For the last several issue of The Walking Dead, the residents of the Alexandria Safezone have been under the threat of a giant herd. As a result, Rick has sent out a team of riders to lead the herd elsewhere, as he defends the Safezone. Now, situations change as the herd destroyed the gate and breached the Safezone forcing the residents to go into hiding. As all this occurs, the Saviors are waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Walking Dead, issue 166, is that perfect opportunity for them to strike, but like many good plans they all take unexpected twists and turns. Things are about to get a whole lot worse for Rick as he deals with Sherry, the leader of the Saviors, and his partner Andrea as they both have news that will change the world they live in.
The Good:
Finally, after months of build up we see the interactions between the Safezone and the Saviors, as the Saviors eliminate a portion of the herd. In doing that they attempt to hold the Alexandria Safezone at gunpoint. As this is going on Dwight and several others disarm the Saviors, which allows for a stalemate to occur between both sides. With this occurring, we see Rick suggesting to the Savior’s leader, Sherry, that they talk about it. In these instances we see how two leaders can be rational as a means to avoid a war that would leave both sides with casualties. In there talk it is revealed that the Saviors do not want to be part of Rick’s network in supporting, defending, or communicating with them. This is primarily due to how they feel that Rick is trying to control them through trade and wars. This is crucial as this is an outside perspective on Rick’s decisions and how people feel it has affected them. By Sherry revealing this, there is some truth to it as Rick’s decisions have not always been about bettering all of the communities. As she is revealing that her sanity is slowly becomes unhinged to the point where she attempts to kill Rick with a knife and than choke him out. As this is happening Rick push’s her into a table where her neck breaks, resulting in her death. This reveals two things, the first being despite the progress the 4 communities have made, many still live with stresses of how they have gotten here and can snap at any time. The second is that the very peace that Rick was attempting to create with Sherry has ended with her death, as the Saviors will view their leaders death as an act of war. Rick has once again put his community in harms way. While this is occurring it is revealed that Andrea has suffered a scratch/bite/cut from her interaction with the herd. She has rushed home to go see Rick to explain what has happened to her. Upon arriving home she sees that Rick has killed Sherry. Thus, with Sherry’s death and Andrea’s wound it has created two new problems and challenges for Rick as a leader to deal with as he continues to lead his community forward.
Bad:
The problem with this comic is Sherry’s death. In particular, Sherry and the Saviors for several issues have been hyped that they were going to attack the Safezone. Sherry is the perfect leader to lead this attack and to interact with Rick throughout the rest of the arc. Yet in killing her, when the Saviors attack complete deflates the hype that has been built up for the last several issues. Furthermore, with her death rather than making the Saviors, who are in a powerful position, look strong they now look weak. This is a missed opportunity to develop the Saviors who have not been in the comic since all out war.
The Verdict:
The one thing you can’t say about the Walking Dead, issue 166, is things are about to change once again. It is clear that Rick will have several tough choices to face due to his actions in this issue. How will he address the Saviors about killing their leader, and help to support and rebuild his community at the same time. The third choice that he will have to deal with is a personal one; Andrea has sustained an injury when she interacted with the herd and poses a safety risk. All three of these choices are stemming from what has occurred in this issue. With this in mind it is hard not to appreciate the complex dynamic that Robert Kirkman and his team have created for this comic.
You can purchase The Walking Dead Volume 27 here.
