The Walking Dead #131 Review

Is The Walking Dead still a must read, or is it starting to drift further into the realm of average? Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

A journey begins.

The Walking Dead has been falling firmly into the realm of average over the last couple of years, with the wow factor of the early tales appearing to have disappeared. Which is a real shame, as with the TV series being such a hit, it would’ve been nice to have seen the comics on par. Things have been looking up for the series as of late, with the jump forward two years bringing much needed freshness. Despite this it was the revelation of last issue that had me hooked for the series future, with the query over talking zombies having me gripped to my seat.

Series creator Robert Kirkman continues to script The Walking Dead, giving a very in depth character experience. What I really loved about this issue was how he introduced new character Dante, teasing a possible romance between him and Maggie, as well as showing a older, tougher Sophia. I also really enjoyed how he showed the emotional reaction Carl had concerning the events of last issue, with him really maturing as a character. Despite this I did feel that it remained a little too safe for me, with there being no real suspense until quite near the end.

Charlie Adlard continues to create the artwork on The Walking Dead, with Stefano Gaudiano providing inks, and Cliff Rathburn grey tones. As ever the art proves to be very dramatic, with the gripping layouts and solid shading giving a real sense of depth. Adlard also continues to give very realistic, and engaging character expressions, with the emotion that oozes from this giving wonderful atmosphere. It is however the more wider panels were Adlard impresses most, with the sheer detail, and scenery showing just how wide this community has spread.

The Walking Dead continues to be a worthy read, as though it’s still falling closer to the realm of average, it is making improvements, feeling much fresher. Recommended.