THE WALKING DEAD issue 155 is out and hopefully you’ve bought it, read it, re-read it, re-re-read it, let your friend borrow it, argued over ownership, filed a lawsuit, dismissed the lawsuit when you realized that no friendship is worth a comic book, and then murdered your friend* and emerged victorious with your copy of issue #155. That almost certainly being the case, let us know what you thought down below! We’ll be awarding our favorite comment with a Kirkman-signed copy this very issue! Come strong with those comments! Johnny and I will be picking our favorite next week(ish) for the prize after Johnny and I buy some energy drinks at Ralph’s.
Also, guys, if you leave an awesome comment, come back to see if you’ve won or at least check your email’s spam filter to see if we emailed you!
PREVIOUSLY: Andrea returns to Alexandria to find Rick recovering from his wounds. Michonne and Aaron’s scouting trip into Whisperer territory ends when Aaron is stabbed by Beta, Alpha’s second-in-command. Meanwhile, Negan meets Alpha… and it just might be love at first sight.
*We don’t condone murder. This was just a joke. But by all means feel free to sue the crap out of your friends over THE WALKING DEAD.
Dwight looks sooooo badass on that last page!
Aaron lives!! Possibly. Really hope he pulls through. I loved Siddiq’s moment here too. And what passes for honesty from Negan; he’s smart enough to appreciate what Rick’s built.
Will be interesting to see how Negan handles Beta. But if he angles to be the new Beta, what is actually entailed? Crazy speculation but given how much talk there’s been about Negan’s crotch though, Rick talking about neutering him, him discussing his manhood with Olivia, Alpha etc. I’m starting to wonder if this is all some epic foreshadowing and becoming Alpha’s Number 2 might not go so well for Little Negan.
Issue #155 was filled with stuff….and thangs…and I liked it. Dwight saved Michonne, Michonne saved Aaron (maybe), Lydia saved Carl….(wink wink)….Rick is power hungry as usual…Andrea is annoying as usual…Negan is the shit as usual….so what’s new with you?
Bastet is not going to like your statement towards Andrea lol
I really feel both of them right now. Andrea is right in a way and I can appreciate that. But as leader, Rick can’t always be counted to do “good” thing that will make everyone happy because that option doesn’t always exist. I understand where Andrea is coming from but I think Rick has chosen one of the best possible paths he can take given the circumstances.
I think his path is best but only in the short-term. It’s time to start thinking longer term and this can end badly. Check out more of my review here:http://consumereviewrepeat.com/2016/06/02/walking-dead-155/
That didn’t elaborate too much further on your point. But it’s still one of the best things he can do. And I wouldn’t worry about the future too much. Rick is smart. I’m sure he’s aware of the long term. But war is short term. Therefore we need a short term solution. Once the problem is eliminated the people no longer have a source of fear and their anger should subside. They likely won’t attack Rick now that their metaphorical ammunition is gone. On a note of long term, though, I feel like forming a militia is definitely a step towards long term solutions.
I think what you’re forgetting is that Rick was totally manipulated by Negan during a time of desperation. I agree that Rick is smart, but desperation will eliminate or significantly reduce intelligence. Battles are short term. Wars are long term. The numbers of whisperers are way higher than the Saviors during AOW, which makes me think this war will not have the same quick conclusion. Wars only reduce fear after a conclusive victory.
That’s assuming Negan was being manipulative. I don’t think so. Negan’s advice was completely sound. It was terrifying and had its price but that’s actually how Negan ruled. He was giving Rick his way of seeing things… and that’s exactly what Rick asked for. If anything, Rick had to have known Negan’s way of leading the situation wouldn’t be the “goody two-shoes” way and he still sought him out. Rick could have been manipulating himself. And we actually already KNOW the Whisperer War will be shorter than All Out War due to the cover reveal for #157. It’s a 6 part arc. This war isn’t going to be that long term.
First, I appreciate our back and forth. For me, I’m surprised by some assumptions you’re making. 1) that Negan ‘might’ not be manipulative. In my opinion, he is constantly manipulating others to push himself into a position of power and safety. 2) that the end of the arc will be the end of the war. Unless there is an a-bomb somewhere they cannot wipe out the Whisperers in 6 issues. I foresee the Whisperers being an ongoing feature of the comic. Off-topic: Watched Outcast last night. Very impressed.
Fair point on Negan being manipulative but I don’t think he has some plan to to destroy Rick. Or at least he didn’t in that cell at the time. His best and only bet while there was having Rick let him out. Brandon and the Whisperers were an unforeseen play. Negan wanted Rick to trust him. It’s less in his best interest to manipulate Rick into losing power. I believe Negan was being VERY genuine in his advice. Does it mean it was good advice? That’s a matter of opinion, but Negan certainly thought it was good advice and Rick thought it was good enough to at least partially follow. Negan led through fear. His advice may have been more for the purpose of getting Rick to trust him but they’re almost certainly what Negan actually thinks is the best scheme of attack.
Second, I don’t think the Whisperers have as many as we think they do. Oh sure, their camp is large. They have a good many members. But I think the walkers inflate the numbers they seem to have. Furthermore, the Whisperers have no walls, seemingly no strategy other than “walk with walkers,” and no real reason to fight other than to live another day. I can’t subscribe to the idea that more people than were in the Saviors community decided to lose their minds, say “fuck morality like ‘murder is bad’ and ‘rape is evil'” and decided to wear zombie skin on themselves as part of a daily thing. Alpha leads through being tough as nails but I don’t think she has nearly as much power as she wants them to think she has. I don’t think they’ll be an ongoing anything. I think their little philosophy is bound to fall apart. Especially considering most Whisperers haven’t seen the likes of Alexandria. I think when many of them see that civilization CAN rise again and CAN fight for itself, they’re gonna walk. Alpha’s power isn’t stable and neither is her group.
Again, you’re making tons of assumptions. It seems like Alpha is stable enough. For all we know, there could be a network of whispers spread out in different camps. For all we know, Eugene is talking to Whispers on the radio, or there are sympathizers in the Hilltop, Sanctuary, or Alexandria. That is Kirkman doing his job as a writer to make us create a backstory that may not be accurate. I think what he do know is that Alpha (presumably all/ most Whisperers) see civilization and societies as an antiquated fragment of the past. I think they view their lifestyle as an evolution. Nice debating you.
Also, I agree that Negan was being “genuine” in his advice to Rick. But someone can be manipulative and genuine at the same time. I don’t see them as mutually exclusive.
Considering people generally like to stay still, she kills others freely to keep her charge, and even her daughter was raped under her care, there’s no way her little club is anything close to stable and I doubt a lot of those people care for the way the have to live. And while we can’t assume, I’d say it’s still a pretty safe bet that there’s no grand network of Whisperers.
Ahh, the wonderfully unknown world of Kirkman’s Walking Dead. It seems like we are both excited to see what 156 has to offer.
Don’t you realize? Talking ill of The Sniper is, “AN ACT OF WAR!” Comment Wars, Part one of Six.
That just had to be a brain fart of Andrea from the show, right?
Andrea? Being annoying? Good sir/madam, you must have confused her with show Andrea! Although she did voice a different opinion than Rick on his strategy of leading moving forward, I still think it was good to hear this opinion. Its actually interesting to see the opinion of someone who was not present during the events of issue 150. I didn’t dislike this part of the issue, although the Negan parts were much better.
Haha I wasn’t too serious I’m sorry about that. I am negatively biased because I can’t un-see TV show Andrea, but I don’t actually dislike her in the comic. Her opinion is accurate anyways, right?
We’ll be watching you RickGrimesBitch.
LOLs! This is the perks of not reading ahead on the comments before I post my own! Glad you guys are with me!
Rick acknowledging how manipulative he was acting, and Andrea comparing him to Negan, right before Negan explaining to Alpha how he was overthrown and banished, feels like foreshadowing to me. Hopefully this isn’t indicative of Rick’s future as a leader.
People have been gunning for the day Rick or Carl turns “bad” forever. It may be a morally grey action Rick is taking, but I’m sure he’s gonna be fine.
I feel they are trying to draw those parallels, but i’m not biting. I support Rick all the way, he is exactly what Alexandria needs right now.
#TeamRick
Yep. Been feeling that for a little while now.
Negan keep you hands to youself or alpha will smack you again. ha!ha! Love it
“I’ve been told I don’t make the best first impressions. But I grow on people.”
This is Negan both in comic and out. It’s delightfully meta.
Ugh.. I hate having to work for a living and waiting until afterwards to purchase the newest issue. C’mon zombie apocololyse! No more work. Must read issues ASAP!
I’m almost certain Aaron will survive. I think the reason he was stabbed was to get Michonne to the hilltop so she can tell Maggie about Negan. I can’t wait for Maggie’s response to that. Great things ahead!
I think the only reason Alpha stopped Beta from killing Negan is cause she wants Negan to fuck her “until his dick breaks off inside her and fuses into some kind of Barbie doll crotch”
Win.
Lots going on in this issue but I think the most important lesson here is that Negan is a survivor. He will do / say anything to survive and he isn’t afraid to push the boundaries
My eye catching comment!
No words, was legit #awesome
I’m loving this story arc. Negan is as funny as every with the barbie doll thing. I’m really excited to see where this war takes us. I just don’t see them killing every single whisperer, there is just so many of them, but it isn’t like they can be incorporated eventually into the communities because they rape children. I still think a bigger threat is going to end the war between the communities and the whisperers. No eugene radio this issue. I really love Beta Mctwoknives, he added something cool and interesting to the story that we havnt experienced yet.
I really enjoyed this issue. Don’t worry I don’t need to fight over my copy, I bought two. Negan is a badass!!! I feel like he has something planned, something up his sleeve. It will be interesting to see the interaction between him and mctwoknives as time goes on. Negan’s dialogue with Alpha was freaking awesome!!! Not sure if Alpha thinks the same. The end, awesome!! I’m a little worried about Dwight. Something tells me he may be a victim of the whisper war. I mean Negan has to be gunning for him. I can’t wait for issue 156! Also, I enjoyed some the letter hacks in this issue. The discussion of people being afraid to sleep together for fear of one dying in their sleep and turning, very interesting.
Ahhhhh can’t wait for next months issue… Shits going to hit the fan … Love everything about these comics and hope they never end!!! THEY ARE ALL THE TITTIES lol… Keep up the amazing story and artwork on this epic comic book series… Kirkman for president!!!
I give props to Alpha for not taking any shit from Negan, I still have faith that she will defect after how she acted when she gave up lydia. I’m hoping Beta is behind everything we hate the whisperers for. I don’t know why I want Alpha to flip, i don’t even know where she would fit into ricks group, I just sense that there is much more to her character than what is on the surface.
I am so glad to see Negan back in play, I can,t wait to see how he and Alpha plays out I am worried about Beta though he is a big dude with a short temper who was out for blood Negan better watch his back. Thank goodness Dwight came in for the save he is really becoming a interesting character for me. I love how the comics bring you all the action no fooling around and I really want to know who the hell Eugene is talking to.
My Brother introduced me to The Walking Dead about 1 month ago .. I’m completely hooked like a hungry zombie on a fence! Every page is so intense reading and seeing I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen! The art in each comic striking–/*~ like Michonnes sword! I want to thank you Robert Kirkman for your brains on thinking of such a master mind storyline, please don’t ever stop !!! It would be pretty special to have a signed copy from You to give my Brother, I can’t imagine what the look on his face would be like.. Maybe like Rick in some scenes lol !!! Thanks again Robert Kirkman for many laughs, smiles & all the excitement you have given me! : )
-Justin
I think we have to look more closely at Beta. He could have a pivotal role in The Whisperer War like Dwight did in AOW. Read more here: http://consumereviewrepeat.com/2016/06/02/walking-dead-155/
Shit shit shit! I should have read the asterisk. I’m guessing you guys aren’t in the business of helping hide bodies? Okay, I can figure this out… Kirkman has dead people on his mind all the time, what would he do? Skin suit? Nah, not enough lotion. An aquarium seems too fishy and it’s far too early to spartan kick him into a horde of flesh eating crime hiders. I’m sure I’ll come up with something. Probably end up chaining him to the walls with a sign, “All those who crease pages, Beware!”
PS Jason, if you’re reading this cautionary tale, MY WALKING DEAD VOLUMES ARE NOT YOUR SISTER’S TWILIGHT NOVELS! STOP BENDING MY CORNERS AND USE A BOOKMARK LIKE A CIVILIZED HUMAN BEING!
I could understand dog earring something like Harry Potter where the upright corner doesn’t affect the reading. But you do NOT dog ear comic books. EVER.
You actually let someone borrow your TWD comics?! Fuck that!! You’re on your own, buddy!!
I love Alpha’s expression when she is talking with Negan. She is repulsed by him, but also intrigued. Sort of like “It stinks but I have to smell it again and again and talk about how much it stinks”.
I wonder if he will tell them all about the communities or maybe just about the Sanctuary. The whisperers could potentially invade the Sanctuary and take it over, since there is no leader and it seems nothing ever goes on there anyways. Too bad Lucille won’t be there waiting for Negan though.
I still think “The Whisperer War” is going to be a far more internal conflict than just “The Communities vs The Whisperers”. I think Alpha and many others in the Whisperer camp really believed they HAD to live that way to survive and there were really few other options. Now that they see thriving Communities that can manage the dead and live some semblance of a “normal life” I wonder how many will throw off their people-suits and try to form or join a Community?
I worry about if Negan is going to get revenge on Rick & Alexandria, but I worry more about what he would do to Dwight, his ol lady & the rest of the Saviors! That could get interesting…
Good! Aaron is still alive, it’s too soon for him to leave. I agree with Cameron and I hope that Aaron won’t serve his purpose and die in the following issue, while Maggie (and don’t forget Carl) will probably receive bad news about Negan. It’s going to be interesting to see their reactions.
Dwight and his soldiers were brilliant. I remember how we first met Dwight and hated him for Abraham’s death. And now he’s a good guy, defending the place he once wanted to conquer.
And then there’s Negan and his new interest, Alpha. This is going to escalate very quickly, despite Beta lurking around them. I really liked how he pinned Negan to that tree. At first I wanted to see an epic fight between Beta and Jesus (and I still want to), but seeing Beta defending his position against Negan would be even better. I really can’t see these two living in the same group. Beta looked very protective about Alpha.
See you next month!
Damn, this issue got me so horny. I had to give my old lady the tip of the spear after wrapping this fucker up.
Just the tip…
Poor dog.
Honestly, your sympathy outta rest with your father. He hates the way I play his rusty trombone.
What a point we have reached in this Walking Dead universe. Just wow to Kirkman et al. Coming from a guy who has never ever read a comic, and rarely posts anything on forums, This is the best thing story-wise that I have ever encountered. Just wow.
As for the story, I like where this is going, I hope this next war is going to be heavy. What I mean is, psychologically heavy. The war with Negan was a physical and a bit psychological. It was however more the sort of “who has the bigger balls” war. However, what will come (expectations) from the whisperers is much much heavier.
There will be no direct attacks I think. Not in a “raining bombs on you” type of way. I think it will be more like the godfather “waking up with your horse’s head right next to you”. It’s not a matter of power, it’s a matter of resilience and psychological manipulation.
The arc of Rick slowly adapting to the Negan’s mentality is amazing. He is not turning into Negan, but he sure as hell is affected by him. years in a cell and talking regularly, one will rub off on the other. That’s also why I think Negan will eventually save Rick or have a hero act, it’ll be with consequences though (if it happens). Anyway, point is, Rick’s psychology is already brilliantly shifting and, although understandable, the choices he is making are starting to get him to a darker place. This is where Rick’s death has started people, you’ll see how it is downhill from here on out.
The war has to be terrifying. We did not get enough time to know the whisperers, but them being so unknown makes them even scarier. Just, please, make this a psychological horror war rather than action packed.
I feel you… actually, I’ve been thinking that a civil war is coming & this is just a shift into the next gear. I can’t see everyone always putting their total trust in Rick & only following his orders. He’s not a god & even gods get forsaken.
I think there is zero chance of Negan saving Rick anytime in the future. If we have learned anything from the Walking Dead (show more than comic): Kill someone when you get the chance. Rick may need Negan but Negan will turn a blind eye. See my complete review here http://consumereviewrepeat.com/2016/06/02/walking-dead-155/
I do think it will be both. I think the real physical stuff will be between the communities and the hordes of dead the Whisperers throw at them, with encounters between Ricks group and the Whisperers being more like the assassins, where you wake up with a knife in the headboard, and certain horrific acts against those in positions of power (the most “protected”) rather than, as you said, lobbing bombs. But I also think there will be fracturing of both groups, mainly among the Whisperers who see first hand that they don’t have to walk among the dead in people suits to survive, that they can, in fact, thrive working together to build like Rick, the Hilltop, Kingdom, and even Saviors. They have a choice now.
@Flagg_is_God
I agree with your statement of it being physical internally. However, I stand by my notion that this will be a very heavy psychological battle. They dont even turn this in a 12 issue war, rather they go for 6 very heavy issues (again my expectations). I feel that the communities will suffer, for sure, but I think that this is the beginning of the end for Rick and not necessarily the communities.
As for Negan, I think he is still bad, but he wants to kill rick himself or no-one is allowed. Kind of like Professor X and Magneto. We are opposites but nobody is killing you but me (so I will save you if you are in a bad spot).
Anyway, I am mightily excited of what is coming next. I might be completely wrong, yet I dont care since my trust in Kirkman is huge. Never ever have I seen a story as strong as this 🙂
I need more BRAKKA! BRAKKA! BRAKKA! in my life!
+1
Last few issues have been balls to the wall building tensions in anticipation of a whisperer war. Literally can’t wait for next issues. Absolutely love Negan; soooo happy to see him free from Alexandria, hoping it’s not just to see Alpha kill him off. SN: LOVED season 6 finale!!!! Fuck the haters! Really hoping it’s Glenn, can’t wait to see! Keep it up guys!
I was on vacation when this came out, but still downloaded and read in Italy. They just keep getting better. Not much more I can say about it.
Nobody seems to be talking about the bloodtrail Aaron left behind. That clearly indicates the Whisperers are going to attack Hilltop first. Maybe they take it for themselves and then Rick & Co. spend the war reclaiming it.
This issue has one of my favorite covers, Dwight is becoming a badass!! It seems that The Whisperers have a system where if you challenge the leader and kill him/her you then become the leader. I can not see Negan taking the passenger seat to anybody when it comes to being in charge. His ego won’t allow it, the only scenario that makes sense is Negans sociopathic ass wasting Alpha. Using his new followers to get revenge on Rick. But who the Fuck knows with Kirkman.
Oh and that was a compliment btw I like being mind fucked.