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United in fear.

Unknown Binding

Published March 2, 2016

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About the author

Robert Kirkman

2,712 books7,199 followers
Robert 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.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 20, 2026
The ending of the previous issue immediately caught my attention because of the mysterious voice that answered Eugene's radio. I went into this issue wondering whether it was actually another survivor or simply another painful coping mechanism brought about by grief. After everything the characters have endured, the series has shown that trauma can affect people in unexpected ways. Rick once imagined conversations through a disconnected telephone while mourning Lori, so I couldn't completely dismiss the possibility that Eugene might be experiencing something similar after Rosita's death. At the same time, the idea that there could actually be another thriving community somewhere beyond everything we've seen was incredibly exciting. It made me eager to find out whether this radio connection would become one of hope or another tragedy waiting to happen.

The issue begins by answering that question almost immediately. Eugene successfully establishes contact with a woman named Stephanie over the radio. Both are equally shocked that someone actually answered after what was likely countless hours of transmitting into silence. Their first conversation is understandably awkward but hopeful. Rather than immediately exchanging locations or information about their groups, they establish a set of rules designed to protect both sides. They agree to keep their conversations secret from everyone else, avoid revealing too much too quickly, and slowly build trust over time. It is a surprisingly cautious yet intelligent approach, considering how dangerous the world has become. Every unknown voice could either become a valuable ally or a devastating threat.

Elsewhere outside Alexandria, the newly formed militia continues its training under Dwight and Laura's supervision. Father Gabriel participates in firearms practice, learning how to handle himself in combat situations involving walkers. Dwight compliments Gabriel's progress and acknowledges that he has become a capable shot. However, in a private conversation with Laura, Dwight admits that his real concern isn't Gabriel's ability to kill walkers, but whether he will be capable of killing another living person if the Whisperer conflict escalates into a full-scale war. The distinction highlights one of the series' recurring themes: eliminating the dead is one thing, but taking a human life is an entirely different burden.

While walking through Alexandria, Rick encounters Brandon, Morton's son. Rick sincerely offers his condolences for Brandon's father's death and promises to help him however he can. Brandon, still consumed by grief and resentment, responds by violently attacking Rick. The confrontation quickly escalates into a brutal struggle before Rick overpowers the younger man using his cane. In a moment fueled by frustration and bottled-up emotion, Rick begins choking Brandon while telling him that despite everything his family has done, he still wants to help him become a better person. Before things can go too far, Michonne arrives and interrupts the fight. Rick regains control of himself, releases Brandon, but leaves him with a chilling warning that if he continues down this path, Rick will kill him.

After returning from training, Father Gabriel enters the church alone. In one of the issue's quieter but most meaningful moments, he kneels in prayer and asks God for forgiveness—not for failing to kill, but for becoming good at it. The confession perfectly captures Gabriel's ongoing struggle between his faith and the harsh realities of survival. Even though killing has become necessary, he still wrestles with what it has done to his conscience.

Meanwhile, Maggie and Jesus prepare to leave Alexandria and return to the Hilltop. Their conversation is warm and filled with mutual respect. Maggie jokingly asks how she is supposed to manage everything without Jesus by her side, and Jesus confidently reassures her that she has become more than capable of leading on her own. He explains that he only intends to stay behind temporarily to assist with the militia before eventually returning home. Their exchange serves as another reminder of how much trust and friendship has developed between them over the years.

Elsewhere, Brandon's humiliation festers into something far more dangerous. Determined to get revenge against Rick, he steals the keys to Negan's prison cell and secretly approaches him. Brandon offers Negan freedom, believing they share a common hatred for Rick. Surprisingly, Negan doesn't immediately jump at the opportunity. Instead, he questions Brandon's motives and points out how risky the plan is. Brandon explains that Maggie and the Hilltop residents are about to leave Alexandria, creating the perfect opportunity for Negan to slip away unnoticed. Brandon then reveals his true objective. He wants Negan to accompany him to the Whisperers so they can warn Alpha that Rick is preparing for war. Brandon assumes that because Negan despises Rick, he would gladly betray him.

Negan doesn't immediately agree. Instead, he carefully listens, questions Brandon's reasoning, and simply says he'll think about it. His hesitation is fascinating because it suggests there is much more going on inside his head than Brandon realizes.

Back in Alexandria, Rick and Michonne observe Siddiq and Kelly putting up propaganda posters throughout the community. The posters boldly read, "SILENCE THE WHISPERERS." Michonne expresses concern that such messaging could inflame the people's emotions even further. Rick acknowledges exactly that. He explains that directing the community's anger toward the Whisperers instead of allowing it to remain focused on internal conflicts is precisely the point. Michonne points out that Rick is essentially manipulating public opinion, something Rick doesn't deny. Instead, he calmly asks whether she has begun doubting the direction they have chosen.

Their conversation is abruptly interrupted when Paula rushes over with alarming news: the keys to Negan's prison cell have disappeared.

Rick and Michonne sprint toward the jail, only to discover the worst possible outcome.

Negan is gone.

I honestly enjoyed how this issue balanced quieter character moments with steadily increasing tension. There isn't a massive action sequence, but nearly every scene pushes the story closer toward another disaster waiting to unfold.

The radio conversations between Eugene and Stephanie immediately became one of my favorite parts of the issue. I still don't know whether I completely trust the situation. A part of me genuinely believes Stephanie is a real survivor because of how naturally the conversation flows and how carefully both of them establish boundaries before exchanging information. At the same time, I couldn't ignore the possibility that Eugene might be projecting his loneliness after Rosita's death. The series has previously shown how overwhelming grief can distort reality through Rick's hallucinated telephone conversations. Because of that, I found myself questioning every line Eugene spoke. Whether Stephanie is real or not, these conversations reveal just how isolated Eugene has become and how desperately he longs for genuine human connection again.

I also appreciated seeing the militia continue its training. Dwight is proving over and over that his military experience makes him invaluable. His concern about Gabriel wasn't based on marksmanship but on morality. Anyone can be taught to shoot a weapon, but asking someone to intentionally kill another human being carries emotional consequences that no amount of training can prepare them for. Gabriel's confession afterward was incredibly powerful because it demonstrated that despite becoming stronger, he hasn't lost the compassionate part of himself. The fact that he asks forgiveness for becoming a good killer rather than celebrating it shows that he still understands the weight of every life taken.

Brandon continues to frustrate me beyond belief. I sympathize with the pain of losing his father because grief can make people irrational, but instead of learning from Morton's mistakes, he chooses to repeat them. Rick approached him with genuine compassion, offering help despite everything that had happened. Brandon responded with violence. Rick certainly lost control during their confrontation, and for a moment I was worried he would actually kill Brandon. Thankfully, Michonne arrived before things reached that point. I hope Brandon realizes how close he came to repeating his father's fate, but judging by what follows, he only allows his hatred to consume him even more.

The conversation between Maggie and Jesus was surprisingly comforting amid all the tension. Their friendship has developed into one built on complete trust and mutual respect. Jesus never questions Maggie's ability to lead, and Maggie openly acknowledges how much she values his support. It is refreshing to see relationships built on genuine confidence rather than conflict.

Then comes Brandon's unbelievably reckless decision. Out of every possible solution he could have chosen, helping Negan escape has to be one of the worst. I honestly couldn't understand how he convinced himself this was a good idea. Negan ruled through fear, manipulation, and brutality for years. Why would anyone believe releasing him would somehow improve the situation? Brandon's hatred for Rick has completely clouded his judgment.

Ironically, what surprised me most was Negan's reaction. He didn't immediately leap at the opportunity. He questioned Brandon's motives, pointed out flaws in the plan, and appeared far more calculating than Brandon himself. That made the entire conversation even more unsettling because Negan wasn't acting emotionally—he was thinking strategically. Whether he truly intends to help Brandon or simply sees another opportunity for himself remains impossible to predict.

Rick's discussion with Michonne about propaganda was another highlight for me. At first I thought putting up posters was simply about encouraging people to fight back, but Rick's explanation made perfect sense. He understands that if the people's anger remains directed toward each other, the communities will collapse from within before the Whisperers ever attack again. Redirecting that anger toward a common enemy may technically be manipulation, but under these circumstances it also serves as a method of preserving unity. It's a morally complicated decision, and I appreciate that the comic doesn't pretend otherwise.

The ending completely erased whatever little sense of stability this issue had built. The moment Paula announced that the keys were missing, I already knew what was coming. Even so, seeing Negan's empty cell still gave me that sinking feeling in my stomach. After everything Rick has worked so hard to rebuild, one careless decision fueled by grief and revenge has now unleashed one of the most dangerous people in the entire series. I was initially convinced Negan would reject Brandon's shallow reasoning entirely, but I was clearly wrong. Whether Negan shares Brandon's goals or has his own plans entirely, the result is the same: he is free.

Overall, Issue #152 steadily builds suspense rather than relying on constant action. It explores trust through Eugene's mysterious radio conversations, guilt through Gabriel's confession, grief through Brandon's reckless choices, leadership through Rick's increasingly difficult decisions, and manipulation through both Rick's propaganda campaign and Negan's quiet escape. By the final page, it becomes painfully clear that the Whisperers are no longer the only threat looming over the communities. Negan's freedom introduces a completely unpredictable variable, and knowing his history, I'm preparing myself for the possibility that everything Rick has managed to rebuild could once again be thrown into chaos.



Profile Image for Nayeomi.
259 reviews57 followers
March 11, 2016
Should i still remind you there's SPOILER shit ahead?







......










The person talking at the other end seem to be more wary than Eugene. It seems that he thinks he has more people in his group than Eugene's.
"Oh, wait. did i tell you about the other two groups we are affiliated with? SORRY!"

*chuckles*


On to that little dipshit Brandon. I guess we needed a character like him to actually break out Negan out of that prison. Will Negan ultimately lead Rick to his demise? I can't see him joining forces with Rick's so it's safe to say he will try to worm his way into The Whisperer's group. But i dunno. I kinda have this feeling that he will somehow prove himself to Rick in SOME WAY. As emphasized in several situations in the past (like not killing Carl when he snuck into their camp) because he felt that he did not need to resort to violence. I think that scene where he did not get out even though his cell was left unlocked is a tall foreshadow on how Negan is in the future. In fact, i got a feeling he will murder this dickwad Brandon like, next issue.

I feel like The Whisperers are so much more than what they seem. Their strength lies in the horde but it can't just all that. I think if they are smart enough to dress themselves in fucking walker skins, they can be pretty much artistic in other things. We shall wait and see.


I cannot wait for APRIL!
Let's pray Rick survives ten more issues, yeah?
Profile Image for Michael Sorbello.
Author 2 books329 followers
November 19, 2020
This is a review of the entire series.

Rick Grimes is a strong-willed deputy who missed the end of the world because he was in a coma for a month after getting shot in the line of duty. Shaken, starving and confused, Rick escapes the horror of the abandoned hospital only to be met with something far more terrible. Not only has the world ended, but the dead have learned to walk and to kill without mercy. After learning that his wife and son have fled to Atlanta from a single survivor and his son, Rick goes on a journey to reunite with his family and search for more survivors.

Rick quickly has to come to terms with the fact that the world has ended and only a select few survived. The dead have risen from their graves and they prey on the living. In a world where every minute feels like hours, where there's no such thing as law and order, where finding a small meal is a tremendous task, the walking dead are quite possibly the least threatening thing for the survivors to have on their breaking minds. Humanity is pushed to the brink of destruction, forcing them to embrace their cruel and primal nature in order to survive. Sometimes you have to be more concerned about who you let into your community so they don't kill you in your sleep and steal everything you once cared about. Rick has no choice but to abandon the ways of law and order that he's upheld as an officer for so long in order to protect the few loved ones he has left. He has to become a monster to protect his crew or risk being devoured by those who became more monstrous than him and even the walking dead.

Despite zombies running the world and having the series named after them, what really sets this series apart from the average zombie apocalypse tale is the focus on realism and the daily struggles, flaws and depth of the characters. There's plenty of badass zombie killing action, but the action often takes a back seat to give the characters plenty of times to share their extremely tragic yet endearing stories, grow through mutual suffering and learn to adapt to a world that has left them to die. Even after the world has ended, many people still can't see eye to eye. They turn on each other and kill each other when they should come together. Others form alliances in spite of their differences and try to rebuild over the corpse of everything that was lost. The daily human drama and conflict is more intense than any monster apocalypse could hope to be.

We watch Rick struggle to balance his old moral code with the many necessary evils he has to commit in order to survive and make the world a better place for the ones he holds close. We watch people like Glen, Dale and Maggie attempt to find love in spite of having every reason to be filled with fear, hate and self-loathing. Characters like Michonne have to learn how to forgive themselves and convince themselves they deserve to be loved despite all the blood on their hands. We watch the weak like Carl and Andrea become strong and sometimes the strong become evil like The Governor. Even monsters like the wicked yet oddly lovable Negan are given the chance to find new ways of redeeming themselves by struggling alongside the other survivors that have all been changed by the horrors of the fallen world.

The pacing is extremely slow and I can understand why that may be a turnoff for a lot of people, but I eventually learned to enjoy watching the characters grow, overcome their trauma, find meaning in life and learn to love again. The characters are forced to do many terrible things to survive and it haunts them every waking moment. The ways they overcome these regrets is very realistic, human and hopeful. The slow pacing really gives the feeling that we're living beside these people. The way every tiny detail of their lives and who they are is explored makes them feel very real and believable.

When I first started reading the series, I wasn't expecting it to have such an uplifting ending. It seemed so bleak and nihilistic for a long time and things would go horribly wrong even when they seemed to be going so well, but the finale channels all the pain, suffering and betrayal of the previous volumes and tops it off with a very touching and inspiring finish. This was never a story about hopelessness. It's about learning to appreciate the little things, learning to forgive yourself and learning to move on even when it's hard. When everything seems lost there's always more to be found, even when we believe otherwise because we convince ourselves that we don't deserve to be happy ever again. Instead of dwelling on what was lost, strive to try and make things better than they were before.

I've never been a huge fan of zombie apocalypse stories, but The Walking Dead had enough heart and strong social commentary to make me stick by the characters until the end and I enjoyed every moment of their long trial.

***

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Profile Image for Jade Jones.
Author 201 books757 followers
March 19, 2016
Addicted!

Next issue can't come fast enough. Lol. I've quickly become an overnight addict! Read every single comic in 8 days!
Profile Image for Dario Vaccaro.
205 reviews5 followers
April 27, 2018
TWD has always had its ups and downs, like every unending series does. I haven't been loving the Whisperers as a villain, since they seem to be more of the same (i.e. another group with bad intentions, like the Governor and the Saviors), but here Kirkman gives us at least two amazing reasons to rejoice:
Profile Image for Sofia.
217 reviews
April 18, 2018
Fue un poquito mas interesante, pero sigo sintiendo que Rick no aporta nada, se vuelve repetitivo.
¡MAN, YA SABES COMO SON! ¿POR QUÉ MIERDA COMETES LOS MISMOS ERRORES?.
Profile Image for Laina.
237 reviews2 followers
May 28, 2016
I get that Eugene's excited and all about having contacted someone over the radio, but he better not give away his location, or I'm sure whoever's on the other end will come and attack Alexandria.

I just don't trust the person on the other end, that Eugene's talking to. So far, Eugene's the one giving up information and not the other person. That's just not going to end well, for Eugene and his people.

He told the other person that they have about fifty people, and the other person didn't say shit. I just bet that the person on the other end is a Whisperer and they're planning on attacking Alexandria.

I'm glad that Gabriel's learning how to shoot the zombies, to help protect Alexandria. Though I do agree with Dwight, that it'll be a whole different thing when they tell Gabriel that he'll have to shoot people, too.

I'm glad that Rick's trying to apologize to Brandon for killing his Dad. However, I feel like Brandon's reaction was way too much. The kid is a fucking psycho, and I'm glad Rick didn't kill him, though on the other hand, I kinda wish he had.

I feel bad for Gabriel. I also feel like God would understand. Gabriel and the other people in Alexandria aren't killing people and zombies out of malice. They're killing them to protect themselves, so I think God would understand.

Aww, I really do love the friendship between Jesus and Maggie. I just love how well they get along and I hope they're friends and both alive for a long time to come. I have a feeling that Brandon shithead is gonna try to attack Maggie.

Oh God, that little shithead Brandon is being a fucking whiny brat, and now wants to let Negan go free. I really hope that Andrea, Michonne, or Rick catch the two of them together, and that Rick decides to kill that fucker Brandon.

I don't know if it's a good idea for Rick to be riling everyone up with that message on the walls about the Whisperers. I have a feeling it's going to end up backfiring on him, and fast.

While I don't like that Rick questioned Michonne about her possibly turning the Kingdom against him, I can't really blame him. Think all the way back to the Shane situation. Shane was Rick's best friend and in the end, was a jealous psycho.

I just KNEW that Brandon was going to find a way to get Negan out of the cell. I kind of hope that Negan killed the little fucker, just so I don't have to read more about the little asshole.

Ah, crap. That's no good, that Negan's gone. I just wonder what Negan and Brandon's plans are. I hope that they don't actually go to the Whisperers and try to take Alexandria from Rick and his people.
Profile Image for Júlio.
29 reviews
February 23, 2016
Can't. Fucking. Believe. It.

Brandon is a fucking asshole. He should be in a cell, just like Negan. The boy attempted murder twice, against Carl and now Rick. And then he got to cherry on the top.

I can't see what Negan is about to do. I mean, it's common knowledge that he hates Rick, but what's the plan? Bring the Whisperers to kill everyone? Alert them about the army to motivate them? And then, what, take the Saviors back?

Call me stupid, but Negan is better than that. Let's think about the end of the war against the Saviors, how he was trully touched by Rick's ideas of building a comunity network. He's been in jail for time enough to see this community works, that people enjoy being there and that people are also kind of more prepared to survive by themselves. I really can't see him backing off of the ~~construtictive approach~~ Rick convinced him of. But there's also the possibility that I'm just idealizing a fucking psychopath and thinking about him like he was a regular human being.

Fuck, I need the next issue out NOW.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Vikas.
Author 3 books179 followers
May 15, 2017
While Maggie is preparing to leave, Rick tries to bring Brandon in line but that idiot does something unprecedented. And now it's anybody's guess how the next issue will shape up. It's no wonder The Walking Dead is a legendary series, it truly deserves all the praise it can get. I love The Walking Dead and it's style. It's wonderful and I love the journey taken with Rick and the group as they roam the wasteland in search of life and stability.

I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to bit, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
68 reviews
March 2, 2016
SPOILER WARNING
YES! I am SO ecstatic right now after reading this issue. My fear with "The Walking Dead" lately is that the recent issues haven't seemed to want to do anything other than repeat the same events over and over and over again. However, this issue does seem to make up for it. Rick seems to be spiraling even further downward, which is unexpected, but it is a welcome change, as this means that Rick probably won't just be making "inspiring" speeches for much longer and maybe we can see the All Out War Rick return. NEGAN IS OUT!!!! We all knew this day would come even if Robert Kirkman denied it, and the greatest villain in the history of the comics is back, let's see how this goes from here. Keep this kind of issue coming!
Profile Image for Santi.
10 reviews
March 6, 2016
Rick sigue teniendo problemas con todo el mundo, mas con Brandon, por matar a su padre, mientras los demás van a practicar disparo junto a Gabriel que va avanzando bien, pero todavía sigue pidiéndole perdón a dios, por matar a "Personas" aunque en los siguientes números, lo va a tener que hacer, Brandon por venganza a Rick va a buscar a Negan y lo suelta, ahora si Rick tiene serios problemas a los que aferrase, mientras tanto Eugene habla con la persona que le contesto por el radio, e hicieron un trato en el que solo ellos podían hablar por la radio, y si hablaba otra persona se rompía el trato y no hablarían mas a lo que Eugene acepto.

Profile Image for Jonathan Mirus.
96 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2016
The Walking Dead (#152) (2016)



maldita sea.
Profile Image for Yolanda Sfetsos.
Author 80 books243 followers
April 7, 2016
Okay, I was just about ready to call it quits with this series... And it just dragged me back in!

Eugene has made contact with a mysterious person over the CB radio and has promised to keep it quiet. (You know that's gonna get him into some serious shit.) Michonne is going to become the Kingdom's leader. (Yay.) Father Gabriel can shoot zombies. (Yeah, but can he shoot Whisperers?) Rick got bashed by a kid. (He should've killed the little shit). And Negan is GONE! (See, told ya he should've killed the little shit!)

Like I said, just DRAGGED ME BACK IN. O_o

Damn you, TWD!
Profile Image for Steven Shinder.
Author 5 books21 followers
March 2, 2016
I am very curious about the person with whom Eugene is communicating, as well as their group. Their conversation is the whole logic argument I've seen many times before, but hopefully it'll pay off. Still uncertain about whether it's a man or a woman. Gabriel is finally being useful, but I feel that he should be past the point of feeling guilty about killing the dead. I actually forgot about Brandon, but I'm glad he was used to get Negan out of the cell at last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica.
158 reviews6 followers
February 11, 2016
¡Excelente! Los problemas para Rick y su grupo acaban de aumentar, lo de Negan no lo esperaba tan pronto aunque sabía que tarde o temprano pasaría. Por otro lado Eugene hablando con otra persona por radio es una buena noticia, pero no creo sea correcto mantenerlo en secreto, estoy segura que a la larga sera un error que les cueste caro.
Profile Image for John Keegan.
179 reviews5 followers
March 4, 2016
Oh, things are getting very complicated for Rick, aren't they? This is a bad combination of challenges to his authority, and that growing paranoia will not bode him well. Neither will that empty room. I see pain in the very near future...
Profile Image for Natalia Soldevila.
333 reviews17 followers
January 26, 2016
WHAT ARE YOU DOING EUGENE? Y el pelotudo de Brandon... no sabe que cagada se mandoooooooooooo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Patri.
387 reviews23 followers
February 17, 2016
Era oooobvio que iba a terminar pasando lo que pasó :P
Profile Image for Samantha.
167 reviews19 followers
March 3, 2016
Ah hell. Shit's about to get real. Negan's out!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews