MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW. GO READ THE COMIC FIRST.
Hi guys. Skybound here. Thanks to the curvature of the Earth and the annoying concept of “time zones” (if you even believe in that sort of thing), people on the East Coast are reading The Walking Dead while we’re still snug in our beds/passed out on the kitchen floor. Whether it’s digital or at their LCS, people are reading TWD and then like, “I’ll just hop onto TheWalkingDead.com so I can disc–WHERE IS TEH POST?!” So we put this post up early so you can, at your leisure, come talk about THE WALKING DEAD #125, ALL OUT WAR PART 11 (Holy Bon Jovi, we’re almost done!!!) as soon as you get it.
We’re not going to list the major plot points until tomorrow, but it’s a 22 page comic, what could possibly happen? Well, except for that ending. Which may or may not result in a riot. But 126 will be out soon, so don’t worry!
And remember, we want you at your commenting best. One super clever person/good speller who posts the objectively best comment (as judged by yours truly and Lizzy-notLizthankyouverymuch) will win a signed copy of Issue 125.
Now make like a Y2K cult classic and bring it on.
UPDATE
Well let’s just get right to it:
Rick did not die, and then he cut Negan’s throat.
Is this a fever dream?
Was Negan seriously considering Rick’s offer?
Has Rick turned heel?
What happens next?!
Also, not to get all stern father on you, but please don’t post full-pages from the comic below. Especially the LAST page. Especially when it ends up at the very top of the comments. I had to delete a comment since Disqus wouldn’t let me just remove the image, and for that I apologize, but we will delete entire comments that have large pieces of significant art.
UPDATE UPDATE
Our favorite comment was from Cassi, who said, “Here is why Rick is smarter than any of us: He made his big speech for the Saviors and the residents from the three other communities. He knows, however that Negan has caused too much death and destruction to ever be trusted. He’s giving the Saviors a chance to choose sides. Attack and get your ass beat by Jesus, Michonne and the others. Lay down your weapons and we will see if they can be part if the new rebuilt civilization. Every civilization needs soldiers. When you think back on how methodical Negan has been his reaction is not that surprising. He had a plan for everything. He never lashed out in anger. In fact the angriest he ever got only resulted in an Andre-Dice-Clay-like slew of profanity but he walked away and plotted his next move. Negan is a dick but he’s not a stupid dick.”
Congrats, Cassi! Your signed issue #125 will be in the mail shortly!
I can’t wait for issue 125. Negan and the saviors are gonna get their butts kicked.
Rick better not die. You just can’t do that to us Robert…. c’mon now.
I can’t wait, However I think Rick will pull through this, whole “Contaminated” Arrow thing. And i think Negan has a rude awakening ahead! Let’s think, I don’t think Kirkman would kill Rick this way, it’s not heroic or anything, he’d go out better than this I’d hope so.
“If” Rick is infected, he is definitely going to get to use Lucille on Negan first!
R.I.P Rick Grimes
the bolts werent covered with zombie crap
NO JESUS! PLEASE NO!
NO! RICK CARL ANDREA AND MICHONE PLEASE DONT!
They’re fucking with the wrong people! No way Rick is going out like that- Dwight didn’t contaminate his arrow! No fucking way!
Stay gold, Carly boy.
Anyone got their hands on this yet?
What could possibly go wrong in 22 pages amirite?
I’m gonna be sad when Negan dies… He’s an awesome villain.
The look on everyone’s faces when they thought Rick was going to die…Priceless!!!!
Who knew that Paul(Jesus) was a Will Ferrell fan?
ANY SPOILERS YET?
I’M DYING HERE!
Negan Dies
I’m scared. Please no. 🙁
It’s about to go down!
DON’T EVEN…
After Robert told us we would learn Rick’s “fate” in 124, i’m not sure if i trust everything he says to tease new issues
I think an argument could be made that we DID learn Rick’s fate last issue. He didn’t come down with a fever when everyone else did, and retroactively I think if they DON’T kill him I think you could say that was the giveaway.
Dwight’s bolt wasn’t contaminated, but Rick believing that he is doomed, he will mount a counterattack on The Saviors that will be the lynchpin in Negan’s downfall. Once Rick’s forces have the Negan dead to rights, Dwight will beat Negan to death with Lucille (although that won’t happen until #126)
ot the way it happened…Negan came to Hilltop gates asking for Rick and was surprised he was alive…after a brief conversation…Negan realizes he was wrong…but Rick kills him anyway…
Well, as I expected…Rick kills Negan…very anti-climatic…but had to be done…
so, what is next (for issue 126)…Rick slashed Negan’s throat with a infected knife (in 125)…not a head shot…but deadly for sure…so room for Negan to turn…and maybe get clubbed by Maggie with Lucille…in issue 126…
Call me whatever you want, but this is Bullsh*t, i think Kirkman is on drugs or something
guess this sets up 127, the comics going in a new direction…
126 will be a mop up issue…no major characters die…
Negan’s a major character. Lol
Just Antagonist
This is definitely bullshit if this isn’t some elaborate late April Fool Day joke. When the fuck would Negan say:
not bullshit, second to last panel of the comic.
Negan has been an interesting villain from the start. I don’t see this as breaking character at all. He bashes an Asian guy’s head in like it’s fun and acts like he doesn’t enjoy despite saying he had a raging boner outside Alexandria as he heard people burning to death. He threatens Carl’s life after he killed his men (a reason justifiable of killing, even if Carl is my favorite character) then legitimately seems upset when he makes him cry. He’s not above killing Holly and using her as Trojan Horse but he’s above having his men rape her before he uses her as a “living” grenade anyway. He’s always been this between kind of guy. An “Alpha Male” not understanding, or choosing not to understand, how he is a problem.
I agree- it was too easy. I have a hard time believing he would even let Rick lecture him for that long. That aside- I am happy 1) we’ll soon move on from All Out War (2) Rick’s a baws
This is typical Negan being over-the-top sarcastic. He did not mean one word of anything said in this panel. He was about to laugh and pull an oh-I-fooled-you-with-my-fake-newfound-optimism-you-stupid-fuck with Rick. Rick just made the first move and check mated his ass. Good bye, Negan! I won’t miss him one bit.
Nope… If, you read issue 100. Negan mention this in his first appearance. “Your best fucking chance is right now stand up and put a knife in my throat.”
i literally started screaming when I saw this, FUCK YEA!
No way, mother fucker had to die eventually!
The slash doesn’t look as deep as it could be, though. We’ll see what happens.
The knife had zombie muck on it so Negan will go through the fever if he doesnt die
This is not “bullshit”. This is genius and completely within Negan’s character. Ever since he was first introduced nearly everything that he’s done has, ultimately, been to establish and maintain order. From bashing Glenn’s skull in to gutting Spencer, it’s all been fone for the greater good. To maintain ORDER. Negan is a man who embodies order and purpose in a desolate world, even if it means doing committing the most gruesome of acts. Pretending to enjoy these things, and perhaps, to an extent, learning to enjoy them, is what enables him to do what must be done. He is not the chaotic evil that the Governor was, but a more calculated and purposeful villain. Bravo, Kirkman. Bravo.
Worst. Villain. Ever!
I think Negan fans will be disappointed how this went down…but I like how this resolved…Negan remorseful…yet had to be punished for his wrong doing…end of his story…
For those Negan lovers that are confused by this ending…
A savior informs Negan, Carson has escaped with Eugene…Negan senses a bigger problem…
Negan approaches the Hilltop community, clearly expecting Rick is dead…when he isn’t…he realizes he is fuckitty-fuck-fucked!!!
Negan has a moment of clarity…he realizes…no one has his back…he starts rationalizing…he can compromise and maybe live…
Too late…
those of you who want the blood and all out war-fare i’m sure #126 will start with alot of savior deaths by the hands of well equipped jesus and co.
(Bullets are good mmmkay)
But i liked the issue alot, I thought it was really cool seeing Rick get inside Negans head, and then by his own hands fulfilling what he promised.
If I could sum this issue up pretty much I’d say. “Cross me once shame on you , cross me twice that’s not nice, Cross me thrice now pay the fucking price!”
Negan got what he deserved however something tells me he isn’t going out the TWD door alone 126 is where everything goes down at expect betrayals , tragedies and revenge to happen. Without Negan there’s one hell of a power vacuum and more than enough candidates to fill the hole where Negan last left.
The real endgame starts now.
Lets see if the Ezekiel / Rick / Dwight alliance holds up after this.
Negan is still talking about his victory, but that doesn’t surprise me.
Poor Micky father died in this issue. He will be remembered for saving Rick life. I was happy that Carl tries to help Micky sadness about his father’s death. Carl understand Micky lost because Carl lost his mother during a battle. Kudos for you Carl for helping Micky lost.
Rick fate was standing up to Negan and prove himself he doesn’t fear Negan anymore. Rick asks Negan why he is fighting his people and Negan saying, he is trying to save lives. Rick told Negan, that is bullshit because Rick knows, He is not saving people lives. He is destroying people lives. What shocks me in this issue was Negan finally knows, he was wrong all along and he agrees with Rick. Negan finally understands. There is an opportunity to stop surviving and start living. Negan will never start living because like Rick said, “You kill and you die.” Do you think Negan deserve to live? Definitely not because he’s been killing too many innocent people. Rick gave Negan his own medicine. Negan is going to understand, Dying is going to suck because he’s not coming back to this world. This issue was probably the best of the All Out War arc. Honestly, when Rick and Negan had their talk. It’s reminded, The episode of The Walking Dead “Too Far Gone” just saying.
I’m going to be afraid in the next issue because in issue 100. Negan said, “Your best F chance is right now stand up and put a knife in my throat, Drive an axe into my face. ” “As soon as my body hits the floor my Saviors will F F you people up.” I really hope that is not true about his savior. Rick could die in the next issue for sacrifice himself for saving his own people. I really hope, Dwight better have a plan to save Rick life.
Agreed. Carl’s interaction with Mikey was nice. It’s still a little cold as Carl often is, but it’s a lot more sympathy than we usually see from him.
I’m hoping in the next issue if Negan does fall and die that Dwight takes control of the situation quickly.
Same. I hope, Dwight tells the truth about how he hates Negan to the saviors.
I’ve seen Carl shot thru the face. A throat slit is a throat slit, not a dead body.
But look at the blade. That knife is mucked up. He’s a goner, one way or another.
I couldn’t tell for sure, but after looking at #124, I don’t think its the one that Jesus showed him, though maybe it was. Would make sense to use a mucked knife.
My reasoning is just that the grey tones on this book haven’t generally taken time out to make sure the blades look dirty/rusty/whatever, which I see on here all the way to the hilt. The style of it looks very much to me like what they’ve been using on the muck.
Maybe. I mean, was it zombie muck? Are you sure? I didn’t see it dipped in zombie muck. Odds are, yea, he is, but in truth, one can’t be sure, only assumptions.
Agreed. The slash didn’t look all THAT deep. Negan could have lived through it.
Sometimes brutality wins over whats right. Negan really doesn’t give a shit about anyone including himself where as Rick tries to take everyone into consideration. Negan acts before he thinks and Rick thinks before he acts. Rick looks and acts the hero but a dead hero is still dead.
Slit through the throat, and you’re too late Negan you give life, a bad name. We played by the books and we played your game, you give life a bad name.
This issue was fucking awesome!! What I’m not fully understanding is why, after showing Negan their combined capabilities, he would cut his throat. He seemed to really be seeing the light. Not to mention now Rick is alone faced against a whole army of saviors. Sure they have those 10-13 guys ready to flank, and I’m assuming gunners on the wall. but is that enough? Rick could still be shot dead in 126. All around amazing issue though. Whenever Rick has a speech it’s almost always a highlight of the story arc to me.
Negan killed Glenn. Negan had to die regardless of what light he saw in the end. End of story.
Very true. I was just expecting this to actually end differently cause I remember when Carl said to Rick something about killing Negan and Rick then says “.. Or be made to not be so bad”. Guess Kirkman chose Carl’s way lol
It was the chance he finally needed. Even if Negan saw the “light” how would Rick explain sparing Negan to Carl, Michonne, Maggie, Andrea, or Glenn’s grave? Negan needed to die and Rick took his best chance.
I’m not saying I disagree with Rick’s actions. In fact, I believe the distraction was brilliant and that Negan definitely deserves death after what he’s done to not only Glenn, but to many others like Holly and even Spencer. I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that there was a chance to end the war without any further casualties and Rick chooses death, and maybe even his own death.
Sometimes there’s no other way. Negan wouldn’t truly change. Not all at once. And his people would still live in fear. Sometimes when a dog gets sick it’s better to put them down than wait for the inevitable, ya know?
I thoroughly enjoyed this issue. It made me think of how Rick tried talking the the Governor out of killing Hershel and failed. This time the tables turned and he wasn’t looking for a peaceful outcome and gave Negan what he deserved. Well done.
Different worlds. Hershel died crying over Billy’s corpse during the war.
governor still killed him in both….
I know.
Maybe it was the two cups of coffee I drank while teleworking from home, but my heart was pounding even as I kept checking the Walking Dead app on my iPhone to update with issue 125 available for purchase. Finally it did, and my heart pounded harder with each swipe of the page as I read through the “penultimate” issue of All Out War. And in the end came the payoff. The moment we have been long waiting for. Rick had his moment and took it. Was it a fatal blow? I can only hope not, so that he or Maggie or someone else can take the final shot with Lucille. All I can say is, the past two weeks have provided the two single greatest Rick Grimes moments in both the TV series and the graphic novel. First with Rick ripping out Joe’s jugular with his teeth, and now slicing Negan’s throat. I hope Rick survives in both story lines. He has proven that he truly is the man.
Holy shitballs! This must have been my favorite issue of the all out war arc so far!! That speech of rick was great! And that ending!!!! Oh my god I didn’t saw that coming at all! This 2 weeks will be a lot harder then the 7 months for the show!
I don’t see the problem. Negan has shown time and time again that he is a “reasonable” person. He wants this all to work. He wants everyone to work together. He’s just been so up his own ass with success that he’s deluded himself that his way is the best way. Being a post-apocalyptic violent mob boss.
“FUCK”
Negan realises he’s fucked up. He’s not psychopathic and insane like the Governor. He’s just been violent and singleminded.
Man, I also love that Kirkman referenced back to A Larger World. This whole community arc was about Rick’s message of hope. Uniting the communities and moving forward for a better tomorrow. So it’s great that this became integral to resolving the Negan conflict.
They reasoned things out because Rick makes complete sense. His way IS the best way. And Negan’s not an idiot.
But Rick’s become a nasty, violent, hardened and revenge orientated man. So he would rather cut Negan’s throat then reach a compromise that works for everyone.
I love crazy Rick.
“I love crazy Rick.”
He’s great because he’s so different from the pre-Governor Rick. He savagely mutilates the bandits, mutilates the Hunters in revenge, has a crazy fight with Pete and pulls a gun on Douglas, cuts off Jessie’s hand during the zombie attack, says he’ll kill everyone at the Hilltop and take their stuff if Jesus is lying, cuts Ethan’s throat open when they get in a fight, talks about open murder with his son when before he was worried Carl was getting too hardened.
I love these moments because they really showcase how Rick has changed over the run.
Absolutely. I really love the conclusion of the hunters arc though. I think.it was a real turning point for him. Because not only does he become more bold in his actions, but he becomes more organized about it. He blends two great aspects of himself to become a more successful leader.
I’ve enjoyed watching the transformation of him throughout the series.
I think when Rick killed Caesar was the moment for me: “Don’t you know what people are capable of?”-Rick “I’m– I Think I’m getting– –The idea”- Caesar. I was like damn Rick! Great 2 page spread too.
“Talks about open murder with his son…”
Oh God, that made me laugh.
I really wasnt expecting it to end the way it did, Once negan started coming around i thought rick would shake his hand and theyd start to work together, but still Glenn and all the others that fucker killed needed to die. And that forshadowing on 100 totally said it, rick had no better chance to kill negan right then and there, and who knows, maybe negan was being completley sarcastic and trying to fool rick in order to kill him. He had no better chance then right there
You nailed it. Rick cut his throat first. There’s NO WAY Negan was for real buying Rick’s plan. Cat an mouse game an Rick WON!
Hopefully it wasn’t a dream…
Can you blame him? People don’t change over night. Negan may have been seeing reason but he was no different. He wasn’t going to suddenly stop the violence and roll out the doves and everyone who has a giant burned head forgives him. Maggie wouldn’t stand for this, Carl wouldn’t stand for this, Andrea wouldn’t, nor Michonne, and especially not Maggie. Not one of the characters we love would stand for Negan living. The world is better off without him.
remember back to the issue when negan first came and scouted out the safe zone. he has always been a man of reason for himself, but remember how he treated them. thats the key. im pretty sure that rick sat fr a long time that m=night making as much sense of things before he came to his decision. if it was me, my thoughts would have been this- rick and them used us to go behind our backs and unite everyone against us to stop our reign of terror and free ride, so i will befriend them and turn the tables. when they least expect it, i will slit ricks throat and everything will be mine once again!- negan
It doesn’t work for everyone. They don’t need any damn protection from the dead! Negan found a way to make it seem like he’s doing something, so they’ll pay him in supplies, so he doesn’t have to scavenge like everyone else, when in all actuality he’s worthless.
I don’t think Rick is being crazy or vengeful, just rational. How about this scenario: negan genuinely sees he was approaching it the wrong way, admits this in front of everyone. If Rick collaborated with negan, he runs the risk of negan changing his mind, or (as mentioned below) all the viciousness negan has stirred up leading to fallout . Or can negan s followers, bred to be messed up, live in this new system?
My bet is that Rick now tells those present that even Negan saw the logic, but that he had transgressed too far to participate it, and that they have the chance to participate in this new vision.
But Rick and Dwight and Jesus will have to kill those followers who can’t live in the new world (just like they did Negan), while bringing on board those who can.
Brilliant plot twist in the writing, btw.
My vague thinking was that often ruthless leaders have reached a compromise in war. So Rick reaching such a compromise as a guise to kill Negan when his guard is down really tells us a lot about Rick. It echoes his massacre of the Hunters when he could have killed them without the personal touch or left them defenseless and moved on.
That Asian guy disagrees…what was his name, Gleen,,,,if you don’t think Negan is a psychopath you should relearn the meaning, he enjoys killing and feels no remorse.
Thus I believe Rick thinks likewise and knows Negan must be taken out at all costs, if there is to be calm again, since Negan may accept his offer, then change mind and blow Ricks brains out…
There was no hope for Negan once Rick said “Don’t look at him, look at me.”
Loved Carl’s advice to Mikey. Good on him, trying to comfort the boy for his loss. It may have come out a bit colder than intended but I think we all know to expect that from Carl. It was still important that he did it at all.
Fuck.
Shit, Rick just SLAUGHERED Negan !!!!!! It will be hard to wait for issue 126 😮
epic end to a great run of crazy but is it over ??? lol
OK so…….. He killed Negan right in front of his men…….. will they attack Rick? or will they be happy and relieved? or will Jesus swoop in and fuck shit up? can 126 just come out now!!!!!
I understand that Dwight helped them , but he killed Abraham, why Negan needs to die (kilked glenn ) and not Dwight (killed Abe) they both redeemed themselves , and Negan redeemed himself in 125 !!!!
Negan is fucking dead now !
When will we see the 129 cover ????
I agree with Alejandro. So, now all of a sudden, Negan is down to just make peace? Shut the fuck up Kirkman. Negan would NEVER say any of that shit. This issue sucked and the death of Negan was lame and uninspired. Booooooooo!
I think considering Negan is, well, Kirkman’s character, he knows a Hell of a lot more than you or any of us about what Negan will and won’t do.
That’s a weak ass response Jonathon. We all know Negan’s character because he’s been in the comic for 25 issues. That means that Kirkman has established Negan’s point of view, personality, and way of thinking and strategizing. I cannot comprehend how the Negan that we’ve seen for 24 issues would suddenly be willing to work with Rick. It’s simply not plausible.
Yes, it kind of is. Negan has always shown himself to be willing to listen. Doesn’t mean he’ll follow through but he does *listen.* Look how many times he didn’t kill Rick when he had a chance despite Rick continuously pissing him off. Negan is not crazy, he’s just brutal. He wasn’t above using Holly as a Trojan Horse but he would NOT let his men sexually abuse her. He had every reason to kill Carl after he shot down six of his mean but showed legitimate remorse when he hurt the kid’s feelings. Negan has gone back and forth between getting off from violence and then not actually enjoy bringing death. Rick finally laid things out exactly as they are when Negan was too busy trying to close the Saviors off, thinking they needed order to survive if humanity was going to make it. Think back to the Governor: Dr. Stevens said in one of the novels that even though he hates the Governor he understands that in this “end time” why people like him are necessary in reestablishing civilzation. Negan, unlike the Governor, is TRYING to be that kind of leader. Negan isn’t crazy. He’s not scary because he’s psychotic, he’s scary because he’s willing to do anything he deems needed. When Rick explained that their communities thrived WITHOUT the force Negan brought and explained they were working towards order and Negan was the actual issue it became clear that Negan’s big Alpha-wolf act is not needed for the world to keep going because everyone else was doing fine. He finally understood why Rick’s group was so “ungrateful.”
Then Rick slashes his throat because it’s easier to put a problem dog down then to wait to see if it heals.
Negan was totally bullshitting Rick with sarcasm, but Rick made the first move and called his bluff. You are right, we know Negan and that Negan’s response was not true to his character if he were being serious. But he wasn’t and when you read it within that context, Negan’s sarcastic fake-out response totally fits his character.
Maybe Negan was just being sarcastic and was planning on attacking rick anyway but rick attacked first. also, negans kinda complicated in a way too like how he was all sorry for carl when he made him cry so who knows wether or not he was serious
That’s what I was thinking the whole time they were talking.
He was being so sarcastic, if rick did pull yhe knife first, negan would have made his move seconds later, totally agree
I didn’t like #125 that much. Rick’s monologue/dialogue with Negan was high class ( as always on Kirkmans work), but I also think that Negans reaction was not plausible. Although he says about himself that he can be “fucking reasonable”, he ISN’T fucking reasonable. A moment ago he was waiting for an abandonement, the next he has to deal with a not-so-dead Rick trying to change the whole system Negan was fighting for. His first reaction should have been to kill dwight, now knowing he is a traitor, but no, he is going with Ricks new order, basically giving up everything he fought for.
I don’t think Rick’s slice was lethal, there has to be a bigger, better and greater ending for Negan (if it’s his end which I’m not completely sure of). I don’t think Rick will kill Negan with Lucille, but at least Negan needs some final words, something that will, before he dies, make clear, that he was an unreasonable asshole. Please Kirkman, don’t give us some cliché-shit like “I was worng the whole time, Rick”, give Negan an ending he deserves, maybe even by killing Rick with his last breath.
On the positive side: The dialogues and the art have been great as always. Also Kirkman stays unpredictable with this storyline, I haven’t thought of the ending of this issue ( I would have rather thought that Negan was about to kill Rick), and I have no ide what is going to happen and who is going to die. Congrats on this, Kirkman.
To close, I’ m sorry for my redundant and sometimes bad english, but I’ m from Germany^^
Negans death made him too similar to the governor. Not in character but in his plot. It would have need better if they worked together sorta for a bit and then Rick killed negan in like 129 but still took his men in and they al join in peacefully but then latter a group of like 10 of them causes trouble. They could have done sooo much better, this was just too predictable but hopefully 126 is better. Next villain should be negans boss that lives in the white house and is in charge of a bunch of people like negan and is a really calm, sane, manipulative, and intelligent female.
It would be 1000x better if began lives, there’s so much to be done, he’s still full of juice.
Wow. Kirkman never stops surprising me. Rick is badass!!!
Anyone else think Maggie and Earl the blacksmith have a future together?
Wait didn’t you see that guy waving at her?
I thought it may have been implied when I read through those panels. Maybe he’s Maggie’s new Dale, foreshadowed by Andrea in a previous issue.
Well, actually he’s Maggie’s Rick.
In issue 126, Eugene is pissed he slaved away at making so much ammo which was never used in the war, so he kills Rick.
I loved this issue. I have been getting tired of the issues ending with Negan saying something about how Rick is screwed. I honestly thought that Rick was going to die this issue. I thought Negan was just playing along and on the last page we would see Rick’s throat slit. So happy to see it the other way around.
And if you have seen the cover of issue #126 Negan is on his knees and someone is holding Lucille in his direction. I can’t wait!
Here is why Rick is smarter than any of us: He made his big speech for the Saviors and the residents from the three other communities. He knows, however that Negan has caused too much death and destruction to ever be trusted. He’s giving the Saviors a chance to choose sides. Attack and get your ass beat by Jesus, Michonne and the others. Lay down your weapons and we will see if they can be part if the new rebuilt civilization. Every civilization needs soldiers. When you think back on how methodical Negan has been his reaction is not that surprising. He had a plan for everything. He never lashed out in anger. In fact the angriest he ever got only resulted in an Andre-Dice-Clay-like slew of profanity but he walked away and plotted his next move. Negan is a dick but he’s not a stupid dick.
After re-reading my comment, I would like to add that I feel “attack and you will get your ass beat by Jesus” may deserve a signed copy. Even if I didn’t think about it at the time. Just sayin’z
Killing negan takes away muscle, leadership, and power. This would suck if they killed negan off. He did some fd up shit but he is not a soulless monster
Perhaps you who are wrestling fans have heard that The Ultimate Warrior died. But he in fact did NOT die because in fact Rick Grimes is now The Ultimate Warrior after what he did to Negan is Issue #125- damn! He promised Negan back in Issue #100 that he would kill him at some point for what he did to Glenn. A man’s gotta keep his word!! :0
But Rick seems to be in a pickle because I am sure that Negan- who is smart in some ways- had scouts/sharpshooters stationed on his meeting with Rick. So Rick could still get killed after slicing Negan’s throat by one of Negan’s troops. Negan dropped Lucille, though, in that last panel. So the question is, who’s going to grab it?? Or who’s it going to be handed to?? Maggie, perhaps? So many questions… it’s going to be a long two weeks for me until Issue #126.
OK, so maybe “killing” Negan would mean to Rick to strip him of his power instead of taking his life?? Perhaps he will enslave Negan and keep him locked up in a cage in the town square of The Hilltop or something so he can be tortured by seeing Farmer Rick and people actually getting along peacefully, growing crops and doing productive stuff and things with their lives.
ONE MORE THING- maybe Lillie Caul and her small group of survivors will swoop in with some flamethrowers in Issue #126, kill every last Savior and Hilltop-er and we’ll have to hit the restart/reboot button on the whole series, LOL!
RIP The Ultimate Warrior
And if I had to pick between those two he would be JYD
Woah! Those letters in the back of #125 were a little harsh! Just proves how much we all care about this series! Bet we all feel a little silly now, huh? Should have known that Robert Kirkman was a boss. Ye of little faith. Thanks for the clean bolt, Dwight. Oh and fuck you Negan! Rick was never going to let you get away with what you did. You got what you deserved you fuckity fuck fucking asshole. Fuck. 🙂
Yeah the keyboard warrior calling RK a fat ass was out of line. His rant was over the top. I always believe in trusting a writer. Kirkman he has never let me down in 125 issues and I don’t expect him to start now. IN KIRKMAN WE TRUST!!
Mucked knife = Zombie Negan. Rick will now allow Negan to unlive on as undead Negan for punishment. The only thing better than regular Negan is Zombie Negan free roaming America mumbling curse words in a leather jacket.
My jaw literately dropped when Rick slashed Negan. This issue had some great dialogue and even better false hope. I’ll admit, it had me going for a second but I thought Negan was going to pull something, not the other way around. Needless to say, amazing issue and I can not wait to see the final chapter unfold.
I hope the blacksmith is working on a new metal arm for Rick..They cannot just tease that happening but not actually make it happen and end the series 🙁
From the moment a stub weapon was mentioned, I was convinced that either Earl or Rick would die before it happened. However, I listened to a podcast interview with Charlie Aldard and he was saying how he was excited about the possibilities of metal appendages with a black smith around, so maybe it will happen after all.
Wow surprising to say the least, i dont think Negan will just fall down and die though…
I would like to point out I was right about Eugene for anyone that read my post about him the other day that makes me happy . He is becoming one of my favorite characters.
My post was about Eugene having ammunition hid away somewhere.
I GOTZ A LETTER PUBLISHED DUDE! 😀
That’s awesome man congratulations. I’m going to check it out .
Yes my friend you called it
Negan is bipolar.
Holy tits. I spent the last 10 pages of 125 in bitter anticipation of each subsequent page flip leading to a full-panel, series-shattering frame of Rick getting Glenned. I have a hard time believing that any of us saw anything other than the blatant sarcasm (we’ve grown to know and love) in Negan’s speech and I kept thinking – Kirkman, you curve-balling bastard! Looks like Rick’s gonna die, now live, and now die again. Got me scared to turn the page and shit. …But, upon the finale, I have to say I was nothing but entirely satisfied. At this point, the ‘All Out War’ situation has clearly escalated pretty far past the point of no return so the proposed Savior/Hilltop commune was clearly out of the picture. Looking forward, all I know is that I hope to god the cover of 126’s less-than-ambiguous depiction of a left hand wielding Lucille over a ’bouta get f*cked positon’ Negan comes through for us.
Hope you don’t mind this seemingly foreshadowing motivational piece of #100 below, but it is much needed:)
-Chris
Mmm yeah, Negan caving in Rick’s skull whilst bleeding from his (presumably infected) neck wound as both sides trade bullets behind them… That would be pretty cool, might even make up for the disappointment of the last couple of issues.
All this betrayal and poisonous weapons reminds me of a certain Shakespearian work. Rick playing the part of Hamlet and Negan as Claudius. If the bolt Dwight used was poisoned he would have made a perfect Laertes. Negan may use terrible language but he’s not stupid. He’s actually quite complex. I think he truly believes that he needs to act the way he does to keep everyone in line and keep them preoccupied so they’re not focused on how goddam miserable they are. He truly believes he’s saving lives and so does Rick. “I must be cruel only to be kind; Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.”
Negan is a ticking time bomb. How will he fair these last few hours before he bites the bullet? Is Jesus too pro to use weapons? Will Eugene ever get laid? Next time on Dragon ball…..I mean The Walking Dead.
Yeah I think Jesus should have a knife or something. Coz you cant kill walkers with Judo chops right?
Well, he usually stomps on them after knocking them down.
But I agree, it’s terribly silly that he can somehow out-fight heavily armed people with his bare hands. Might as well BE Dragon Ball for all the logic involved. 😛
i enjoyed this issue. I liked Carl reaching out- telling the grieving kid to stay gold. The full page of Negan uttering, “Fu%*” cracked me up. Gonna miss his brand of poetry!
I recognize Negan has long been a complex villain, but his code has always been- do it my way, or suffer.
I thought he was pulling Rick’s leg by entertaining a unified effort, especially after Rick (justifiably) insulted him so many times…then I turned the page. Woah. I thought it would be the other way around, but I’m glad it wasn’t. It would be a cheap way for Rick to go out.
I’m sure Rick’s speech wasn’t meant for Negan, but for Negan’s men. It will be hard for them to trust Rick now that he splattered his pretty picture of the future with Negan’s blood.
It will be interesting to see how All Out War finally wraps.
Their whole conversation had me thinking that Negan was going to let Rick think everything was going to be ok between them . Then he was going to have one of his guys shoot Rick in the back as Rick walked away.
Yes, exactly. Just more evidence that Kirkman fucked up and the issue sucked.
I can’t agree with you there I really liked this issue. I don’t want it to be too predictable.
Or how about no.
I agree bro I think Negan was trying to lure Rick in but Rick hit him first.
Do you think Negan dies ?
Uhhhh I kinda hope not
I hope so for the sake of the future of the comic. I’ve never particularly cared for Negan and I’ve been waiting for him to die since like before issue 110. Someone on this forum once said that Negan will never work on AMC because he curses so much and that is a large part of Negan’s character. To me, that’s a huge reason why Negan is not a very well written character. He’s way too over the top, basically Andrew Dice Clay of the zombie apocalypse. A good, well written character should not have to rely on cursing for their character to work. I guarantee Negan will be such a better character when they introduce him on the show because they can’t rely on a foul mouth to make him popular.
Where would you like to see the story go ?
I would like the story to go back to darker times and anywhere without corny, unbelievable villains. The Governor and The Hunters were good villains; Negan, not so much. I personally think the best part of the story so far was between the prison assault and just before they reached Alexandria Safe Zone. I like the darker material. I wouldn’t mind seeing Carl become the main protagonist either. Alexandria Safe Zone got a bit boring until No Way Out. I even really enjoyed most of the All Out War arc, I just don’t like how over the top Negan was. It was okay for a few issues, but he should have got more serious after that. I think tv show will do him more justice since they can’t rely on him cursing all the time for popularity. I’m kind of on the fence about a time jump happening after seeing the post All Out War covers and something ground breaking supposed to happen with the arc.
I liked the journey to Alexandria Safe Zone the best also meeting The Hunters , Gabriel and Aaron all of that was awesome probably my favorite part of the story also .
I wonder how they are going to work Gabriel into the tv show. He seems to have a pretty wide appeal, despite being a background pacifist character.You have to figure he’s going to show up next season at some point. Aaron has a lot of potential, especially now that he lost Eric. I hope we get a lot more meaningful development with his character.
The appeal to me is his story of locking everyone out of the church and his quest for redemption . I also like how reluctant the group was to trust him that added some mysterious aura to the character.
When he walked out of the forest, I was like there no way this guy is for real. I thought it was some sort of trap. He definitely added more suspicion to the whole hunters dilemma. He’s another character I think the tv show will add more depth to, much like Bob Stookey.
Negan is just a complete asshole, there are people who enjoy others suffering and constant cursing and would do so if given the opportunity, which the zomby apocalypse provided for him…all that said I believe Negan is a coward deep inside….
I heard someone theorize that Negan was something akin to a high school or college sports coach before the apocalypse with the way he calls a lot people by last name and he has the bat. It made me chuckle because it kind of makes sense.
I think, after he becomes a babbling fool, somebody finishes him off…I’m still thinking about Dwight.
It’s Dwight’s perfect opportunity just not sure about the rest of the Saviors.
I think there may be a few rebellious bad element in that group that can be picked off easily, if they don’t make a run for it, but for the whole, most of them have to feel free from oppression.
I agree they don’t seem like they have a second in command the structure of their group will probably collapse if Negan dies .
How did you like the issue ?
I loved it. I like how some of us were all hyped up, thinking Rick was gonna die & the rest of us thought Negan’s gonna die, but neither one actually happens in this issue. We always have something to look forward to, something to debate on. And when it does goes down like we think it will, it never really plays out like we expect. Then it sets us up for another round! Awesome!
Yes next issue is going to be golden.
That is exactly how I interpreted what was going on, except I thought Negan was going to stab Rick on the last page.
Massive disappointment there, for sure. :-
I’ve been in the ‘Rick is going to die in this arc’ camp for so long that it’s made me realize how much it will actually suck if Rick dies right now. I hope he has a few more year left to let Carl grow up some more and take over as lead protagonist.
Yeah I don’t believe for a second Negan was entertaining Rick’s ideas. The guy is bad to the bone and was planning something or was gonna come back with some great one-liner. I know all the talk is about the end ( and rightly so) but no-one seems to have mentioned Eugene’s comment that he thought of killing himself to stop Negan getting more ammo out of him? I thought it was great and a real show of how far his character has come in AOW.
Yes Eugene is smart he went and got more ammunition . He was considering destroying the equipment and was even thinking about killing himself all for the group. He is a great asset to the group and would make a great leader he is always thinking.
Agreed Melissa. Negan’s ego is WAY Too big and the war has gone WAY too far for him to just agree with Rick after a couple of sentences. It really didn’t work for me.
I definatley agree with you, but the expressions shown in the artwork also give me some doubt, because he genuinley looked like he had one of those oh shit hes right moments. He even started adding in on ricks plan, which ALMOST made me kind of mad that Rick killed him if he really was going to work with him, but then I remembered glenn and all the other people he killed and realized and started cheering, that fucker needed to go, people say he tried to maintain order, but his methods werent the way things should have been done at all. Rick wanted to establish trade before the hilltop came to him about Negan and his group harrasing them and taking women away to be his wives. The dude was a thug on a power trip and I’m glad kirkman had rick put him in his place. I feel like this is the first real justice this comic has had rick get after so many losses at his hand (no pun intended, well maybe) Or is negan really dead? that slice wasn’t deep, and the knife may have zombie muck, but it doesnt mean that there wont be some retaliation by the saviours that are there, unless like you say, the saviours realize rick is right.
Megan is bipolar.
Just want to point some things out. First of all, That knife at the end, most likely didn’t kill Neggie. But It has muck on it. Most likely. Also, Carl man, he’s getting all, i don’t know, somewhat philosophic now? He’s like the new moral compass.
Wait… That’s never a good sign lol. Also, Idk about you guy’s but It almost felt like Negan was being sarcastic. However, it is possible he had some huge realization, which could give more character insight. And lastly, Negan’s face on page 16:
I laughed so motherfucking, cock-sucking, magnificantely hard.
I truly wonder what the series would have been like had Negan acted like this from the start or what he and Rick could have done together.. For a second I actually thought that Negan was going to see the error of his ways and perhaps actually start working with Rick and the Hilltop instead of against them. Then Rick had to go and put a knife in his neck.. Which is also kind of odd because Negan had always said or at least seemed to want to keep Rick alive and even stabbed spencer to keep order and keep Rick alive..
Also as soon as Rick started on his “we can all live together” speech I imagined Negan saying “liar” like the Governor did on the TV show. Also at that scene I thought Negan was just pretending to go along with Rick and might try to kill him.
I am almost certain that knife was covered with Walker juice. Negan done in by his own sick idea.
Yea when I saw that knife I thought “oh now that’s the one Paul(Jesus) found in the courtyard… I was thinking that it still was contaminated because the cut that Rick caused on Negan didn’t really look deep.. Of course we only got to see one panel of that, but of course if it was still “contaminated” the cut wouldn’t have to be deep.
Plot twist, it wasn’t infected, or not anymore because the zombie muckness has died in the time in open air
As awesome as that would be I just don’t think it’s going to happen that way, IF the knife was still mucked up.
Oh I agree too, lol.
Another thing I was hoping would happen in this issue is that when we saw Earl the Blacksmith, I was really hoping he would be working on that Merle like arm blade for Rick… Now had that happened and if Rick had gotten to stab Negan with that, then I would have been even more surprised.
At least Rick didn’t bite him this time.
I was truly convinced by RIck and Negan’s acting. I believed in Rick because of what Eugene had said to to Negan when he got captured “Rick is Building something, something important, for ALL OF US! EVEN YOU!”(something along the lines of that) I had been wondering what Ricks plan for Negan in this new world was. Apparently its as a zombie 😛
I believed Negan was really having a reality shattering epiphany! (but also expected him to snap out of it and gut Rick)We have never seen Negan look so taken aback and use such proper sentences, it was truly a limbo between heart attack serious and maniacal sarcasm IMO, will we ever know??
this really reminded me of the moment from the show when Rick tries to talk Shane in to forgetting about whats happened and starting new and all that stuff, getting close enough and dropping Shane’s guard down just enough to go in for the kill…
like i said before i dont think Negan dies in this fashion, unless RK wants to butt fuck us out of a true vengeful worthy death 😛 (Gov, although its justified in the aspect of the novels) Pleeeeeeaaaassee have Rick pick up Lucille and say
“Im sure you know the best cure for a hangover from a night of drinking…..More drinks.”(because Lucille is “drunk off her ass and couldnt handle another drop”) and cracking Negan’s skull with a one armed swing so hard it breaks Lucille in half….
yes… Yes…YEs… YES!!!
WOO HOO! I WAS IN LETTER HACKS!! 9th letter BTW
Nice one. The guy who called RK a fat ass wont be announcing his letter got published!!!
Yup 😀
At least Carl didn’t shoot him damn it
What a great Issue! Rick performance was amazing. They really do a great job contrasting his leadership with Negan’s. His speech was brilliant. Not only effective in not only distracting Negan long enough so that he could get close, but it gave him the opportunity to display his charismatic leadership abilities to all four communities who have lived through the war. Even the Saviors could be swayed by Rick’s offer. Rick knows that the only way for it to work is with Negan dead.
Rick used one of the tainted knives to slice Negan, who will suffer the exact same fate that he intended upon Rick. The same fate that Nicholas suffered. How will Negan react to knowing that he’s been infected? He’s not THAT stupid. How will the Saviors react when they realize that Negan will not survive, no matter what happens? Beautiful. I really hope Rick survives, but I will be understanding if this is his time. I’m predicting that Rick and his allies will quickly dispense with whichever Saviors might remain hostile after knowing Negan is done for. I feel that Lucille may finally get the person she really wants. And who will do the deed? Could it be the man with the ironed face?
What a great Issue! Rick performance was amazing. They really do a
great job contrasting his leadership with Negan’s. His speech was
brilliant. Not only effective in distracting Negan long enough
so that he could get close, but it gave him the opportunity to display
his charismatic leadership abilities to all four communities who have
lived through the war. Even the Saviors could be swayed by Rick’s
offer. Rick knows that the only way for it to work is with Negan dead.
Rick
used one of the tainted knives to slice Negan, who will suffer the
exact same fate that he intended upon Rick. The same fate that Nicholas
suffered. How will Negan react to knowing that he’s been infected?
He’s not THAT stupid. How will the Saviors react when they realize that
Negan will not survive, no matter what happens? Beautiful. I really
hope Rick survives, but I will be understanding if this is his time.
I’m predicting that Rick and his allies will quickly dispense with
whichever Saviors might remain hostile after knowing Negan is done for.
I feel that Lucille may finally get the person she really wants. And
who will do the deed? Could it be the man with the ironed face?
Erm, “brilliant”? Rick’s speech was as stupid as every other speech he’s made in the current arc. He seriously talks too much these days- I’m hoping he dies next issue.
I think we can all agree the covers made this chapter look WAY cooler than it actually was…
I wa reading and thinking the whole time that Neagan was going to trick Rick and I was so waiting for it to happen then BAM!!!!!!!! WTF Outta nowhere Damn Rick pulls the knife wow freaking wow
I saw this happening in my head as I was reading. Negan was like yes Rick your right I have been so wrong building Rick up bringing him closer for the kill. He told Rick not to make him do it again and I think he was talking about Rick. So he thought he could lure him in then BAM Bust him in the head like he did Glen but Rick outsmarted him and cut his throat like a Natural Born Killa.. As Craig and Smokey would say DAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNNNNNN
I am not convinced that Rick is 100% okay going forward. So he’s out there by himself and then he attacks their leader and the guys there are just suppose to be okay with it. Maybe he basically sacrificing himself to make sure Negan gets taken out. SO MANY QUESTIONS.
Yeah, I’d imagine he’s about to die. Should be entertaining, although it’s a shame to see Negan die in such a stupid scene- seriously, he has a sudden change of heart? The whole All Out War arc has made very little sense. Before it started, Negan was an awesome, believable character and things were tense and exciting, and then suddenly both Negan and Rick were making incredibly stupid decisions, the plot got silly, and each side on the “war” happily throws themselves into the meatgrinder with seemingly no ill effects.
Glad it’s finally ending next issue. Hopefully Rick and a few of the other long-time characters die, too, to change things up a little. Maybe all this constant gunfire has attracted a giant herd?
I think Negan is a good guy. He always has been one. He show us that is a good guy in Issue 117 when he said “We don’t rape, we are not monsters”. And in several issues he always ask Rick to surrender before attacking them. The only think he wants its keeping things like them use to be.
I believe that Negan create Lucille to have a pretext to kill, so when he kills somebody he just think “I didn’t kill them, Lucille did” and then he just continue with his live without remorse.
He wants all the people to be scared about him, thats why he is acting like a bad guy.
He needs the supplies to protect the people of the Sanctuary, and to keep the other communities scared of “The Saviors” and not of the walkers. That’s how he “save” the people. Making them forget about the zombies and the Apocalypse.
Negan is scared about Rick, because Rick is the first one that fight against him and his group, Rick is destroying all the fear that “The Saviors” create. Rick is ending with their “Save” concept.
Well, thats all. I really like the Issue, I never think about Rick attacking Negan at the end of the Issue. For me it was better to see Rick and Negan working together to “rebuild” the world.
Robert trollman you’ve trolled your way into my heart once again! Since 123 when rick was shot with the arrow I have been nothing but stressing over what would happen to him going through every possibility, and my first assumption was correct about the bolt not being infected, which THANK YOU! But at the same time you did the ultimate troll, those panels were set up to look like it was the end for rick grimes and carl going on a spree of vengeance!
Do you have fun making people die inside until the next issue comes out? Because I don’t know how I’ll go back to monthly after 126 (look for me in the obituaries).
Still, I’m extremely happy with the way 125 turned out, you almost had me a little aggravated that Rick killed Negan after that heart felt speech about working together, holding hands and dancing and singing songs together, but then I was like fuckity fuck that fuck! Maybe now Rick will piss all over negan’s dead body after beating zombie negan with luciele, then carl, andrea, michonne, maggie, jesus, ezikiel, and dwight will all join in and simultaneously piss all over negans corpse laughing and having a grand old time because the war is over! Oh and then Rick will get his new iron hand and become double the badass he already is.
Chris
Robert trollman you’ve trolled your way into my heart once again! Since 123 when rick was shot with the arrow I have been nothing but stressing over what would happen to him going through every possibility, and my first assumption was correct about the bolt not being infected, which THANK YOU! But at the same time you did the ultimate troll, those panels were set up to look like it was the end for rick grimes and carl going on a spree of vengeance!
Do you have fun making people die inside until the next issue comes out? Because I don’t know how I’ll go back to monthly after 126 (look for me in the obituaries).
Still, I’m extremely happy with the way 125 turned out, you almost had me a little aggravated that Rick killed Negan after that heart felt speech about working together, holding hands and dancing and singing songs together, but then I was like fuckity fuck that fuck! Maybe now Rick will piss all over negan’s dead body after beating zombie negan with zombie luciele, then carl, andrea, michonne, maggie, jesus, ezikiel, the eug, carson and dwight will all join in and simultaneously piss all over negans corpse laughing and having a grand old time because the war is over! Oh and Rick will get his iron hand and become double the badass he already is
Chris
Robert trollman you’ve trolled your way into my heart once again! Since 123 when rick was shot with the arrow I have been nothing but stressing over what would happen to him going through every possibility, and my first assumption was correct about the bolt not being infected, which THANK YOU! But at the same time you did the ultimate troll, those panels were set up to look like it was the end for rick grimes and carl going on a spree of vengeance!
Do you have fun making people die inside until the next issue comes out? Because I don’t know how I’ll go back to monthly after 126 (look for me in the obituaries).
Still, I’m extremely happy with the way 125 turned out, you almost had me a little aggravated that Rick killed Negan after that heart felt speech about working together, holding hands and dancing and singing songs together, but then I was like fuckity fuck that fuck! Maybe now Rick will piss all over negan’s dead body after beating zombie negan with luciele, then carl, andrea, michonne, maggie, jesus, ezikiel, the eug, carson and dwight will all join in and simultaneously piss all over negans corpse laughing and having a grand old time because the war is over! Oh and Rick will get his iron hand and become double the badass he already is
god damn my computer is fucked up i keep going to edit and it deletes the whole post, stupid piece of shit
I’m hoping Rick dies a few seconds after that last panel. He is still surrounded by Saviours, after all. Would probably give the series a new lease of life if he finally dies… and then we could put all this AOW silliness behind us.
Hey guys. I did a video review on this issue. I hope you guys like it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR913fX1Ad4
Great issue, Kirkman , you are the best writer ! Woohooo cannot wait to fucking read 126
The knife Rick used on Negan is mucked up with walker guts. Yes it’s a shallow wound as it seems, but a deadly one.
I love Negan’s character, one of the most dynamic in the series, can’t wait till he’s on the show. But I never, NEVER, underestimate the badassery of Rick Grimes. Rick never cared if he lived died as long as Negan didn’t live.
Rick didn’t care if Negan had a moment of clarity when he was distracting him, even if he truly did have one…I’ve never seen Negan facial expressions like that.
All Rick wanted to do Heisenberg the shit out of Negan. Mucked up knife to the throat, mow down the loyalists. Done and done.
This All Out War arc just gets worse and worse. Is that supposed to be believable in the slightest? The huge drop in quality since the arc started has really put me off the comic. Which is sad, since it used to be awesome.
I can’t wait until the war is over so we can have a new story arc. Also it would be better if Rick died not Negan. Negan at least the dog eat dog world they live in while Rick remains the eternal optimist who will find that he has lost his humanity and is fighting for not.
I think after reading the entire issue that the whole speech was meant for negan’s men: They have a choice now: the leader who ‘made’ them do all the nasty things has died, some of negan’s men even already joined ricks side, now THEY have to decide: either adapt to the new way of things (fair trade), or die out like the dinausaurs. I think Rick assumes Dwight is gonna step up and tell the others Negan HAD to die for all of them to have a future. Rick *knows* Dwight wants Negan dead and is “on their side”. He will tell the others to stand down and Rick will shake Dwights hand, although Dwight killed Abraham. BUT, since Dwight let Eugene and the others go AND he “saved” Rick, he has shown that he can be “trusted” to a point. I predict that SOME of Negan’s men will start fighting anyway, but they will be outgunned, outnumered and without a real leader, so they wont make it. So to summarize: the speech was meant for Negan’s men, even for Dwight in a way: Negan’s dead will be payback for all the bad things the saviors did.
Negan just went too far, like others said: Too many people couldnt forgive what he did, he had to die so peace could have a chance. And yeah, nice Arc thing there with negan mentioning that the first time they met him about the knife to the throat, but now they are not 5 against 40, it’s all of rick’s crew against what is left of negan’s crew, and they are not gonna give their lives away for a leader they never even liked, he ruled through FEAR, and when he dies, he does not have to be feared anymore
I feel as if Rick beat Negan to it. Either way Negan was going there and was out for blood, Rick just got to him first. We don’t even know if Negan was being serious or just playing Rick in the first place. This was the element of surprise at its finest ladies and gents. I BELIEVE IN RICK GRIMES!!!!
Oh and by the way, does anyone know if the knife Rick used was the infected knife Jesus took back to the camp? #irony.
I looked back. they appear to be different, but who knows. I would suspect it was one of those weapons.
Rick did what needed to be done. Negan has shown time and time again that he can not be trusted at all. Rick was brilliant in doing what he did..Long live Bad Ass Rick Grimes.
Some people have been defending Negan’s out of character behavior in this issue by saying “Negan was just being sarcastic and Rick beat him to the punch”, and I respect that explanation, I think that’s very plausible. But if that’s the case, we as an audience NEED to have that made clear in the next issue. Otherwise it’s just bad writing. Please Kirkman, please clarify why Negan would act so strangely. Otherwise I feel like this monumental error on your part will be a distraction for me for issues and months to come.
Well put! I want some clarification is Issue #126, too, as to whether or not Negan was being sarcastic or not with Rick. Because it seemed SO out of character for Negan to get all wide-eyed at what Rick was saying and be honestly pondering Rick’s ideas.
I disagree…the key to Negan’s behavior was Negan looking at Dwight, when it is revealed, Rick is alive…then Rick saying, “don’t look at him, look at me”…
from there, think back, it was also just revealed to Negan that Carson escaped with Eugene…
Negan realizes, no one has his back…he is bargaining for his life at that point…
I agree completely. And I think he knows at that point, the Saviors will likely follow what Dwight tells them to do. Once Negan’s body hits, Dwight raises his hand to halt the saviors from harming Rick. Then they go to town.
I actually think it’d be best for Kirkman to leave it at that or drop very subtles hints towards what was going over Negan’s mind. I’ve seen so many interesting theories on this discussion of what might have caused Negan to act the way he did and that I think shows just how well written of a character he is.
I felt sorry for Negan. Especially since he had only begun to fathom Rick’s ambitions – and Charlie’s bulging, sparkling eyes he made for Negan one panel near the end (if you know what I mean), reached out to my emotions and gave me a sense that Negan is not so evil after all. Then, after Negan states that he understands Rick… Rick pulls out a friggin’ knife, then does a – well, what used to be a ‘Negan move’, and slashes at Negan’s throat.
“Okay now! Story Time’s over for two weeks now, kiddos! Now go get a girlfriend.”
“But Kirkma-”
“Shut up.”
“is this a fever dream?” Lord, I hope so. THAT would actually be good storytelling. We find out that Rick really IS infected, has the fever, dreamed up this whole scenario, and is, in fact, going to die a horrible death. Honestly, I can’t think of a single thing better to save this book in my eyes than to kill Rick. He’s the only “untouchable” character left, and it’s time for him to go. Even killing everyone else and making Rick go on without them wouldn’t have the same impact. Even killing Carl wouldn’t shock me at this point, but it would be bad writing. Killing Rick is the only thing left that can actually breathe some LIFE back into the Walking Dead, IMHO. I’d love to see it happen, see Carl kind of shrug it off by looking at the body and saying “huh.” and then just move on as if nothing happened while being tortured forever on the inside. Kirkman has just done such a great job with surprise deaths that he’s taught me not to care about any of the characters as much as I should. Carl and Rick are the only characters left that I’d really care to see go…and I think it’s Rick’s time. That would actually make me go “Wow, he actually did it!”, while killing Carl would just kind of make me go “huh.”
I disagree. The story starts with Rick, and it must end with Rick. Don’t understand why people want to see him go so badly.
Robert Kirkman has mentioned that Rick will not survive the whole series, so Rick can die at any point.
Who is the bigger villain. Negan or Rick?
Is it registering with anyone else that issue #127 has ALL new characters, some total mystery girl on the cover AND there has been ZERO EVIDENCE OF ANY DRASTIC CHANGE THUS FAR? Guys, we have 22 pages until that shift. Do you know what that this means?! Kirkman’s actually crazy enough to do it. He’s gonna fucking kill Rick. I couldn’t believe he’d do it for awhile but….holy shit, he’s gonna fucking do it.
I absolutely love it……
After reading 125 issues of the greatest comic series in my 38 years. Only one thing is continuously bouncing off the inner walls of my fully intact cranium. “What a fucking bad ass post apocalyptic new world ruler and regulator Carl Grimes is going to make in the many years to come”.
Somebody please give that boy an original copy of the Anarchist Cookbook and let him do his worst.
#126 = Rick is going to let Dwight go all Gallagher on Negans face with Lucille. I know she’s drunk off her ass, but I’m betting she can force down a few more before she herself has to be put down.
Now who wouldn’t like to see that?!
This ending was the most fucked up thing you could do. Im not talking about Rick and Negan im talking about how you just left it there and forced the readers to agonizingly wait till the final issue. You make me sick.
I have a crazy (but not unfathomable) guess about Issue 127. All issues going forward are 20 years into Rick’s rebuilt society. 90% of the characters never even experienced life before the apocalypse. This is the only world they know. The young woman on the cover is Glenn and Maggie’s daughter.
Yeah, i’m thinking that too. It DEFINITELY looks like Glen & Maggie’s daughter. Still, that would be such an insanely radical change. Is Kirkman seriously gonna do that?
Hard to say. It’s different but I’d still read it to see where he took it. It’s one thing to write about characters in a breakdown of society. It’s another to imagine characters who know nothing BUT that broken society. Hope he does something new and creative and not a dystopia which is just overdone now.
But that begs the question…. at the rate the walkers have decayed in just 2 years, what would be left of them in 20?
Stuff and thangs are going down
I like how they used the wrestling term “heel”
Okay, not since King Joffrey have I wanted a character to die in some brutal way, so badly! That being said, I am not convinced Negan has expired. We’ve seen him slip out of almost every situation and in many cases be a step ahead of everyone else.
Negan and his band of merry murderers cannot remain despite of Rick’s diatribe. My major take away from this is, whom else will we see perish? I firmly believe Rick is the vehicle through which the audience is transported into this world. If we lose him, we lose our connection. Andrea, Carl and all the rest are expendable in the writers ingeniously creative minds!
Now to play “Negan’s Advocate”: I think many people would love to live in a Darwinian world where the strong get whatever they want and survive while the weak cower or perish. They just need a claimed-esque system.
well i think it wasnt real that rick cuts negan’s throat…. maybe its
rick’s imagination or somehow a plan that plays in his mind… it wasnt
done yet… in the next issue i guess… what we expected or will rick
going to cut negan’s throat… or not…
Issue 125 was eagerly awaited yet nothing can top issue 126’s expectation after this last panel.
I’m loving the parallel between the comic and the TV show:
– Rick was not on top of the Dexter(comic)/Thomas(TV) situation. Comic: Rick gets surprised and only wins by taking an opportunity when he gets lucky with a well-times mini-horde attack. TV: Rick nearly gets killed by Thomas taking an opportunity during an attack and executes him after the fact, realizing he has no other option.
– TV-Rick offered peace to the Governor which he refused and Rick ended up shooting at the Governor’s group AFTER the Katana was swung. Now ComicBook-Rick seems to have learned from that experience and attacks first when everyone has their guard down. The geek-me imagines a floating +1 sprite above Rick’s head -> WALKPOCALYPSE LEVEL UP !
I’m wondering about some things though : What is the rest of Negan’s group doing? Why did they let their guard down? Wouldn’t they be keeping Rick in their sight in order to kill (or at least wound) him in case people decide to attack from the rampart? Wouldn’t they see the knife-move and squeeze the trigger and hit Rick (or pull it and miss) possibly before the knife even touches Negan? Did Negan’s apparent change of heart make his group let their guard down even though Rick should have been dead yet isn’t? Wouldn’t seeing him alive make them change from the “we’re going for the victory lap” attitude to one a bit more “shit will happen and bullets will fly”? Why why why?
This is why the comic medium gives the best cliffhanger renderings. It doesn’t need to show us all the background… All we see is what happens between the two protagonists; we have no way of seeing the reaction of other witnesses and this gives us the greatest amount of possibilities. For all we know Rick could get shot in the head right the next second after that last panel…
On the other side, TV episodes are usually constructed in such a way that we come to expect things before they happen. Because of the way things are filmed and edited, we always end up seeing the angle in which something is going to happen a few seconds before it happens. When you see that apparently somewhat odd wide-shot with the treeline well in view, then a close shot of the protagonists, you just know you’ll see that wide-shot again and that something will come out of the treeline. Very few directors/editors seem to want to really surprise people… instead they just scare us by doing things like cutting the shot a quarter of a second before a walker is going to bite Darryl during the prison attack… It’s just not as powerful as what this comic (and this chapter in particular) is achieving, there always so many questions we can ask but things (almost?) always fall into place on their own and we’re left with great emotions 😀
Great stuff… great stuff…
before rick attacked negan, there was a clip showing rick’s group watching rick talking to negan from a distance…possibly surrounding negan’s group while the conversation was taking place…looks like this was their plan…
Indeed, but what about Negan’s group? Why did they let their guard down? If any shots are fired from either side, Rick will (or should) be getting some…
Is it just me or the comic books are getting a lot of stuff from the tv series? Rick’s speech was really similar to that kind of “We can all live together” in the 4×08 episode between him and the Governor, but with a resolution in the Shane’s death style (stabbing him after convince him to guard down).
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I really liked this issue, but all that situation was very similar for me.
I was thinking the same thing, sounded a lot like the speech rick gave the gov on tv…
I think Rick, in the comic, knew exactly what he was going to do…that he needed Negan to be unprepared so that he could get close. He stated that they were fighting for a world without Negan. Whereas in the show, Rick was genuine about the possibility of The Governor changing his course of action.
I did think about the showdown with The Gov when I got to that point in the comic.
Yeah, but I mentioned the Shane situation too. So, for me is kind of a mix between those scenes.
Rick to Governor Speech + Shane’s Death = Resolution of All Out War. Should see that coming. (?)
I think Rick knew Shane wasn’t gonna back down, either. Just my thoughts.
I’m so glad Rick did what he did in the last panel. Fuck negan. He was most likely being sarcastic and didn’t expect that to happen lol or he had an Epiphany either way I can’t wait to see Lucille spill his brains out
Prediction for #126. It is not a dream. Negan was acting remorseful out of fear. He knows Dwight no longer supports him. Negan drops to the ground after being slashed, not dead, but dazed and surprised. He thought that his saviors would kill Rick once his body hits the ground, but Dwight raises his hand to stop them. At this point, the true mystery is who will give the fatal blow to a wounded Negan with Lucille. Or do they let him die slowly as the infection sets in? The covers are notorious for providing false information, however Negan on his knees staring at Lucille -which he had dropped when slashed- I feel is accurate as to what will happen. That was the cover of #126 previewed. Maybe Rick will pick Lucille up, hand it back to Negan and say “You have your chance to kill me now, but who you thought were your Saviors will kill you before my body hits the ground.”
Or… maybe right after Rick tells Andrea to say “We don’t die” the fever dream sets in for him and he goes delirious.
I believe Negan was only toying with Rick. I think Negan was hoping he could catch Rick off guard and kill him. Unfortunately for Negan, Rick struck first. Negan and Rick both saw each other as a threat to their own lives and the safety/well being of their people. One must die to ensure the survival of the other community; both are too much a liability to each other. Even if Negan truly did believe in Rick’s speech, he was beyond redemption in the eyes of many in the communities. I doubt anyone would have felt comfortable working with him.
What happend just minutes ago as i finished reading:
Negans eyes were full of sarcasm. A picture shows a knife attached
to his right arm, ready to cut into Ricks head, instantly killing him.
Rick surely noticed. The built tension got it’s release when Rick
used *his* knife (it wasn’t shown before in this issue, right?!)
on Negan. If Rick would have hesistated, he would be dead by now.
Can’t await the next issue, as:
– Rick could die (although in my opinion Kirkman wouldn’t kill him
before issue #200.. ) , he said farewell to Andrea and Carl,
not completly believing to get out alive of his actually idea.
– Michonne (hope she won’t die….) and the others are too far
away to stop Negan from killing Rick. Rick knows, does his action first.
There will be a fight for sure, and i do think that some character(s) we
know and like will die by the end of issue #126.
The upcoming revenge-wish will lead to the death of Negan.
I have a slightly feeling that either Andrea or Carl will get killed
in the next issue – leading to a brutal death of Negan.
Rick will survive, as the new hand-theme is surely not just for fun
(and Kirkman once mentioned, he dislikes his idea, that Rick
only got one hand left).
Stuff which will be harsh: Where are all those snipers, Negan got
in his group? They are not all dead for sure, or?
Other possible option noone has thought of yet:
Dwight kills Rick. The “Saviours” would trust him more,
than joining a community, whose leader killed their “Mastermind”.
Can’t wait for the next issue (nor the next issues.. and my comic
dealer won’t get it as fast as you fellow readers in america are
able to get it.. before the release of the last issue, i peaked (?) here,
to read about it first. I will.. hmh.. call a news blackout on myself,
before i get the next issue..)
Edith says: I also believe in a timeline-skip with Megans child beeing
the one on the cover of issue #127 – the only possibility that would
make sense after the sentence dropped: “… after all the time, she
should know.. ”
Please excuse my surely not perfect (but maybe funny 😉 ) english..
Read ya know.. and definitly not (!) before i get an issue of #126 in
my own hands, eyes, mind. 🙂
Rick will not die until he gets his bad ass weapon hand! #groovy
Does anyone else think the ending was Negan was having a nightmare and the next issue will have him waking up in a cold sweat?
I hope Negan doesnt use Dwight’s Wife as leverage 🙁 .
Seriously though, other than Negan somehow taking over the area or him dying, I dont see what kind of big change can happen to the comic. Only thing I can think of is time skip. Or maybe a lot of deaths
I have a prediction for 126.
I say that Negan passes out from the blood loss and when he falls down Rick is mowed down by the saviors and is brutally murdered.
Then it cuts to him waking from his coma and met by his wife lori who looks similar to what she did in is dream but actually looks like the woman on the cover of 127-128, and it turns out she isn’t the cheating whore that everyone thought she was and is actually badass.
So, Rick wakes up and she’s there and the walkers are pounding on the door and she helps him out of the window and they fall down and escape.
Hmm, what did I forget…..Oh yeah Carl was killed by the walkers on the day of the apocalypse which gave Lori hope that she wouldn’t be alone and that she was going to go find Rick.
So that was just a little prediction that i’ve had since I read 125 and thought i’d share it.
I have a prediction for issue 126.
Negan passes out from the blood loss and when he falls down Rick is exposed in the open and is mowed down and it kind of goes in this slow-mo where Carl is screaming and Andrea as well, and Rick hits the floor.
Then, it cuts to the hospital that Rick was staying at and it shows him wake from his coma. And as it turns out, the girl from the cover of 127-128 is Lori in the real world and in Rick’s dream was the way he saw Lori, but instead Lori is actually a badass.
So she’s there and she was trying for hours but he’d just now waken up. She explains everything to Rick about the infection that was from his dream and had become a reality. Then, she says that Carl was devoured as she was trying to escape, which gave her hope that Rick was still alive from the coma, because she could’nt bear to be alone.
So, they both escape out of the window and jump down to the van and they escape. The last panel is of them running off down the road to Atlanta.
I hope you enjoyed a little prediction I had after I did some research when I first read issue 125.
So, on 126’s cover. My guess is that Rick is holding Lucille. It’s being held in someone left hand. Rick lost his right. Bam.
Everybody needs to read the “favorite comment”…Negan was being serious. I doubt that comment would have been picked if it wasn’t somewhat accurate.
I couldn’t tell if Rick really had Negan convinced or if Negan was just about to do what Rick ended up doing. Good move on Rick’s part. Diabolical.