This is your post. Your discussion. Please leave a comment below. And remember, no matter what you thought of the issue, your fellow readers deserve a chance to read it for themselves! Thanks!
Best comment will win something from SDCC! I’ll have to see what we bring back for Insiders!
UPDATE! WINNER!
I let Johnny run with this one and his choice: MaximumParty! MP is one of our most prodigious commenters and I agree 100%. It’s well-deserved. This is like one of those Oscars that gets awarded for an entire body of work. MP, you were super pumped about the Nuclear Blast sampler, so I’ll see if I can’t find one and we’ll ship it up with some other SDCC goodness! I hope you actually yell out loud when you say you do, or we reserve the right to visit your home and take our stuff back.
The whisperers send their regards
Michonne will be on the war path because of what they did to Ezekial. As for baldy, she might not be as bad as her group wants her to be, because she knows that the only chance for her daughter is with Rick. I wouldn’t doubt that she was abused as well.
My head hurts just thinking about how much I blame Carl for the massacre in #144. Let’s get to the point here… Carl is a horny kid who lets the little head make all the decisions for him. The stakes have never been higher! :O
Wow, if I was Rick at the end there, I’d have to be careful not to….. lose my head.
You’re a savage, Ollie. Savage. 😀
I can’t believe the double twist here, poor Lydia is going straight back in her cell though, as I imagine Rick won’t be letting her roam free after that. Although given the upcoming issue title “blood for blood”, we’ll have to see how long she’s even alive for!
Doubt it. Rick knows what happened to her. She’s been banished.
This is where Magna and company step up and kick some ass.
The banishment was a front though, no? To make her leadership still look strong whilst keeping her daughter safe. And yeah, Magna lost eople too!
Could be… a front. I thought that as well. However Alpha seemed very distraught getting rid of her daughter.
Its interesting how everyone lost someone. This might serve to unite after all the small bickering going on.
No, I mean she was distraught and sending her away for her safety, but made it look like banishment so she looked stronger.
It makes me wonder if Michonne flies off the handle and takes out her revenge on Lydia.
In a sea of whisperers, Grimes will speak the loudest! Can not wait for 12:00pm today!!
At least Negan has standards… All for Rick utilizing Negan in some way?
#regan #nick
Next issue: Blood Bath ft. Michonne on the katana
Also, do the whisperers know of the Kingdom and Sanctuary?
You got my pick..i think this is where ol’ skol badass rick comes back and Euegene, and Michonne fly off the muthatruckin handle. put whisperers down….euegene is gonna lose it.
i’m betting they know about communities that rick has no idea about
My Adrenaline is flowing. I am shaking, most likely from the three cups I had from breakfast, but no doubt it’s not helping.
Honestly, I have no words. No issue of any comic ever has ever gave me feelings like this before. Not even Glenn’s death.
I am speechless.
War is coming. A world war. And it will make All Out War look like a common street fight.
Bravo Kirkman.
Yep just probably not whether but they know they’re out there
One other observation.
Notice that Alpha didn’t even give her victims the common courtesy of a complete death. She let them turn with their heads on a pike. No doubt deliberate, and an even more potent message.
Boy was I wrong.
Toldja not to let your thoughts run parallel with mine!
That was fucking insane. When the head’s showed up I was just expecting Andrea or Michonne. I had to do a double take when I thought I saw Dante but jesus. They hit someone from every clique. Really excited now for next issue. Rick’s gonna be really glad he’s got an insider like Lydia who knows the whisperers well enough. But shit… This felt like something that would happen on a landmark issue like 145 but now I’m really on edge because 150 is going to be the final issue in the next volume…
I do think it’ going to have a major moment for Carl though. Because it will contrast with issue 50 which heavily focused Carl….
Bravo Kirkman Bravo
this issue was a bit of landmark, it was finishing off a volume as well as the 3rd compendium
I’m putting off re-reading it and having to look at that line of SPOILERS on stakes again.
Bastet is going to flip.
She already did.
STILL flipping!
There are so many stakes!
I’m sure there is some funny pun I could have made about the stakes never being higher than they are now but I’m still reeling from that intense read.
All I can say is rest in peace Ezekiel and Rosita.
I didn’t even realize how nuts Rosita’s death was until I remembered how long she has been around! Also the fact that she was pregnant didn’t make the blow and softer.
I’m hoping Eugene goes full Rambo now and bites off lots of whisperer dicks!
That was a great issue, nicely done Kirkman!
Rest in peace Ezekiel, you are with Shiva now!
Ohh my god I was not expecting that. Rosita hit the most, with the pregnancy. I am glad Lydia is safe now, and I hope Alpha gets it. Rick can’t continue his ways of not killing the living anymore.
In the words of the governor…. KILL THEM ALL
what if it was not whisperers
Not sure I understand – why do you think it might not be the whisperers?
There’s a REALLY small chance and I mean REALLY SMALL CHANCE that The Saviors MIGHT have done it. They’ve staked zombie heads in the front of The Sanctuary, but this prediction is the same chance of this issue being a joke and everyone is actually alive. DAMN YOU, KIRKMAN!
it could be a twist. If rick will attack them, they will release the herd maybe it will be new enemies
…
I’m gonna post what I just send to Robert!
In the immortal words of Axel,
HO-LY SHIT.
Seriously you guys, fuck you. I mean, I love you, and of course I’m gonna grab #145 THE FUCKING MILLISECOND it hits shelves, but JESUS H CHRIST! That was some seriously grisly shit you guys just pulled! I thought #100 was going to go down as the most shocking issue, but now I’m thinking this one might take the cake. Absolutely awesome way to end the Volume and the Compendium. I just wanted to know, what is your ‘criteria’ for killing off characters? Is it simply because you run out of ideas for them, or do you sacrifice a decent idea for that character in order for something like this to occur instead? Anyway, looking forward to some good old fashioned VENGEANCE from Rick and the gang! This shit cannot go unpunished! Keep doing your thang,
Connor Harper-Adams
Victoria, Australia.
P.S Really excited for Season 6 of The Walking Dead and Season 1 of Fear! It’s gonna be great!!
HO-LY SHIT
I want all of next issue to be Rick giving an inspiring, valiant, twisted speech about how they are going to do the same to each and every one of The Whisperers in a slow, painful, and methodical matter.
thats was fucking nuts i was not expecting that many deaths there is a huge war coming. i cant wait for issue #145 this is by far the craziest issue of twd ive read i wonder why alpha didnt kill andrea and them i also wonder how she got that many people to follow her like that i mean why would they just take off with a strange bald headed women theyve never seen before? But great job guys yall never fail to suprise.
Some characters really need to learn to keep their heads in the game…
I could not wait to pick up the printed issue at lunchtime from my local shop so I bought a digital version this morning! Psyched that Lydia is coming to live with Rick and Carl. Maybe she’s pregnant? Wouldn’t that be a kicker! I am not psyched that all those people were skewered- especially Olivia, Rosita and Ezekiel. Damn, poor Eugene. I feel so bad for him, his dreams of domestic bliss and fatherhood are all gone. How freaking sad. Who the hell is going to lead The Kingdom now that Zeke is dead?!!? I betcha Rick is going to give a lot of thought to Alpha’s speech about suppressing our animal instincts. President Rick, Kinder Gentler Rick and Rebuilding Civilization Rick might become Animal Rick again (a la The Hunters or the guys who tried to rape Carl way back when) and start All Out War Part 2 with The Whisperers!! But damn, The Whisperer’s walker herd was massive and he would probably hate to have that unleashed on Alexandria. Or The Hilltop, since Alpha and The Whisperers know where that is since they swapped Dante for Lydia a few issues back. Damn, the possibilities in future issues of TWD are endless and will keep me reading for years to come! Everything since Issue #127 and the time leap has been superb, and I’m not just saying that in an effort to win the discussion contest for this issue ya hear!!
I definitely agree with those of you who said Alpha was putting on a front for the other whisperers, in banishing her daughter. I think she did it to protect her, not because she was weak. I believe Alpha must be a badass to be in charge of a group that believes they are wolves. It seems like there will be a fight within the whisperers group between alpha and someone else wanting to be in charge.
yeah i could see there being a change in leadership that would change everything!
No no no!
………. (thats about all I have to say)
i can barely breathe!! its simply a stunning conclusion! but whatever Alpha thought she was doing to mark her territory to terrify…is only going to fuel vengeance! Alpha thinks there is but one community….time to man up and feed into her statement….”Alpha UNTIL someone else takes over”!
i am problably wrong but i think it was not whisperers or alpha who did that great issue that everybody should read
Nah, Alpha explicitly said that they would know the border for crossing into their land, and Alpha likely observed those specific people (and maybe even took them herself) while she was at the fair.
WOW that was so GOOD ive read it 3 times now lol. here’s 1 thing im begenning to wonder when alpha says “We are animals rick grimes, and animals need a leader. There is the dominant and the submissive the alpha and the beta if the alpha doesnt assert itself there is chaos i only fill the role as needed until another steps up and takes it from me” if mabey lydia father is there and he is fixin 2 be take over the whispers. also i wonder how in the hell did a bald headed strange woman get all those people 2 follow her it doesnt make sense unless there was other whispers with her and they kidnapped the people either way tho theres some real crazy shit going on right now.
Great…now we are never going to know who knocked up Rosita. I’m going to assume it was Negan.
nnnnnmmmm, Unless they’re head is also on a pole, That still might come into play with Eugene’s impending descent into madness. Will he talk to Rosita on the CB?
This is all I have to say about this issue
Seriously now! I’m still reeling over this issue…sooo sad and infuriating at the same time…I think the key is in the comments from the Alpha..the “we are animals” … the horde is in a pen..they could be dealt with all at once…I mean think about it…Alpha has no idea of the munitions the communities have, she has no idea of the rage and sheer anger that consumes Rick Grimes…her vision is that of the community that exists today…and who’s to say ALL the whisperers think the same as she does…maybe there are more like Lydia that need to be civilized…they are like feral cats…if they get fed and have a nice warm bed, they become slightly domesticated quickly…leave them alone and there will be mice heads on sticks. It’s all about control…she infiltrated the community…most likely not on her own…possibly with others who took off their skins…it’s going to be tricky if they were to decide to infiltrate again…after of course RG shows them what animal behavior REALLY looks like!!
We’re gonna need a bigger boat….
*SPOILERS*
Wow. Great finale to the greatest compendium The Walking Dead has seen. First and foremost, while I was all but certain that Ezekiel had met his end, I was still completely shocked by that ending. Not only because it turned out to be much more than just Ezekiel, but because of the sheer brutality of the entire scene. Alpha did not even have the decency to keep those individuals from turning. Furthermore, I don’t remember the last time The Walking Dead killed off a pregnant woman, especially with said woman being a character that we have come to like after such a long time. Fucking gut-wrenching. And I absolutely love how underneath each character’s head was a small commentary from their fellow survivors. Those small panels are simple yet effective at showing the reality of humanity. Some of the now dead had people genuinely concerned for them. While others had people who call them “bitch” and such behind their backs. It felt so emotional, raw, and real. Now, turning my attention to the Whisperers, they have seriously proven to be the most interesting group thus far. The levels of psychology and philosophy that they have added to the comic is just incredible. Who are we to judge these individuals? They clearly have a strong belief that their way of life is correct and necessary. Who are we to say that is wrong and cruel? I love it. I absolutely fucking love it! Not to mention the exchange between Alpha and Lydia which ultimately led to Lydia being exiled, not out of hostility but out of love. It is pretty obvious that Alpha tried to conceal her genuine fear for Lydia’s life. Will some of her followers notice this slip of strength? I just hope at least Lydia understood it somewhere deep down. Big things are coming. And I don’t think it will be something as simple as warfare this time around. Whatever is approaching is going to completely mindfuck all of us. I cannot wait.
You know…in the end no one has even touched on the fact that if it had not been for Carl wondering off to find Lydia, that this would have never happened. What will become of Carl’s psyche? How will Lydia even be received in the community once all these people realize what has happened?
Wow if I were Rick I’d go all Sun Tzu- the art of war with the whole “know my enemy” on them all.
First, ship off the non fighters to one safe community and have all their armed fighters get masked made of skin.
Second, infiltrate looking like their part of the dead.
And finally, sabotage and exterminate methodically and mercilessly…there might be some flaws but I’m acting on emotion still
…..after reading issue 144.
You and me both… except I’m slamming my table and throwing everything around… FUCK!
This issue was deep like the minds of Minolta. It truly delves into the debate on the human condition. Are we inherently animal or civilized? Is humanity at the core good or evil? Does civilization mold us for the good or bad?
The contrast between the Whisperers’ world vs Rick’s new democracy is literally polar opposite..
The thing is…in some aspect they both have it right, but I believe it is never the extremes that are the answer …but some sort of coalescence of what is ideal and what their current environment will permit. There are all types of people, so to survive you must have structure in place that accommodates everyone (good or bad).
I think Rick has swung a little too far into recreating a bubble society. And Alpha clearly has taken the animal side to the extreme. Somehow they must meet in the middle…but doubtful that will occur peacefully.
All mentioned above in this issue also harkens back to Negan’s most recent chat with Rick from the cell…in fact, he may be a necessary resource in this new equation. He pretty much nailed it.
Of course…all of this is open for debate, because there really is so much going on here. It really could go in so many directions; which is awesome.
I wonder if Rick will make a swift decision, or bring it to a vote? Certainly, with the size of his realm…a vote would really hamper appropriate action.
Hat is off to Kirkman on this issue…it really brings back some serious Renaissance era philosophizing!!!
CarlforPrez
NOOOOO! FUCKING FUCK! WHY?! I AM SO FUCKING DONE! ROSITA!! SHE WAS FUCKING PREGNANT! EUGENE’S GONNA… OH god…
I don’t think I can read The Walking Dead anymore*…
*I will, but thinking about the death of 12 characters has fucked up.
Never felt like posting a comment before. Always enjoyed the comments posted though. These bums are gonna get f*cked up. What have they done to get to where they are. Just scrounge off a bunch of deadbeats.
Rick has an empire.
What’s chance do these freaks have…..
Please tell me Rick is show them a few things about being an animal.
Alpha… She… She’s gonna have to go. She will HAVE to go. If civilization wants a chance, Rick needs to pull out the weeds. God, I’m worried about Eugene and Michonne now. That next cover, too. “Blood for Blood.” Maybe Michonne goes out alone just like in those Governor days.
Methinks fire. Fire is not an effective weapon for walkers but if it spreads among them… it will certainly be useful for luring out the non-walkers. Let’s start building flamethrowers and go head hunting.
Fire and flamethrowers, excellent suggestion. However you may set forests on fire…
After reading this issue a second and third time, and going through the feels again, I just have to throw this out there…. Andrea is such a badass. I really think she has slowly become my favorite character. That last frame, what are we going to do now Rick? No tears. Just waiting for the next move, to do her duty and snipe some ass.
THAT’S what I’m talking about!!! My Sniper!!!
She’s gonna need her sniper back from Carlos.
Rick sums up my reaction to the issue and to this discussion title…
Michonne…
Excellent issue, with several key moments, reminded me of issue 137. Read it four times already… Where to start?
–The heard. Rick’s people has shown they can handle large herds. However, Alpha says “My people are among them, steering them…” It would be very difficult to handle them if unleashed. Alpha also says, “but they can only do so much”. It would come down to numbers of people in each group steering the herd. Whatever solution Rick finds, it has to involve NOT releasing the herd. Taking out Alpha may not work either because the next leader is an unknown commodity, unless… (I digress, see below)
–Lydia and Carl. I still believe Lydia is playing Carl, all of us.
–Abut other groups, Lydia’s statement “My mother hates outsiders, Hates them” implies on the existence of other groups, and some may have survived. Time to send someone around the Whisperer’s land to find out.
–Alpha’s defense of rape. Rape is just a visceral act I cannot believe the Whisperer’s females are Ok with that. There’s got to be dissent among the Whisperer’s females. This maybe something Rick can use to attack from within.
–Alpha’s “the world is for the strong” speech will make Rick think, especially since Rick’s truly believes “the world is for the strong” (remember Andrea’s “we do not die”?) The difference is that Rick decided to do it by reconstructing the pre-apocalypse society and it’s values. Rick is the leader because he is the strong one.
–Alpha’s “my daughter is not safe here”. I do not buy that, especially since I believe Lydia is playing Carl, all of us. What’s going to happen? You stay over there, we stay here? No way, the TWD comic story cannot continue if everyone makes peace. She puts the show on for Rick and sends Lydia to spy on Rick’s group, or maybe send a message to… (I digress, see below)
–Alpha’s “I have marked our border” I expected a line of chained zombies, including all of Rick’s party members.
–Border double panel, shocking, powerful, the flies over the turned heads, the sunset. Very emotional, still thought everyone was there.
–Olivia, Josh, Brother, Tammy, Luke, Erin, Ken, Amber, Partner, Oscar, Rosita, Ezequiel. I expected to see Ezequiel, however I did not expected to see others. Especially Rosita. In the previous issue she said she had something to do. This implies Alpha had a long time to mingle and ask people to follow her. What do all dead characters have in common? Besides thinning the character list in the comic, it seems we may have two groups; those who followed Ezequiel in his quest, and those who had some kind of run in with management (Rick, Maggie, Carl, etc.) and decided to follow the bald woman. Although I cannot fit them all. Also, what did Alpha say to them for them to follow? Food for thought, are these all of the members of Rick’s community that followed Alpha? What if others also followed and were not killed (Negan, perhaps? What about Magna et al?) Some of those who had a run in with Rick/Maggie, may have mentioned Negan to Alpha.
–Rick’s rescue party seems intact. Alpha did not cross path with them, or she killed them all in front of Andrea, Michonne the way Neagan killed Glenn, to send a message or teach them a lesson.
So where do we go from here?
–Alpha seems to be like Neagan, extremely violent, sadistic and intelligent. I cannot fathom that her mother instincts will overcome the evil she did to those 12 people. I do not believe on Negan’s redemption either. I believe Alpha has intel on all communities.
–I believe Alpha and Neagan are together
–Rick will go back, explain what happened to the communities and go back to the “only the strong survive to defend our way of living” mode.
–Major confrontation between ensues between Alpha/Negan/Herd vs. Rick/Andrea/Michone/Maggie/Jesus. Lots of deaths.
–I think Eugene will survive, he is building a radio and that will play to contact other groups in the future.
Those are my five cents…
I really don’t see how you think Lydia is still playing Carl. The suspicion was easy to see at first but she’s been nothing but genuine to him since their first encounter. And Alpha’s breakdown seems legitimate. I don’t think these are actors playing roles to trap our characters in some elaborate mousetrap.
There has been no implication of Lydia still “playing” Carl and tons of implications in direct opposition. I think Alpha sent her way solely because she does love her. Alpha is still Lydia’s mother. And in a moment of weakness she let Rick’s group have her but played it off as banishment for Lydia being weak so she would continue to look like an “alpha.”
Valid points, however this is TWD comic not real life. In the past we have been led to believe one thing and the plot twists in a different way.
Yes, but TWD is supposed to be “like” real life in some sense. Just a tough brutal life. I understand sometimes the plot gets twisted and these can be a surprise but typically these twists make sense or they at least have a buildup that hints at their coming. I just don’t see what Lydia, Alpha, or the Whisperers would have to gain from Lydia playing the weakling. She’s one little girl. She will not get very far if she’s supposed to be some kind of rogue agent. It seems honestly too elaborate when Alpha seems to have the means to do whatever she’d wish to Rick’s group. I think until otherwise shown, Lydia can be considered genuine in what she does. I don’t think she poses a threat… At least not intentionally.
Again, valid arguments. I think it is odd we accept Alpha can have two sides to her, but we cannot accept that she would manipulate her own daughter fer her own benefit. of course, then Kirkman comes out and he does not conform to any of our predictions!
On thing I leked about this issue is how issue 143 last page and issue 144 first page are part of a full panel (two page) drawing.
Omg wow. Jaw dropping wow
Greatest issue I’ve read in so long. I cried inside like my heart dropped
When I had to consult the Walking Dead Wiki to jar Memory cells of who a couple of the now moaning on a pole zombified heads were, it made perfect Narrative sense for an extinction event.
Looks like Therapy is the thing I’ll need after this Issue…
I’m not sure I can go to work tomorrow.
What an issue! In the next one, I’m thinking Michonne is gonna slay Carl’s new girl. She won’t only be slaying her…if you get my drift.
so….I guess the Carnival is OFF next year?
Animalistic Alpha went all Vlad the Impaler on a dozen fairgoers! This
world’swar’s gonna need the OLD Rick Grimes!! I know you’re in there!! Come on back!!!~
You DeadHeads were right about Ezekiel (sniff) but you still can’t predict what’s coming… none of us saw something like this coming!!
Dear Robert Kirkman,
As a long standing, die hard fan of you and The Walking Dead, I definitely feel comfortable saying what I am about to say. FUCK YOU MAN!!!! Jesus dude! Are you kidding me right now! I mean don’t get me wrong I absolutely love what you did here, caught me off guard by a mile with Rosita’s death, but are you fucking kidding me man!!! Holy Jesus something needs to be done about these whisperers, they even killed a member of the Negans Cock Fan Club!!! This is gonna resonate for a long ass time dude, I just really hope you have some sweet Alexandrian justice about to hammer down on these pricks! Please Mr. Kirkman, have these whisperes experience a suffering never before seen in your legendary panels!!!!!! For all that have and will soon die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I must admit when I saw Tammy’s head on a stick I immediately thought, “well, that solves that little issue for Maggie.”
And Rick needs to send the Walking Dead’s version of Seal Team 6, aka Jesus, to firebomb that horde.
That’s not gonna make it any better… Her family is gonna blame Maggie. Or Rick. Or anyone they can.
True, true.
*nods* a very welcome bit of silver lining there
Best issue ever wait best so far …… Really I don’t know how you do it but you do and thank you just one thing thou how did the whisper lady get all those people to go with her if I was at a fair I would not take off for nothing maybe she said that she had the trailer for season 6 …… Come on that’s good people
Well, now instead of everything saying ‘Negan makes the Governor look like a kitten’, they’re gonna be saying ‘Alpha makes Negan look like a cuddly puppy’.
Shit, man. She is cold. Not even animal. Mineral maybe. I was half-expecting her to off Lydia when she started saying how weak she was.
I had a bad feeling Zeke was going to die, but I didn’t expect everyone else. Alpha must’ve had help at the fair, just waiting for certain people to be off alone and then dragging them away to their deaths.
I read this issue in my car at work, and I must’ve looked like a madwoman because I was literally shrieking over it XD I’m not sure whether to say ‘good job’ or not. XD
I’m thinking about Negan pitted against Alpha. Wait… he’d probably ditch Lucille for her!
Welly well well, you guys are just FULL of surprises, i was like, “what the fuck just happened?” So i was not expecting anything of that calibur and im pretty sure im never going to yell as loud as i did ever again in my life, so thanks for that cause my neighbors now think im a fuckin crazy person, straight up worth it though hahha
Also, this issue made me feel truly bad for Lydia, and I personally am dispelled of any feelings of her being dishonest or ‘spying’ for the Whisperers. She’s a teenage girl who probably had a normal life until this nightmare where her mother doesn’t protect her from being raped and molested, in fact she acts like it’s perfectly ‘ok and natural’, where she’s denied motherly affection and turned into a child solider… it just makes me sad for her, actually.
Of course I could be completely wrong and she’s even more twisted than her mommy dearest 😉
OMG… I am super pissed right now. Some of my faves were in those last few pages. I kept wondering how the Whisperers were going to emerge as a real threat. They looked like a handful of weirdos before now and I couldn’t see a real threat to the communities which have been, as Rick informed us, stockpiling ammo. But now… this has the potential to rival All Out War as a mega conflict. Are we supposed to be putting spoilers in here? Not sure. So I’ll say that the next to last “reveal” has me the most heartbroken. Damn, Kirkman… I’ve forgotten all about Jon Snow now.
I love not being able to anticipate what the hell will happen in each issue! You guys make me feel like i am at the movies, back in the day, when they actually had serials. Plus cartoons and newsreels too of course. The cliffhanger endings of this arc are amazing. Bravo!
observations: ok Alpha is one mean nasty bitch, that is obvious, but to see her break down and cry… That really surprised me. She spent so much time and effort with Rick in elaborating just how superior the whisperers were, and how Ricks people, et al, were nothing. Not only that she took great pains to beat the point across that the whisperers behavior was “normal” and “natural”, as opposed to Ricks people, who are basically trying to live as close to the old way as possible. It was overkill (ha ha), was she trying to convince Rick or herself? We don’t know the backstory of the whisperers, how long has Alpha been Alpha? She Blythely mentioned that she was Alpha and in time there would be another Alpha. Is this an ongoing change for them? How many Alpha’s have there been? Is her position in jeopardy? Her character reminds me so much of Dawn’s character in the TV series. And remember what happened to her!
What will be Rick’s next move here? I, personally would think Maggie would want to open a can of whoop ass as soon as she finds out what happened. Maybe that explains the upcoming cover, in which Maggie is punching Rick. I can see him not retaliating since he knows what lurks out back of the whisperers camp. That is not Maggie’s way. The whole delimma of what the heck to do might be the thing that seriously divides the camps.
As for who was killed, I loved the randomness of who she offed. But it did seem a bit too random. Makes me wonder how much Alpha did see and hear at the fair. Sad for Rosita and Ezekeil, but they all gotta go sometime.
So stay tuned, dear friends, for the next exciting chapter of We Are The Walking Dead,,,, aka Carl, this is another fine mess you have gotten me into.
Is Andrea wearing a mask in the last frame?
No. It’s the shadow of the brim of her hat over her eyes. Adlard’s done the effect a few times before.
She borrowed that straight from Don Diego de la Vega.
Sooooo Kelly and Connie are still nowhere to be seen…anyone else a bit suspicious? I mean, there has to have been some kind of insider presence at the fair. There’s no way Alpha pulled off all that carnage on her own.
Alpha, as smart as she is, probably would’ve had some Whisperers nearby to back her up. Wouldn’t it be something if she held a person/people captive in case of retaliation?
Oh good point,I think they were just copulating but maybe they are scheming helpers of Alpha!
All I know is people are going to want retaliation, and Rick isn’t going to be very quick to deliver it.
I think the line he said on his knees was more about the position this puts him in than it was about what happened.
He was willing to walk away and leave the Whisperers to their territory, he wouldn’t have bothered them.
Now he’s forced to take some kind of action.
To deliver retribution.
My first comment involves my own naivety – I read Issue 144 in a public place! I was so shaken!
What an issue! Perfect execution here, as I did not see that coming. As each character’s head appeared I was holding my breath waiting for the ball to drop. I had feelings of relief when I didn’t see characters I loved and feelings of great distress when Rosita appeared. That was a shock! The set-up made us believe that Michonne and Andrea were in danger. I think that’s why the suspense was so overwhelming. How will the group react to this? So much for a friendly festival!
Can Rick and NEGAN team up…carl & lucille it would be “FUCKIN AMAZINGLY FUCKIN AWESOME FUCKIN SHIT TO SEE” (in the words of NEGAN). come on he is tryin to earn ricks trust, and now there is a common enemy, rick gives negan lucille and a direction with michonne following behind ready to HULK SMASH EVERYTHING
Alright Rick…. time to shave the beard and grow your hair out again…. need to kick some ass.
Seconded.
Motion to move!
Like 2pac would say, you gotta keep your head up
at the end when Andrea said “What Do We Do Now” I was expecting 1 of these answers They’re Fucking With The Wrong people,I Don’t Know,Were Going To War,Unlock Negan Give Him Lucille,Were Not Letting Them Escape Alive.
Alpha is bad….but she is not “Negan bad”…and that makes her even more dangerous than Negan. This issue showed it. Alpha, despite the evil necessary for her to behead many of Rick’s people, showed clear emotion at the thought of losing her daughter..even though she had to say otherwise to keep her position as “Alpha” in check. On the other side of that coin, she is as cool, calm, and collected as anyone we’ve come across…and she seems to plan a few steps ahead. This is in complete contrast to Negan, where he reacted in the moment and with sheer emotion. Negan was like an animal that just had to be caged…and could be countered with force. Alpha, despite living like one, is not an animal in that sense. She is intelligent, regardless the way she’s chosen to survive. I fear any sense of force Rick’s group will put on the Whisperers is already planned for and will be met with a response that would make Negan say “Holy Fuck!”
I really loved how Adlard teased us right before the Ezekiel reveal with the silhouette of the dreads…giving me a sinking feeling in fear of it being Michonne (I just might cry if we ever see that). It sucks that we lost Ezekiel, but for me, Rosita was a harder hit. She was pregnant, and trying to make a life with Eugene….that was a tragic loss.
I certainly don’t think this tragedy had the impact of the issue 100 tragedy, mainly because we didn’t have to see these characters go. I, for one, will never forget how I felt when I WITNESSED Glenn get his head beat in, in front of his family no less. That was horrific…and with milestone issue 150 just a few issues away, I’m afraid (and excited….and afraid) that we’ve not experienced our worse loss yet.
All I can say, big fucking mistake by Alpha. She has no idea what she is getting into. I often wish Rick were as cold as some of his foes so he could just cut off Lydia’s head and say “Enter my lands and your whispers will fade into wind.”
Am I wrong or have the Grime’s Unified Territories spent the past two years training citizens, stockpiling ammunition, constructing armors and building weapons? If it were me and I still had my murdah posse on hand (Andrea, Michonne and Carl), there is only one option; mount up and prepare for a great crusade to purge the evil from the land.
And if you really want to get creative with mass zombie culling, I’d fucking suit up in zombie guts, find one of the many herds that have been deflected away from the communities, and then herd them back towards Alpha’s camp. But before doing so, filling them each with dynamite and fire bombs.
Regulators…
Shiva had an Ezekiel
Alpha’s getting A-HEAD of herself…. no? Anyone? Hello?
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Sorry.
Still in shock about the last few pages, and trying to process how this is going to play out.
First, I think Alpha has screwed the pooch here. She went to the fair, looked around, and decided this community was weak. After making this analysis, she decided she would be able to intimidate them into forfeiting any opportunity to expand into her territory. I assume this decision was made in an effort to avoid further conflict, and she couldn’t be more wrong.
Here’s how I think this plays out: Rick doesn’t want to retaliate because he’s afraid of losing everything he built to a giant walker herd. He’s going to weight the lives of the living over the vengeance of the dead. Jesus will likely stay neutral on this decision. Maggie, Andrea, Carl, Michonne, Eugene, Magna and a bunch of secondary characters aren’t going to agree and attempt to mount an attack. Rick will find out and confront them; try to rationalize with them, and fail; and finally join them because he’s not going to watch them march to their deaths. This will start the war, and we’ll see all the communities bring hell down on the whisperers… where the saviors will step up and save everyone, finally bringing them respect from the other communities. Lots of people die (Hopefully no more core characters, but let’s be honest. If Robert is offing Rosita and Zeke this early, we’re probably losing one or more of the following by the end of 150: Rick, Carl, Andrea, Michonne, Jesus).
After reading the issue a fourth time I have noticed something very interesting. When Alpha tells Rick that she can not offer Lydia the safety she needs, she is saying this to Rick quietly, in confidence. Rick seems genuinely surprised. This is out of earshot of the others.
Alpha is definitely emotional about this. Its obvious the other whisperers are not aware of what she said because she yells over to them she doesn’t need their help, as if some struggle was going on.
This leads me to draw a few conclusions. Alpha really does care about Lydia and that these actions are genuine. This is not some sort of ploy to plant a spy. Alpha is truly worried about Lydia’s safety.
Now, with this being said, this questions a possible fragility in Alpha’s role as leader. Is she even the true leader? Is she a front for some bigger Alpha and Omega? Something is worrying her to the point of casting away her daughter for her own good.
This is even more interesting because Alpha is sending Lydia away with a group that she has basically provoked war with by murdering ten people. What would scare her enough to send her daughter away with a group she started a war with?
This mean’s its possible that she has calculated war would happen and figures that she can just take Lydia back after the horde steamrolls over Rick’s group. But why take the risk? It seems like Alpha truly is worried about something else.
Can’t wait to find out either way.
Alpha sees The Survivors as weak. She also sees Lydia as weak. And there is no place among the Whisperers for the weak. I don’t think she’s sending Lydia off to be with Rick & Carl primarily because she fears for her safety but rather, she’s sending her off because she simply doesn’t belong with the Whisperers. She can’t offer her the life she needs, not safely… maybe not safe for Alpha herself as she does have a large group of Whisperers to contend with. Think animals… how they treat the weaker within their group… how the weaker would compromise their safety in numbers. As for Alpha’s tears of emotion, that’s normal, being that Lydia is her daughter… but the difference is that she won’t dwell on the pain and let that pain consume her. That’s what makes her strong, according to her. So therefore, she is able to smack Lydia & send her away. I’m sure Alpha realizes that The Survivors have managed to somehow thrive & for quite some time, therefore, Lydia has somewhat of a better chance with them than being out on her own. Alpha wouldn’t want to join them because she feels they’re not free.
That’s just my take on it.
It seems contradictory to say the Alpha is strong enough to send her daughter away and on the same breath say it is Ok to cry.You know my theory about Lydia being a spy (and that stirred the pot!), however, “seanmathews1” brings up a good point: internal conflict. Alpha does say “[…] If ALPHA doesn’t assert itself… there is chaos. I only fill the role as needed, until another steps up and TAKES it from me […]” This passage bothers me because it could imply at least two things: 1) She is not asserting herself and there is a new leader in the making within the ranks, which would imply in a cleansing of all Alpha supporters if she loses (including Lydia)/ This would kill my theory of Lydia as a spy, or 2) Someone else TAKES it from her, possibly Neagan. In this case Lydia is sending a message back to Neagan. Is she becoming the “weak one” withing her group? Did she get a hold of Neagan during her covert mission? Was Magna group a Whisperer’s undercover mission (what about those who are missing Kelly and Connie)? I went back to issue 127 and re-read Rick’s interrogation of Magna. Rick asks “I take it you’re the leader of this group?” Her reaction is “Leader? No we don’t have a –” Could this be a slip of the tongue? The names Alpha and Magna. Of course hindsight is 20/20.
Strong people can & do cry. They’re not immune to pain. Alpha & the Whisperers are living like animals. When a dominant animal emerges in the ranks & defeats another animal that stands up to it, the defeated animal surrenders its spot as leader, if not forced to. To me, that sounds like what Alpha was saying. Of course, Alpha could have conflicting emotions, and if that’s so, we’ll find out soon enough. I doubt it, tho… not with having a history of not only allowing rape but expressing that it’s a natural thing. Doesn’t look like it phased her to mark off the boundaries headhunter style either. As for Lydia, ties to Negan and/or Magna, & all that spying & shit… maybe… but there’s enough going on right now without having all of this to be some majorly elaborate covert mission, hinging on one girl (there are certain events that don’t fall into play for it to be planned anyway, if you ask me). All in all, this is a major event but the thing that is at the forefront of my mind is that this will be second to one event much larger: I think this will all lead to a civil battle. What’s happening with Carl, Lydia, The Whisperers, Gregory, Maggie… all that is heating the water up to a boil. Someone’s gonna stand up to Rick, I just feel it.
Again, this is just my take on it, and the thrill of it for me is that I’m proved wrong more often than not & Kirkman does a fine job regardless!
I’m down with the idea of Magna & company being some of Alpha’s eyes in the sky. She’s smart and obviously plans a few moves ahead. She stated that she wants to learn about these new people and what better way than some informants. Spying was huge in winning the Revolutionary War. This is a war right? What’s the old saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I just think Magna and all are enjoying civilized life too much at this point. There’s also something going on with iron face wanting to step down as leader of the Saviours. I feel undercurrents between these communities. I think Eugene is gonna man up and take over the Saviours (all double heartbroken and ready to bust some balls) and the CB is probably his weapon of choice. Information is power.
Or Eugene could take over the Kingdom. Lots of leaders emerging and shifting.
However, Magna’s group lost someone as well….
Spelling Negan wrong ( :
Interesting thoughts. I got that same feeling.
If they truly are animalistic then they likely have experienced some predation themselves or have gone head to head with a population of competitive dominants. Either way, they have found and now thrive in their respective niche. So the real question is, what is the keystone species responsible for the suppression of the Whisperers?
I personally am an avid fan of a remnant shadow government or some wealthy corporation. I think I watched too much Resident Evil
I could have fucking sworn I clicked on reply to “seanmathews1” comment above. That’s what this is in regards to.
It’s just the way these damn comments stack… hard to tell sometimes.
Rick will soon realize he is not equipped to handle this, and will turn to the one man who is. Welcome to the real return of Negan!
OK, bad joke time:
“Aplha, when Ezekiel said he wanted head, that’s NOT what he meant”
Ba Dum Dum Tsss
Ok, I can’t stop thinking about how Alpha got all those people separated from the fair and managed to decapitate and mount all their heads on spikes herself. I have this sneaking suspicion that she had help, and possibly inside help. What if Magna’s group was actually sent by the Whisperers to infiltrate communities, and when Alpha decided to send them a message, Magna and her crew were already there ready to help carry out the deed. Since we still know so little about Magna’s group I think they deserve a good amount of suspicion in how this whole thing went down.
If that’s true then why did Alpha cut off Luke’s head? He was part of Magna’s group.
Shit, your right, well there goes my theory. Damn, I thought I was on to something there, lol!
Wow! What a great discussion. I’m still shocked. Poor Eugene. My question is how did they get to these people? Wouldn’t be surprised to see a Rick/Negan alliance in the future.
Looks like their going to be another war. Rick and negan might have to team up. Great ending to compeduim 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow is right! I think it was Daffy duck who said, “I guess you know this means war.” And to quote Negan Muthafuckity fuck fucker…..take your pick from whatever comic Negan speaks. Would they use Negan to fuck some shit up? And if so how quick would he betray them?! Can’t wait for the next issue. #TheWalkingDeadSDCC
I was pretty mad when that ending came out… Ezekiel… Man! Rosita! I thought Eugene would be there but OBVIOUSLY Robert Kirkman wanted to keep him alive! So mad at him! All those people! What about Dwight about Amber? Euegene about Rosita? and most of all… Michonne about Ezekiel! MY GOD! If there was a war going to take place some point after #150 Rick will die during the war. Lydia will probably be tortured by Michonne of her dam hatred! FUCK! I can’t even read it now! SO PISSED!
“War is Alpha’s peace.
Freedom is her slavery.
Ignorance, her strength.”
-George Orwell (kinda)
Tell the alexandrians that the whisperers send there regards & that alpha always pays her debts
Alpha Lanistar
this issue was heavy shit. All i know is, you never fuck with Rick’s fam. they’re gonna have to call the next volume “From Whispers to Silence”
“From Whispers to Fucking With the Wrong People”
If only they allowed more than 3 words for a story arc/volume title…
hey whats up with that hardcover compendium 3 tho…
and that season 5 special edition thoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Peep this:
http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/111827/sdcc15-mcfarlanes-the-walking-dead-season-5-limited-edition-blu-ray-packaging-unveiled/
dude. i don’t know who you are, but you are on here all the time and you are always holding it down. thank you.
“dude”
I’m this site’s biggest stalker… uh… fan!
You’re welcome!
I wonder if the whisperers have anyone in the asz. Is that feasible? Someone on the inside would be very useful to them.
During the time of the head reveals we all just had to keep reading, and with every page-turn hoping that one of the people we care about isn’t on the next. This is relevant by the end when we find Rosita’s head and simply instead of someone talking about the person we get the innocent eugene just looking through stuff probably wondering where she is. Then we see Ezekiel (which hit me hard because he was one of my favorites) just with a full panel, zombie eyes, and everything, not even giving him closure on the feelings he wanted to share that we know he desired from the prior issue, but Michonne was also crying which would’ve been a lot worse had she known how he felt.
My head hurts just thinking about how much I blame Carl for the massacre in #144. Let’s get to the point here… Carl is a horny kid who lets the little head make all the decisions for him. The stakes have never been higher! :O
Oh geez!!! Is there no hope for Michonne to be happy? This was devastating! Rosita too?!?! This seems to show that in this story arc family and happiness is off the table…i fear for maggie’s children and what will happen to andrea.
Having heard so many people try to ship Michonne and Rick, i would always come out smug and say “Not gonna happen, her heart belongs to her soulmate, Ezekiel”…….Well now i say fuck it!!! With andrea dead in the show (an awful mistake to her character) i say the only other person that Rick could possibly be happy with and be as badass would be michonne. now knowing that Ezekiel will die Im not sure i wanna see michonne and Zeke get totgether in the show…just put rick and michonne together …..it is meant to be
FUCKING KIRKMAN!!!! IM so mad i cant think or breath!!!!! why? just why? does that alpha bitchhhhh know who shes fucking with?? and im pretty sure between the four comunities their are more of them than the fucking horde of fucking fuckkk walkers and whisperers god im soo soo angrrryyyy!!! poor poor miss rosita! i want to cry for eugene and myself!! this is horrible! so many things wrong to little time! so apparently everyones gonna end up unhppy and alone except for the neighbors ERRGGGG
Do you think there is a chance that Magna’s group came from the whisperers…and they have been spying for Alpha the whole time??
So, they killed one of their own? I know they’re brutal but that would seem unlikely. Magna’s group had not run into any other survivors, they had a huge trailer setup with horses. Credit for creative thinking though, and her introduction being around the same time could make that seem possible
Do you think Rick will want to retaliate, and maybe that’s why Maggie is punching him on 146? Or do you think he doesn’t want to retaliate, and that’s why Maggie is punching him? Complete opposites and I could totally see either happening, or of course it could be for some reason I cannot even fathom! Kirkman has surprised me once or twice ( ;
Not since issue 100 have I dreaded turning the page so much
Epic issue!
War never changes.
My thoughts are that Rick will have some folks become whisperers to infiltrate and attack from within.
Could be a suicide squad with a suicide mission, but I think Rick will be pushed even farther than he has gone before. What happens next could make Rick an outcast, which could end up leaving him skybound. Things like that could manifest into his destiny. Nobody is invincible.
Welcome to the dead body road.
That is his birthright & so the saga continues. What a nailbiter!
Don’t you fucking start 😀
All I gots to say is time to sick some mothafuckin’ Negan and Lucille on all their sorry asses!
Right!? I can’t be the only thinking this could turn into a Silence of the Lambs situation where Rick taps Negan to help figure out how to take out The Whisperers. I mean, if you wants advice on the mind of a sadistic monster, Rick only needs to travel down to his basement for help! I’m thinking we see Rick let him out, they team up to take out The Whispers, Negan find a way to get free and goes his own way.
When you look at the ebb and flow of human civilization, there is a continuum of what we term ‘freedom,’ with an extreme from total anarchy and lawlessness (without the negative connotations that it implies), to total tyranny and suppression of any individual rights under the weight of total rule of law. The dichotomy depicted between Ricks group and Alphas group is interesting, as Alphas group waivers on total anarchy with no laws created or abided by, while Ricks group strives to recreate a society under rule of law but that also protects individual rights. Then there was Negans group, which functioned under a type of tyranny where all were expected to follow his rule of law, with immediate and dire consequences for straying. Love how Robert depicts this ever changing ebb and flow of human ‘civility.’
What do fans of the series think of AMC having a spin off? I for one am really excited to see a different take of the Walking Dead on the small screen. The more the merrier if they take the same care with the show. Anyway this is a tangent, but great issue as usual!
Great issue. A fence line with severed human heads for decoration has got to cut down on solicitors.
WTF!!…Can you help me pick my jaw up off the floor? I can’t remember the last issue of The Walking Dead that left me shaken like that. Good job. Keep it coming.
I tweeted charlie adlard after 143 saying I thought zeke was the best character he drew and loved his work he must have snapped his pencil laughing knowing zekes fate in 144 so sad.
I think carl will confide in negan as he wants to protect his dad from all out war I think somehow they will work out how to expose the whisperers within the herds or work out how to mass kill the herds michonne will want revenge also will eugene flip and grow some Maggie is seen slapping rick because he has let negan free or has agreed with carl to let negan help.new leaders in the saviours and the kingdom to come. great work can’t wait for the next issue
Man, fuck Negan. That walking turd’s story is done and played out. I don’t get why so many people want to see him have some bigger part in the story. What he needs is an embarrassing death, like tripping headfirst into the bucket in his cell and drowning. In any case, please let there be no alliance between him and Rick – at this point that would be on the level of “fan service”, a bad and predictable trope to ruin a good story. I trust Kirkman to be a writer of greater cleverness and integrity than to allow his story to take such a hack turn.
I think what would be amazing…is to see a map! Where exactly do Rick and all the other communities really sit in terms of ground cover? With open trade routes to different communities and safe zones etc. AS pointed out…it’s most likely that Alpha has seen many other communities that Rick has no clue of…and Alpha has consumed them…which could explain the “massive” horde. But if we saw a drawn out map that would be great…at least we, the readers can try to wrap our heads around how much unknown shit Rick and his group could face for years to come. Oh…and yeah…Alpha must Die!! Die Alpha Die!!
!!!! Excitement level is through the roof right now! What do i need to do to collect my awesome winnings?
Good job, my friend! First, you’re getting a Maggie drawing from yours truly and now this?! YOU’RE GETTING THE GOLD, BRO!!
Hahaha thank you! I have been lucky lately so im very thankful
LUCKY?! THIS IS YOUR DESTINY, MP! THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE MEANT FOR! YOUR LIFE IS FULL OF TREASURES!
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While mine is filled with crap and ghosts and more crap :/
Nevermind, email received! And a quick thanks and shout out to BASTET and carlyyougoonie for the help!
Ya welcome, my friend! Well deserved!