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The Walking Dead (Single Issues)
The Walking Dead #161
THE WHISPERER WAR, Part Five
30 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2016
About the author
Robert Kirkman
2,616 books7,137 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 - 24 of 24 reviews
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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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.
***
My Social Media
My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
My Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/michael_sor...
My Wattpad Account: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Michael-...
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April 6, 2017
Add another item to the list of things Rick isn't going to be happy about
September 20, 2017
Negan still mourns for his bad girl, Miss Lucille...
He wont get over it too soon...
He wont get over it too soon...
July 21, 2026
The attack on the Hilltop finally reaches its climax in this issue, and after seeing the community caught completely off guard by the surprise assault, I honestly wasn't sure whether they would have anything left standing once the battle ended. The Hilltop has always been one of the strongest communities in the series, but strength means very little when your enemy arrives with a massive herd, infiltrates your defenses, and sets your home ablaze. Going into this chapter, I wasn't simply wondering who would survive—I was wondering if the Hilltop itself would still exist by the time the fighting was over. The previous issue ended with complete chaos, and this installment wastes no time throwing readers back into the middle of that nightmare.
The battle continues immediately as Lydia refuses to back down against the Whisperers despite being surrounded by the very people she once called family. Rather than hesitating or showing uncertainty, she continues fighting with absolute determination, fully committing herself to protecting the Hilltop. At the same time, inside the burning Barrington House, Sophia manages to lift young Hershel from his crib just as Maggie and Carl arrive to help evacuate everyone still trapped inside. Maggie immediately orders Carl to leave with them, but Carl refuses. Believing there may still be people trapped inside the burning mansion, he insists on staying behind to search every room despite Maggie desperately trying to convince him otherwise.
This scene reminded me that, despite all the frustration Carl has caused throughout this arc because of his decisions involving Lydia, he has never stopped trying to help people. His determination to stay behind wasn't driven by recklessness alone—it came from a genuine desire to make sure nobody was abandoned inside the burning house. I may have criticized Carl plenty of times, but I couldn't help feeling anxious watching him willingly walk deeper into a building that was literally collapsing around him. At that point, I wasn't thinking about any of his previous mistakes anymore. I was simply hoping someone would be able to get him out alive.
Carl eventually finds Johnny carrying his unconscious mother, Brianna, through the smoke-filled mansion. Without hesitation, Carl helps Johnny carry Brianna toward safety. Just as they manage to escape, part of the house suddenly explodes behind them. The blast throws Carl violently to the ground, knocking him unconscious while Johnny continues dragging Brianna away from the flames. The explosion itself felt incredibly sudden and brutal, serving as another reminder that in The Walking Dead, surviving the walkers is only one part of the battle. Fire, collapsing buildings, and simple bad luck can be just as deadly.
Outside, Maggie escapes with Sophia and Hershel as Dante continues desperately holding back both walkers and Whisperers. Even Sophia gets her own heroic moment by shooting one of the attacking Whisperers directly in the head. I genuinely appreciated seeing Sophia contribute during the battle rather than simply being another person who needed rescuing. Throughout the series, she's grown tremendously, and moments like this show that she has become a capable survivor in her own right. She isn't the frightened little girl readers met years ago anymore.
Meanwhile, Lydia continues fighting against her former people until one Whisperer accuses her of betraying them. Lydia's response perfectly summarizes how much she has changed throughout this storyline. She declares that she no longer wants to live like an animal before killing him without hesitation. That single statement carries so much emotional weight because it completely rejects everything Alpha tried to teach her. Lydia isn't just choosing the Hilltop—she is rejecting the entire philosophy that shaped her childhood. She has finally embraced civilization, compassion, and genuine human connection over fear and brutality.
I absolutely loved that moment because it felt like the true conclusion of Lydia's internal conflict. Earlier in the series she struggled with where she belonged, torn between the people who raised her and the people who accepted her despite everything. Here, there is no hesitation whatsoever. She knows exactly who she is fighting for, and more importantly, she knows exactly what kind of person she refuses to become. Watching her stand against the Whisperers without any trace of doubt made her one of the standout characters of this issue.
As the battle rages on, Sophia desperately asks Brianna where Carl is after realizing he never came out with everyone else. Brianna weakly explains that Carl stayed behind to help save them before apologizing, making the realization hit even harder. For a brief moment, it genuinely feels like Carl may have died inside the burning mansion.
Thankfully, Aaron refuses to leave Carl behind. In one of the issue's most heroic moments, Aaron throws Carl through a window to safety before jumping out himself. Dr. Carson immediately begins trying to revive Carl while Aaron and the remaining defenders continue fighting the Whisperers outside. The tension during this sequence was incredibly effective because Carl remains unconscious long enough to make readers genuinely fear the worst. When he finally opens his eyes after Dr. Carson's efforts, it honestly felt like a huge relief. After everything Carl has survived throughout the series, losing him in a house fire would have been absolutely devastating.
Once Carl regains consciousness, Maggie announces that they have won the battle. While the victory is certainly worth celebrating, it doesn't feel triumphant in the traditional sense. The Hilltop still stands, but at an enormous cost. The community has suffered injuries, deaths, structural destruction, and emotional trauma that will take a long time to recover from. Winning doesn't erase what they lost. It simply means they are still alive to begin rebuilding once again.
Elsewhere, Beta is shown barely able to walk because of the injuries Negan inflicted upon him. Despite clearly struggling, he refuses anyone's help, stubbornly forcing himself forward. His pride remains just as enormous as his physical size. Eventually, Beta orders the remaining Whisperers to return to camp and end the assault for now.
I was honestly surprised to see Beta in such rough condition. It finally proves that even someone as terrifying as him isn't invincible. At the same time, the fact that he can barely stand and still refuses assistance perfectly captures his character. Weakness is something Beta simply refuses to acknowledge, even when everyone around him can clearly see it.
Back in Alexandria, Rick questions Heath and Vincent about their failed attempt to recruit help from the Sanctuary. Learning that the Saviors refused to send reinforcements only strengthens Rick's growing suspicions that the alliance with them is beginning to crumble. Meanwhile, over at the Kingdom, William immediately orders everyone to prepare after learning that the Hilltop has been attacked. Unlike the Saviors, the Kingdom understands that if one community falls, every community is eventually threatened.
Another devastating consequence of the battle is revealed when Connie is shown suffering from a walker bite. Fully understanding what it means, Connie bravely tells the others to amputate her hand before the infection spreads. Kelly and Yumiko understandably hesitate, unable to bring themselves to perform such a painful procedure. Magna eventually steps forward, accepting the responsibility herself.
That scene was incredibly difficult to read because it highlights one of the cruel realities of this world. There is no time to hesitate when someone gets bitten. Every second matters, and making that decision means permanently changing someone's life in hopes of saving it. Connie's courage during this moment was remarkable. Rather than panicking or giving up, she immediately focused on survival. I sincerely hope the amputation succeeds because Connie has become one of the more likable members of Magna's group.
On the battlefield, Dwight notices Negan mourning over the shattered remains of Lucille and bluntly scolds him, pointing out that a woman just lost her hand while he is crying over a baseball bat. Negan quietly responds that Dwight will never understand what Lucille truly meant to him.
I actually found this exchange surprisingly meaningful. On the surface, Dwight is absolutely right. Compared to everything happening around them, grieving over a broken weapon seems insignificant. However, Lucille was never just a weapon to Negan. It represented his identity, his past, his wife, his rise to power, and every terrible decision he made afterward. Losing Lucille almost feels like losing the last remaining piece of the man he used to be. It doesn't excuse everything Negan has done, but it does explain why her destruction affected him so deeply.
Elsewhere, Eugene prepares to transport a wagon filled with newly manufactured ammunition back toward Alexandria despite the obvious dangers of traveling at night. David questions whether risking his life over bullets is really worth it, but Eugene argues that while everyone else is fighting and dying on the front lines, producing ammunition is the only meaningful contribution he can make. I really admired Eugene's perspective here. Not everyone can swing a sword or fire a rifle, but wars are won because every individual contributes in different ways. Eugene recognizes that his intelligence is his greatest weapon, and he's determined to use it for the benefit of everyone.
Rick later asks Andrea to keep an eye not only on the Whisperers but also on the Sanctuary. Andrea is surprised by how serious Rick sounds, but Rick admits they need to prepare for every possibility. That conversation becomes even more unsettling during the issue's closing pages.
Tara finally returns to the Sanctuary and speaks with Sherry. She explains that the Hilltop requested help but that no reinforcements were sent. Sherry calmly tells Tara that Rick Grimes will defeat the Whisperers because that is simply what Rick does. However, she immediately reveals the Saviors' true intentions. Once Rick wins and the other communities are weakened from the war, the Sanctuary plans to seize control of whatever remains.
That final conversation honestly angered me more than anything else in the issue. While Alexandria, the Hilltop, and the Kingdom are sacrificing their best people to stop a common enemy, the Saviors are sitting safely behind their walls waiting to profit from everyone else's suffering. It is an incredibly selfish and cowardly strategy. Instead of standing beside their allies during their greatest time of need, they intend to attack exhausted survivors after the war ends. If that truly is their plan, then they are no better than opportunists feeding off the sacrifices of others. At this point, I genuinely don't think Rick will tolerate that kind of betrayal for much longer.
Overall, Issue #161 delivers a satisfying conclusion to the Battle of the Hilltop while simultaneously setting up an entirely new conflict waiting just beyond the horizon. The Whisperers may have been pushed back for now, but the cost of victory is immense, and the revelations surrounding the Sanctuary prove that peace is still nowhere in sight. The action remains intense from beginning to end, but what stood out to me most were the personal moments that highlighted each character's growth. Lydia finally embraces the Hilltop as her true home, Carl once again risks everything to save others, Aaron proves why he is one of the community's most dependable survivors, and Maggie continues demonstrating the strength that has made her such an incredible leader. Even though the Hilltop survived the attack, it is obvious that this war has changed everyone involved, and judging from the issue's final pages, defeating the Whisperers may only be the beginning of an even larger struggle waiting for Rick and the communities.
The battle continues immediately as Lydia refuses to back down against the Whisperers despite being surrounded by the very people she once called family. Rather than hesitating or showing uncertainty, she continues fighting with absolute determination, fully committing herself to protecting the Hilltop. At the same time, inside the burning Barrington House, Sophia manages to lift young Hershel from his crib just as Maggie and Carl arrive to help evacuate everyone still trapped inside. Maggie immediately orders Carl to leave with them, but Carl refuses. Believing there may still be people trapped inside the burning mansion, he insists on staying behind to search every room despite Maggie desperately trying to convince him otherwise.
This scene reminded me that, despite all the frustration Carl has caused throughout this arc because of his decisions involving Lydia, he has never stopped trying to help people. His determination to stay behind wasn't driven by recklessness alone—it came from a genuine desire to make sure nobody was abandoned inside the burning house. I may have criticized Carl plenty of times, but I couldn't help feeling anxious watching him willingly walk deeper into a building that was literally collapsing around him. At that point, I wasn't thinking about any of his previous mistakes anymore. I was simply hoping someone would be able to get him out alive.
Carl eventually finds Johnny carrying his unconscious mother, Brianna, through the smoke-filled mansion. Without hesitation, Carl helps Johnny carry Brianna toward safety. Just as they manage to escape, part of the house suddenly explodes behind them. The blast throws Carl violently to the ground, knocking him unconscious while Johnny continues dragging Brianna away from the flames. The explosion itself felt incredibly sudden and brutal, serving as another reminder that in The Walking Dead, surviving the walkers is only one part of the battle. Fire, collapsing buildings, and simple bad luck can be just as deadly.
Outside, Maggie escapes with Sophia and Hershel as Dante continues desperately holding back both walkers and Whisperers. Even Sophia gets her own heroic moment by shooting one of the attacking Whisperers directly in the head. I genuinely appreciated seeing Sophia contribute during the battle rather than simply being another person who needed rescuing. Throughout the series, she's grown tremendously, and moments like this show that she has become a capable survivor in her own right. She isn't the frightened little girl readers met years ago anymore.
Meanwhile, Lydia continues fighting against her former people until one Whisperer accuses her of betraying them. Lydia's response perfectly summarizes how much she has changed throughout this storyline. She declares that she no longer wants to live like an animal before killing him without hesitation. That single statement carries so much emotional weight because it completely rejects everything Alpha tried to teach her. Lydia isn't just choosing the Hilltop—she is rejecting the entire philosophy that shaped her childhood. She has finally embraced civilization, compassion, and genuine human connection over fear and brutality.
I absolutely loved that moment because it felt like the true conclusion of Lydia's internal conflict. Earlier in the series she struggled with where she belonged, torn between the people who raised her and the people who accepted her despite everything. Here, there is no hesitation whatsoever. She knows exactly who she is fighting for, and more importantly, she knows exactly what kind of person she refuses to become. Watching her stand against the Whisperers without any trace of doubt made her one of the standout characters of this issue.
As the battle rages on, Sophia desperately asks Brianna where Carl is after realizing he never came out with everyone else. Brianna weakly explains that Carl stayed behind to help save them before apologizing, making the realization hit even harder. For a brief moment, it genuinely feels like Carl may have died inside the burning mansion.
Thankfully, Aaron refuses to leave Carl behind. In one of the issue's most heroic moments, Aaron throws Carl through a window to safety before jumping out himself. Dr. Carson immediately begins trying to revive Carl while Aaron and the remaining defenders continue fighting the Whisperers outside. The tension during this sequence was incredibly effective because Carl remains unconscious long enough to make readers genuinely fear the worst. When he finally opens his eyes after Dr. Carson's efforts, it honestly felt like a huge relief. After everything Carl has survived throughout the series, losing him in a house fire would have been absolutely devastating.
Once Carl regains consciousness, Maggie announces that they have won the battle. While the victory is certainly worth celebrating, it doesn't feel triumphant in the traditional sense. The Hilltop still stands, but at an enormous cost. The community has suffered injuries, deaths, structural destruction, and emotional trauma that will take a long time to recover from. Winning doesn't erase what they lost. It simply means they are still alive to begin rebuilding once again.
Elsewhere, Beta is shown barely able to walk because of the injuries Negan inflicted upon him. Despite clearly struggling, he refuses anyone's help, stubbornly forcing himself forward. His pride remains just as enormous as his physical size. Eventually, Beta orders the remaining Whisperers to return to camp and end the assault for now.
I was honestly surprised to see Beta in such rough condition. It finally proves that even someone as terrifying as him isn't invincible. At the same time, the fact that he can barely stand and still refuses assistance perfectly captures his character. Weakness is something Beta simply refuses to acknowledge, even when everyone around him can clearly see it.
Back in Alexandria, Rick questions Heath and Vincent about their failed attempt to recruit help from the Sanctuary. Learning that the Saviors refused to send reinforcements only strengthens Rick's growing suspicions that the alliance with them is beginning to crumble. Meanwhile, over at the Kingdom, William immediately orders everyone to prepare after learning that the Hilltop has been attacked. Unlike the Saviors, the Kingdom understands that if one community falls, every community is eventually threatened.
Another devastating consequence of the battle is revealed when Connie is shown suffering from a walker bite. Fully understanding what it means, Connie bravely tells the others to amputate her hand before the infection spreads. Kelly and Yumiko understandably hesitate, unable to bring themselves to perform such a painful procedure. Magna eventually steps forward, accepting the responsibility herself.
That scene was incredibly difficult to read because it highlights one of the cruel realities of this world. There is no time to hesitate when someone gets bitten. Every second matters, and making that decision means permanently changing someone's life in hopes of saving it. Connie's courage during this moment was remarkable. Rather than panicking or giving up, she immediately focused on survival. I sincerely hope the amputation succeeds because Connie has become one of the more likable members of Magna's group.
On the battlefield, Dwight notices Negan mourning over the shattered remains of Lucille and bluntly scolds him, pointing out that a woman just lost her hand while he is crying over a baseball bat. Negan quietly responds that Dwight will never understand what Lucille truly meant to him.
I actually found this exchange surprisingly meaningful. On the surface, Dwight is absolutely right. Compared to everything happening around them, grieving over a broken weapon seems insignificant. However, Lucille was never just a weapon to Negan. It represented his identity, his past, his wife, his rise to power, and every terrible decision he made afterward. Losing Lucille almost feels like losing the last remaining piece of the man he used to be. It doesn't excuse everything Negan has done, but it does explain why her destruction affected him so deeply.
Elsewhere, Eugene prepares to transport a wagon filled with newly manufactured ammunition back toward Alexandria despite the obvious dangers of traveling at night. David questions whether risking his life over bullets is really worth it, but Eugene argues that while everyone else is fighting and dying on the front lines, producing ammunition is the only meaningful contribution he can make. I really admired Eugene's perspective here. Not everyone can swing a sword or fire a rifle, but wars are won because every individual contributes in different ways. Eugene recognizes that his intelligence is his greatest weapon, and he's determined to use it for the benefit of everyone.
Rick later asks Andrea to keep an eye not only on the Whisperers but also on the Sanctuary. Andrea is surprised by how serious Rick sounds, but Rick admits they need to prepare for every possibility. That conversation becomes even more unsettling during the issue's closing pages.
Tara finally returns to the Sanctuary and speaks with Sherry. She explains that the Hilltop requested help but that no reinforcements were sent. Sherry calmly tells Tara that Rick Grimes will defeat the Whisperers because that is simply what Rick does. However, she immediately reveals the Saviors' true intentions. Once Rick wins and the other communities are weakened from the war, the Sanctuary plans to seize control of whatever remains.
That final conversation honestly angered me more than anything else in the issue. While Alexandria, the Hilltop, and the Kingdom are sacrificing their best people to stop a common enemy, the Saviors are sitting safely behind their walls waiting to profit from everyone else's suffering. It is an incredibly selfish and cowardly strategy. Instead of standing beside their allies during their greatest time of need, they intend to attack exhausted survivors after the war ends. If that truly is their plan, then they are no better than opportunists feeding off the sacrifices of others. At this point, I genuinely don't think Rick will tolerate that kind of betrayal for much longer.
Overall, Issue #161 delivers a satisfying conclusion to the Battle of the Hilltop while simultaneously setting up an entirely new conflict waiting just beyond the horizon. The Whisperers may have been pushed back for now, but the cost of victory is immense, and the revelations surrounding the Sanctuary prove that peace is still nowhere in sight. The action remains intense from beginning to end, but what stood out to me most were the personal moments that highlighted each character's growth. Lydia finally embraces the Hilltop as her true home, Carl once again risks everything to save others, Aaron proves why he is one of the community's most dependable survivors, and Maggie continues demonstrating the strength that has made her such an incredible leader. Even though the Hilltop survived the attack, it is obvious that this war has changed everyone involved, and judging from the issue's final pages, defeating the Whisperers may only be the beginning of an even larger struggle waiting for Rick and the communities.
January 7, 2017
Lydia starts this one off laying waste to her former people The Whisperers.Carl performs a heroic deed to save the life of others but at great cost to himself.Rick senses that another potential war could be brewing before this The Whisperer War is even finished and lastly we see that Negan is still deeply affected by the death of Lucille.
December 7, 2016
Exciting, fast paced and nicely sets up the story for the the final edition in this story arc.
December 8, 2016
Lots of action. War is still raging on Can't wait for the next issue!
September 30, 2018
I really hope that Lydia knows what she's doing. She's surrounded by a ton of walkers.I liked the scene with Maggie, Sophia, Carl and little Hershel. I'm glad that Carl stepped up to help, so that Maggie and the others could get away.
I love that Carl went back to help as many people as he could. I don't like that he got caught in the fire and possibly knocked out. Hopefully he'll regain consciousness or someone will find him and help him to get out of the fire, too.
Sophia's pretty awesome with that gun. I'm glad that she's trying to protect Maggie, Hershel and some of the others. I just hope that they can make it past both the Whisperers and the actual zombies that are currently surrounding them.
As for Lydia, I'm glad that she's helping take out some walkers and Whisperers. As for the woman that spoke up, when Lydia asked about Carl, I hope the woman's wrong, and that Carl ends up being okay.
YES! Go Aaron! I'm cheering you on! I'm glad that you were able to find and save Carl from the fire and from the Whisperers and the walkers. Too bad about the stitches, though. It's a good thing the doc can fix you up again.
I can't tell who the woman on the ground is, or who's giving the woman CPR. Hopefully we'll have that explained soon.
I wonder who that is, that's holding the sword and talking about the archers and taking them out.
I like seeing a large group of them taking out as many walkers and Whisperers as possible, and working together and all of that good stuff.
Maggie's one of the best ones. She's all like, "Die motherfucker's!" She had me cheering her and Lydia on the whole time, which is pretty great, given that I'm not a fan of the Lydia character. Yay. We won. She's probably exhausted.
Oh man. It looks like Beta made it back to the other Whisperers, and I know damn well that they're up to no good. I can't help but kinda hope that one of the Whisperers will end up turning on the other's, and help Rick and crew take them out.
It looks like Rick's chat with Vincent isn't going so well. I wonder what he's going to say and do next. It's not like there's too much that he can do if the others just don't want to help them out.
I can't remember where William and Martin and the rest of them are. But whatever community they're with, they're in deep shit as it looks like a herd of walkers is coming their way. Wonder if it's the Whisperers.
As for the other people, was that Magna that said she'd kill that woman, since the husband or boyfriend said that he couldn't do it? Well, nevermind, it doesn't look like she was going to have to kill the woman, but she did chop off the woman's hand.
Well, hopefully by chopping off the hand at the wrist, it will keep the effects of the bite from spreading and killing the woman. But we'll see. It doesn't always work that way. Sometimes it's just too late.
I kind of like it when Dwight talks shit to Negan. I hope he puts that asshole in his place soon, or pops a cap in his ass. Negan more than deserves it. I really do agree with Dwight when he called Negan a lunatic. The guy's right. Who gives a shit about a bat, when that woman just lost her hand?
Oh, Beta. You never learn. You and the other Whisperers might be bat shit crazy, but Rick is crazier than you assholes. Looks like you and the rest of your people are just going to have to learn the hard way. That's okay with me.
I loved Eugene's conversation with that guy. I'm really starting to like him more and more. Hopefully he'll keep being fucking awesome. And I agree with everything he said about the bullets and getting them to where they need to go.
As for Rick, I like the conversation that he and Andrea had. I'm glad that he made sure to tell her to keep a watch out in the tower not just for the Whisperers, but for those Saviors, too. You never know when they're going to attack.
Oh shit, that woman is fucking crazy. I can't remember what her damn name is, but that woman just needs to be shot in the head. Actually, she needs a double tap to make sure that she never comes back.
I love that Carl went back to help as many people as he could. I don't like that he got caught in the fire and possibly knocked out. Hopefully he'll regain consciousness or someone will find him and help him to get out of the fire, too.
Sophia's pretty awesome with that gun. I'm glad that she's trying to protect Maggie, Hershel and some of the others. I just hope that they can make it past both the Whisperers and the actual zombies that are currently surrounding them.
As for Lydia, I'm glad that she's helping take out some walkers and Whisperers. As for the woman that spoke up, when Lydia asked about Carl, I hope the woman's wrong, and that Carl ends up being okay.
YES! Go Aaron! I'm cheering you on! I'm glad that you were able to find and save Carl from the fire and from the Whisperers and the walkers. Too bad about the stitches, though. It's a good thing the doc can fix you up again.
I can't tell who the woman on the ground is, or who's giving the woman CPR. Hopefully we'll have that explained soon.
I wonder who that is, that's holding the sword and talking about the archers and taking them out.
I like seeing a large group of them taking out as many walkers and Whisperers as possible, and working together and all of that good stuff.
Maggie's one of the best ones. She's all like, "Die motherfucker's!" She had me cheering her and Lydia on the whole time, which is pretty great, given that I'm not a fan of the Lydia character. Yay. We won. She's probably exhausted.
Oh man. It looks like Beta made it back to the other Whisperers, and I know damn well that they're up to no good. I can't help but kinda hope that one of the Whisperers will end up turning on the other's, and help Rick and crew take them out.
It looks like Rick's chat with Vincent isn't going so well. I wonder what he's going to say and do next. It's not like there's too much that he can do if the others just don't want to help them out.
I can't remember where William and Martin and the rest of them are. But whatever community they're with, they're in deep shit as it looks like a herd of walkers is coming their way. Wonder if it's the Whisperers.
As for the other people, was that Magna that said she'd kill that woman, since the husband or boyfriend said that he couldn't do it? Well, nevermind, it doesn't look like she was going to have to kill the woman, but she did chop off the woman's hand.
Well, hopefully by chopping off the hand at the wrist, it will keep the effects of the bite from spreading and killing the woman. But we'll see. It doesn't always work that way. Sometimes it's just too late.
I kind of like it when Dwight talks shit to Negan. I hope he puts that asshole in his place soon, or pops a cap in his ass. Negan more than deserves it. I really do agree with Dwight when he called Negan a lunatic. The guy's right. Who gives a shit about a bat, when that woman just lost her hand?
Oh, Beta. You never learn. You and the other Whisperers might be bat shit crazy, but Rick is crazier than you assholes. Looks like you and the rest of your people are just going to have to learn the hard way. That's okay with me.
I loved Eugene's conversation with that guy. I'm really starting to like him more and more. Hopefully he'll keep being fucking awesome. And I agree with everything he said about the bullets and getting them to where they need to go.
As for Rick, I like the conversation that he and Andrea had. I'm glad that he made sure to tell her to keep a watch out in the tower not just for the Whisperers, but for those Saviors, too. You never know when they're going to attack.
Oh shit, that woman is fucking crazy. I can't remember what her damn name is, but that woman just needs to be shot in the head. Actually, she needs a double tap to make sure that she never comes back.
November 6, 2017
This Whisperer War is rough!
December 15, 2017
When it rains it pours.
January 22, 2019
Liking this arc, but I really hope it doesn't turn into a jumping point for ANOTHER conflict with the Saviors!
February 1, 2019
La guerra dio con todo!! Me encanto este número.
November 7, 2019
The Hilltop is burning, the Saviors are hiding, and the question is, who wins, and who dies?
December 17, 2016
Oh man, The Hilltop.....Maggie is such a Badass. And ole Sherrie, not a good idea.
January 4, 2017
The war is going in Ricks favor and another plot is uncovered.
March 5, 2020
In this issue which is 5 of 6 of this arc we see the war at hilltop and how the hilltop fares while it burns all around them. 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.
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.
December 7, 2016
Lots of great action in this and interesting seeing Negan agonize over Lucille.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2016
Solid issue. Looking forward to seeing what's coming...
December 11, 2016
Lots of action building up to the 6th and presumably final part of the Whisperers War. Should be a good one.
December 13, 2016
Decently paced, wrapping things up for the end of the Whisperer War next issue. After reading Negan's backstory couldn't help but feel bad for how busted up he is about Lucille.
December 18, 2016
Rick Grimes finds himself fighting multiple wars but "I believe in Rick Grimes" and over the years, he's not one to underestimate.
December 19, 2016
This storyline is killing me! I can't wait for more!
December 30, 2016
One small victory, but the Hilltop is burnt to a crisp, Negan is sulking, The Saviors are plotting and Beta is up to something big. Only one more issue for the Whisperer War, but how will it end??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2017
(4.5)** I almost forgot about Rick. With the Whisperers war coming to end.. I'm wondering how this will end.
This issue also made me remember that Rick can't catch a break.
This issue also made me remember that Rick can't catch a break.
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