The Walking Dead Issue 157 Impressions

In last month’s issue of The Walking Dead, Negan took advantage of Alpha in her moment of weakness, slit her throat and cut off her head. In The Walking Dead issue 157, Negan lugs Alpha’s head to show Rick. This issue is filled with tension as Rick’s group grapples with how much they can trust Negan. 

 

Title: The Walking Dead – Issue 157: The Whisperer War Part 1 of 6

 

 Negan arrives on the scene with his hands in the air as Dwight’s sniper Magna views him threw her scope. Dwight orders Magna to shoot him but she hesitates. Dwight was previously part of Negan’s group during the “All Out War” arc, but after Rick’s people won that war, Dwight became an ally. Since then, Dwight has been holding onto Negan’s signature weapon, a barbed-wire bat named Lucille. Negan’s first question to Dwight is “have you been taking care of her?” 

 

As Negan holds Alpha’s head he pleads for Rick’s trust, encouraging Rick to reflect on the time he stood inside the unlocked prison cell. There are no slides in this issue showing any sign that Negan is up to no good. The lack of Negan’s profane language and mischievous grins in this issue, makes it seem like he’s putting on an act. With hesitation, Rick grants Negan’s freedom with the expectation that he would be given his own outpost, food and weapons to serve as the front line of “The Whisperer War”. 

 

Issue 157 takes a different artistic route using a twelve to sixteen panel grid layout offering a dense approach to portray the impact current events have on every character. Beta has tears rolling down his walker-skin covered face as he stands over Alpha’s dead body. While he refuses to take on the role of the new Alpha, he insists The Whisperers  follow her orders of declaring war when Rick’s people trespass on their land. Many characters are still unaware that Negan killed Alpha, including Alpha’s daughter Lydia. Rick who is no longer fighting in the front lines, takes command to prepare for the inevitable war. Dwight is asked to keep an eye out on Negan since he knows Negan best and Rick gives Dwight the green light to kill Negan over a slight suspicious facial expression. Michonne gathers her troops from the Hilltop and directs Carl to stay back from the war in order to protect the Hilltop. The Kingdom, a settlement previously lead by Ezekiel who died by The Whisperers, is asked to join the war, with the task of using their horses to divert The Whisperers large hoard of walkers. As Aaron receives medical aid, the intermittent love tension between Aaron and Jesus surface. Eugene continues dialogue with Stephanie over the radio and now with full trust in Stephanie, he reveals his location to her and after some hesitation, she reveals that her group lives in Ohio. Issue 157 ends with Gabriel taking post at the water tower as he discovers the large hoard of walkers coming toward their land. Rick then takes a moment to ensure everyone’s safety.