CSBG Archive
The Walking Dead #29 Review
Let me get this out of the way from the start.
Rick losing a hand?
D-U-M dumb!
Lose an eye?
Fine.
Scars?
Cool.
Heck, a LEG, not a big deal.
But a hand?
It just cuts down too dramatically on the amount of things you can have Rick do from now on. It just doesn’t have that much dramatic potential.
So I don’t like that.
Beyond that, though, this was a strong issue of Walking Dead that demonstrates how rape can be handled in comics without seeming stupid and offensive.
The bad guy in the comic, “The Governor,” is a sick and sadistic fellow. Therefore, let’s be frank, if he captures a female prisoner, the things that happen in this comic are fairly predictable and reasonable.
The dude, in his apartment, has a wall filled with the heads of people preserved in aquariums!!!!! The dude is psycho! And, in a great plot twist, his own daughter has become a zombie, but he keeps her in his apartment. He chains her up and feeds her daily. It’s a very clever twist.
Likewise, we get some nicely written exposition by the doctor treating Rick (for his hand getting cut off).
What’s good is that Robert Kirkman has developed these characters so much that he can pretty much place them in a certain situation and we KNOW how they will react. We know how Michonne will handle the terrible things happening to her and we know how Glenn will handle the terrible things happening to Michonne.
Meanwhile, the cliffhanger of the issue sets up what should be a very nice longterm storyline. The bad guys make for a very interesting future enemy for our crew at the prison.
Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn produce their typical excellent art and grey tones.
I would recommend this comic with the reservation that Rick losing his hand is just lame.
16 Comments
Jordan D. White
July 16, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Eh, I have a friend who is missing a hand. She can play guitar and bass, drives a car fine, and makes tons of clothing by hand (ba-dum). Having one had is not a life ender.
Brian Cronin
July 16, 2006 at 9:35 pm
But to do so, I presume she had to learn HOW, no?
That’s what I mean by sapping the drama. I really don’t want to have to watch Rick re-learn to do everything.
Jordan D. White
July 17, 2006 at 6:06 am
I guess I see the point there. Issues of Rick relearning could be boring. I guess it depends how it’s done.
Af course, there is also the possibility that Rick could stop being the main character. You never know, Kirkman has threatened to do it before. It could just be an empty threat.
And if the whole handless thing does not go well, Rick can just get a hand made of magical water, right?
Brian Cronin
July 17, 2006 at 1:09 pm
Oh, Kirkman has threatened to not make Rick the main character in the future?
This, I did not know. I thought he was committed to Rick as the main character, which was my concern. If he’s willing to shift focus to a new main character, then that’d be cool by me, as Rick learning to do everything with one hand is a decent background plot.
Tim
July 17, 2006 at 1:43 pm
I’ve not heard any mention of Rick being replaced as the main character of the book. In the intro to the first trade, Kirkman basically says he wants to explore every different possibility with Rick. I’d assume this means he’s not going to be replaced. But whatever, speculation is silly.
I’ve never read anything by Kirkman up until this series. I have no idea if he’s a truly great writer or if this is a fluke. Somehow I doubt it’s a fluke. Regardless, his writing on this series has been exceptionally good in my opinion and I can’t imaine he’s going to take time away from compelling story to show us every painful detail of Rick learning how to make a sandwich with only one hand.
On the other hand (honest to god, pun not intended) if he does decide to show Rick getting used to life with only one hand, based on the strength of the series so far, I’d be up for reading it. After all, there are no bad ideas, only bad writers.
Jordan D. White
July 17, 2006 at 2:22 pm
Hmmm… I don’t have and specific source on this Rick thing, but I remember hearing things, likely in the letters page or on his Image Board, where he has talked about having considered killing Rick off.
steve
July 20, 2006 at 6:24 am
losing a hand is what happened
whether you think its boring
too bad
its part of life
or in this instance
death
Brian Cronin
July 20, 2006 at 12:56 pm
I know this may come as quite a shock, Steve, so brace yourself.
The events of Walking Dead did not ACTUALLY happen. They are fictional events from the mind of Robert Kirkman.
Therefore, Robert Kirkman specifically decided to have Rick’s hand get cut off. It didn’t “just happen.” Henceforth, if it is a boring plot, it IS too bad, but I don’t think it’s too bad in the way you are using the phrase.
STEVE
July 20, 2006 at 5:38 pm
hey dude
you started the thread not me
as for me
im utterly endertained and frightended by the last 2 issues
stark contrast to the snoozfest of the 10 issues before it
hey
what can i say
im a cheap date lol
Brian Cronin
July 20, 2006 at 9:20 pm
Oh, totally agreed about how it is nice to move things along.
I just don’t like the plot with Rick’s hand getting cut off.
STEVE
July 21, 2006 at 3:20 am
i agree
i was holding out hope for some micro surgery
until he fed the hand to his daughter that is
Brian Cronin
July 21, 2006 at 3:26 am
Ha!
The daughter plot IS a really cool idea, though.
Leonardo
July 25, 2006 at 5:53 pm
Say whatever you want, IN KIRKMAN WE TRUST. I don’t think he’s getting Rick off the spotlight, yet, I HIGHLY doubt that whatever he has in mind for our zombie slayer town cop is gonna be boring, not by a long shot, guys. And as for the activities he could or could not engage having onehand alone, I’ll say there’s many men who have had to go through that and made it off without going to rehab sessions. Rick could end up being as versatile as Captain Nelson for all we know.
STEVE
July 28, 2006 at 10:03 am
or captain
hook
STEVE
July 29, 2006 at 7:32 am
anyone see the cover for issue 33 in the new previews??
Brian Cronin
July 29, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Yeah, very cool cover.
I should do a bit on the Image covers today or tomorrow.