Tuesday 17 February 2015

The Walking Dead #117 - Image Comics

THE WALKING DEAD No. 117, November 2013
There is little doubt that “The Walking Dead” is an “Image Comics” title aimed towards the more mature comic book reader. During its long run it has dealt with a number of adult themes and atrocities, probably the least of which is walking cadavers trying to eat people’s brains… or any other part of them that the Undead can sink their decaying teeth into. But even so, this third instalment of the “All Out War” story-arc makes for some extremely disturbing reading material.

In fact the sheer crudeness of the sexual profanities contained within its dialogue and the attempted rape scene which occupies the issue’s final five pages, whilst arguably realistic given the circumstances, is also repulsively repellent. The vast majority of this distastefulness is down to the storyline’s main antagonist Negan, who dominates the proceedings, even when the comic’s plot has moved away from the Saviour’s base and is focussing on Rick Grimes motivating his own people.

Indeed Robert Kirkman seems incapable of writing any scene featuring the ‘sociopathic king’ without the character profusely swearing and wantonly utilising sexual imagery in order to provoke a reaction from those around him. None of this is subtly delivered and arguably necessary either. But it is shocking, and definitely provides something of a barometer as to both how bad things are and how stressed the Sanctuary’s leader is; Negan’s twelve-word expletive-exclusive outburst when he realises he has just twenty-fours to clear the zombie horde trapping him or he’ll die, being one of the highlights of the comic.

Unfortunately what this book has in vulgarities it lacks in action, as the title’s co-creator seems to use the Saviour’s incarceration of Holly as an opportunity to squander page after page with suspenseful yet sedentary dialogue-driven scenes. Indeed it is quite clear from both the plodding pacing, and the numerous Charlie Adlard large-panel illustrations, that this twenty-two page publication was having to be created fast; bi-weekly fast. It is certainly hard to believe Kirkman’s boast at the time that he had “…a rough outline for the next two hundred issues...”

Even so the book’s British artist still manages to draw a few moments of manically busy mayhem as Negan, armed with his barbed-wired baseball bat ‘Lucille’, confidently leads a group of his men out of their industrial base only to almost become swallowed up by a vast horde of the Undead.
Writer: Robert Kirkman, Artist: Charlie Adlard, and Inker: Stefano Gaudiano

6 comments:

  1. That's a very fair and honest review of this issue, Simon. Negan is a truly repulsive character. He's far worse than the Governor or anyone else from this series for that matter. Yes, he is incapable of speaking any sentence without littering it full of profanities. I can understand why some might find this off-putting but this is not a comic aimed at young readers. It deals with adult issues in an adult way. Sadly, I have known people just like Negan who can't stop swearing so he's not unique in that respect. As for the lack of action, all I can say is be patient. There is much carnage and deaths to come later in this series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks Bryan. I thought Negan's attempted breakout was actually one of the best scenes I've enjoyed from "TWD". As it was both well written and well drawn, with the reader's perspective as tunneled as Negan's until he looked up and realized he was about to die if he didn't retreat. I am a Victorian Dad when it comes to harsh language however and do find it off-putting, especially when I don't feel there's any reason for it.

      Delete
  2. Nice review Bk. Negan is a badass, and a potty mouth. Like Bryan I've known many people who couldn't put a sentence together if they weren't allowed to swear. Profanity doesn't bother me that much, when you experience it on a daily basis you become immune to it, or at least tune it out. This is a mature readers comic though so some profanity is expected, plus it makes it realistic.
    On another note, I've just ordered the first mini-series of '68 as a collected trade paperback which includes the first one-shot they did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Much appreciated Bob. I don't know what it is about comics but for some reason I just can't stand swearing in them. I think it just goes back to them being a childhood 'safe' memory and these days they aren't. I'll be doing some reviews of some "Uber" issues soon and they make Negan seem tame I assure you. But I plan to use them as motivation for converting and painting some WW2 supers so its seemed silly not doing reviews at the same time. I've dug out my '68 issues, but I'll hold fire on the reviews until your tpb arrives if you'd like, and then like Vampifan does with "TWD" you can tell me what you think? Or are you planning on posting them up on your blog?

      Delete
    2. You crack on dude, I'm not very good at reviews. I'll probably show it on my blog later on.

      Delete
    3. No worries Bob. Hope you enjoy the reviews as and when I can post them.

      Delete