The Walking Dead #178 [Explicit] [SPOILERS][Smack-Bang in the Middle of an Arc].
Bill Sienkiewicz has created twelve variant covers that will make your eyes pop. "Andrea" (issue #178) has fans gushing and sobbing uncontrollably.
Zombies in Full-Colour! Nope.
Sorry to disappoint. No colour and funnily enough, no zombies.
Today's edutainment instalment sees us explore The Walking Dead #178 in a sequential chronological framework. Some of you have enjoyed being given the low-down and don't seem to care about spoilers. That's fine by me if it's fine by you!
A brief tangent.
For those of you who've read my smash hit review of Shift Eatery, you'll know why I travelled to Sydney on Monday. I haven't been so excited to lug back books since.. well.. the last time I shopped at Kings Comics. Ha.
Well, two of those issues were the two latest issues of The Walking Dead - issues #179 and #180 - the last two issues in the 'New World Order' story arc. The reason I'm focusing on #178 is because I almost always reread the last issue I've bought to refamiliarise myself with where the plot's going. After all, I'm reading an awful lot of comics lately and it's tough work keeping up!
See? Click the titles for more of my edgy reviews.
And this doesn't even include a buttload of others, including Batman #48, a masterpiece portrayal of the Joker. Apparently, he's peeved he wasn't invited to Bat 'n' Cat's wedding. Yeah, that's a thing. Pretty anticipated, too.
Guh. That was a tangent. How the hell did I get on to Batman? I don't really even read DC.
The Walking Dead #178. Abridged.
I'm dropping you in the deep end without floaties. You'll catch up.
We enter the book with Siddiq looking shit-scared as the muscle that forms the backbone of the protection of 'The Commonwealth' confront him after hearing threats being made.
Head honcho, Mercer wasn't threatening Rick's crew. He appeared to show interest in destabilizing 'The Commonwealth'. Nobody wants to have ears on that conversation.
'The Commonwealth' is less of a community as it is a fucking city. They have their own football competition, for Christ's sake. These are the guys Rick's crew found via some unauthorised radio comms and they happily met a group of our merry little band of misfits.
Isn't it cute hearing children calling adults whores?
Well, in our next scene Sophia jumps to the conclusion that Maggie's humpin' Dante (she probably is).
So what? Yeah, Glenn's dead, but she justifies her sex drive enough to appease the young Sophia by explaining she has a mad drive for cock. Sophia accepts it. The explanation, not cock. Geez. You're FILTHY.
HUGE SPOILER. But you already knew that.
Michonne's taking the time to rebuild her relationship with her long lost daughter, Elodie.
I think we have another bad-ass in the making, here. It's just a hunch. She's shown no sign of kicking heads in yet, but she's Michonne's blood. Come on.
Hello there, Carl.
We are treated to six panels of Carl and Sophia.
He wants the goss on Dante and Maggie. Understandably, Sophia is still taking it a bit hard (not cock, the news) and makes the comparison between Rick and Andrea's hook up. Carl schools Sophia and basically tells her she's a selfish mole. It's all jokes and heavy petting.. I mean.. pushing each other around, jokingly.
Governor Pamela hosts our crew for a day or two before she agrees to travel to Alexandria.
Well, it's hard to trust this woman after she calls herself governor. Connotations and all that.
Old brainiac McGee, Eugene finally gets his wish and meets his radio buddy, Stephanie. She's all apologies and toeing the Commonwealth line stating she was out of order not sharing their communication with the others.
Elodie sees Michonne with her Katana. And calls it "weird". There's a lot to be said for the practicality of quiet, head-lopping weapons in a universe where noise attracts walkers.
Now, meet the guy you can't wait to see someone use as target practice.
Sebastian. The governor's useless son whose sole purpose is to act like a massive entitled twit. Here, he tries to lure Yumiko away on a private tour of the area, is rebuffed then eventually gets told to "sit down" (forcefully whacked in the guts) by none other than wild-haired newcomer, Princess. This girl is a new fave of mine.
She then proceeds to knock several soldiers' asses to the ground after Sooky-Sebastian orders them to do something.
It comes to an end after an intervening Mercer throws a hand axe at her staff, knocking it from her hand.
Sebastian continues entertaining his violent tendencies and backhands Elodie after she offers to help him up. We almost see Michonne slice him into ribbons. So close.
We are left with, "It's important we know our place."
Haves vs have nots. Yeah, not too dissimilar to the world we live in now. Twats with power dictating who gets to mistreat people at their discretion.
Those two tantalising issues I sunk my teeth into tonight. Two month's worth of comics in one sitting. Damn it.
Maybe you'll read more about them over the next few days, however I'm hoping to post another restaurant review, sooner rather than later.
Here's your exclusive variant cover photo. You're welcome.
You know your job! Upvote and tell me how filthy my mind is.
All the best,
Nick.
All content is original and belongs to @nickmorphew. [20 June 2018]
Disclosure: This article was not a paid promotion and was not self-upvoted. Nor were there any affiliate links.
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@bryan-imhoff
What's your experience been like with TWD? I can't remember if you said you've been following it or not.
As most of us know, the show's polarising the audience and the strength has returned to the comic (did it really ever leave it?). The mainstream don't read comics, but this story revels in black and white and doesn't even need zombie appearances except to cause tension between characters.
I feel like in the show, I wanted to see zombies purely for the gore and the freak factor. Two mediums eliciting a different response for me.
I hope you are keeping well.
All the best, bud.
Nick.
Walking Dead isn’t a property I followed from the start or have had a strong enough desire to voraciously consume! I’ve only watched the first season of the show, and read I believe the first three trade compilations. I enjoyed it all, and one day will hopefully catch up... but the list of things I hope to catch up on reading & watching is so damn long!!! 😆
For something you don't voraciously consume, I'd say reading three TP's is pretty decent enough.
I can't wait for #181.
Nick.