The Walking Dead #109

On it's own most if this issue is an interlude from the violence and gives us some insight on characters that haven't been in the limelight for a few issues. I hope the pacing doesn't throw off the singles readers and I'm sure in trade form this issue will whip right by because, guess what? Kirkman gives you another cliffhanger. KIIIIIRRRKMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAN! Read Full Review

Depending on who you are, Clint Barton's love life is either a dream or a curse. Read Full Review

As with recent issues, the artwork suffers from a relative lack of clarity and muddled contrast in the ink washes. Close-up shots of characters tend to look fine, but wider shots see them devolve into flat silhouettes with vague details. Hopefully this recent trend will reverse as the fight against Negan picks up steam. Read Full Review

It's been a while since this story arc got rolling and things look like a conclusion is around the corner. Expect sparks to fly and I'm not sure everyone is making it out alive. The Walking Dead is 109 issues long at this point and as good as its ever been. Read Full Review

Art is nice, the thick lines and black and white we’ve come to know and love setting an appropriate tone for the book, close-ups and shadows are used well making what is essentially a book mostly consisting of conversations interesting. Characterization is well done as always and, just like the show its exciting when we get to fly across the map and visit a character we like. It’s all very commendable and well done. The Walking Dead is so popular for a reason, and this is a solid issue. Now give me the trade paper back and leave me alone. Read Full Review

Now that it seems as all the players are in place and in the know I hope the series moves at a brisker pace with more actions and more consequences. Frustration with Rick was intentional but the fight with Negan needs to happen soon for readers and the characters not to become complacent. All in all a solid issue as always. Read Full Review

Aside from the amazing conversations, characters, and plots that The Walking Dead continues to turn out, one thing that needs mentioned is the art. Adlard has always been solid in his art delivering exactly what the reader needed visually to drive Kirkmans brilliant writing home. One change that has been subtle but also a leaps and bounds improvement is that of Cliff Rathburns gray tones. Oddly Rathburn has been doing gray tones for a long time with the series, but recently it feels like his tones have gotten considerably better. Post compendium #2 the issues seem to have better shading and added depth to characters faces. Night scenes are conveyed much more efficiently as of late too. Perhaps Rathburn has been allowed more liberties with his tones but whatever the reason for the improvement, it is a welcomed addition. Read Full Review

Overall this was a pretty good issue, though light on action, the plot was moved forward quite nicely, its one of those issues that sets up a huge shocking issue to come, the calm before the storm so to speak. The art always shines in this book, and this issue was no exception. I really love the style it's done in, especially the facial work. The expressions always sell the gravity of any given situation more than the story itself does. Kirkman is super lucky to have found a great artist who has stuck. One problem with the art in many books, especially from the big two publishers, is a revolving door of artists and writers, leaving many books to be lost without a voice or clear direction. The Walking Dead never suffers from that problem, it is in fact one of the greatest books I have ever read. Read Full Review

What's found in "The Walking Dead" #109 is almost exactly what readers will find in all the other issues: a wonderful combination of beloved characters struggling in a zombie apocalypse. In this particular issue, Maggie struggles with her loss and tries to make herself a new home with a new community. Yet she doesn't seem terribly surprised to find that she's not as far from Rick's plans as she may have thought. As mentioned above, the setup for the next issue is intriguing enough that I'm confident it will be at the top of my reading pile when it releases. Read Full Review

This issue is something we see a lot in this series and from Robert Kirkman in general. I like to call it the foundation issue. It's the first issue of a new arc. Not a great deal is really happening yet. It's not much different than placing chess pieces into strategic positions and setting the stage for the more important moves to take place later. Read Full Review

And that's what I think keeps The Walking Dead where it is. Slow pacing means that it's less intimidating to jump in, and the solid technique for character-building and design has remained more consistent here than any other book on the stands. That said, a month-to-month read winds up being a slim substitute for the meatier displays of violence and horror on AMC, leaving the comic book version of The Walking Dead a muscular narrative that only rarely bares its teeth. Read Full Review

Not a bad issue, but not much happens either. There's no hook to this issue. This is one of those interludes between the big and bloody events; and while I'm looking forward to the payoff, the creators need to be careful that the action doesn't become too dispersed. Read Full Review

TWD #109 isn't a jaw-dropper by any means, but we can see characters evolving, and it looks like the you-know-what is about to hit the fan. Read Full Review

Kirkman hits hard with the opening scene, then he just walks off and lets you catch your breath. The Negan story has been trundling along like a zombie, but hopefully Kirkman can save it before he needs to put it out of its misery 3/5 Read Full Review

I'm sure while reading this issue in trade format you won't even notice the slowness of it. However, as a single issue it definitely is a dialogue heavy comic that borders on boring. If you like character work and are for the expansion of the cast then I think there is a lot to like in here. Ultimately, the comic is an average Walking Dead book, but this positions the comic for good things down the road. Read Full Review

GreyMouser

Apr 10, 2013

. . $3, 22b&w pgs.+ 4pg teaser. Almost no ADs! . . . My man Glenn gets a plank, but no tag. So all issue long im going hey... Kirkman is kind of writing jesus dumb a bit eh? huh rick too, but that's been imposed on him for a bit. Then yup even jesus gets it at the end, he's been stupefied to force the narrative. Damn Robbie, that's weak. Another awkward change is how Carl has grown so fast lately, and by lately i mean within issues! he's looking like an awkward teen and just recently he had a growth spurt ...right in the middle of a zombie fight. also, i've noticed how decompressed the art has become when looking back at old issue. maybe its Adlard's mastery of the form and pace, or he's been pushed by the lash a little too long. i mean th e guy it coping and reusing face shots for multiple characters in the same issue. Hmmm, still love Charlie and the tWD crew tho. more