With Negan on the loose, how can the issue not be exciting? Kirkman's writing for Negan is consistent and, as always, welcomed. Will Negan head to Alpha or will he go back to the Sanctuary? We'll find out soon enough. Read Full Review

The decision to keep Negan alive after the events of "All Out War" is certainly paying off. The villain is back to being his old terrible but charismatic self here, even as his nemesis Rick is dealing with the fallout of Negan's escape. The book continues to forge a compelling new status quo. But to fully take advantage of that status quo, the time has come for the newer characters to step up and take their place alongside the classics. Read Full Review

As for the other stuff that happens, it's all bits and pieces. Eugene is still talking to the unknown person on the radio, but we don't really know anything about them yet. Dwight and his men are still training. Michonne and Aaron set off to find Negan, but this receives relatively little attention. That decision might have the most immediate payoff as the two head into a dangerous place, though I'm wondering whether they'll meet with Negan peacefully rather than throw down with the Whisperers. None of this is bad, and I'm confident that it will all matter eventually, but having played the waiting game many times now, I wish there was a bit more than "what's Negan going to do next." Read Full Review

Rick is tasked with domesticating the group's lesser, primal instincts, which have predominantly facilitated survival in the new world. It's a struggle he's not immune to himself. It's that persistent struggle that makes the issue and larger story worthwhile, despite the reworking of a familiar armed conflict. Read Full Review

A free Negan is a fun Negan. I can't wait to see where the story takes him next, and I really hope he survives this storyline as well.
Overall, talkie issue, not much else of consequence happens, but the dialogues are still on point.

This issue was solid, but without much in the way of answers, except for the one that goes "is Negan still a murderous foulmouthed psychotic?" The short answer is "yes". Speaking of Negan, his appearance on the Walking Dead TV series was last week and HOOBOY was it something else. I've often been of mixed feelings towards Negan's affinity for profanity, but I wondered if that would translate to a show that doesn't even let Rick drop one little F-bomb in the final moments of one of the final episodes of a major arc of the Terminus storyline. But the TV version of Negan as played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan is superb- he is menacing, violent, gives no craps about anyone but his group of Saviors, and wields that barb wire wrapped bat like a true extension of himself. This issue sees Negan getting back to his old self again, and I was excited to see Negan's TV debut and his emergence in this arc fitting together nicely. I expect a LOT from this arc going forward, as this issue sets up plenty of "fun" stuff to come. more