Issue 144 of The Walking Dead is has just been released and has made an impact. This issue has captured many different elements from shock value, to rage and introducing 2 conflicting ideologies among leaders. It was a perfect issue, wrapping up all current issues that the comic has been building toward and opening a whole new set of stories to come. The Walking Dead issue 144 is an issue that can, and should, be bought.
The Walking Dead issue 144 is perfect. The issue deals with the interactions between Rick and Alpha, the leader of Whispers. Rick’s ideology is to rebuild society and re-introduce rules that are similar to society before the outbreak. Alpha’s viewpoint is that humanity has been given a gift of being able to be free and her people can travel anywhere. The Walking Dead has been known to have their leaders have opposing view points, but many of those circumstances have been viewed more favorably toward Rick. In issue 144 the ideology appears to be evenly split down the middle as both leaders are right in some respects and wrong in others.
The comic begins to change as a weakness of Alpha is revealed after Carl states that Lydia’s been raped. It causes her mom Alpha to cry while turning away from her group and pleading with Rick to take Lydia with him. Rick agrees, as it will allow him to get Carl back to the community’s territories. Before Rick can go Alpha states to Rick that he and his people should not go past the border, he will know what that border is. This issue’s shock value comes into play as Rick is approaching the border to discover that 12 members of the communities that have been decapitated and are reanimated. This immediately separates Alpha from Negan as a villain as she likes to manipulate people with her words, much like he does, but she kills herself as a warning to Rick. This instantly makes her respectable as a villain and truly terrifying at the same time as a cold killer, which makes for one hell of a character. She can convince 12 people to follow her and decapitate them to make a border and prove a point.
This incident prompts an emotion that Rick has not exhibited in over 30 issues, which is rage. Witnessing Rick experience rage is a game changer in the Walking Dead as he has been soft due to the prosperity the communities have gained. There has been a new threat resulting in 12 killed members as a warning, reminding Rick that the civilized world he is trying to build has to be built on killing and blood. This newly exhibited emotion is seen toward the end of the issue, yet it gives off the vibe that Rick and his community are not going to take this and are going to raise arms over these deaths.
Issue 144 pulls no punches and delivers a comic issue for the ages. This issue has everything in it from violence to blood, to shock value, rage and some of the best character development that has been produced all year long. If you have not read or picked up a copy of the Walking Dead issue 144 I recommend that you do. It is an amazing issue that will leave you speechless.
