My life has taken a big step forward over the last month or so. After toiling in unemployment since I graduated in May 2011, in late June I finally received a "big boy" job offer from a local radio station doing part-time board op work. Yes, it isn't anything big, but it's a steady paycheck and it has a lot of room for advancement. And a 401k!
Look at me, sounding like a grown-up. Anyone who knows me knows I will always be a kid at heart.
Regardless, most of this job involves sitting around surfing the Internet, so since I don't have any schoolwork like all of the other board ops, I decided to use my time a little more wisely... getting caught up on comic book reading! My dream is to return to the weekly format I had before I fell terribly behind, but baby steps. For God sake, I still have Fantastic Four #600 to review, and I've been sitting on that since Thanksgiving!
Today we'll take a look at issues 98, 99 and the big 100 of The Walking Dead.
The Walking Dead #98 (purchased May 30, 2012)
Issue 98 continues where we left off last issue with the two guys from the end being harassed by a group of scarred/burned bikers, apparently from the group of Negan we first heard about last issue. One of the two random guys, Abraham, is hit in the back of the head with a dart/spear, killing him. The other guy, named Eugene according to Wikipedia, is taken hostage and brought to the camp where Rick and crew are located. And because Rick's sexytime session with Andrea was interrupted, he's PISSED. The biker group demands to be let in or they will FORCE themselves in and run wild. Of course Andrea and other campers have sniper rifles and pistols, and snipe the shit out of the bikers, who run away. Tied up Eugene also helps by biting Biker Leader in the crotch, basically rendering him ineffective. Rick gives chase to the fleeing bikers, not wanting them to regroup and return, but they run into a group of zombies. Rick and co return to camp where they bury Abraham and try to figure out what to do next. This issue was exciting, violent, and filled with F-bombs, although the ending was rather sudden. Although we get to continue right along with...
The Walking Dead #99 (purchased June 20, 2012)
Everybody is on edge following the death of Abraham and the assault by the biker gang, who we learn call themselves The Saviors. Well, I learned it anyway. Glenn and Maggie discuss leaving the group and moving to The Hilltop, an area with lots of doctors, people, etc. And more importantly, a place that has yet to be attacked, a safe place for the baby they're going to need to raise. Everyone is shown mourning in their own ways at the funeral of Abraham, and afterwards as well, but the people soon become frantic and ask Rick what his plan is. Rick announces that he will go to the Hilltop and warn them about the attack, and also try to get supplies and muscle for protection. Glenn announces that he and Maggie will be accompanying Rick to the Hilltop, but not returning with him, as they want their baby to be safe. Oh, TAG. Glenn apologizes and the group prepares to head out. Carl never wants to leave Rick's sight again, and Rick wants Andrea to stay and watch over the camp while they're gone. And so the group heads out... but they're being watched from a nearby rooftop by members of the Saviors, who plan an attack. Slightly boring issue, but we needed a piss-break, for lack of a better term, before the big kahuna known as...
The Walking Dead #100 (purchased July 11, 2012)
Image Comics (distributers of The Walking Dead) went all out for the series' 100th issue, producing a variety of collectible covers. Rather than trying to catch em all like Pokemon, I simply picked out the coolest one my comic book shop had, which I've pictured above. You can find a gallery of the other variant covers on the TWD Wikia page. The Saviors plan their attack as Andrea discusses guarding the complex with some dude, talking about how when she isn't being shot at, she actually feels safe. The dude says he knows about her relationship with Rick and is happy for the two. Meanwhile, Rick and co are behind schedule, and darkness is approaching. They decide to set up camp and stay overnight, but are assaulted by the Saviors and their mysterious leader Negan. Negan basically reminds me of a douchebag frat-daddy who dresses like a biker in that he's a tough guy douchebag and says "fuck" every other word. Oh, and he tells everyone that they're entering "pee pee pants city." Is it a sister city to Pity City? Negan announces that because of the murders of his men by Rick's men, he will be beating Rick with his Mick Foley approved baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, which he calls Lucille. Then he decides no, he'll pick someone at random. That someone is Glenn, who has his head turned into a brain slushie with an eyeball in a pretty grisly scene. Negan announces that his men will be back to take half of Rick's possessions and supplies, and the Saviors leave as the comic cuts off. But I want MOOOOORRRREEEEE! Awesome issue, although I was saddened by Glenn's death since his character is cool in the TV show. But apparently the point of the comics is to not become attached to any one character since most of them wind up as zombies. Welp!
Overall, this is an awesome story arc so far, and I really want to go back and read the other 96 issues of TWD that I missed. If only I had the money. I also want MORE and don't want to wait another month!
More comic book reviews coming soon!
Good work pal! I LOL'ed a lot at your comments.
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