Book Review: The Walking Dead Vol. 28 by R. Kirkman et al.

The Walking Dead Volume 28: A Certain Doom written by Robert Kirkman, penciled by Charlie Adlard, inked by Stefano Gaudiano, and gray tones by Cliff Rathburn

Last issue left a veritable ocean of zombies heading for Rick's stronghold. That seems like it would be the "certain doom" of this issue's title. Rick's people have worked out a system for driving away small herds of zombies and they put the plan into action for the hundreds of thousands of zombies heading their way. Mounted on horses, Andrea, Michonne, Eugene, and others lead the zombies off a cliff into the ocean. The process takes a while and they can only take a few hundred at a time, so the massive horde will hit their walls. Can the walls survive? Will the people inside be ready? And what about the leftovers from the Saviors (Negan's old gang) who seem to be rooting for the zombies, not for Rick's people?

The drama is less soap operatic than in previous volumes, though the long and drawn out death of a major character at the end of this issue is fairly melodramatic. I found some of the "deep" conversations sparked by the character's death rather shallow and unconvincing and contradictory, so it wasn't as satisfying. The art seems to have gone up a notch in quality and supports the storytelling better, which I liked.

Recommended for fans of the comic series who have been a bit disillusioned with the past few issues (i.e. me).

Book Review: The Walking Dead Vol. 27 by R. Kirkman et al.

The Walking Dead Volume 27: The Whisperer War written by Robert Kirkman and art by Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano, and Cliff Rathburn

Negan returns to Alexandria with the head of Alpha, leader of the Whisperers, as a peace offering. Rick Grimes is reluctant to accept that Negan has reformed but is willing to give him the slimmest of chances. So Negan goes out with the rest of the army that Rick has amassed to fight back the advance of the Whisperers and their horde of walkers. The army is composed of people from the other communities, some of which are more supportive than others. Trouble is brewing within their alliance in addition to their trouble the Whisperers.

The story weaves back and forth between the tactics of fighting the war and the relationships various people have. The shift from horror combat to soap-opera conversations is a bit grating at times, and the cast of characters is becoming large and unwieldy. I have a hard time remembering every person and every little detail that comes up. The war part is a lot more interesting but feels like only half the book.

Another ho-hum issue of The Walking Dead.

Book Review: The Walking Dead Vol. 26 by R. Kirkman et al.

The Walking Dead Volume 26: Call to Arms written by Robert Kirkman and art by Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano, and Cliff Rathburn

After the Whisperers have marked their territory with the heads of people from Rick's Alexandria community, there's been an uneasy truce. Secretly (but not too secretly) Rick has begun training his people for another war. He manages the political situation at Alexandria but not well. One boy decides to sneak Negan out of jail with disastrous consequences for many.

The political situation in Alexandria is interesting. Rick wants to keep the people up in arms against the Whisperers. His methods are a little too clumsy to be completely effective. His relationship with his son is touched on briefly. The story is definitely losing interest in the father-son dynamic. The focus is shifted to Negan, who has a rather unbelievable character development in this story.

Overall the story still reads like its best days are behind and getting further away. I think I keep forgetting how disappointed I am with the series, since the trade paperbacks come out every six months or so. I don't remember how disappointing the last one was and I jump back in once the library has a new issue. It's probably time to stop. Sorry, Walking Dead!

Book Review: Pretty Deadly Vol. 1 by K. S. DeConnick et al.

Pretty Deadly Volume 1: The Shrike script by Kelly Sue DeConnick, art and cover by Emma Rios, colors by Jordie Bellaire, letters by Clayton Cowles

Kelly Sue DeConnick crafts a new myth set in the American Old West! A young girl in a vulture cloak and an old blind man wander from town to town as storytellers. Their main story is about the Mason Man and Beauty, who get married. Mason Man is jealous and locks Beauty in a tower. Death eventually comes to take Beauty but is enchanted with her and she has a child by him before she dies. Death raises the child as Ginny, a reaper of vengeance who may be called by anyone in need.

The girl and the blind man have a run-in with Johnny, who gives the girl something before they flee the town. Later, a woman comes after Johnny looking for a journal. He doesn't have it so she shoots him. The chase is on, though people are not necessarily who they appear to be (hint, the myth is truer than true, no surprise there).

The story takes its time setting up characters. The story slowly reveals of how everyone is related to everyone else and who has what roles in the Mason Man/Beauty story. As a mature Western it is a bit bloody in the violence and has some nudity and sex. Just because it is mythological in character does not mean it is meant for children! I found it engaging and am looking forward to more.

Book Review: Morning Glories Vol. 5: Tests by N. Spencer et al.

Morning Glories Volume 5: Tests written by Nick Spencer and art by Joe Eisma

Morning Glories Academy is in chaos. The students got lost in another reality during the Woodrun, an outdoor scavenger hunt. Some of the students were hoping to escape the school (because things are very odd and very dangerous there) but another group of students were able to return everyone (students and teachers) to the same reality. Confrontations ensue. Meanwhile, more backstory is given for key characters.

Unfortunately, having taken a two-month break in between reading volumes, I've lost enough details that the story and the implications of events are hard to follow. Some big revelations are made but they don't make a lot of sense to me. At this point, I'm not sure there's a bigger picture that the story is working towards. The writer is just throwing in more mysteries and complications to string the readers along. So I am bailing out on this series.

Book Review: The Walking Dead TP25: No Turning Back by Robert Kirkman et al.

The Walking Dead Trade Paperback 25: No Turning Back written by Robert Kirkman, penciled by Charlie Adlard, and inked by Stefano Guadiano

At the end of the last issue, Rick and company discovered the Whisperers' latest atrocity, killing twelve Alexandria people and leaving their heads on sticks to mark the border between the Whisperers and Alexandria. Rick's people process their grief pretty quickly and move onto anger and revenge. Most everyone wants to attack the Whisperers immediately. Rick doesn't think that's a good idea since they know nothing about where the Whisperers are or how many of them there are. He wants to make a plan before doing anything. The people get the impression that he wants to do nothing. They want blood for blood. Infighting breaks out. The situation becomes so desperate that Rick goes to the imprisoned Neegan for advice! Can Rick keep everyone civilized and strike back at the Whisperers?

This book is a return to form for the series. A lot of debate and discussion go on about the nature of leadership and the importance of keeping people safe. The issue is a bit low on zombie killing which doesn't bother me since the main dramatic interest is how the survivors try to live together with some modicum of safety and happiness. This issue makes me excited for more (something that hasn't happened for a while).

Book Review: Morning Glories Vol. 4: Truants by Nick Spencer et al.

Morning Glories Volume 4: Truants written by Nick Spencer and art by Joe Eisma

After the surprising ending of the last volume, where some sort of time split happened leaving the teachers of Morning Glories Academy in a different state from most of the student who were out in the woods. This current day story is stuffed with flashbacks that fill in details about what's going on and the motivations of various characters. A new set of students have shown up and are working their own scheme (they caused the time rift). So things are even more complicated than before.

The plot is getting more outlandish which has me a bit worried. So many separate threads and odd details are introduced, it is hard to tell what's a red herring, what's there just because it's cool, and what's important to the main story (or will be important). The various parts are very interesting but is there a greater whole to be seen soon? I'm still intrigued enough to read the next issue.

Book Review: Morning Glories Vol. 3 by Nick Spencer et al.

Morning Glories Volume 3: P.E. written by Nick Spencer and art by Joe Eisma

See the reviews of Volume One and Volume Two!

How do they handle P.E. at Morning Glories Academy, the most exclusive prep school in America? Classes are canceled and everyone is grouped in threes, given maps, and sent out into the woods for "Woodrun." This bit of chaos in the schedule is the perfect opportunity to execute some hidden plans. For example, student counselor Ms. Hodge wants to escape with Casey and she has an extra-special and extra-odd way to get out--they go to a cave and stare at a wall where shadows are going. Eventually Ms. Hodge and Case disappear. Jade and Ike have to sit and watch, giving them a chance to talk. Meanwhile, the other kids are out in the woods where even stranger things happen as they try to complete the objectives on their map.

The plot is still very mysterious with fewer questions being answered than being raised. The characters are fairly interesting and there's plenty of pop culture and other references (like the Plato's Cave set-up for Ms. Hodge). I'm still intrigued enough to get the next volume but am getting worried that the big picture is not a coherent one. Time will tell.

Book Review: Morning Glories Vol. 2 by Nick Spencer et al.

Morning Glories Volume 2 All Will Be Free written by Nick Spencer and art by Joe Eisma

See the review of Volume 1 here.

The saga of six new students at Morning Glories Academy continues. This volume provides backstories for the students and answers some questions, like, Who is that other kid who looks just like Jun? Did Ike really kill his dad or is he just that scary/bad? Other questions come up, especially with the arrival of the student counselor. Her introduction brings some answers and more questions about what is going on and where they are.

So the Lost television show formula (large cast in a strange place with lots of mysteries about the people and the place) is still running. The ratio of satisfaction to frustration is still in favor of satisfaction but is close. The overall story doesn't move forward very far (at least, that's the way it seems), but I am patient enough to give it another volume or two to see if and how things develop.

Book Review: Morning Glories Vol. 1 by Nick Spencer et al.

Morning Glories Volume 1 For a Better Future written by Nick Spencer and art by Joe Eisma

Morning Glories is the sort of super-exclusive and super-secretive prep school that should draw more attention than it does. For example, all of the students are driven a few hours from a New York airport by a limo service, a trip during which they all fall asleep. They don't know the location of the school and their cell phone signals start to fade right after they call home to parents who completely deny their existence. The students assume their parents are part of some scheme to separate the kids from their old life but it does seem a bit extreme. Things get more extreme pretty quickly--just ask Casey, whose parents didn't want to deny their daughter's existence. She finds out about them when she's led to a chamber with their dead bodies. When another of the students is taken to the nurse's office and doesn't come back, the new students make a secret plan to get her out and get themselves away from Morning Glories.

The storytelling is clearly patterned after the television show Lost, where a set of characters are thrown into a bizarre situation with a bunch of mysteries that slowly get explained as the story goes on. As in Lost, the characters here are interesting, distinct, and mostly likable. Lost became bogged down in continually introducing new mysteries, which made the show less satisfying in later seasons. It's far too early to tell if that will happen here, though the teachers do seem to have a bigger secret project, so maybe when that is solved it will be the end (of the story, if not the world). I am more than interested enough and hopeful enough to keep reading.