Alexandria dangles on a precipice.
There’s a sense that The Walking Dead is building to something massive again. With issue #150 just around the corner, that something is probably coming sooner rather than later. For now, though, the series is content to build on recent tragedies and explore the growing tension threatening to tear Alexandria apart. The series may be in slow burn mode right now, but it’s an effective approach.
This issue has a bit of an uphill battle moving forward from the previous month’s cliffhanger. The Mexican standoff scenario involving Andrea, Carl and Lydia reads like a forced moment of drama, particularly in light of how quickly the situation is resolved. But from there, this issue quickly builds steam. Robert Kirkman provides an intriguing glimpse into Alpha’s psychology, suggesting that she isn’t quite as cold and cruel as she likes to appear. Or, at least, if she is cold and cruel she feels the heavy weight of her actions. Of the book’s major villains, she’s quickly shaping up to be the most conflicted and sympathetic.
Kirkman conveys the desperation back home in Alexandria well. It’s hard not to fault the citizens of this community in their calls for war, even as it’s clear Rick’s pleas for caution are the logical approach to this new threat. After all the attention given to showcasing the relatively happier life in this “two years later” time period, there’s a real sense that it could all come crashing down if given the right push. Artist Charlie Adlard nails the emotion and intensity at play in the community meeting as heated arguments devolve into fist fights. Adlard’s facial work could use a little more variety when it comes to these crowd shots, but otherwise he’s adept at keeping the book visually dynamic even when there’s nary a zombie to be seen.
It’s no bold prediction to say that something bad is going to happen in The Walking Dead, but this issue adds to the growing sense of dread permeating the book in the lead-up to issue #150. With more unrest in Alexandria and an increasingly complex villain, the series has all the rights ingredients in play right now.
