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“A CERTAIN DOOM"
Is it possible, could it be, that the inevitable can somehow be...avoided? Rick and Andrea have a tough decision to make.

48 pages, Comic Book

Published May 1, 2017

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About the author

Robert Kirkman

2,639 books7,176 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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5 stars
314 (66%)
4 stars
112 (23%)
3 stars
40 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
Profile Image for Diana.
2,031 reviews310 followers
May 22, 2017
That was some powerful shit...
Profile Image for Trav Rockwell.
100 reviews7 followers
May 3, 2017
Judge this one by its cover, it's all about Rick and Andrea, this issues story dragged on to much.
Profile Image for Spencer.
1,500 reviews43 followers
May 4, 2017
An emotional issue where we say goodbye to a major chracter. It was done effictively and was a fitting end.
Profile Image for Dario Vaccaro.
205 reviews5 followers
January 23, 2019
Incredibly sad and emotional issue. This, this is the whole reason why I love The Walking Dead and Kirkman's pen: things happen, even if we don't like them, even if they can sometimes be repetitive, but they happen just like this because they are (like) real events. There's no sudden cure, no miraculous intervention, as in 99% of the comic books with a big following and long legacy. Here, an accident happens and everyone suffers the consequences, readers (and author!) included.

When I read The Walking Dead, I feel like home and I wasn't exactly sure why, except for how long I've been reading it for.

Now I know.
Profile Image for Alexis Vélez.
354 reviews10 followers
May 18, 2017
Wow, de los issues más fuertes que he leído de esta serie. Bien chocante y conmovedor a la vez.
Profile Image for Marcelo.
153 reviews2 followers
May 17, 2020
Sem dúvida: o MAIS EMOCIONANTE e (para mim) entre os mais impactantes números da série.
A carta da Kirkman, ao final da edição, coroa toda a carga emocional.
O cara é um um ฯμ₹@ escritor!
July 22, 2026
When I finished the previous issue and saw Andrea reveal the bite on her neck, I already knew this issue was going to hurt. My first thought wasn't about the war with the Whisperers anymore or what would happen to Alexandria—it was simply about Andrea. With Sherry now dead, I also wondered how the remaining Saviors would react. Would they seek revenge? Would Dwight believe Rick's explanation, or would this become another conflict waiting to happen? More importantly, how would Rick deal with losing the one person who had been by his side through almost everything? I had a feeling this issue was going to slow everything down, putting the battles aside to focus on something much more painful: saying goodbye.

This issue opens with one of the most heartbreaking moments in the series. Rick realizes that Andrea has been bitten and immediately breaks down. Seeing Rick Grimes cry so openly was incredibly painful because throughout the entire series he has always tried to carry everyone's burdens, often refusing to show weakness. Andrea apologizes before collapsing unconscious, leaving Rick completely shattered as he screams for help. Michonne rushes in and quickly understands what has happened, while Dwight arrives only to discover Sherry's body. Naturally, he demands to know what happened. Rick explains that Sherry attacked him with a knife and that her death was an accident during the struggle. Dwight's expression says everything—he hears Rick's explanation, but there is obvious doubt lingering in his mind. Even in the middle of Andrea's tragedy, Robert Kirkman quietly plants another possible conflict for the future.

The story then slows down significantly, allowing readers to spend precious final moments with Andrea. Rick stays beside her bed, desperately asking how she was bitten, and Andrea calmly explains that Eugene became surrounded by walkers and she simply got careless trying to save him. There is no blame in her voice, no anger, no regret toward Eugene. Rick begins crying again, but instead of letting him drown in guilt, Andrea tells him to leave the room and pull himself together. Even while facing death, she is still taking care of Rick emotionally. That perfectly summarizes who Andrea has become throughout the series. She isn't just one of Alexandria's strongest fighters anymore; she has become Rick's emotional anchor.

Carl soon visits Andrea, creating another emotional conversation. Andrea asks if he is still together with Lydia, and when Carl says yes, she gives him simple but meaningful advice. She tells him that relationships become whatever people make of them, and that being happy together is what truly matters. It feels like Andrea knows she won't get another opportunity to guide Carl, so she chooses to leave him with wisdom rather than sadness. Throughout the comics Andrea has become a genuine mother figure for Carl, and this moment quietly reinforces that bond. It isn't dramatic or over-the-top, but it carries so much emotional weight because of everything they have experienced together over the years.

Outside the bedroom, Michonne sits beside Rick as he completely loses his sense of direction. Rick admits he doesn't know what comes next anymore. He has survived countless tragedies, wars, betrayals, and losses, yet Andrea's impending death feels like the one thing he cannot overcome. Michonne reminds him of something he once told her after Ezekiel's death—that life continues, no matter how unbearable it feels. Watching Michonne return Rick's own words back to him was incredibly touching because it shows how much Rick's leadership has inspired others. The people around him are now strong enough to support him when he finally begins to break.

Another scene that stood out to me was Eugene blaming himself for Andrea's bite. Knowing Eugene's personality, it makes complete sense that he would shoulder that guilt. Andrea risked everything to save him, and now she is dying because of it. Rick, despite carrying unimaginable grief himself, still finds enough strength to comfort Eugene instead of blaming him. Their hug is quiet but incredibly meaningful. Rick understands that guilt helps nobody, especially now.

One by one, the citizens of Alexandria gather to say goodbye to Andrea. What made this scene especially powerful was seeing every single person, including Negan, paying their respects. Andrea's influence reached every corner of the community. She had earned the respect of warriors, doctors, survivors, children, and even someone like Negan. Watching everyone line up to say farewell emphasizes just how important she had become to Alexandria. She wasn't only Rick's partner—she had become one of the pillars holding the community together.

Rick begins blaming himself for failing to protect her after everything they had survived together. Andrea immediately rejects that thinking. She reminds Rick that she isn't special. She is simply another survivor in a world where everyone eventually dies. Yet unlike countless others, she gets to die peacefully in a warm bed, surrounded by people who genuinely love her. That realization honestly hit me hard. In The Walking Dead, very few characters are lucky enough to have a peaceful goodbye. Most die suddenly, violently, or completely alone. Andrea's death is tragic, but it is also strangely beautiful because she gets something almost nobody else in this universe receives: closure.

Rick starts worrying about the Saviors and what Sherry's death could mean, but Andrea tells him to let Dwight deal with that problem. Even with only hours left to live, she refuses to let Rick drown in responsibilities. She tells Carl to get some sleep because she plans on seeing him in the morning, even though both she and the readers know that morning may never come for her. It is such a small line, yet it absolutely broke my heart because it feels like Andrea is trying to protect Carl from the pain for just a little longer.

As the infection worsens, Rick completely falls apart. He tells Andrea he cannot continue without her and that he no longer wants to keep pretending to be strong. Andrea's response may be one of the most powerful speeches in the entire comic. She practically forces Rick to keep living, reminding him that people still need him and that everything they sacrificed would become meaningless if he gave up now. Even while dying, Andrea's greatest concern isn't herself—it's making sure Rick keeps moving forward. She knows exactly what kind of leader he is capable of being, and she refuses to let grief destroy that.

Andrea dies peacefully during the night, and this was the moment I had been dreading since the issue began. Rick picks up his revolver, fully intending to prevent her from reanimating, but he simply cannot do it. After everything they have survived together, after all the people Rick has been forced to put down, he cannot pull the trigger on the woman he loves. That hesitation felt painfully human. For a brief moment, Rick is no longer the legendary survivor everyone follows. He is simply a grieving husband unable to say goodbye.

Of course, this is The Walking Dead, and the tragedy is not over. Andrea reanimates and attacks Rick. The scene is devastating because Rick is forced to fight someone he has spent years protecting. Their final struggle is heartbreaking, not because Andrea is trying to hurt him intentionally, but because she is no longer Andrea. Rick finally stabs her through the head with tears streaming down his face, ending her suffering once and for all. It is easily one of the most emotionally exhausting moments in the series because it strips away every illusion that even the strongest people are exempt from this world's cruel rules.

The issue closes with Rick stepping outside, emotionally broken but still standing. Carl embraces his father as the people of Alexandria quietly comfort one another. Instead of remaining consumed by grief, Rick tells everyone to follow him because there is still work to do. Andrea's final wish was never for Rick to mourn forever—it was for him to continue leading, continue protecting people, and continue building the future they had both dreamed of. That final page perfectly honors her memory.

This is easily one of the most emotional issues in The Walking Dead. While Glenn's death shocked me with its brutality, Andrea's death devastated me in an entirely different way. There are almost no action sequences here compared to the previous issues because this chapter focuses completely on grief, acceptance, love, and moving forward. Every conversation feels meaningful, every farewell feels earned, and every page reminds readers just how important Andrea had become—not only to Rick, but to the entire series. She evolved from one of the original survivors into one of the strongest, wisest, and most compassionate characters in the comic, making her absence feel almost impossible to imagine.

Robert Kirkman's closing letter made this issue even more emotional. Reading that he himself struggled with the decision to write Andrea out of the story showed just how much he valued her character. He explained that death in The Walking Dead has always served a purpose: life continues regardless of who is lost, and the people we love continue living through the impact they leave behind. Andrea embodied that message perfectly. She may be gone, but everything she fought for, every lesson she taught, and every life she touched will continue shaping the future of these communities. By the time I closed this issue, I wasn't just mourning Andrea's death—I was appreciating everything she represented throughout the series. She wasn't simply one of my favorite characters anymore. She had become one of the defining hearts of The Walking Dead, and her loss leaves a void that I genuinely don't think can ever be completely filled.


Profile Image for Amay  Singh.
13 reviews5 followers
September 21, 2017
The emotional drama went to an amazing level...
The plot was really great, and far from boring...
Great job Mr. Kirkman...
This is the best story arc recently...
Profile Image for Carol.
890 reviews32 followers
May 13, 2017
Of all the events, deaths, wars and shocks nothing has hit me as hard as the events of this issue.
Profile Image for Vikas.
Author 3 books180 followers
May 15, 2017
Cry me a river but then don't go with the flow get up and do what you need to do. Andrea was bitten so you know what needed to happen. Everyone comes and speaks with her even Negan. And Rick man Rick had to do everything and get back on the horse to ensure that his people who are alive they remain alive. 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 Bonnie Morse.
Author 3 books22 followers
May 20, 2017
This is easily the longest it's ever taken anyone to die of a neck bite, both in terms of pages (3 issues, y'all), and time as it passes in the story (something like 24 hours). But I'm not complaining. I'm glad we had two months from the initial bite to come to terms with the inevitable result. I'm glad Andrea got to finish the job of zombie herding, go home to her family, and make memorable speeches. I'm glad that everyone, up to and including Negan, got to say goodbye. I'm more devastated over the death of a comic book character than any grown woman has a right to be, but so grateful that it was done with such dignity and class.

Thanks also to Robert Kirkman for acknowledging our sorrow with his message to the fans in place of the usual ads and letters. As a writer I understand the necessity of this unfortunate plot-turn and appreciate fully how much he is also going to miss her. But you did good, Mr. Kirkman. In every way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nicole Magolan.
820 reviews18 followers
June 19, 2017
This was the most beautiful and tragic issue of The Walking Dead yet.

I loved it. I loved it so much, so so so much.

It's been over a month since I read it, and it still lingers in my mind. This is probably my favourite issue of the series ever. Horrible as it is, it was so expertly crafted and felt so...genuine. Honest.

As soon as I opened the issue, I was in tears. When I finished, I sobbed. For a good long while. Then for over an hour, my walking dead buddy and I ranted about how wonderfully done this issue was.

Profile Image for Laina.
237 reviews2 followers
October 5, 2018
I feel bad for both Rick and Andrea. You know how much they loved each other, and for a moment there, I was worried that she had died in his arms. But when Michonne came running in and Rick said that Andrea was still breathing, I was relieved. Andrea won't be alive much longer, though.

Kirkman said that he's not going to reveal what caused the outbreak and he's also not going to pull a mysterious cure out of thin air that ends up saving our favorite characters. So, Andrea's going to end up biting it soon.

While I feel bad for Dwight that Sherry's dead, and we all know that he loved her, I can't find it in myself to care one fucking bit that the bitch is dead. As a matter of fact, I wish that Sherry had been killed the moment she and her group of psychos had returned. It would have put everyone out of their misery.

I can't shake the feeling that even though Rick had to kill Sherry to protect himself, that this is going to cause a huge rift between him and Dwight. And now that I think about it, that might have even been the bitch's plan. Who knows? I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

While I usually like how blunt Andrea is when she talks, I don't like how she treated Rick. He's allowed to be upset that she's about to die. And yes, she's allowed to ask him to cry somewhere else, but she didn't have to be a bitch about it. She could've been nicer to him, I mean he loves her.

Again, I usually like how blunt she is, but I'm not liking the way she's talking to Rick and Carl. I feel like she should be more motherly with him, since it will be the last time they're together, but she's going on and on and lecturing him about bullshit. She just needs to shut the fuck up, hug Carl and Rick, and remind them that she loves them and knows they love her.

I liked Michonne and Rick's pep talk, even if it could and should have been worded better. I enjoy their friendship and really hope that they stay close after Andrea dies. They could both be there for each other, after losing the people they loved.

I like that Rick and Eugene hugged and that Rick didn't blame Eugene for Andrea having gotten bitten. It shows how close they are and how good of friends they all are, for him to know what happened and not blame Eugene.

I really liked that a lot of the members of the community came to see Andrea before she dies. Even Negan's remarks made me laugh, which is pretty good, considering that I can't stand the Negan character since he killed Glenn.

I like that Andrea's giving Rick a pep talk and keeping calm for him and everyone else because she knows that they need it. Just, the way she's acting now is much better than when she was kicking them out because they were upset about her dying.

Rick shouldn't even be worrying about what Dwight's doing with the Saviors right now. He needs to be focused on Andrea, and his son and making sure that Carl's okay. And that he himself is going to be okay once Andrea dies.

As for Andrea, I'm glad that she told Carl to go to bed and get some sleep. She knows that him staying up all night worrying about her isn't going to change anything. So, it's nice to see her taking care of him one last time before she dies.

Ugh, I don't like that Andrea's blowing Rick off again. Just shut the fuck up, let the man say what he needs to say, and tell him that you love him. Oh, and stop being a bitch. I will admit that I liked seeing Rick taking care of her, even though with the way she's been acting lately, I feel like she doesn't deserve it.

Okay, Andrea needs to shut the fuck up now, or stop talking to Rick the way she's talking. Let the fucking guy be sad and confused and angry and hurt and whatever the hell else he is. Sure, her little speech is somewhat inspirational, but again, she's coming across as a bitch, and not as someone who loves Rick at the moment.

Okay, good.. the lecture/pep talk is over. I'm sad that Andrea died because I've liked her character for a while now. But I'm also worried that with Andrea dead, it's going to cause Rick or Carl, or both to lash out, and/or to go out and do something stupid or dangerous.

On the one hand, I can understand Rick sort of forgetting that Andrea's lying right beside him and about to turn into a walker, as he's caught up in his feelings and emotions and all that kind of stuff. But on the other hand, it's crazy that he just sat there and allowed himself to get lost in his thoughts, right as she's about to turn.

And then once she had turned, he's fighting with her and trying to reason with her when he's supposed to know better. There's no reasoning with the walkers. They can't talk or think, all they are is a pile of meat and bones that want to eat your face. And okay, that's gross, did he really have to stab her near the eye?

Why the hell couldn't Rick have stabbed her like just over her ear or something. That's kind of gross to go over the eye. I don't agree with him just sitting there after he stabbed her, so that he could cry. The best thing for him to do would be for him to bury her, and then cry.

Really? He leaves Andrea's body in the room to go and tell his son that his mother's dead? Uh, that's kinda odd. I'd rather have asked someone else to stay with her, but I'm sentimental like that.

As for the speech Rick gives everyone else, eh, he needs to come up with his own words and not just use Andrea's. As for everyone being there for him and Carl as they stood in front of Andrea's grave, I liked that scene of all of them coming together.
Profile Image for Michael Sorbello.
Author 2 books326 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 Charlee.
359 reviews21 followers
May 4, 2017
Rick and Andrea have a decision to make. Can Rick follow through?

Well, that just happened and I honestly don't know what to think about it. Not as action packed as previous issues, this one was devastating and hard to take. There's a part of me that understands it had to be done given the circumstances. Another part of me is screaming, "Why Kirkman?? WHY???" I have no idea where Rick will go from here, but one thing is certain, it won't be easy. Put that together with a sneak peak at cover 168 and it looks like the bromance between Negan and Rick may be coming to an end....or will it? You just never know what Kirkman will do.
Profile Image for John Mccubbin.
130 reviews1 follower
August 13, 2017
The Walking Dead #167 is certainly one of the more emotional issues in recent memory, with the latest death having a massive toll on our characters. Not only do the creative team handle this in a fitting and gripping manner, but they also leave us with a few hints as to what recent events may have in store for our group moving forward.

Read the full review here: http://www.snappow.com/comics/comic-r...
Profile Image for Joshua.
398 reviews1 follower
June 9, 2017
That was a gut puncher of an issue and great dialogue and even a note from Kirkman at the end that's how dramatic this issue was. The series could probably end on it and we could go on to make our future of Rick and Co. that's how tightly things wrapped up. But #168 is out so our adventure continues.
Profile Image for Elyse S..
114 reviews16 followers
May 7, 2017
No words for this one..

When you have to pen an apology note with an issue, I don't know if you're doing something wrong or something very right. Wow, this issue was tougher than I thought it would be.
Profile Image for Alexander Fedyunin.
131 reviews4 followers
May 7, 2017
It's very unusual issue. It become very girlish in the first 1/3, with many talks in the all way, and Andrea with steel balls and so soft Rick, with the good final and additional Kirkman's afterword, it made that issue very well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Babs.
1,478 reviews
May 13, 2017
Wow. Not many words are spoken in this issue. Packed a punch.
Been a while since such a major event.
Kirkman made the unusual decision to write an apology at the end, and there is no letters page. Pretty sure there will be a LOT of letters for the next one.
5,630 reviews8 followers
May 20, 2017
A beautiful yet terribly upsetting issue.I cant put into words what this series means to me but along the way it has ripped my heart out repeatedly and this is certainly one of those times.Kirkmans thoughts at the end reinforced what i have always believed the truly great books write themselves.
808 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2018
We knew this was coming, and even with next to no action it was a very well done issue. The letter from Kirkman at the end was a nice touch, reminding us that he's actually invested in the characters.
Profile Image for Steven Shinder.
Author 5 books21 followers
October 5, 2018
A goodbye spanned this entire issue and certainly had an effect on Rick. I appreciate Kirkman's words about the matter at the end of this issue. He knows how much the characters mean to the fans and doesn't take decisions lightly.
Profile Image for Derek Neveu.
1,335 reviews10 followers
May 4, 2017
Touching tribute, but the sequence of early events in the television series took away from a lot of the emotion and power of this issue. Still well written, and sets the tone for things to come.
Profile Image for Chris.
248 reviews10 followers
May 5, 2017
Farewell, Andrea...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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