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The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead, Vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars
An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months, society has crumbled: there is no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, we are forced to finally begin living. This volume follows our band of survivors as they set up a permanent camp inside a prison. Relationships change, characters die, and our team of survivors learn there's something far more deadly than zombies out there: each other.
136 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2005
704 people are currently reading
8461 people want to read
About the author
Robert Kirkman
2,745 books6,933 followersRobert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.
Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.
In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.
Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.
In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,657 reviews
July 23, 2016
BEST PART OF THE ENTIRE SERIES SO FAR
January 12, 2023
The fallout with the Greene's sees Rick's group back on the road, until they find a prison! A few hundreds of Zombies and they have a new home right? Left field thinking sees the group seek a home in a prison... with it's defence perimeter, endless food stocks, motor pool and more, surely they can catch a break?
Kirkman continues slowly building the dehumanisation of the group as tragedy, travesty and horror takes over their lives. Already seeing the 'theme' being anyone... anyone can be killed. Four Star read, 9 out of 12, and the best volume to date.
2019 read; 2017 read; 2013 read; 2011 read
Kirkman continues slowly building the dehumanisation of the group as tragedy, travesty and horror takes over their lives. Already seeing the 'theme' being anyone... anyone can be killed. Four Star read, 9 out of 12, and the best volume to date.
2019 read; 2017 read; 2013 read; 2011 read
March 4, 2016
YOU KILL. YOU DIE.
These are simple words, though they’re my favourite phrase so far. Every society needs rules, and it shows how desperate this one is to create such a brutally necessary one. If you want to live under Rick’s protection, that’s the pact you take. If you kill another group member, if you kill a friend, you, too, will die. Seems fair enough in this world, but nothing is that simple. As soon as this line was delivered I knew the rule would soon be broken….
At least they tried though.
Sometimes false hope is the only hope. I think it is so appropriate how the characters have deluded themselves; they really think they’ve found a new home in the prison: they think it’s a safe haven. They have to be able to carry on. It’s kind of funny really in a twisted sort of way. Or am I just being a bit evil? As Rick likes to say, all too frequently, “we can make this work.” But, it is so abundantly clear that this would never be true because everybody is slowly losing their sanity. The prison could never last not with every one trying to kill each other.
That’s the good thing about this series. It isn’t just about zombies going around eating people: it isn’t a simple case of horror thrown over action. It’s all about the survivors and how they cope with their approaching demise. Some fight it with all they’ve got. Some are too weak to fight at all, and the rest just give up about half way through. The fighters are the ones who have to deal with the horrors they have to commit in order to survive. They go crazy. They try to kill each other in a fit of pure rage fuelled grief. But, somehow, they carry on. They live with what they’ve done. They either become stronger or they fall to madness.
I can’t predict who is going to be the next to die or to lose it. The lines between sanity and insanity, right and wrong, are becoming increasingly blurred. The situation is only going to get worse, and more entertaining (evil laugh).
These are simple words, though they’re my favourite phrase so far. Every society needs rules, and it shows how desperate this one is to create such a brutally necessary one. If you want to live under Rick’s protection, that’s the pact you take. If you kill another group member, if you kill a friend, you, too, will die. Seems fair enough in this world, but nothing is that simple. As soon as this line was delivered I knew the rule would soon be broken….
At least they tried though.
Sometimes false hope is the only hope. I think it is so appropriate how the characters have deluded themselves; they really think they’ve found a new home in the prison: they think it’s a safe haven. They have to be able to carry on. It’s kind of funny really in a twisted sort of way. Or am I just being a bit evil? As Rick likes to say, all too frequently, “we can make this work.” But, it is so abundantly clear that this would never be true because everybody is slowly losing their sanity. The prison could never last not with every one trying to kill each other.
That’s the good thing about this series. It isn’t just about zombies going around eating people: it isn’t a simple case of horror thrown over action. It’s all about the survivors and how they cope with their approaching demise. Some fight it with all they’ve got. Some are too weak to fight at all, and the rest just give up about half way through. The fighters are the ones who have to deal with the horrors they have to commit in order to survive. They go crazy. They try to kill each other in a fit of pure rage fuelled grief. But, somehow, they carry on. They live with what they’ve done. They either become stronger or they fall to madness.
I can’t predict who is going to be the next to die or to lose it. The lines between sanity and insanity, right and wrong, are becoming increasingly blurred. The situation is only going to get worse, and more entertaining (evil laugh).
March 25, 2016
This was the best volume so far!
February 27, 2017
Prisons are ideal places in this reality!
This is the third volume of the softcover editions of "The Walking Dead", collecting the comic book issues from #13 to #18.
Creative Team:
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Illustrators: Charlie Adlard
Additional gray tones to inking: Cliff Rathburn
Chapter Three
SAFETY BEHIND BARS
I ain’t gonna bury you again you son of a bitch.
In our society, you never would want to go prison, but in an apocalyptical dystopia plagued with zombies, a prison would look like the logical choice.
Rick’s group finds a federal penitentiary, that it seems to be the place to expiate their sins, but also they can be a site with its own kind of sinners.
A shocking revelation will expose a new facet about their life-and-death condition.
And also, they will find soon enough that zombies may be deadly, but men are evil. Zombies aren’t guilty of their actions, men are quite aware of theirs.
And men are able to do more horrible things than any zombie.
Until now, you haven’t seen anything yet, the really gruesome things starts here.
This is the third volume of the softcover editions of "The Walking Dead", collecting the comic book issues from #13 to #18.
Creative Team:
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Illustrators: Charlie Adlard
Additional gray tones to inking: Cliff Rathburn
Chapter Three
SAFETY BEHIND BARS
I ain’t gonna bury you again you son of a bitch.
In our society, you never would want to go prison, but in an apocalyptical dystopia plagued with zombies, a prison would look like the logical choice.
Rick’s group finds a federal penitentiary, that it seems to be the place to expiate their sins, but also they can be a site with its own kind of sinners.
A shocking revelation will expose a new facet about their life-and-death condition.
And also, they will find soon enough that zombies may be deadly, but men are evil. Zombies aren’t guilty of their actions, men are quite aware of theirs.
And men are able to do more horrible things than any zombie.
Until now, you haven’t seen anything yet, the really gruesome things starts here.
November 9, 2025
Now they're in prison. Kinda funny location if one sees the fences not to keep the zombies out but preventing the people inside to leave.
I now decided to dislike Chris. He's so mean to the children and in general gives off negative energy wherever he goes.
After the fourteenth issue, I also decided to dislike Julie. What were they thinking? So stupid.
I kinda like that so many characters die in this volume as I started to kinda lose track of who is who.
I feel so depressed seeing Rick putting all the blame on himself even though the things that happened were out of his control. He couldn't have saved anyone but his kind heart makes him believe that it was all his fault. Sometimes though he puts the blame on other's without any proof which makes me question his authority and wonder if he also behaved that way when he was still a police officer.
Rick uses the trust from the other characters to make decisions alone which I'm not really sure if I like that. In the TV show he almost always used a voting to decide in a democratic manner. Right now he seems to act in his own interests, not really bothering how it affects the other's. Let's see where that goes.
(He seems so full of himself when he uses words like 'we' and 'us', automatically expecting the other characters to agree with him, not even asking if they indeed agree).
Some might like his behaviour but at the moment it looks like he is corrupt. As if he uses the trust of the others to do whatever he pleases. I'm very unsure what to think about this, maybe I'm interpreting too much into this. In the TV show he also sometimes did some reckless things but I still liked him.
StoryGraph review
I now decided to dislike Chris. He's so mean to the children and in general gives off negative energy wherever he goes.
After the fourteenth issue, I also decided to dislike Julie. What were they thinking? So stupid.
I kinda like that so many characters die in this volume as I started to kinda lose track of who is who.
I feel so depressed seeing Rick putting all the blame on himself even though the things that happened were out of his control. He couldn't have saved anyone but his kind heart makes him believe that it was all his fault. Sometimes though he puts the blame on other's without any proof which makes me question his authority and wonder if he also behaved that way when he was still a police officer.
Rick uses the trust from the other characters to make decisions alone which I'm not really sure if I like that. In the TV show he almost always used a voting to decide in a democratic manner. Right now he seems to act in his own interests, not really bothering how it affects the other's. Let's see where that goes.
(He seems so full of himself when he uses words like 'we' and 'us', automatically expecting the other characters to agree with him, not even asking if they indeed agree).
We do not tolerate it. We will not allow it. That is our rule — our pledge. You kill. You die.
Some might like his behaviour but at the moment it looks like he is corrupt. As if he uses the trust of the others to do whatever he pleases. I'm very unsure what to think about this, maybe I'm interpreting too much into this. In the TV show he also sometimes did some reckless things but I still liked him.
I'm an officer of the law. I may not have anyone to answer to anymore, but these people look to me to keep them safe. I owe it to them to do everything in my power to do so.
StoryGraph review
January 8, 2025
Brutal. El mejor de momento por el montón de cosas que pasan en un solo tomo.
Por favor, no recordaba lo buena que era esta parte en el cómic. El comienzo, la prisión, su limpieza y cuando conocen a estos nuevos reclusos.
El nivel de violencia es horrible y terrorífica porque comprendes que si no están a salvo de los muertos, mucho menos de los vivos.
Me gusta más el Dale y la Carol de la serie. Aquí no simpatizo tanto con el primero y no me gusta la inestabilidad de la segunda. Lori siempre fue un personaje muy odiado por el público, de lo que recuerdo, pero yo jamás pude tener ni un solo sentimiento malo por ella.
Por favor, no recordaba lo buena que era esta parte en el cómic. El comienzo, la prisión, su limpieza y cuando conocen a estos nuevos reclusos.
El nivel de violencia es horrible y terrorífica porque comprendes que si no están a salvo de los muertos, mucho menos de los vivos.
Me gusta más el Dale y la Carol de la serie. Aquí no simpatizo tanto con el primero y no me gusta la inestabilidad de la segunda. Lori siempre fue un personaje muy odiado por el público, de lo que recuerdo, pero yo jamás pude tener ni un solo sentimiento malo por ella.
April 13, 2019
So in this volume, they found a prison, with some prisoners that were left behind still living there. Needless to say this leads to chaos, because everyone has their own thoughts on the matter, and no one wants to trust the convicts. Here's where they inevitably start to turn on each other, with Rick barely holding them together. The zombies are dealt with for the meantime, but death is still all around them. One of the prisoners isn't being truthful, and bodies start piling up; not even the kids are safe. They also found out an awful truth about the zombies that no one was prepared for. They eventually solve the mystery, but the tables have turned. I'm curious what Vol. 4 will bring.
May 7, 2020
***3 stars***
Thoughts about this volume:
1. Even in the comics, I HATE Laurie 🤦♀️😂 maybe even more than TV Laurie.
2. I am not a fan of Andrea and Dale together. Her promising to spend the rest of her life with him is just a tad too yucky for me.
3. I'm used to people dying on The Walking Dead, but so many characters died such stupid deaths here, I didn't like it..
4. It's still hard for me to get used to everyone, new or known characters, because they're so drastically different from the TV show.
Oh, and worst thing was to find the word "effect" being used instead of "affect". I find that error simply unacceptable.
But anyway, on to the next volume 🦸♀️
Thoughts about this volume:
1. Even in the comics, I HATE Laurie 🤦♀️😂 maybe even more than TV Laurie.
2. I am not a fan of Andrea and Dale together. Her promising to spend the rest of her life with him is just a tad too yucky for me.
3. I'm used to people dying on The Walking Dead, but so many characters died such stupid deaths here, I didn't like it..
4. It's still hard for me to get used to everyone, new or known characters, because they're so drastically different from the TV show.
Oh, and worst thing was to find the word "effect" being used instead of "affect". I find that error simply unacceptable.
But anyway, on to the next volume 🦸♀️
November 10, 2011
The bloody, putrid, rotting corpse of soap opera goodness that is The Walking Dead graphic novels is in its full balls out glory in the third collection Safety Behind Bars.
Lori is pregnant with Shane's baby -- And in case you don't know, Shane is the former best friend of Rick, Lori's husband. Not only that, though, Lori and Rick's son Carl shot Shane dead. Not only that, though, Shane was buried after his death, and Rick realizes over the course of the story that Shane is probably zombified (more on this later), so he goes back, digs Shane up, and kills him again. Sweet.
It's not about being bitten anymore -- That's right. You don't have to die with a Zombie biting you to turn. All you need to do is die. You die, and you come back. How do we know? Chris and Julie (Tyreese's daughter) gave each other their virginity then enacted their suicide pact. As these things are wont to do, the suicide pact only resulted in Julie's death, and as soon as she died, with no zombies in sight, she was reanimated and trying to eat her grieving father's neck. Rick finishes her zombieness off, while Tyreese strangles his daughter's lover to death. What a meany!
Prisoners and Serial Killers -- It's not enough that our band of merry wanderers finds a prison and have to clear it out, but they also find a small cache of prisoners, still alive and eating meatloaf in the prison mess hall: a murderer (he killed his wife and her lover), a druggy drug dealer, an aging biker in prison for theft, and a white collar tax evader.
Next thing you know, heads -- and not zombie heads -- are literally rolling, and one of our prisoners is a serial killer. Surprise, surprise, surprise.
Love Connections Galore -- Andrea hooks up with Dale. Chris and Julie hook up pre-mortem. Tyreese and Carol keep their relationship going between mop up jobs. Glenn and Maggie get all romantic over a barber chair. Dexter and Andrew, former inmates, start to see their man love cool. And even little Carl hooks up with little Sophia. It's fun for all ages.
It's no wonder AMC's making it for the small screen. The melodrama suits TV perfectly.
What really keeps me reading, though, isn't all the silly shit -- which has its place and I do enjoy -- it's the constant shifting of ethical and moral attitudes as these people get deeper and deeper in to the Zombiepocalypse. Their ideas are constantly fluctuating; some of them talk a good game about retaining their humanity, then quickly blow it all in a moment of madness; they try to make laws to govern themselves and don't realize (at least most of them don't) that they've already been violated; the whole band of them are full of hypocrisy and selfishness and the baser human instincts, and the way it's being handled is definitely making the journey fun.
I don't know that all of this behavioural stuff can be sustained, but it is my favourite part of the graphic novels, no doubt about it.
Lori is pregnant with Shane's baby -- And in case you don't know, Shane is the former best friend of Rick, Lori's husband. Not only that, though, Lori and Rick's son Carl shot Shane dead. Not only that, though, Shane was buried after his death, and Rick realizes over the course of the story that Shane is probably zombified (more on this later), so he goes back, digs Shane up, and kills him again. Sweet.
It's not about being bitten anymore -- That's right. You don't have to die with a Zombie biting you to turn. All you need to do is die. You die, and you come back. How do we know? Chris and Julie (Tyreese's daughter) gave each other their virginity then enacted their suicide pact. As these things are wont to do, the suicide pact only resulted in Julie's death, and as soon as she died, with no zombies in sight, she was reanimated and trying to eat her grieving father's neck. Rick finishes her zombieness off, while Tyreese strangles his daughter's lover to death. What a meany!
Prisoners and Serial Killers -- It's not enough that our band of merry wanderers finds a prison and have to clear it out, but they also find a small cache of prisoners, still alive and eating meatloaf in the prison mess hall: a murderer (he killed his wife and her lover), a druggy drug dealer, an aging biker in prison for theft, and a white collar tax evader.
Next thing you know, heads -- and not zombie heads -- are literally rolling, and one of our prisoners is a serial killer. Surprise, surprise, surprise.
Love Connections Galore -- Andrea hooks up with Dale. Chris and Julie hook up pre-mortem. Tyreese and Carol keep their relationship going between mop up jobs. Glenn and Maggie get all romantic over a barber chair. Dexter and Andrew, former inmates, start to see their man love cool. And even little Carl hooks up with little Sophia. It's fun for all ages.
It's no wonder AMC's making it for the small screen. The melodrama suits TV perfectly.
What really keeps me reading, though, isn't all the silly shit -- which has its place and I do enjoy -- it's the constant shifting of ethical and moral attitudes as these people get deeper and deeper in to the Zombiepocalypse. Their ideas are constantly fluctuating; some of them talk a good game about retaining their humanity, then quickly blow it all in a moment of madness; they try to make laws to govern themselves and don't realize (at least most of them don't) that they've already been violated; the whole band of them are full of hypocrisy and selfishness and the baser human instincts, and the way it's being handled is definitely making the journey fun.
I don't know that all of this behavioural stuff can be sustained, but it is my favourite part of the graphic novels, no doubt about it.
July 25, 2009
I don't know what it is about this series. I don't find it to be exceptional in any way and yet I keep buying the next volume because I feel like a zombie read and I figure I'm following these characters already....
They aren't bad reads, but there's just very little 'new' in them and there seems to be a cycle forming with these volumes that leads to less character growth.
I'm not sure if it is the art, the writing, or a combination of both, but I find it hard to tell many of the secondary characters apart at points. It makes it difficult to really care about too many characters within the story.
Also, Lori's character becomes more unbelievable with every volume - it is painfully obvious that she is written by a man. Then again, most of these characters - male and female - are very one-dimensional.
I know it sounds like I am just railing on this one, but I'm sure I'll find myself buying the next volume, so Kirkman must be doing something right.
They aren't bad reads, but there's just very little 'new' in them and there seems to be a cycle forming with these volumes that leads to less character growth.
I'm not sure if it is the art, the writing, or a combination of both, but I find it hard to tell many of the secondary characters apart at points. It makes it difficult to really care about too many characters within the story.
Also, Lori's character becomes more unbelievable with every volume - it is painfully obvious that she is written by a man. Then again, most of these characters - male and female - are very one-dimensional.
I know it sounds like I am just railing on this one, but I'm sure I'll find myself buying the next volume, so Kirkman must be doing something right.
August 24, 2019
Finally, the group have reached the prison. Safe haven, or just another nightmare waiting to happen? As usual with this series, this draws you in with complex characters only to rip your heart out on the next page. Fast paced, deadly, and with a hint of mystery. You never quite know who’s going to survive - whether that be from zombie attack or each other. The fighting and the struggle never let up, and remains fast paced throughout.
As the group gets wise to zombie fighting, we also see more internal threats to the gang and the complicated issues of living without law and order. Rick, his moral compass slightly askew at times, has to struggle through his own emotions to try and create a new society that can flourish in the wreckage of the old civilisation. And sometimes that means making tough decisions.
As the group gets wise to zombie fighting, we also see more internal threats to the gang and the complicated issues of living without law and order. Rick, his moral compass slightly askew at times, has to struggle through his own emotions to try and create a new society that can flourish in the wreckage of the old civilisation. And sometimes that means making tough decisions.
August 14, 2018
Unpopular opinion; I’m not a fan of the tv show. The comics are growing on me though especially being a fan of his other series
January 7, 2022
GENIAL EL MEJOR VOLUMEN HASTA EL MOMENTO!!
Han pasado muchas cosas.
Han pasado muchas cosas.
February 16, 2023
2023 Update: It's amazing what happens when you re-read things! 3.5 Stars CW: death, murder, suicidal ideation, slur (f-word), death of children
Well, damn. This volume is wild. Our characters have what they perceive to be solace in an abandoned prison. Unfortunately, things are a little more complicated than they anticipated and people still end up dying. Readers really get to see the impact of the stress on all the characters. I was wondering when we would see Rick finally break down and he slowly begins to crack during this volume. There's only but so much positivity in a situation like a zombie apocalypse. Additionally, his relationship with Lori slowly begins to fracture due to the questionable nature of the paternity of the second child. One of the most interesting things that occurs during this volume is associated with the new discover of how people turn. It leaves room for more storytelling. Unfortunately, there were some racially tense moments that I did not enjoy in this volume even if I could recognize the age of the series. A specific character is referred to as the "big Black guy" and I had time reckoning with that. Overall, in spite of the issues, this was an interesting volume with fantastic artwork. I'm interested in seeing how things will progress in future volumes. If you're interested in learning more about my thoughts, check out my vlog of the series here: https://youtu.be/3P_wq4LPDgg
Holy crap holy crap! Okay this volume has so many different parts to it I really don't even know where to begin. It begins with the crew attempting to figure out exactly how to function in the discovery of this prison which may assist them in having a more stable place to live. Let's just say that a whole lot of sh** goes down while they are there and I did not see any of it coming.
I like that Rick assumes control, but at the same time I understand why people get frustrated with him. When it comes to the world ending people want stability and not just necessarily one person in charge and I feel like Rick thinks because he's a cop that automatically means he's in charge which isn't true and he ends up learning the hard way in the end.
Word of warning to the faint of heart and those with a weak stomach this comic does not hold back from anything. Do not get attached to any characters lol. I'm being completely serious. There was so much going on in here and I messed around and got attached to people that didn't necessarily make it to the next volume. Overall, I really enjoyed this volume and I immediately checked out the next volume on my kindle.
Well, damn. This volume is wild. Our characters have what they perceive to be solace in an abandoned prison. Unfortunately, things are a little more complicated than they anticipated and people still end up dying. Readers really get to see the impact of the stress on all the characters. I was wondering when we would see Rick finally break down and he slowly begins to crack during this volume. There's only but so much positivity in a situation like a zombie apocalypse. Additionally, his relationship with Lori slowly begins to fracture due to the questionable nature of the paternity of the second child. One of the most interesting things that occurs during this volume is associated with the new discover of how people turn. It leaves room for more storytelling. Unfortunately, there were some racially tense moments that I did not enjoy in this volume even if I could recognize the age of the series. A specific character is referred to as the "big Black guy" and I had time reckoning with that. Overall, in spite of the issues, this was an interesting volume with fantastic artwork. I'm interested in seeing how things will progress in future volumes. If you're interested in learning more about my thoughts, check out my vlog of the series here: https://youtu.be/3P_wq4LPDgg
Holy crap holy crap! Okay this volume has so many different parts to it I really don't even know where to begin. It begins with the crew attempting to figure out exactly how to function in the discovery of this prison which may assist them in having a more stable place to live. Let's just say that a whole lot of sh** goes down while they are there and I did not see any of it coming.
I like that Rick assumes control, but at the same time I understand why people get frustrated with him. When it comes to the world ending people want stability and not just necessarily one person in charge and I feel like Rick thinks because he's a cop that automatically means he's in charge which isn't true and he ends up learning the hard way in the end.
Word of warning to the faint of heart and those with a weak stomach this comic does not hold back from anything. Do not get attached to any characters lol. I'm being completely serious. There was so much going on in here and I messed around and got attached to people that didn't necessarily make it to the next volume. Overall, I really enjoyed this volume and I immediately checked out the next volume on my kindle.
September 17, 2015
Man, I thought Lori was annoying on the show but she's even worse in these. More detailed review to come.
December 14, 2025
⋆˙⟡ safety behind bars by robert kirkman .ᐟ
⋮ ⤿ 4 stars
୭ ˚ ˗ˏˋ started 13.12.25
finished 13.12.25 ˎˊ˗
⋮ ⤿ 4 stars
୭ ˚ ˗ˏˋ started 13.12.25
finished 13.12.25 ˎˊ˗
May 9, 2017
YOU KILL , YOU DIE So simple rule
those are the rules now xD , it was the best volume so far <3
those are the rules now xD , it was the best volume so far <3
December 21, 2015
Things are really getting crazy now! This series is so good! I LOVE the covers by Tony Moore, they are brilliant. I still wish the comic was in colour (yes I know I've said it before) but I feel like it could have brought a lot more to the comics. I mean the covers are in colour and they're spectacular. I have a thing for pretty colours that work together. Anyway, I also love the story. You think things can't get any worse for the group but Robert Kirkman just keeps throwing stuff at them! I'm interested to see how Rick is going to deal with being "in charge" and I'm interested to see what is going to happen to the group next and the convicts. Can't wait to read more!
April 29, 2018
Fatigue strikes on volume 3. This isn’t the grovels fault but my own for trying to read this whilst watching the show simultaneously. The show is just a shower of shit now and that has tarnished any opinion of anything related right now. I’ll take a break before hitting up the next one.
April 21, 2014
Volume 3 of The Walking Dead might be the bleakest, bloodiest and most miserable in the series so far - and the first two volumes were pretty damn miserable! This is a book where the dead are dug out of their graves just to be shot in the head, and that’s not even counting the butchered children or the suicide pacts!
So the group have made it to a prison which is infested with zombies but, once cleared, could be a safe haven for them. Inside are a handful of remaining inmates - but can these convicted criminals be trusted around the families?
At this point in the series I’ve actually started to remember some of the characters’ names as a core number have survived but the cast is still very big and is continually dropping off and adding new characters so its difficult to care all that much when someone dies.
Robert Kirkman’s dialogue also isn’t as terrible in this book though the tone remains unrelentingly dark. When kids are being killed or are planning on killing one another, the adults are standing around shell-shocked, crying internally or externally, with characters like Rick or Hershel melodramatically blaming themselves for all the death. When Rick dug up Shane to shoot him in the head again, I had to laugh at how absurdly depressing it all was - even when you’ve been killed once you’re not safe!
I did notice one weird detail Kirkman’s added: whether you’ve been bitten or not, once you die, you become a zombie (also they call them zombies in the book, unlike the TV show where they’re called “walkers”). I don’t understand how that works - if you have the potential to become a zombie, shouldn’t you become a zombie rather than wait to die off?
The inmates added an interesting slant as the story became a murder mystery over which one of the prisoners chopped up the kids, and the reveal was a surprise. There’s also the requisite zombie action which has already become rote and, despite the large cast, I’m not really interested in about 90% of their mundane stories.
I still don’t fully see what fans of the series do but the third volume is definitely a step up from the previous books and even manages to become quite exciting in parts. I’m bumping the rating up a star because Rick literally tells the ever-annoying Lori to shut the fuck up!
So the group have made it to a prison which is infested with zombies but, once cleared, could be a safe haven for them. Inside are a handful of remaining inmates - but can these convicted criminals be trusted around the families?
At this point in the series I’ve actually started to remember some of the characters’ names as a core number have survived but the cast is still very big and is continually dropping off and adding new characters so its difficult to care all that much when someone dies.
Robert Kirkman’s dialogue also isn’t as terrible in this book though the tone remains unrelentingly dark. When kids are being killed or are planning on killing one another, the adults are standing around shell-shocked, crying internally or externally, with characters like Rick or Hershel melodramatically blaming themselves for all the death. When Rick dug up Shane to shoot him in the head again, I had to laugh at how absurdly depressing it all was - even when you’ve been killed once you’re not safe!
I did notice one weird detail Kirkman’s added: whether you’ve been bitten or not, once you die, you become a zombie (also they call them zombies in the book, unlike the TV show where they’re called “walkers”). I don’t understand how that works - if you have the potential to become a zombie, shouldn’t you become a zombie rather than wait to die off?
The inmates added an interesting slant as the story became a murder mystery over which one of the prisoners chopped up the kids, and the reveal was a surprise. There’s also the requisite zombie action which has already become rote and, despite the large cast, I’m not really interested in about 90% of their mundane stories.
I still don’t fully see what fans of the series do but the third volume is definitely a step up from the previous books and even manages to become quite exciting in parts. I’m bumping the rating up a star because Rick literally tells the ever-annoying Lori to shut the fuck up!
March 13, 2021
Love this series so much
December 12, 2015
5/5
The Skinny:
The same crew…sort of…is back. They believe that they have found the perfect place to live; space for everyone, food, and best of all, no zombies! But, as is almost always the case with The Walking Dead, nothing ever goes quite as planned.
My Thoughts:
I will just cut to the chase – Safety Behind Bars has been my favorite. I’m kind of surprised that after three zombie-filled volumes, that these graphic novels still deliver big. I found this installment to be bloodier, more shocking, and overall more edge-of-your-seat than the previous two. I feel that this is quite the feat considering how much I liked the first two volumes.
I think the main reason that this story continues to feel fresh is the introduction of new characters. While there are many characters that have been present in all three volumes, there are also many new additions. These new characters add a lot to the story because there is often a little backstory accompanying there introduction, and because you are constantly wondering if they are f’ing crazy or not.
The story is also helped along by the constant traveling. The characters, thinking they are safe, try to make a home in various places, yet are forced to uproot time and time again. This constant flux in setting serves as another way to keep the story interesting.
Oh, yeah…I can’t not elaborate a teensy bit more on the ‘bloodier’ and ‘more shocking’ aspects. LOTS of killing happens, and not just of the zombie variety. I’m talking fucked-up, did-that-just-happen kind of killing. And, it happens more than once. I will leave you with that.
Overall:
As I said, this has been my favorite volume thus far. I am impressed that this story continues to shock and interest me. Maybe by the time I get to volume #14 I’ll think differently, but until then – read on!
January 4, 2016
Ohhhhh snippity snap! That was intense! There were some serious curve-balls thrown in this volume, and some huge reveals that have enormous consequences.
I dunno if that facial protection I mentioned in my status update would really make a difference after all, if you know what I'm saying.
I actually think that this has been my favorite volume so far. The characters are familiar enough to me that I can identify with them so much better, and the situations that they are in are... intense. And shitty. But man, is it compelling to read these. It's just hard to review them individually. So yeah. That's all.
I dunno if that facial protection I mentioned in my status update would really make a difference after all, if you know what I'm saying.
I actually think that this has been my favorite volume so far. The characters are familiar enough to me that I can identify with them so much better, and the situations that they are in are... intense. And shitty. But man, is it compelling to read these. It's just hard to review them individually. So yeah. That's all.
March 1, 2018
I really enjoyed this volume. I can't remember how close it was to the show, but found the story amazing.
January 6, 2023
So I am reading the first compendium again so I can read the second and the third. This time, I will rate them by the volume that they are.
WrensReads Review:
The third volume is my favorite so far.
Rick and the gang are cleaning out the prison to make it into a home. Rick swallow his pride and tells Hershel and his family to come live in the prison with them because it is safer there.
Or is it?
You see, there are prisoners there that don't know what has been going on in the outside world. They have been using the freezer to poop in, eating all they can eat out of the canned foods, and probably just swapping murder stories and giving each other pointers for when they get out.
But you can't judge a book for what they got committed for, right?
Well, wrong and right.
See now someone is actually killing people in the prison. Is it Dexter, the big brood who already claimed the fact he killed his wife and her boyfriend? Or the drug addict Andrew who says he is the cause of the apocalypse? Probably not the tax fraud guy Thomas, though he does look a little creepy. wait! What about the peeper Axel who walks in on some of the girls showering so he can "hurry up and go back to his room before the image goes away"?
All this while trying to get "zombies" out of the prison they are trying to make a home.
Which brings me to my only disappointment: they have been using "zombie" instead of their made up ones like "roamers" "walkers" "lurkers". It makes me sad.
Also, this is where RICKTATORSHIP starts to take off. His word or die. I feel like "thought a lot about _____ and he knows that ______ is the only way" is his signature line. Just fill in the blanks.
WrensReads Review:
The third volume is my favorite so far.
Rick and the gang are cleaning out the prison to make it into a home. Rick swallow his pride and tells Hershel and his family to come live in the prison with them because it is safer there.
Or is it?
You see, there are prisoners there that don't know what has been going on in the outside world. They have been using the freezer to poop in, eating all they can eat out of the canned foods, and probably just swapping murder stories and giving each other pointers for when they get out.
But you can't judge a book for what they got committed for, right?
Well, wrong and right.
See now someone is actually killing people in the prison. Is it Dexter, the big brood who already claimed the fact he killed his wife and her boyfriend? Or the drug addict Andrew who says he is the cause of the apocalypse? Probably not the tax fraud guy Thomas, though he does look a little creepy. wait! What about the peeper Axel who walks in on some of the girls showering so he can "hurry up and go back to his room before the image goes away"?
All this while trying to get "zombies" out of the prison they are trying to make a home.
Which brings me to my only disappointment: they have been using "zombie" instead of their made up ones like "roamers" "walkers" "lurkers". It makes me sad.
Also, this is where RICKTATORSHIP starts to take off. His word or die. I feel like "thought a lot about _____ and he knows that ______ is the only way" is his signature line. Just fill in the blanks.
December 19, 2015
This one felt a little slower until the end, and it definitely feels like some scenes are added in for pure shock value. Looks like their journey is going to continue so I'll be along for the ride to see where they end up next. They should probably get rid of some people, too. Travel light, less characters taking up space.
People are freaking out and having these crazy mood swings all the time. You would think the zombie apocalypse happened our something. Hopefully it's not this bad when the real zombie apocalypse happens.
Do you think Donald Trump could build a wall big enough to prevent the zombie apocalypse? Probably not....
People are freaking out and having these crazy mood swings all the time. You would think the zombie apocalypse happened our something. Hopefully it's not this bad when the real zombie apocalypse happens.
Do you think Donald Trump could build a wall big enough to prevent the zombie apocalypse? Probably not....
November 25, 2016
4.5 stars.
This was by far the best volume in the series so far. Not only do the characters manage to stay in one spot for the length of the volume (unlike the previous two), but there was a lot more development with various characters. I love the storyline of Rick and his crew getting to know and having to live with the other prisoners, and there were a lot of shocking moments and heartbreak throughout. The action sequences as well were drawn incredibly well, as usual.
As the graphic novel series is quite different in terms of plot a lot of the time to the show, I'm intrigued to see where volume 4 ends up going.
This was by far the best volume in the series so far. Not only do the characters manage to stay in one spot for the length of the volume (unlike the previous two), but there was a lot more development with various characters. I love the storyline of Rick and his crew getting to know and having to live with the other prisoners, and there were a lot of shocking moments and heartbreak throughout. The action sequences as well were drawn incredibly well, as usual.
As the graphic novel series is quite different in terms of plot a lot of the time to the show, I'm intrigued to see where volume 4 ends up going.
January 19, 2015
Volume 2 concluded with the confrontation with Herschel and his family and the gang leaving with no food and no direction. The final panel had them come across a prison.
So I choose to call Volume 3 'The Walking Dead in da Clink'.
There are lots of great ideas and themes brought forward in this issue. The main thing is an exploration of criminality in the past compared to in the zombie apocalypse. The prison is not quite deserted; lots of zombies of course, but 4 prisoners have managed to survive. Each tells the gang what they were put away for and there is one convicted murderer in the group. How will they manage to coexist?
Not everything goes swimmingly. And it's not all the prisoner's fault. There are the weak in the gang. And Rick decides that since they have a great environment that can be made safe and has plenty of food and land behind fences. that he has to go and invite Herschel's group into the prison.
It's fascinating that even though they are in what they presumed to be a safe place, the body count is still escalating. And Dale points this out. Good ol' Dale. And it's also fascinating what Tyreese says about how they are all just ticking down until their eventual deaths at the hands of zombies. The Walking Dead of the title may not be referring to the zombies.
Also there is some revelations the nature of the disease that is making these zombies.
Long term survival is also thought of with Herschel starting a garden with the plan to bring some of his livestock over also.
And the security of their prime situation is also questioned. Would other groups of survivors want the prison also?
This is one of the better volumes where the exploration of ideas is ramped up and the group seems to band together rather than whinging.
So I choose to call Volume 3 'The Walking Dead in da Clink'.
There are lots of great ideas and themes brought forward in this issue. The main thing is an exploration of criminality in the past compared to in the zombie apocalypse. The prison is not quite deserted; lots of zombies of course, but 4 prisoners have managed to survive. Each tells the gang what they were put away for and there is one convicted murderer in the group. How will they manage to coexist?
Not everything goes swimmingly. And it's not all the prisoner's fault. There are the weak in the gang. And Rick decides that since they have a great environment that can be made safe and has plenty of food and land behind fences. that he has to go and invite Herschel's group into the prison.
It's fascinating that even though they are in what they presumed to be a safe place, the body count is still escalating. And Dale points this out. Good ol' Dale. And it's also fascinating what Tyreese says about how they are all just ticking down until their eventual deaths at the hands of zombies. The Walking Dead of the title may not be referring to the zombies.
Also there is some revelations the nature of the disease that is making these zombies.
Long term survival is also thought of with Herschel starting a garden with the plan to bring some of his livestock over also.
And the security of their prime situation is also questioned. Would other groups of survivors want the prison also?
This is one of the better volumes where the exploration of ideas is ramped up and the group seems to band together rather than whinging.
March 1, 2016
It's official - comic book Lori is far more annoying than tv Lori.
And this was the best moment so far.
And this was the best moment so far.
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