead needs to push beyond this. We need to get going with Rick Vs. Negan. Hopefully #115 will be filled with action, not just bits and pieces, even as powerful as they can be, as this issue ends with Negan telling his group they’re going to war. Let’s just hope this indeed happens quickly.
