Welcome to the second edition of Walking Dead Wednesday here at Somewhatnerdy. As I have said before, we are big Walking Dead fans. We have been fans since the comics, long before the series was created for TV. Well, I tossed an idea of having Walking Dead Wednesdays for our readers with the rest of the staff at SWN and they agreed it would be a great idea. So, every other Wednesday, I will be posting a review of the Walking Dead comics, one trade at a time. Today’s focus is Volume 2: Miles Behind Us. This trade collects issues # 7-12 and introduces us to some familiar faces from the show but in a different pace.
First we find ourselves at Shane’s funeral and Lori seems to be taking harder than the others. Well, we all know what happened between Shane and Lori when they thought Rick was dead so it seems fair that Lori feels torn, or does she? Of course Dale pulls Rick aside and tells him what he thinks went down, but Rick lets Dale know he already has those thoughts in his mind and would like it to stay that way rather than the camp make Lori the focus of gossip. Dale agrees to leave it alone, but I guess we will have to see, especially after Lori announces to everyone that she is pregnant.
Since there camp was attacked the other day, Rick convinces the others they need to move camp and they pack up and go. Things are going well but then they come across a wreck and are forced to push they car out of their way. While doing this they are surprised by what they thought were walkers but then realized they were human. This is when we meet Tyreese, his daughter Julie, and her boyfriend Chris. Rick offers them food and shelter, which doesn’t go well for all, but Rick knows there is strength in numbers. Tyreese and Rick build a trust the following day as they kill some roamers and get the RV packed for the trip.
They get back on the road looking for shelter from the winter. They have been traveling for a few days when they come across a neighborhood that seems to be the answer to their prayers. The neighborhood is called Wiltshire Estates and it is a gated community. Everything seems fine but it’s going to get dark soon so Rick and Tyreese check out the house. There were a few walkers in the basement which caused some excitement but it was nothing Rick and Tyreese couldn’t handle.
With the house cleared, everyone claims a room and they try to unwind and relax a little bit. This is when we realize that Dale and Andrea’s relationship was a little more than meets the eye. Anyway, the following morning, the weather is warmer and it is causing the snow to melt. Rick has divided the group into search parties to clear out any walkers that may still be in the neighborhood. As they split up, Rick notices a warning but it is too late, Donna gets attacked while opening a door. This causes a panic and without thinking a shot is fired and the other walkers here the sounds and come out of their dormant state. They all eventually get to safety only having lost Donna, but the damage was done to the group mentally.
This nightmare forces them to get back on the road. Well, eventually run out of food so Rick, Carl, and Tyreese go hunting. All seems good and well and then they here a gunshot and Carl goes down like a sack of potatoes. This is how we are introduced to Otis. Otis agrees to take them to a farm to get medical help for Carl. This is when we finally get to meet Hershel and his family. Carl is saved and the others are welcome to stay until Carl can be moved.
Their stay is short lived after Rick finds out that Hershel is keeping walkers in the barn. As they are discussing this a walker comes up to them but Hershel grabs him and starts to take him to the barn. When he opens the door a stampede of living dead comes towards him and almost kills him. They do however kill some of his family. Both Hershel and Rick disagree about how to treat walkers which causes Rick’s group to seek shelter elsewhere. So, they get back on the road and eventually come across a prison. This is where the story ends for now. Tune in in two weeks to see what happens next, that is if you didn’t already know.
As always, you cannot go wrong with zombies. I give this trade a perfect rating of 10 out of 10.
Creator/Writer: Robert Kirkman
Penciler/Inker: Charlie Adlard
Publisher: Image Comics
