The Walking Dead is one of the best comics released each month. Since issue 144, the story has been above what is expected. Issue 148, which can be purchased here, falls into this category. The comic focuses on three major components dealing with Rick, Alpha, and the group of Carl, Lydia, and Andrea. In each one of these people emotions are running high. They are questioning their judgment and actions and how it will affect their respected companies.
The Good:
The comic exposes Alpha’s soft side as she is crying near a tree alone. She is questioning her decision on letting her daughter stay with Rick’s group. This shows that Alpha does have a weakness and despite being a merciless killer she is still a human who has emotions. Conversely, Rick foils Alpha’s emotions as he takes a strict and violent stance to maintain order by threatening to shoot his people. This shows that Rick can only take so much stress before his calm demeanor turns to a stricter more discipline course of action. Both Alpha and Rick are examined as leaders in this issue as they have a wide range of emotions they suppress in order to rule their people. The comic also shows a tactical side to Rick as he is asking for Negan’s help in maintaining order and dealing with the threat of the Whisperers. The reintroduction of Negan shows that Rick is a desperate man and needs to utilize desperate tactics to ensure what he has build in the last 50 issues of the comic.
The Bad:
Issue 147 ended on a cliffhanger where Carl, Lydia, and Andrea were in a stalemate with guns pointed at one another. In issue 148 that stalemate is resolved very quickly as Carl chose to side with Andrea rather than with Lydia. This doesn’t align with how Carl has previously acted with Lydia while he was in the Hilltop and tracking her down to the Whisperers. This component of the comic raises questions about where Carl’s character is going as he has done actions for Lydia and against Lydia.
The Verdict:
The Walking Dead, issue 148, is a fantastic issue. The issue captures the idea on how leaders suppress their emotions, yet they can only suppress them for so long as both Rick and their people see Alpha’s emotions. Furthermore, the comic gives it’s readers the return of the character Negan, who gives the hint that he will be part of a solution that Rick will use to deal with the Whisperers. The comic has it deficits, in particular, with the Carl, Lydia, and Andrea situation. It challenges Carl’s character, as he appears to be flip-flopping his alliance. This comic, which focuses on Rick and Alpha, along with the reintroduction of Negan, is a great read. It is leading up to what is expected to be an amazing issue of The Walking Dead, issue 150.
