The Negan-centric Issue #174 of The Walking Dead is OUT NOW! What did you think of that ending? Did Maggie make the right decision? What happens next? This is the last issue before we dive into New World Order, so give us your best reactions to this issue in the comments below for a chance to win a Robert Kirkman-signed copy!
UPDATE
rj.ct080 is our comment contest winner! We dug your take on Negan coming full circle and we appreciate your love for the story-telling. We agree, this issue was really solid in both departments. Check your email for something from us – and for everyone else KEEP COMMENTING! Tons of exciting Walking Dead stories coming at you in 2018.
Previously: Following The Whisperer War, Rick has granted Negan freedom. However, Negan must live by himself, far away from any of the established communities. Not everyone agrees with Rick’s decision…
Was it just me or was there a recycled question and answer in the letter hacks? Also OMG MY SHIP KISSED!
Amazing issue! Legit thought Negan was going to die, as soon as i saw Negan kneeling in front of Maggie with Lucille lying next to him my heart sank. Thought she was going to give him some poetic justice, but what actually happened was way more exciting going forward! Where the hell does Negan go from here.
Excellent issue….kinda makes up for the couple of lackluster past months. I thought Maggie was gonna Lucille Negan……Will Maggie regret letting Negan go? Im thinking Negan will go back to his evil badass self and make Maggie suffer by killing Sophia and or baby Hershel….
Good issue. Negan was humanized, appears to have escaped his demons, yada yada yada. This was the best issue in a long time. And by a long way. However, I hope this is not the end of Negan. Honestly, he is the only thing reading at this point.
To me, it feels like we are approaching and end game. I don’t know, but it feels “off”. Both the show and the graphic novel. The show has had lackluster writing this year, dull moments punctuated by WTF and then .50 rounds bouncing off of jeep windshields.
The graphic novel is doing no better, and its all leading up to some storm trooper psuedo government..
Perhaps Kirkman and co. are trying to rapidly tidy things up and end the series. I mean, its had a great run.
Quite honestly, I rather it go into the sunset on a high note instead of devolving. Kind of like the Office seasons 8 and 9.
Sorry if I am sounding harsh, but I have come to expect a lot from both the show and the graphic novel, and right now have felt left down on both fronts.
Ill continue reading, and watching, but I hate seeing reduced quality in something that has given me so much joy in the past.
Couldnt agree more….
No huge surprises (except for the Dante kiss – that was rad) but total awesomeness all around. This does seem like a major, major turning point for both Maggie and Negan and a splendid bookend to issue #100. Cannot wait to see where Negan goes next.
Nicely done, I expected that Maggie would arrive and close the issue, and when I saw her face after Negan demanded her to kill him, I really thought she was going to do that. No, she chose life instead, and a new start with Dante (finally, Hershel’s going to need a father). After Negan buried Lucille (the bat), I wrote there in the discussion to that relevant issue that it was a new chapter for him. But it was merely a foreplay, the new chapter is opening now. The bat is burnt to the ashes, Negan is freed from Maggie and can wait to see what happens next. I guess that he won’t stay alone for a long time, joining with him Princess is inevitable. At least she would shut the hell up!
Another great issue.
To be honest i wished she bashed his head in over and over and over…..Eye for an eye
Absolutely fantastic issue, one of the best story telling wise in years. We’ve seen Negan humanized before, but never in a way like this. We saw him groveling the exact same way he made our group do so in issue 100, and it was only fitting for Maggie to be on the other end of the barrel during that moment. By keeping him alive, she still honors Glenn’s legacy and moral code, but was also able to officially close that chapter of her life, as we saw in the closing panel with Dante. Negan is now whole, his character has come full circle in the moment he threw Lucille in the fire, also getting some much needed closure, because along with Lucille burned the weight of his past horrible deeds. Knowing now that he can’t change the past, only make sure he does everything possible to not be that same person for the rest of his days
After this issue, I really just want a stand-alone series of Negan and the Sunflower hitting the road and becoming the best of friends. Future buddy cop movie?
Loved the issue really cool seeing Negan give an honest sincere apology. Was very surprised by Maggie finally giving in to Dante and Negan tossing his new version of lucille so quickly. The beginning scene with the sunflower was a great start. Already excited for 175
This was a bloody great issue. Really well done. Loved it from beginning to end.
Bloody? Are you british? Lol
No but it’s a fun word!
This was a great comic. It was refreshing in a way. It let us see that maggie still is pissed at Negan for the death of her husband. Also the fact that he threw lucile (im not the best speller) Into the fire, it made me feel like he changed and wants to do better. Like he said, Rick helped him do good and change. Also on a side note, my friend said he views this interaction that negan was just playing maggie. he wants to see negan change and snap and kill a shit ton of people before he goes out.
Loved this issue, not sure where it will bring Negan but I hope he still plays a roll. I feel as Seanmathews1 does above. The show has been getting stale and with the NWO coming to the comic it seams like a quick end to a long series. I hope it is not and we end up surprised, but only time will tell. Make us proud fans Robert.
Honestly, after this issue, I’d be okay with not seeing him for awhile. I feel like this neatly tied up any existing threads of current Negan plot. I still want him to be around but… I think he can be on his own for awhile.
Best issue in a while.
Brilliant issue. To echo others, yes, this was the perfect catharsis for both characters. Thank you for ending this storyline with such emotion and honesty, Mr. Kirkman. It was organic and satisfying without killing either one — that’s how you do it. I’m glad that Maggie finally has closure and can move on, but Maggie & Glenn will always be my fav pop culture couple ever.
Amazing chapter truly. I was in suspense the whole time. I feel it really brought some good closure to both Maggie and Negan, but this was HUGE for Negan. Burning Lucille 2.0?? People can say he’ll snap back (and maybe he will) but I think it’s VERRRY unlikely now. Now. Now I just want to see more of this new side of Negan! May be go back to Alexandria and save rick from Dwight?? PLEASE?! Whatever Kirkman decides to do, I’m sure it’ll kick was!
Thanks for the amazing issue!!
I really doubt we will see Negan again. I think this is his last issue. I feel like his story is over. You saw how he took the new Lucille and put her in the fire so that part of him is over. He’s a broken man now. Theres nothing left for him. Just to exist. I hate to see him go out with a whimper but he more or less did just that. I wouldve liked more but I think he’s more or less dead story wise. I now think that they will kill him on the show when the time comes. I get the feeling they want to take the show in a completely different direction than the comic book now.
I agree with the masses, it was a great issue. Nice to see Negan on his knees this time. However, I still don’t think he really changed. I think he said what would work to get him out of the jam he was in. Maggie did the right thing though, and even if we never see Negan again, we know he is out there and can pop up any moment.
I’m sorry but at this point having Negan be the “same old, same old” would be boring and pointless on top of rendering all characterization of him useless. It wouldn’t make any narrative sense to have this still be some kind of con as he just says what he needs to say to survive. I think he genuinely wanted to die and as is explored in “Here’s Negan,” he’s always been an asshole but he wasn’t always “evil.”
I’m opposite.
Negan as anything other than his ruthless, evil self would bore me to tears.
Great issue! Shows the rise and fall of Negan. He was broken when his wife died, became a behemoth then was broken down again. Negan has been given the right punishment. He has to be alone with himself with no one to command or hurt. Negan is alone which to him is way worse than death.
To me Walking Dead is all about character evolution. Seeing Maggie moving on felt great. But for me most interesting is what Negan is going to do now. Did he really change or was he playing Maggie and is planning something bad? I think it would be cool not seeing I’m in a while and having him coming back with a blast. Also I would love a telltale spin off game with him .
Now I’m excited for the new world order!
Greetings from germany 🙂
Oh man I loved this issue! Negan showed his “human” on more than one occasion and even stumbled up on a Lucille replacement. Maggie got her revenge for a limited time and we see Negan let go of his wife and hid weapon for a new beginning. I loved this issue, i think Negan will show back up in maggies life again real soon. Great issue folks.
when u get a taste of a real man. the rest of the world never really taste the same
It’s so strange seeing this version of Negan. The contrast between who he was when he was introduced and the man we see now is so night and day. Seeing Maggie finally get her opportunity for revenge and decide it was more of a punishment not to kill him than to get his blood on her hands was something I didn’t expect but made a lot of sense. And the cherry on the sundae is finally seeing Maggie plant a kiss on Dante! Such a great issue!
Negan is my fucking spirit animal! Finally… We get a glimpse at the humanity and compassion that Negan buried deep within himself after the death of his wife Lucille! Not only does it show that he has a heart but it also gives a HUGE middle finger FUCK YOU to all of the Negan haters out there… And moving forward into the future, I hope that he gets his chance to prove his regret by doing a selfless act of saving someone else down the road! And like I’ve said before, and I’ll say again, “ONLY NEGAN CAN KILL NEGAN!”.
Are. You. Kidding. Me. Maggie should have bashed his Skull into pulp, does Glenn mean that little after only 74 issues? Does Negan live to keep Jeffery Dean Morgan on the tv show? All this and more to be answered in future issues…
But seriously after Glenn’s death I’ve been waiting for someone to get to Negan and exact revenge, even if it is only him getting mobbed by Zombies, Don’t. Let. This. Bastard. Live. Truly a mistake letting him do so.
I had that feeling at the end of All out War when I had thought that Negan was playing Rick with his illuminated face as he he was like « now I see the path ». Kirk made it clear in Letter Hacks: Negan was sincere at that moment. So today it’s crystal clear as far as I’m concerned : Negan really meant it kneeling before Maggie. He has now found closure and is now to be considered more as an ally.
I don’t know if it’s intentional but it feels like Negan’s whole arc to date has been playing out the stages of grief. From denial in the hospital and anger in “Here’s Negan” to bargaining with the baseball bat as his replacement Lucille and, since “her” death, depression, through now to, perhaps, acceptance.
I really hope we get some Carl/Negan scenes soon. It’s been way too long since we saw them together and that’s an interesting relationship.
I love what is being done with Negan. Now don’t break my heart and off him anytime soon.
I was very glad to read this issue. Negan and Maggie have both grown as characters and it really shines in this issue. Negan admits his mistakes and Maggie abandons (temporarily?) her vengeance. They’ve both taken a step forward and I’m looking forward to where they go in the future.
WoW, I was definitely hit with the feels in this issue. Such strong emotions from Negan & Maggie. You could feel each of their pain from their actions and spoken words and see the struggles each of them are having going back and forth between the right and wrong of handling & grasping the situation. I was seriously in a glass case of emotion while reading this issue. Amazing issue, loved it!
This was a very special issue. I thought Kirkman writing chops where on point it is evident he loves the characters as much as we do. Negan has come a long way and we have seen so many sides to him yet i was still very surprised with how the story developed it was a funny buy when it hit it hit hard and i felt bad for Negan. Then there is Maggie i honestly had no idea what was going to happen but i hoped Negan would live though it, but she stayed strong and true to her self and finely move on in so many meaningful ways, then at the end we are left with two characters who lives are changed and again must face who they will be in this brave new world.
What a man Negan is. Love the man.
I’m not sure if I’m more disappointed in the fact that Maggie didn’t kill Negan, or the fact that Negan destroyed Lucille Jr. I get it, this issue dehumanizes him completely BUT Negan without his bat and without his obnoxious self is no Negan at all. I’m not sure what to expect is coming, but I’d rather see Negan die than to see him walking around, lonely, and vulnerable.
Also, not sure how I feel about Dante and Maggie either but hey, whatever.
Yep. Same.
I don’t think Negan was broken at the end of the issue when he burned Lucille 2.0. I think he can he finally freed himself of the guilt and grief over his wife Lucille. I wish he didn’t destroy Lucille 2.0, it would have been nice to see him with another Lucille. I hope we haven’t seen the last of Negan. Just because he moved on from his grief doesn’t mean he isn’t still Negan. If you read Here’s Negan he was always a “character” with funny lines and a colorful personality. Regarding Maggie and Dante – I would rather see her eventually hook up with Negan than Dante. She needs a bad boy in her life.
my favorite part is the self pity negan feels when maggie tells him everytime she trys to think about glenn she only pictures his head bashed in while screaming her name but all around great issue cant wait for the commonwealth in the new world order story arc !!! Ps kirkman adlard still the best duo in comics !!
Well, it was a good issue in the sense that we saw two major characters put things from their past to rest (so to speak) and move on.
I was glad that Negan burned Lucille 2. You can never replace the original.
Hm. I’m not with the crowd. However, I can imagine a lengthy absence of Negan & just when it would make a hard impact, BAM!! He enters the picture, evil as ever, & kills somebody off!
That’s what I’m saying.