Walking Dead: 9th TPB Discussion: SPOILERS!

[Wood]

OK, so some of you probably remember a few months ago when I complained about the 8th Walking Dead trade [Issue 48 in particular] and how, as a dad, I thought I might be looking to give up on the book because of the sense of pure hopelessness.

Well, I ordered the 9th trade for another try. AND DAMN AM I HAPPY I DID IT!

To be honest, the book started out ROUGH. The issue Rick looks to be really sick and we're led to believe his son has to go it alone, let me tell you...if that happened? I would've been done with this book. BUT, as anyone who has read beyond that knows, it didn't happen. 

Love the new characters mixed with the old. Also love the angle of the new characters. I for one think that Dr. is FULL OF SHIT. Particularly because Kirkman has said all along that he never wants us to know what caused the outbreak in the first place.

What did y'all think?

[citizenDave]

I'm digging it, but then I always have. Kirkman likes to build up in this book, and then tear down. Give us a glimmer of hope, then snatch it away, all the while our boy Rick survives, but is worse for the wear.

I, too, think that following a redneck "doctor" with a mullet is folly. I'm not sure I buy it, that they would actually follow this guy just because he sounds like he read a few magazine articles. But maybe they're so desperate for something, anything to believe in, and need to put distance between themselves and the horrors of the last storyline.

[Ryan 'gobo' C.]

Does this trade have the "phone" issue?

One of my favourite single issues of all time.

[Wood]

Does this trade have the "phone" issue?

One of my favourite single issues of all time.

Yep

[Parker]

This book always been good, but has gotten great with the whole road trip story. Danny Trejo, i mean Abraham is a good addition to the book and by far the strongest of the new characters.

I'm hoping they make it to DC because the art will be fantastic! A city with widespread devastation and the imagery of the White House and other monuments could be some strong compelling stuff.

[Ryan 'gobo' C.]

Yep

[JimN]

To be honest, the book started out ROUGH. The issue Rick looks to be really sick and we're led to believe his son has to go it alone, let me tell you...if that happened? I would've been done with this book. BUT, as anyone who has read beyond that knows, it didn't happen. 

Love the new characters mixed with the old. Also love the angle of the new characters. I for one think that Dr. is FULL OF SHIT. Particularly because Kirkman has said all along that he never wants us to know what caused the outbreak in the first place.

What did y'all think?

I loved it. That first story you mentioned, where Carl has to deal with Rick being sick and face the reality that he may have to go it on his own, was my favorite of the series. It was rough but it was powerful and Charlie Adlard did a remarkable job with the art.

Gobo, this trade does have the phone issue and that was a great one too. I had no idea where Kirkman was going to take the story after the devastation that ended trade #8 but #9 began with two of the best Walking Dead issues ever. I'll bet they seemed even more powerful in single issues.

Regarding the Doc who claims to know what caused the outbreak: I doubt that will be the case. I don't think we're ever going to get that info in any definitive form, although we may get some theories.

Jim

[Gordie]

I've been reading the trades as they come out mostly to see where it's going, but barely caring.
For the first time since maybe Vol 2 or 3, I REALLY want to see what's next.
No deep analysis, no compare and contrast. I finally have a little hope for this to go somewhere and am glad that I stuck with it.

[whirlwindx]

Gobo, this trade does have the phone issue and that was a great one too. I had no idea where Kirkman was going to take the story after the devastation that ended trade #8 but #9 began with two of the best Walking Dead issues ever. I'll bet they seemed even more powerful in single issues.

They were powerful in single issues. Such a feeling of dread and not a typical 50th issue celebration. All this was tempered by the feeling that I didn't get my money's worth. Two issues that were decompressed that could have been one. He's trying to build tension and all that but I prefer the regular issues myself.

[JimN]

They were powerful in single issues. Such a feeling of dread and not a typical 50th issue celebration. All this was tempered by the feeling that I didn't get my money's worth. Two issues that were decompressed that could have been one. He's trying to build tension and all that but I prefer the regular issues myself.

Interesting. Thanks for providing your impressions. I didn't think about it while reading those issues in trade but I imagine they were very quick reads as single issues.   I sometimes find myself frustrated with decompressed comics too but having read those two issues in a collection, I find myself glad they were paced as they were. I thought it heightened the motional resonance and gave Charlie Adlard a chance to really shine.

I might feel exactly the opposite if I had purchased them one at a time.

Jim

[thebiglargeness]

i just jumped on this book in a big way, ordered all 4 hardcovers that are out

[whirlwindx]

Interesting. Thanks for providing your impressions. I didn't think about it while reading those issues in trade but I imagine they were very quick reads as single issues.   I sometimes find myself frustrated with decompressed comics too but having read those two issues in a collection, I find myself glad they were paced as they were. I thought it heightened the motional resonance and gave Charlie Adlard a chance to really shine.

I might feel exactly the opposite if I had purchased them one at a time.

Jim

I remember a letters page where a reader had written in that he wasn't happy with those two quickly read issues either. Kirkman responded with something like there will be more issues like that eventually and that the reader controls how fast he reads an issue.
I can imagine it worked better in trade form much like the horror manga I read it's a difference reading experience and changes the pacing. With two formats to appease I'm happy when it strikes the perfect balance.

[Robert]

i just jumped on this book in a big way, ordered all 4 hardcovers that are out

Those are some beautiful collections, sir!
If you are not reading single issues now, the collected editions may convert you.

[Dom Sutton]

Addled tired thoughts...

Another great WD trade. Is it just me or does everyone else gobble these things up?

The phone issue was indeed excellent not just from a story point of view but as an example of what comics can do as a medium that sets them apart from films (the fact that there was no telephone sound effect didn't register with me, you just couldn't have achieved this in a film where the lack of ringing would've been a giveaway).

Love the new characters, the book was ready for a shot of new blood and these folk are radically different to the characters we've become used to. This new army guy looks almost as badass as Michonne, while the Doc guy has plenty of potential - he's already sent the series spinning off in a new direction after all.

Also wasn't it great to see those Zombies with Youngblood and Badger T-shirts - HaHa!!!

[Jeffrey P.]

Great read! Now its time for the waiting game for vol. 10