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“THE TIP OF THE SPEAR”

33 pages, Unknown Binding

Published June 1, 2016

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About the author

Robert Kirkman

2,616 books7,138 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Michael Sorbello.
Author 2 books323 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 Erik.
1,231 reviews11 followers
July 8, 2025
Ok I’m sorry I brought vegan burgers to a bbq
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2026
Negan has finally come face-to-face with Alpha, and I genuinely had no idea what to expect from their encounter. Both of them are incredibly manipulative, unpredictable, and dangerous in their own ways, so seeing them interact felt like watching two ticking time bombs in the same room. At this point, I couldn't help but wonder if Negan truly intended to join the Whisperers or if he was simply playing another one of his elaborate mind games. Whatever his intentions were, I knew this meeting could drastically change the balance between Rick's communities and the Whisperers.

The issue immediately throws readers into the brutal confrontation between Michonne and the Whisperers. Refusing to abandon Aaron despite his severe injuries, Michonne fights with everything she has. Beta proves why he is Alpha's second-in-command, displaying terrifying strength and overwhelming combat ability. As he closes in on Aaron to finish him off, Michonne intercepts his attack and even manages to slash part of Beta's walker mask, briefly exposing him beneath the disguise. It is one of the few moments where Beta actually appears vulnerable, but the advantage doesn't last long.

A walker suddenly approaches Michonne from behind, forcing her to divide her attention. She quickly dispatches it before turning her focus back toward the Whisperers. During the battle, she slices off one Whisperer's hand, tears away his skin mask, and kicks him directly into a nearby group of walkers. The irony is brutal as the very creatures the Whisperers pretend to become immediately devour one of their own. Before Michonne can capitalize on the moment, Beta crashes into her with overwhelming force and pins her to the ground, preparing to kill her.

Just when everything seems lost, Dwight arrives with Alexandria's newly formed militia. The sound of gunfire fills the forest, forcing Beta to retreat while the remaining Whisperers are eliminated. Michonne wastes no time. Realizing Aaron's condition is rapidly worsening, she places him on horseback and rides toward the Hilltop as fast as possible. Before leaving, she orders Dwight to hunt Beta down, but after she disappears into the woods, Dwight makes the difficult decision to ignore that order and instead instructs the militia to retreat. Crossing deeper into Whisperer territory would only lead to unnecessary casualties, and Dwight chooses the safety of his soldiers over revenge.

Meanwhile, back in Alexandria, Andrea confronts Rick over the increasingly aggressive atmosphere within the community. She is disturbed by the "SILENCE THE WHISPERERS" propaganda plastered throughout Alexandria and demands that Rick remove the signs. Rick refuses, explaining that the people's grief and anger need somewhere to go. If they don't focus on the Whisperers, they'll continue directing their frustration toward him and eventually tear the communities apart from within. Rick then reveals everything Andrea had been unaware of, including Eugene's proposal to use Lydia against Alpha, the growing hostility among the citizens, and the brutal attack that nearly cost him his life. Andrea is horrified when Rick openly admits that he is deliberately manipulating public opinion to preserve order. She points out how disturbingly similar his actions sound to Negan's methods. Rick pauses after hearing that comparison, clearly shaken by it, before quietly telling Andrea that there is something else she needs to know.

Far away inside Whisperer territory, Negan finally spends time with Alpha. Unsurprisingly, the conversation is filled with crude jokes, shameless flirting, and Negan's signature confidence. He repeatedly makes inappropriate comments and teases Alpha as though they were on an awkward first date rather than surrounded by people wearing human skin. Alpha tolerates him for a while before finally punching him across the face after he crosses the line. Surprisingly, Negan immediately recognizes he has gone too far and apologizes without escalating the situation further.

The tension only increases when Beta suddenly appears after surviving the encounter with Michonne and the militia. Furious, he offers to execute Negan immediately for lying about his arrival. Alpha stops him, wanting answers first. Negan admits that he lied because he was terrified, humorously explaining that when he's scared out of his mind he'll "lie through his teeth." Even then, he refuses to beg for mercy. Instead, he calmly tells Alpha that if she intends to kill him, she should simply do it. When Alpha asks why he truly came, Negan confidently states that he has a great deal to offer her. His words leave both Alpha and the reader questioning what exactly his true objective is.

Elsewhere, Siddiq anxiously watches Alexandria's gates, waiting for Michonne and Aaron to return. Rick joins him, clearly unable to hide his concern. Although he tries to maintain composure, it is obvious that he fears the worst.

At the Hilltop, Carl wakes to find Lydia quietly watching over him. She gently tells him that without him she never would have escaped the Whisperers, reinforcing the emotional bond that continues to grow between them. Nearby, Maggie expresses her frustration over the lack of communication from Alexandria, admitting that she dislikes being left in the dark while such major events unfold.

The peaceful moment is shattered when frantic shouts echo through the gates. Michonne bursts into the Hilltop carrying Aaron, desperately screaming for Doctor Carson. Aaron has stopped breathing, and everyone immediately rushes to save his life as panic spreads throughout the settlement.

The issue concludes with Dwight leading the militia back across the border. Before leaving Whisperer territory, he quietly puts down Brandon after he reanimates as a walker. Once everyone safely crosses back, Dwight delivers a chilling realization. By engaging the Whisperers on their own territory, regardless of the reason, they have officially committed an act of war.

Michonne once again proved why she remains one of the strongest and most capable survivors in the entire series. Her determination to protect Aaron despite being heavily outnumbered was incredible to watch. Even against someone as terrifying as Beta, she never backed down. She fought intelligently, adapted to every situation, and only retreated once Aaron's survival became her highest priority. That entire sequence was incredibly intense and reminded me just how skilled she truly is.

I was equally impressed by Dwight's leadership during the rescue. Earlier in the story he could have chased Beta out of anger or pride, but instead he prioritized getting his soldiers home alive. That decision showed real military discipline. Many leaders in this world let revenge cloud their judgment, but Dwight understood that crossing deeper into Whisperer territory would only create more casualties. Even if Beta escaped, preserving the militia was the smarter long-term decision. Unfortunately, as Dwight himself acknowledges at the end, simply entering their territory may already be enough to trigger the conflict everyone has been trying to avoid.

Rick and Andrea's conversation was another highlight for me because it explored how leadership can slowly blur the line between morality and necessity. Rick openly admitting that he is manipulating the people was unsettling. I understand why he believes it's necessary—he needs to prevent the communities from collapsing under grief and fear—but Andrea was absolutely right to compare those tactics to Negan's. The motivations behind their actions may be completely different, yet hearing Rick justify manipulation felt uncomfortable. It raises an interesting question about whether a good leader can remain completely honest during times of crisis or whether survival inevitably forces difficult compromises.

Negan continues to be one of the most entertaining characters in the series. His interactions with Alpha were hilarious despite the constant danger surrounding them. He somehow manages to crack jokes while standing inches away from death, and his fearless personality makes every scene unpredictable. That said, I still don't trust him for a second. Every conversation feels like a performance, and it's impossible to tell whether he's genuinely trying to join the Whisperers or secretly working toward a completely different goal. Whatever he's planning, I highly doubt he's showing Alpha his real hand.

Beta also left a huge impression in this issue. Alpha has always been intimidating because of her ideology and authority, but Beta brings an entirely different kind of fear. His sheer size, strength, and silence make him feel almost unstoppable. Watching him overpower Michonne so easily made me realize that he might actually be the most physically dangerous person introduced in the series so far.

The final pages genuinely had me worried. Aaron arriving at the Hilltop without breathing was heartbreaking. After everything he has endured, seeing him hanging between life and death made the ending incredibly tense. I really hope Doctor Carson can save him because Aaron has become one of the community's most dependable people, and losing him after everything that has already happened would be devastating.

Overall, this issue expertly balances action, character development, political tension, and psychological warfare. Every storyline feels like it's building toward something much larger. Rick is trying to keep his communities united, Dwight is preparing them for war, Michonne is risking everything for the people she loves, Negan is playing a game that no one fully understands, and the Whisperers continue to prove why they are unlike any enemy the survivors have ever faced. By the end of the issue, it becomes painfully clear that the fragile peace between both sides is hanging by a thread, and it feels like it is only a matter of time before an all-out war becomes unavoidable.



142 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2020
I still prefer the books to the show even though I enjoy the show a lot.
Profile Image for Artrix.
121 reviews15 followers
August 31, 2024
Alguien dijo guerra? Se viene guerra 😈
Profile Image for Joshua.
395 reviews1 follower
October 15, 2016
Negan back to his classic wise ass self. Michonne is saved by Dwight, former Negan number 2 man, just in time. Aaron might not make it. The drums of war are sounding since Rick's group knowing crossed the border and killed a few Whisperers to save Michonne.
Profile Image for Laina.
237 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2016
Whoo! That was a close one for Michonne and Aaron! I was worried that Beta and the rest of the Whisperers were going to kill them. I'm so glad that Dwight and is group showed up at the last minute.

I don't understand what Dwight meant just now. Did Rick send them after Aaron and Michonne to protect them? Or did Rick just tell them to check the area and they happened to come upon Michonne and Aaron right when they needed it?

I don't like the conversation between Rick and Andrea. I get that Rick's trying to get people to focus on the Whisperers and not on fighting with him, but when all those people find out, they're gonna be pissed.

Also, if Andrea's reaction when she first got back was anything to go by, once Rick tells her that Negan's escaped, she's going to be even MORE pissed off, and worried.

The way Alpha and Negan act around each other is weird. Alpha still acts the same, but yet, flattered. And Negan's definitely got a crush on Alpha. He's acting like a lovesick kid.

I was hoping when Beta flipped out, that Alpha would let him kill Negan. No such luck. And now Negan's talking a hell of a lot, and he's about to give up everything about Rick and Alexandria.

Aww, I hope that Michonne and Aaron make it back in time, and that Aaron doesn't die. I really like the Aaron character and want him to live for a while yet, in the series.

And ugh, of COURSE we have to see Carl and Lydia right after they've had sex. I just really want someone to kill Lydia so we can be done with her. She just makes me more and more suspicious all the time.

Well, I'm glad that Michonne and Aaron made it to the Hiltop. I just hope that they made it in time and that Aaron doesn't die. I hope Doctor Carson can help Aaron.

I'm glad that Dwight explained things to that guy, but really? He shouldn't HAVE to explain. Are these people really THAT stupid? They've crossed the boundary line and now all the Whisperers are going to be gunning for them.
Profile Image for Vikas.
Author 3 books180 followers
March 5, 2020
Michonne and Aaron are saved by the brink by Dwayne and gang and Beta goes to confront Negan. Things are going to get bloody and nasty very soon. 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.
Profile Image for Carol.
889 reviews32 followers
June 3, 2016
That was great, classic Negan, back at it again.
I'm hoping you find me panty-drenchingly-rugged-as-fuck handsome. Like...get-me-another-skin-suit-I'm-soaking-through-this-one handsome.

Crude but charming, just the way we love him,
Alpha-please stop that.
Negan- Your mouth says "no," but your eyes say, "Fuck me until your dick breaks off inside me and fuses into some kind of Barbie doll crotch."

and gone too far as usual! If I'd been drinking I would have shot it out through my nose laughing at that one!
Profile Image for John Keegan.
177 reviews5 followers
June 7, 2016
Lines are crossed as the war that has been looming for so long is all but ready to break out, and the stage is set for a bit of a rematch between Rick and Negan. No doubt it will evolve in a very different way, though. Meanwhile, Rick's leadership style is under fire and for good reason. It's still setting things up, but the moment when things cut loose is right around the corner!
Profile Image for Komuniststar.
1,421 reviews36 followers
November 29, 2016
Negan u ovom izdanju mi je dosad najdrazi. Kao vođa bio mi je kopija Guvernera, u zatvoru mi je bio vise kao u frizderu bez prave namjene. Sad dok se probija je fascinantan. Poput morskog psa.
Stvorila se i napetost pred rat, što i naslovnica sugerira.
Profile Image for Stella Dee.
31 reviews
June 2, 2016
Back at it again

Daaamn Daniel! This was a great read as always. I can't wait until October for the new season to begin! I hope we get to learn more about Alpha in the meantime.
Profile Image for Babs.
1,469 reviews
June 11, 2016
War. Negan and his salty language. Damn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Diana.
2,023 reviews308 followers
June 12, 2016
At least things have been spiced up!!!
Profile Image for Tania.
12 reviews
June 16, 2016
Good read!

I liked this issue a lot. One can feel the build up for the coming fight. Negan is as devious as ever!
Profile Image for Michael.
155 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2016
Oh Aaron. Did you make it in time? Negan continues his run of absolutely amazing quotes. War is on!

What side is Negan on? Has he even decided yet?
Profile Image for Steven Shinder.
Author 5 books20 followers
June 4, 2016
Loved Negan's banter with Alpha and Beta. I'm very curious about what he's offering The Whisperers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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