The Walking Dead - Libro quattordici

The Walking Dead #27-28

by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard (Illustrator), Stefano Gaudiano (Inchiostri)

THE WALKING DEAD – LIBRO QUATTORDICI Hard Cover è il quattordicesimo capitolo della magnifica edizione cartonata della saga di Robert Kirkman.
La nuova edizione raccoglie l’equivalente di due volumi di The Walking Dead, in un elegante formato cartonato, con verniciatura serigrafica lucida delle parti colorate in copertina e sulla costa, e stampa degli interni su carta di pregio. THE WALKING DEAD - LIBRO QUATTORDICI contiene i numeri 27 e 28 dell’edizione brossurata (‘Guerra ai Sussurratori’ e ‘Un destino segnato’), accompagnati da numerosi materiali extra: le 12 copertine a colori degli albi contenuti, oltre a studi e schizzi commentati da Robert Kirkman.

Mentre Rick e i suoi si preparano a scendere in guerra contro i Sussurratori, Negan è riuscito in un’impresa che per chiunque altro sarebbe stata impossibile. Perché l’ha fatto? Che cosa spero di ottenere? Qualcosa di molto semplice e molto ambizioso, che potrebbe incidere proprio sull’esito di un conflitto che si preannuncia cruento e complicato e imminente. E che lascerà ferite profonde e mieterà vittime illustri.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Horror, Zombies, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Dystopia

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2017

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this entire volume in one day!

We lost a favorite character of mine and one of my most hated characters of all time continues to live...and grow. If he didn't, I might have grown bored, but he has and that continues to make things interesting! I'm almost all caught up!

Thanks to my local library for the loan of the hardcover graphic novel. Libraries RULE!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The answer to my previously asked question "Negan, could I possibly love you anymore?" is Yes.
Apparently I can, you fantastic creature.

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collecting 11 issues of The Walking Dead this begins with the war on Alexandria. A huge fan of the TV series and never having read the comics, I was caught off guard by all the differences.
The characters are well developed and very diverse (from one another), bringing together a random mix of people with a single goal, to stay alive.
The artwork can be startling with some 2 page spreads that take the breath away. The pacing is well done and moves the story forward smoothly with a great deal of ease.
Also I would like to note that although this is number 14 in the collection the book starts off clearly without the reader feeling like they are missing on any information and while the last panels are sad, it ends beautifully, a reminder of the reality of loss.
This is an easy recommendation, like the TV series, this is not so much a story about Zombies but more about the effort to keep some semblance of civilized life moving forward in a world gone mad, much like the way things are today (in the real world).

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! Out of all the hardcover editions of The Walking Dead I have to say that's the best one I've read out of all of them! A five thousand (give or take) herd of zombies, the Whisperer war, and me not hating Negan so much...doesn't get much better than that!

The Whisperers really are a sick bunch of psychopaths, I can't wait to see how that all plays out in the TV show. And most of all, I can't wait to see how Ryan Hurst does as Beta on the TV show. He should be good, he was awesome as Chick in Bates Motel. And of course, still bummed out about Andrew Lincoln leaving the series.

The Andrea death was really sad. At least Kirkman apologized for that. And even though I said I didn't hate Negan as much this time around, I still don't like his whole "redemption" thing.

So....

NOW I'VE READ THE WHOLE ENTIRE SERIES!!!!!!
God, what a great comic book!!!

Anyway, five stars. I'm sure I'll re-read the whole series eventually....maybe next year.

[Soteralzobooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.1

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I don’t know why I am still reading this. I am BETTER than this. This is bad.

But I’ll be damned if I don’t love this dumb shit and its cheap tricks and never-ending survival horror.

[Dan Henk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still holding out, and have been, reading all the issues long before the TV series started. The TV series went from awesome to trivial long ago, and even though I still watch it, I'm pretty ambivalent about each new episode. Finally, the comic series is dropping down into the mediocrity of the TV series. Everything feels a little more overwrought, while at the same time less gripping than ever before. Like it's descended into a shallow parody of itself. Characters aren't as true to them selves, and the plot lines just hold on with a slight hint of originality. There is a way to make something long and draw out. I'm sure Alan Moore or Frank Miller in their prime could have done it, but not Robert Kirkland, who admittedly was never in the same talent league.

[Geoff Sebesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't watch the show but I have a passing familiarity with it so I thought I'd just read a random issue and see how it goes.

Pretty good. I'm mostly up-to-date, and it seems like the show is as well. Adlard's the consumate professional -- he's gonna settle in and do this apocalypse soap opera until he dies.

The story's not going anywhere or in any danger of getting there. The process of beating these bad guys will give the creators time to figure out what kind of bad guys could be even worse than this for the next story. The "comfort food" aspect of the story is certainly part of its charm.

[Shana Foshe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gore in all its glory!

Do not read if gore and cursing isn’t your thing as there is a lot of it.

The show stays pretty true to the books which is always a plus. Although I have always hated Neegan, this particular book shows a side of him that makes him start to grow on you. Additionally, I love how the writer can make you invested in the characters quickly and with little needed dialogue. This one does pull your heartstrings.

Loved Carl’s monologue explaining why they do what they do. That you remember them to keep you fighting to be a good person and not let your past make you become terrible.

[Ander Mombiela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Termina una de las sagas más impredecibles del cómic. Creo que ha sido la primera vez que he llorado en toda la historia, y es que la nota que Robert Kirkman le dedica a uno de los personajes más importantes de la serie justo después de haberlo matado no hace más que remarcar lo potente del momento.

Como escritor, me siento totalmente identificado con lo que dice: aunque creamos tener el control de la historia, no siempre es así. A veces queremos que ciertos personajes sigan con vida... pero el argumento y los propios personajes nos llevan por otro camino.

[Lucía Córdova · Rating 5 out of 5]

168 UNO DE LOS NÚMEROS MÁS DOLOROSOS Y CON LOS QUE MAS HE LLORADO.

GRANDES GIROS E IMPREVISTOS.

#HastaCuandoNegan

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read i hope with the actor that plays rick leaves the show i hope the show doesnt go downhill

[Jessica☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* great to start the year crying because one of your faves is dead

[Kelly Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

im crying

[Charlocked (Bookish-Charlie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP Lucille...

[Vilde Bjørklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought The Walking Dead couldn't get better.. But it did.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa….crazy! Can’t we all just admit this series is great? And also Negan uses the F word way too much? Anyway I enjoy this as it really is not about zombies but about those who survived and it still does it for me! Enjoyed this trade

Reread: 2022 the ending still chokes me up. And still too many F words

[Priyanka B · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I thought it couldn't get any better. Walking dead just keeps getting better.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good.......

[Tim Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Thanksgiving! Nothing like starting the day with a carrion feast, which is definitely what this volume is.

Negan is trying extra hard to impress Rick motherf'in Grimes and prove that he's a changed man. He's like Jamie Lannister; I want to like him but I just can't get past the whole sleeping with your sister and pushing little kids out the window thing. It seems like he is trying entirely too hard to prove himself. As much as I want to like him, he did kill Glen. And he doesn't seem the type to stand in someone else's shadow for too long.

At first I kind of liked how the show diverted from the comic but now the show is flagging and the comic's still strong. The Whisperers are still out there and Alexandria is reeling from some tough losses. RIP Lucille.

[Jonathan Maas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good!

[Adam Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kirkman's strenth as a writer is letting things simmer. Getting you to feel for characters through agonizing silences. This is why he works so well with Adlard, who can make a two page spread of a landscape utterly gut you.

Sadly, to tell the story of The Whisper War, they both abandon their strengths and fill issue after issue with nine panel grids of disjointed storytelling in attempt to make it feel busy and chaotic. In some respects, they succeed, as I found myself journeying from "I'm not quite sure what's happening when." (a totally valid way to experience a war of this magnitude) to "I can't believe they're still doing this. It's almost impressive how they can make this much action and plot development seem so boring."

You could 100% skip this volume and still follow the story.

There is, of course, a giant emotional loss near the end, but I was so burnt out by the rest of the book that it didn't feel as impactul as it should have.

I had dipped out of this story around volume ten or eleven, occasionally reading random issues, so some of this volume was new to me. But I had read the final issue of the volume, and imagined a much more fitting build-up to it.

Even the Negan evolution, which was handled brilliantly in volume 13 felt overworked here.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Book source ~ Library

Book Fourteen picks up after Negan does that thing to get on Rick’s good side. Man, that guy is a psycho. Except he starts a world of shit with the Whisperers that brings down a world of hurt and an ocean of walkers on Alexandria and their allies.
Collects THE WALKING DEAD #157-168.

Whoa. Just, whoa. There’s a lot of shit going on in this book. Stuff that’s awesome, stuff that’s horrible, and stuff that pisses me off. One person lives who I really want dead and one person dies that I really didn’t. So, I decided I wasn’t going to read any more of this series. It’s possible I may change my mind when Book Fifteen is out, but probably not.

Edit 5/17/2019: I read book 15 anyway. lol

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another stunning addition to the Walking Dead collection. I'll admit it took me a minute to gather my bearings and remember what happened in book thirteen since it had been quite a while since I had read it, but it did come back rather quickly. This book follows the ongoing battle with the whisperers (who are creepy as fuck!) and we see a huge growth in Negan's character. Not only is he finally free but he is working with Rick and is seemingly on his side! Is this a long term ploy? Probably, but right now it seems pretty damn convincing. We have one major character death and a massive zombie herd coming straight at Alexandria.Overall, pretty damn good. I can't wait for book fifteen!

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 starting 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.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 14 of The Walking Dead continues the war with the Whisperers and Beta taking over from where Alpha left off in leading the Whisperers in their attack on our stalwart heroes.
The group has to deal with a literal ocean-like wave of walkers, we get Negan trying to prove himself as a contributing member of the community, and a lot of violence, mayhem, and death ensuing throughout the story.
The bigger surprises come in the form of Sherry, the defacto leader of the Saviors, who is more or less accidentally killed by Rick during a one-on-one meeting after she attacks him first. And more painful is the loss of Andrea, who is bit and succumbs to the disease like anyone else who gets infected. Kirkman does her justice in terms of the rest offering their 2 cents to her while she is alive.
Pretty decent collection this time out. The story moves along. It gets hard at times to keep up with characters and the story line when I only read the hard cover collections once or twice a year, but the series remains riveting and I continue to watch the AMC series as well. It is interesting to me the various U-turns taken in both series and I do see scenes in the comic that are similar, but different played out on the show with different characters assuming different roles. Carl on the AMC series seemingly went the same way as Andrea in the comic series. It keeps them both fresh to me because there is no way to predict the outcome of either the comic or the show.

[Liesl · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's definitely a whiff of "been there, done that" with this latest installment; I still enjoy following the characters and where the story takes them, but the series is starting to feel stale. How many times can Rick and company cross paths with a formidable opponent that poses a major threat to their safety? Or have a portion of the group decide that it wants a taste of power? It's been done to death at this point, and much better in the past. The Whisperers are a weird and fantastic idea, but for some reason I find them less compelling than previous villains, and the arc with Sherry and the Saviors making an abrupt heel turn is both unsatisfying and clumsily executed. The second half of the book is very emotional as we bid farewell to a longtime character of the series, and I am curious how this will affect Rick moving forward, as he has hit rock bottom by the end. Hopefully Kirkman has an ace up his sleeve and will surprise me with an exciting new twist in the next book to shake things up.

[Brielle "Bookend" Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨🔥 “You can’t kill what fear already hollowed out.” ✨

4.9 out of 5 Burned Boundaries

Best for: Readers who want to see ideology clash with instinct, and war waged not just in blood—but in identity.
Skip if: You thought this would be a fair fight. The Whisperers don’t play by your rules. They burn them.

Book Fourteen is war—but unlike Negan’s brutal structure, this one is chaos. The Whisperers move with silence, unpredictability, and psychological violence. Alpha is gone, but Beta is something worse: wrath in human form. No speeches. No barbed-wire metaphors. Just death.

Rick wants order. Negan wants chaos—but proves terrifyingly useful. Carl wants justice. And Maggie? Maggie’s done asking.

The fighting here is fierce, fast, and tragic. Characters fall. Towns fall. Trust fractures again. But woven through the violence is the question: what now? If civilization breaks every time someone disagrees, what are they even building?

This is a war where nobody wins. Some just survive longer.

[Ron Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the Whisperers made an interesting enemy and I liked seeing how Negan has evolved.

I'm curious to see where the story goes next. I think it would be interesting if a Trump-like politician emerged from a bunker with the military to reclaim everything and Make America Great Again.

I'm also curious to see how much of the Negan and Whisperer storylines get adapted by the shows. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole point of "Fear the Walking Dead" is to set up Madison as the Alpha of the Whisperers. We've already seen hints of it with the frequent use of wearing walker guts, the introduction of cowboys and Indians who would know how to "herd" walkers, and her ruthless determination to protect her loved ones at ANY COST. I think the end game is for the two shows to eventually merge and end.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's war with the Whisperers and this time it seems that everyone's roles have changed, and as usual, no one is safe. Rick finds himself relegated to the back lines, and doesn't like it, some Negan's cracks are showing and he is making up for his past, or is he? The Whisperers use the walkers as a weapon and some of the menace of the herds comes back as Alexandria and the hilltop face attacks that challenge their defenses. The black and white art also does a great job of conveying the action and mood of this post zombie apocalypse world. I enjoy the two different Walking Dead universes (the comics and the TV show) and I like the way the two medium's adapt and change the story to focus on different things and use their differences to tell different stories. Collects The Walking Dead #157-168