THE WALKING DEAD issue #170 is out NOW! As Michonne hits the road through undiscovered country, what dangers will she face? Is Negan really going to leave peacefully? Where will he end up? Is Dwight up to no good? Read the issue, mull it over, and come strong with a take in the comments below. We’ll be awarding our favorite comment with a signed (by creator Robert Kirkman) copy of this very issue!
PREVIOUSLY: After confronting Eugene about his radio, Rick sends a Michonne-led delegation to meet Stephanie’s community. But they’re not the only ones leaving, as Carl joins Maggie and the Hilltop contingent, and Negan raids the pantry of all the pork and beans before his exile. But the real threat remains in Alexandria, as Dwight openly questions Rick’s leadership.
Damn Siddiq hell of a time to come clean.
A quiet issue but lots of cool moments. This volume seems to be the one where a lot of time jump related questions get answered!
I especially loved seeing more of Magna, Yumiko and Siddiq — three great but so-far quite under-developed characters. Great scene with Mikey too and Negan had some funny lines. Eugene’s still got that pervy side. Generally, it felt like a quiet issue but they’re necessary now and then.
Best scene was the arrival at the city and discovering that it’s now a ghost town — is that because all the dead have been absorbed into roaming herds and moved on or because someone has systematically cleared it? At a certain point, cities with existing infrastructure — if reasonably clear of the dead — must present a lot more opportunities than the wild west subsistence living of the last hundred or so issues.
Apart from anything else, it feels like a great moment of TWD history. Rick’s journey to Atlanta is iconic and I loved the glimpses of DC way back (although I’m a little sad they’ve never poked around the White House — surely if there’s anywhere that survivors might be hiding out it’s underneath the White House?).
A great change of pace issue. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all develops…
i’m not sure Eugene was being super pervy. I mean, he spotted Magna and Yumiko but it wasn’t his intention. He only watched for a moment and then left to sulk by himself. If anything, I think it was just an accident and it just reminded him of how alone he is.
It was really awesome to see Rick console Mikey. Here’s this kid that’s just a random citizen of Alexandria. Only sort of vaguely friends with Rick’s son. And Rick connects with him and shares a very heartfelt moment where these two people with nothing in common take comfort in one another. It was very humanizing.
I’m***
God, I wish this site had an edit comment option.
I doubt we’ll ever get an edit option.
Just wait for next issue guys! And yeah, wtf Siddiq
Magna and her friend are more than friends.
Yes, thank you.
Really great to see some character development for some of the people who have been in the background for too long. Here’s hoping Magna and Yumiko stick around. Nice bombshell with Siddiq, too. I know a few people theorized he was Rosita’s lover.
Also, my God. It was so bizarre to see a city that big so… empty. This is the first time we’ve seen a giant city since #2 back when Rick was in Atlanta, right? Man. Time has flown by. So many walker herds have thinned out or stopped working. It was really cool to go back to that setting and see what the cities are like now in our post-apocalyptic zombie world.
Thought this was a solid issue for Siddiq, Magna and Yumiko had a little more development and I hope it continues (because I would like to know more about all three of them, why Siddiq did what he did, and if Magna and Yumiko have always been a thing or if came out of loss during the apocalypse). The scenes with Mikey and Negan were both really good. I love that we can see a much more humane side of Negan, it shows how much him and Rick are alike (also I love Negan’s use of words a lot makes him unique).. I’m curious what Dwight is going to do since he now sees how much Rick and Negan have in common. And that reveal with Siddiq, I had a feeling since he discovered the radio and reading peoples theories about it. Eugene is pissed, I’m curious is he will go off the deep end.
Loved this issue. I loved how Dwight said Negan and Rick are the same, then you see both of them dealing with the loss of their wife. They are the same in their “do what it takes” leadership style, but they are also just people, and you get to see that vulnerability in them simultaneously. Then you have the city as compared to Atlanta in the beginning. Lots of good insight and I wonder if this means walkers are starting to die of at all. That theme hasn’t been addressed in quite a while. Last thing, I loved seeing the Negan Rick combo vs the Maggie William combo. Almost seems Maggie and William are more suited for the new world, but it doesn’t change how essential people like Rick and Negan were in the survival of humanity.
While I liked seeing more character development, this issue felt really short. Most of the panels were big. I guess, I still can’t adapt to to stepping away from that cubic style that was with The Whisperer War story arc, which allowed them to pack more dialogue and events into one issue.
Yumiko and Magna… I don’t seem to care about them at all. Having sex after one damn small talk? Is this how low are morals have fallen that it’s okay to tolerate something like this?
I don’t like how Kirkman takes too much feedback from fans. A writer must have a strong vision of a story and all its characters, in other words he must have enough balls to oppose anyone who is trying to claim the drive and the direction of the story. I remember reading mails from someone demanding (that’s right, demanding) to include more lesbians and to give more character to Magna. I guess, Kirkman just sliced it together into one… it lowers my respect to him, because at this point we’re not going anywhere and everything seems to be moving too slowly. And yet he allows himself to listen to some angry fans asking for more lesbian sex? Oh well…
Sidiq. You see, sometimes it’s better to leave certain things untold. When Sidiq was very interested in that radio woman, it was clear to me that he was the one who screwed Rosita. But okay, even if Kirkman wants to make a proper “answer”, why the hell would he make it an ending? It’s not a huge reveal, it’s a very minor story-line, which doesn’t make any impact on the story. I’ve always said that TWD is a drama, but it was always a mix of drama and certain events, it always was way more than just your regular soap opera and even if something like this did happen as an ending, it would have to be about main characters, not Eugene and Sidiq, and damn Rosita. Honestly, I tried not to laugh at that ending. You can’t just put such a small storyline as an ending.
I feel like TWD reached its roof closer to the end of The Whisperer War and now it’s just going downhill. After TWW I can’t recall a single issue where I really felt excited. And now it’s just all seems like dragging and focusing on very secondary stuff.
A whole issue to let go Andrea? Check. A whole issue to ask some fan’s request of adding more lesbian “love” (which turned out to be some immoral sex of people that hardly know each other)? Check. “Revealing” something that was clear to me a long time ago? Check.
Everyone and their dog claimed that TWD Season 2 was nothing, but feels and “love is in the air”, and dragging. Sure, the show dragged some stuff, but it always had something interesting going on and the characters were having as much time as they deserve. And reading the comic I feel like Kirkman has ran out of ideas and that something interesting will happen closer to issue 200. And this would be Rick’s death, which is, again, clear as day, will happen closer to issue 200.
Summary: too much dragging, too much focus on secondary characters without giving any time to the main ones, too much “love is in the air” and not enough balls to have a strict story-line without any fans interrupting it with their request.
A whole issue to answer some fan’s request*
“Yumiko and Magna… I don’t seem to care about them at all. Having sex after one damn small talk? Is this how low are morals have fallen that it’s okay to tolerate something like this?”
What the actual fuck are you talking about. Yumiko was IN Magna’s group. We have no idea how long they’ve been together on the road. We’ve just not dived deeply into the significance of any her group’s dynamic. You make it sound like they just met and decided to have a nice ol’ fuck after a couple hours. And furthermore, why should anyone get on their high horse about what two consenting adults do with one another even if they HAD just met?
You’re talking about losing respect for Kirkman and the significance of having “balls” because… he made a girl character have a girlfriend? Was he supposed to make it a bigger deal to cater to you? Was he supposed to not do it so you could keep your pampered asshole powdered happily with how little “fanservice” there is in this comic?
Sounds to me like you might actually be homophobic and bitter but okay, sure.
And to me it sounds like you might be one of those edgy people that throw their swords out whenever there is something bad said about said about lesbian or gay characters. Seems like Americans get more edgy with each day.
Yup, she was in her group and did they have any contact at all? Did they even change a few words to each other when they had some time and when they saw Negan in their cell? Nope. They have zero development and they are nobodies. As a reader I know nothing about them, except their names. Giving some character development goes faaar beyond throwing in some lazy written “love” scene.
Maybe, because there is that little something called morals? How in the world am I supposed to like someone who has zero to none dialogue and just fucks someone who is not even introduced properly. And I’m telling you, after this issue, these characters will be forgotten for quite a long time, because that’s just how it is with them. Lazily composed to serve as “new characters” and lazily “developed” by immoral sex.
I won’t be surprised if within a few decades US will have couples fucking outside. A lot of people are into “outdoor sex”, so why should we prohibit them from it? Let’s answer to their needs and let’s make it public that outdoor sex is okay. They are just two (maybe, more?) adults, who we are to judge them?
You seem to be so blown away by me judging badly those very well written girly characters that you can’t even read my message properly, wow. Okay, let me make it easier for you… Kirkman doesn’t have enough balls and is loosing my respect, because: a) he doesn’t have a strict vision of characters and he just throws in something, because fans (not all fans, actually) ask him to; b) he develops a character that I know nothing about (Magna had any dialogue? Yumiko had any dialogue, except of that lame joke?) using immoral sex (also let’s not forget that they are on a freaking run, where – hello! – zombies are supposed to be within every corner; c) he drags this damn story-line that it becomes stinky; d) the latest issues (after Dwight’s wife and Andrea died) didn’t have any story-line at all. Everything just faded: the conflict with the Saviors, dealing with the walkers, rebuilding – everything just fades and we’re spending time getting to know how some side-character Sidiq fucked another side character Rosita (who is dead, by the way) a long freaking time ago and more than that, he makes it an ending. Something so secondary is an ending, great. And lastly, there doesn’t seem to be anything new in the character development field at all, just no dialogue.One little line and they make an image on half of the page. This is what I call an awful dragging.
If Kirkman is a nice human being, it doesn’t mean I have to tolerate how his skills are going down, because that’s just how it is right now. There is nothing to be excited for in these issues and nothing moves.These last months all I feel after finishing an issue of TWD is something like “ah, okay”.
If not the TV show, some of his characters would just be empty. For me TWD slowly goes from something that I was excited for every month into just some very raw and lazy script of what may happen in the future seasons of the show, where Gimple and all the writers will actually cook all this raw meat that Kirkman provides.
That’s a lot of words to say for nothing at all.
“Edgy” is a buzzword that’s worthless. Do you even know what edgy means? I’m honestly asking because you’re using it wrong. That or your sensibilities are easily broken.
As a reader you might not CARE about the characters but you have a functioning BRAIN. You can *INFER* a deeper relationship based on their time “off-screen.” You insisting “oh, they totally fucked after one conversation” is you being intentionally obtuse. You’re *trying* to be dense because you don’t like it. (Also, an inference is an important literary concept if you didn’t know. It means the writer doesn’t have to hold your hand and guide you to every point because they assume you can connect the dots yourself. Unless you intentionally choose to misinterpret them.)
Your morality is also not a good judgment for writing quality, especially if you use those inference skills I just mentioned. Magna and Yumiko may have never had a “moment” to signify their togetherness before this but their implied history can let you as a reader fill in the blanks after this issue. God. “Immoral sex”?? I don’t even care about sex but you sound like a bloody Puritan. That’s such a base and vastly unintellectual criticism of the writing. And your “outdoor sex” bit is a very poor argument. It reeks of both “slippery slope” and “false parallel.” Those are called fallacies, if you didn’t know.
You also seem to be fixated on insisting a lesbian couple is TOTES FAN SERVICE BECAUSE FANS ASKED. Do you know this is why Kirkman did it 100%? Do you know for a fact he didn’t already plan on Magna having a girlfriend? Did he confirm “Aw guys, I totally just did that to appease the masses.” Does it affect you that much either way?
Lastly, let the story play out. We will GET to the rebuilding. The future issue covers have shown that. The conflict with the Saviors just ended. Let it actually breathe before you pretend these last few issues didn’t have a story. And we have to flesh out side characters more if we want an ensemble that matters. We have too few “main” characters as it is now.
The only “raw meat” is you and your sour ass.
They did already start with the rebuild. Last few issues had Alexandria get fixed up by the saviors. The gate got fixed last issue. The kingdom have wood to the hilltop for their rebuild this issue.
I thought Americans were supposed to be the puritans. The immoral sex line, just reminded me of Bob from Chattanooga, and made me sad.
Preach, Neutral-Grey!
PREACH!!! AND PREACH Again!!
It says when they were introduced that they had been on the road for at least 7 months, and were both at the same community well before that. In addition, this isn’t “to satisfy some fan’s request”. There are hints to this from over 30 issues ago, when Magna and Yumiko were talking at the fair. If you’re going to do a rant like this, please at least know some of the background you’re complaining about.
Yumiko and Magna came to Alexandria together in issue 127. They were apart of the same group for who knows how long, probably from the beginning, when they were holed up in a nursing home. They’ve likely known each other for as long as Rick knew Andrea.
Get your panties out of a bunch bro this was a good issue all the way around.
The city they go to is Maryland, right?
Maryland is a state, that city is Pittsburgh.
Re: the lesbian thing.
Glenn and Maggie spent EVEN LESS TIME talking before going off and banging. Plenty of characters, throughout the entire series, have done the thing where they meet and then immediately have sex. It’s not a new theme? If you had a problem with it, you probably should’ve gotten over it before issue #170.
Also like… really? You have a problem with two consenting adults choosing to bang, calling it IMMORAL, after all the other shit we’ve seen people do throughout the comic?
Also did the part where Eugene just watches Magna and Yumiko remind anyone of the scene from the show where Eugene creeps on Rosita and Abraham?
That scene was in the comics too, issue #62.
As a Pittsburgh native – the two page spread on 18-19 had me jaw dropped!
Sure looks like Pittsburgh to me anyway.
That’s roberto clemente bridge heading south from the north side of Pittsburgh into downtown.
Same same… interesting timing with Romero’s death.
I am happy for Magna and Yumiko. After so much death and destruction it is nice to see some love. Same goes for Aaron and Jesus.
In a way this issue is sort of a New beginning for a lot of the characters. Also a nice set up for drama to come. Siddiq got his moment in the sun, but probably not the way he would have wanted. Eugene is just Eugene, maybe he was thinking of what he may have had with Rosita when he saw Magna and Yumiko. He looked wistful to me.
Rick comforting Mikey was a good humanizing moment for him.After Tablegate, Andrea’s death and Carls departure his world was turned upside down, now he has a moment to feel like he could make a difference. Who knows maybe he will end up raising Mikey.
I really got excited to see the city. I bet this is going to be where another group comes into play. Surely the city can’t be entirely deserted? After all there is food there, and shelter and the dead don’t seem to be around…. yet.
Awesome pittsburgh spread, half way to ohio. I’m a pittsburgh guy who hopes this leads to the show filming here in the future. Fucking sweet. Kirkman you tingle my taste buds for more.
I thought and hoped that this Dwight thing would be only a minor setback, but it looks like it’s getting serious. Dwight should really pull himself together, because overthrowing (and let’s be honest, killing) Rick would just ruin everything. Why can’t he just sit down, make a new life with Laura and try to live in peace?
Magna and Yumiko surprised me, as I hoped that Magna would later become Rick’s partner… Well, never mind, good for them. I find the hatred for this couple very funny, they may have been together for a very long time. Magna has been almost all the time seen together with Yumiko, having same opinions and showing Connie and Kelly their place when they wanted to slip out of the militia. So it’s not such a big shock and it makes sense. Poor Luke though, he didn’t stand a chance.
Nice to see William providing the material for Hilltop, hopefully he will get more space, as the Kingdom has been quite ignored despite getting the hardest hit, when Ezekiel was murdered. Rick’s and Mikey’s moment was touching, as someone mentioned here, he could become his guardian, when Carl left for good.
Siddiq could have certainly saved this moment for another opportunity. Who knows, maybe Eugene will go Donny-mode again? I don’t have much sympathy for Siddiq, yeah, it’s an apocalypse, but he should have found someone else.
After everything the communities have been through, Dwight is fucking delusional to think that Rick and Negan are the exact same. I get they have parallels but Negan led through fear. Rick actively tries to instill hope in people. He wants tomorrow to not only come but be BETTER than today. If something bad happens to Dwight over this new idea of his, I can’t say it will not have been deserved.
First off, the cuteness with magna and Yumiko, Jesus and Aaron, I just can’t. Also! I could practically hear the crickets chirping and the wind blowing through those empty streets, I mean, just whoa.
-Andi Tiscareno
I really like the change of pace with this issue. Seeing this side of Negan is something i think we can expect moving forward. Dwight needs to get his shit together man we cant have conflict within the walls especially if stephanie ends up being a problem
Siddiq you mother fucker. What does he even do again??? Oh yea nothing. Take up space and screw important charx women. You jerk face asshole I’d love to see Eugene kick his ass. Was funny to see Eugene go back to his “Self help” days lol. Feel bad for Negan. When he was talking to Lucille it made me realize how quick that works can change. He went from being the top dog in the new world to all alone. It’s sad. I’m just awaiting Rick to put Dwight in one more fucking grave. I’m not going to lie I don’t like Dwight. He shouldn’t of made it out of AOW. He’s a pussy. Comparing Rick to Negan after he came begging Rick to help against Negan. Should’ve realized he was a traitor back then. You can see it in the here’s Negan. The looks in his eyes. He’s just a envious person and envy is dangerous. I want to see a Mikey or somebody unexpectedly take out Dwight then Mikey and Rick become close. I liked how Rick was speaking for him and Mikey about their losses but was able to console him and also let some of his own pain out. This was a great issue. Subtle but powerful. With the bombshell at the end. Kinda like 144. 20/10 Kirkman you never cease to amaze
I love seeing more of Magna and Yumiko now because since The New Beginning they have been somewhat overshadowed in earlier issues. Somebody needs to slap the hell out of Dwight and get him to start thinking straight. Jesus has been watching him for days but it is unwise to leave him unsupervised after only a few days. Dwight is not even apologetic about threating Rick and wish he went further. Really, Dwight. Really. When Brianna was talking to Maggie, she was distracting, probably thinking about Negan and sending Dante off to spy on him. By the way, “Negan’s kitchen of death” needs to be made into a t-shirt. I have heard a few people say that already lol. Since Dante is on a horse, I would think Negan would have been able to hear or see beacuse it didn’t look like he was that far behind. Maybe this could lead to more Negan redemption story to Maggie… I loved the Rick and Mikey part now that Carl has gone back to The Hilltop. Since both of Mikey’s parents are dead now, Rick could become a father figure. It was nice to see Rick begin crying, still mourning the death of Andrea. RIP. It’s a little weird not seeing Ezekiel lead the Kingdom anymore but William is still a pretty cool character. I am hoping to see more of him in the future. I really hope now that we have a group on the road, the story can get back to a horror type theme. Siddiq was obviously acting weird for days, like said later in the issue, not being able to keep watch and almost getting people killed. He was probably thinking about the whole Rosita situation. It was funny to see Eugene return to his old ways and watch Magna and Yumiko get it on. Just join in, Eugene lol. The Jesus and Aaron conversation was kind in my opinion, but hey, Jesus does have rad hair. Charlie Adlard’s landscape drawing of DC was AMAZING. It was really cool to find out that the walkers have dispersed and the city is “empty.” I believe there are other people there that we will find in the next issue. The overgrown city aspect is something I hope we are able to see a little bit more of. At the end when the group is on the rooftop, Siddiq finally has his big reveal. Me and a few of my friends had predicted that Siddiq was the baby daddy but Eugene’s face at the end was a fantastic way to end the issue. Can’t wait for more!
*Pittsburgh
“Eugene, the results are in. You were NOT the father.”
Overall it was a great issue, not a supseful issue u til the end but it was a full issue of answered questions I appreciated and the ending was very good it just pulled even more attention towards Eugene and Siddiq. And I loved the peaceful uses with Aaron and Jesus, it shows the world is comibg together and Dwights trust between him and Rick are going to end in something bad, I just don’t trust Dwight, and as of negans peaceful goodbye to luccile grave was very chilling and it was small but sweet. Overall it was a great issue! Would recommend deeply
I’m trying to like Dwight but shut up man.
If there was a way to boil down all the conflicting feelings I have for Dwight right now and purify it into a singular expressive sentence, it would be your comment. I love it.
I sadly havent been able to purchase a comic
And i really want one
Just wanted to say that I know walkers aren’t real but your books Mr. Kirkman relate to life a lot more than some people believe. Again we’ve gotten an eviction notice because frankly it’s gotten really hard to live out here on the west coast, but with reading and keeping up with the walking dead you can relate to the characters. Comic and TV show charcters from far back as the camp right before the prison till now. Again we’ve had to move a 3 time in a year and a half. I like to see it as uncharted teratory. You never know who are what is coming your way. You’ve also made it easier to live out of a back pack from time to time. Family doesn’t have to be blood but stick together. I’m glad I have mine with me 100%. I just wanted to thank you Mr. Kirkman for making this series for us who can escape reality for a little bit. We’ve all grown some from the Carl into the Rick grimes we’re destind to be. Thank you……
I miss Glenn Rhee. That is all.
first of all, sorry for my english mistakes, its not my first language~
I love negan and how he is so unpredictable, he’s still suffering because of lucille’s death. Im curious about whats going to happen, maybe beta is going to show up and attack the guy following him and negan will save him? no clue lol im so freaking curious.
i have this felling that in a future maggie and rick will not get along well, like you can clearly see that she still respect him and everything, but the more new issues are coming, the more we see that they dont agree with many points, like rick’s decision of letting negan be free.
whatever, i dont trust dwight anymore, i thought he was just upset about what happened to sherry but he’s really serious about rick and i think that its not going to end well.
Siddiq got rosita pregnant omg… i feel so bad for eugene, he really loved her, i think he’s going to forgive siddiq, cause deep inside, he always knew that rosita didnt actually love him, like, never.
im so happy that we are going to the citties again, i like when they explore the urban areas, curious as hell for the next issue lol
I really enjoyed the city. Highlight of the issue for me. I’m glad we are getting more time with Magna Yumiko and Siddique. I bet that the princess lives in the city and that she will come along on the journey or something will happen. They probably won’t get to the Ohio community till the last issue of the volume. I’m glad though because it would give us two new communities and it would make sense because the city is easily defendable now or at least a section.
Issue was great with alotta character development but you know what TWD misses?
THIS!
“You never know where this life is going to take you, y’know? I never saw myself like this… face all cut up… living with a gun at my side. You’ve grown into a role… the things we’ve lost… it makes us stronger. Not that it makes those things worth enduring. I’m sorry, that maybe sounded harsh. I don’t mean for this to sound as cold as it’s going to sound… but… you lost your Dale… maybe you’ve got a Rick out there” – Andrea
Robert Kirkman is seriously overrated…. Just kidding. He’s a cool dude. Thanks for all the awesome characters, stories and world’s. The Walking Dead, Outcast and Invincible are all incredible.
This edition was wonderful, and I’m really looking forward to the next one that promises a lot !!!
I do not believe the Ohio group poses any danger. The fact that the city is empty has nothing to do with the group? I think not
I think Negan has really changed, I confess that this possibility pleases me. And it will be that Maggie is determined to take revenge on him, only time will tell! The Dwight always very uncertain, now contesting Rick’s lead!?
Rick and Mickey relationship looks promising, especially now that Carl is away.
And finally, Eugene, who is growing more and more, I really like him, Eugene seems to me to be one of the most rational and controlled, but does this continue after this revelation?
Many doubts that will be clarified only with the next editions.
Robert Kirkman is a genius, I love much The Walking Dead!!
Once again loving the artwork. I spend must of my time looking for past fighting from others in the walking dead world. This issue had me finding out some more backround from characters which I love. Just waiting on the next issue kills me lol ?
Well, well…
Eugene had to find out somehow, didn’t he?
And I do not think this is going to change himinto a killing machine. But that building is very high…
Anything can happen while they sleep.
And could someone please comment on the bigger issue here? That city – at least it’s downtown core – is empty (so far). This could be quite huge; another zone to inhabit and develop into something important. Remember: the Whisperers still exist and that there will be serious payback one day…
And Yumiko and Magna are cute together.
Did not see that coming, folks…
So many surprises…