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.
Damn...damn...damn - Rick can't catch a break! This issue is the worst so far - because AGAIN tactical mistakes are made! Just some advice: 3 person teams - triangle configuration; triangle tip is the best shot of the group (nice if they were leader also); 2 person base of triangle has shotguns/rifles; person with shotgun is 'sweeper' in case exit(s) are blocked - practice rifle to pistol transition (RPT) drills - PLEASE!
¡Al fin Rick se está haciendo cargo de la situación de una vez por todas! Por otro lado, ¿cuánto más tengo que esperar para que Lori muera? ¡Por favor, es insoportable!
The Walking Dead #17 picks up right where the shocking events of the previous issue left off, but this time the pacing slows down just enough to give the tension more time to build. The stakes are higher than ever, as the threat isn’t just the walkers outside, but the people within the walls of the prison—a brutal reminder that humanity can sometimes be worse than the horrors they’re hiding from.
I have to admit, I was completely wrong about my initial optimism regarding the prisoners. In fact, they’re far more dangerous than I could have anticipated. One is a twisted pervert, another a cold-blooded murderer, and the remaining two are plotting something that threatens the fragile sense of security the group has. It’s a reminder that danger isn’t always external—it can fester within the group itself, hidden in plain sight.
I was particularly impressed with Glenn's clever solution in this issue. He wasn't just thinking about the immediate problem; he was focused on finding a solution that benefitted the entire group. It’s small moments like these that make Glenn such a vital character—he's resourceful and pragmatic, always thinking ahead.
On a lighter note, I couldn’t help but smile at Carl and Sophia’s innocent little moment. It was sweet and heartwarming to see Carl awkwardly agree to be her boyfriend, even though they’re just kids. In the midst of all the darkness and despair, this small moment of childhood innocence felt like a much-needed reprieve. It reminded me that these characters are still children, forced to grow up far too fast in a world that no longer allows for innocence.
But then, the issue quickly takes a much darker turn. Rick’s reaction when he sees Thomas attacking Andrea was nothing short of terrifying. His rage was raw and unfiltered, and it was honestly frightening to see how far he’s willing to go to protect his group—even if it means losing a part of himself in the process. I can’t blame him for what he did, though. Thomas had proven to be a real threat, and Rick's brutal response was a clear message: there’s no room for second chances in this world anymore.
What really got under my skin, though, was Lori’s reaction to Rick’s decision. It’s infuriating how she flip-flopped from worrying about the prisoners to suddenly criticizing Rick for doing what was necessary. It’s like she completely forgot about what Thomas had done to Susie and Rachel—two innocent girls, brutally murdered. Her hypocrisy really rubbed me the wrong way. One moment, she's advocating for the group’s safety, and the next, she's criticizing Rick for making the tough decisions that keep everyone alive. I get that it's a complicated situation, but her reaction just feels unfair and, honestly, a bit self-righteous.
I appreciated Tyreese’s suggestion about setting ground rules for the group. His idea of having everyone involved in decisions is a solid one—it helps prevent the kind of knee-jerk reactions we’re seeing from people like Lori. But at the same time, I think Rick’s approach—‘You kill, you die’—is the hard truth of their new reality. There's no room for moral ambiguity anymore, not when lives are at stake. It’s a brutal, black-and-white rule, but it might be what’s needed to keep them all safe.
Lori’s constant need to challenge Rick's authority feels exhausting. She accuses him of acting like a king and making decisions for everyone, but it’s Rick who’s been leading, fighting, and sacrificing to keep them all alive. It feels like she’s questioning his judgment without offering any viable solutions of her own. It made me want to scream at the pages—either come up with a better plan or stop criticizing the one person who’s doing his best to keep everyone safe. It’s frustrating because, on some level, I understand where Lori’s coming from, but she never seems to acknowledge the emotional and mental toll all of this is taking on Rick.
And then there’s the moment when Rick tells her to “shut the fuck up”—it’s jarring, harsh, but in a way, it felt like it was building to that moment. Lori has been pushing Rick to the edge, and he finally snapped. I’m not saying it was right, but I get why he said it. He’s tired, physically and emotionally drained, and constantly having to fight to keep his family and group safe. It was a boiling point for him.
This issue really digs into the core theme of The Walking Dead—the idea that in a world without rules, people have to create their own. Rick’s decision to hang Thomas was brutal, yes, but it felt like the only way to prevent more bloodshed. It wasn’t just about revenge; it was about making sure Thomas never gets another chance to hurt someone else.
The issue kicks off with Andrea being viciously attacked by Thomas, one of the prisoners who had seemed docile enough earlier. After disarming her, he cuts her face, leaving a deep scar. Andrea fights back but is overpowered, calling for help. Thomas chases her out into the yard, where Rick sees the attack unfold. In a fit of rage, Rick tackles Thomas and proceeds to beat him savagely, breaking his own hand in the process. Despite Lori’s pleas for him to stop, Rick continues to pummel Thomas until Tyreese steps in to pull him off.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group is dealing with their own challenges. Glenn works with Dale and Axel to figure out how to safely clear the walkers from the fence without risking their own lives. Glenn comes up with a clever solution: attaching knives to wooden blocks to prevent them from falling through the fence. While it may be a small moment in the larger narrative, it showcases Glenn’s ingenuity and practicality in the face of danger.
Elsewhere, Carol and Tyreese share an intimate moment, seeking solace in each other’s company as they clean the basketball court. It’s a small respite from the chaos, but one that feels like a rare moment of peace in the bleak world they’re living in. However, it’s quickly overshadowed by the larger conflicts at hand.
As the group debates what to do with Thomas, the question of morality comes into play. Rick proposes a simple rule: "You kill, you die." Lori, however, disagrees with Rick’s harsh stance, arguing that killing Thomas would make them no better than he is. She suggests locking him up or exiling him, but Andrea passionately objects, still traumatized by her near-death experience. The group remains divided, with Rick’s leadership now being called into question.
Overall, issue #17 felt like a critical turning point for Rick as a leader. It forces the group to confront the idea of justice in this post-apocalyptic world, and Rick is the one shouldering that responsibility, for better or worse. The issue is packed with intense moments, from Andrea’s close call to Rick’s violent outburst, and it leaves you with the unsettling feeling that things are only going to get darker from here.
As much as I hated Lori in this issue, I do think her opposition adds an important layer to the story. Not everyone is on the same page when it comes to how they should handle threats, and that tension is what keeps The Walking Dead so compelling. The group is on the edge of falling apart, and it’s hard not to wonder if this latest confrontation with Thomas will be the thing that pushes them over.
Being a huge fan of the show, I wanted to see how the original writing started and how the show writers followed and deviated from the comics. My dislikes were that the comics are much more crude, crass, and unnecessarily violent. I did like the change in relationships and how people worked together differently, and the comics have a different creepiness feel than you get watching it on TV. Overall, I prefer the show, and probably will not finish out the comic book series.
Daaaayum, that's the Rick I like to see, crazy. Thomas killed two little girls (in a pretty, fuggin' gruesome way) then tried to do the same to Andrea but now Lori is all like 'waaah, he didn't attack my family so let's not kill him'. Fuck that. Also, I have a feeling Allen is going to do something horrendous soon, I don't know what but I feel it's going to be bad. Oh, 'Lori -- Shut the fuck up' is probably the best line ever in The Walking Dead series ever, don't @ me. x
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.
Idk if Rick was being written as coming off a little unhinged, but that’s how it felt to me, and to be honest, I fully understand. He feels guilty about the girls’ deaths, he just killed his best friend in zombie form, and he’s seen and done too much in only seventeen issues (being a few months in time in the book?).
Regarding Lori fighting with Rick about making decisions for the group, who’s the boss, etc….comic Lori has times when she makes much sense, and other when like Rick, I just want to utter, “Lori— shut the fuck up.”
Excellent issue, and yeah it would be Thomas, but honestly I like to think it could have been any one of the inmates.
Yeah, Rick is in charge, and if I were among the group, I’d throw in with ‘em any day.
OHHHHHHHHH. So when Lori thinks the black man she has no evidence for committed a crime she’s fines to scream at him and lock him up, but when the psycho white man shows up knife in hand ready to make Andrea his 3rd victim she suddenly has some humanity???? Getting tired of her she’s pissing me off. Anyone who can behead two young children in cold blood can die idgaf she’s insane.
¡ En este comic se ha ganado mi absoluto respeto Rick! Por otra parte me parece muy tierna la pareja de Tyresse y Carol ( mi nuevo ship) ,y en cuanto a Lori, juro que en la serie más o menos la soportaba pero en el comic se me está haciendo muy odiosa.
Thomas is crazy as fuck, trying to kill Andrea like that. Andrea should have blown his damn head off right then and there, and not let anyone talk her out of it.
Rick needs to stop taking so much on his shoulders. He is not responsible for what other people do, be it good or bad. It is normal for him to FEEL responsible, but he is not ACTUALLY responsible for their deaths. Should Rick and the group have been more careful with those prisoners? Hell yes.
Hershel needs to get a grip. Yes, again, he has lost a lot and is dealing with a lot. But he is treating his son Billy, like utter shit. Billy is having a lot of trouble dealing with the loss of his siblings, so he is blaming his father. I do not know what I would do if I were in Billy's shoes. Probably the same thing he already is doing.
Dexter and his friend are going to have a lot of crap to deal with when Dexter gets out of that cell. I highly doubt that Rick and the group are just going to let them walk out of there without any repercussions.
I like Glenn and Dale's ideas for stabbing the zombies in the head, but why not make it easier on themselves? ONCE AGAIN, GET SOME DAMN SHOVELS AND HIT THE ZOMBIES WITH THEM, HEADSHOTS LIKE WITH A GUN!
In the gym, all that blood made me like, yuck! I can not believe that Tyreese and Carol went and had sex in the gym. First off, public place, hello! Anyone could walk in on the two of you. And secondly, there is BLOOD all over the damn place, and the ONE tiny spot that is not covered in blood, you have sex in? Gross. Clean the place up first, at least.
I have to admit, I agree with Carl and Sophia about Allen. The guy flip flops back and forth between being sad and being almost a homicidal maniac. Best to stay the hell away from him, kiddos.
As for Carl and Sophia, they make me laugh. When Sophia kissed Carl and he was like, 'Yuck, I SAID we could hold hands!,' it made me crack up. Just like a boy his age.
Glad that Andrea was able to get away from Thomas. As for Thomas, I have a feeling that Rick is going to lose his shit and kill the guy. Not that I blame him, but I do worry that Rick will fully lose his shit one day and the group will be in REAL danger from HIM.
That Lori bitch needs to go play in traffic. She needs to sit down and shut the fuck up. Let Rick kill Thomas, the guy fucking deserves it. I agree with Andrea, Lori bitch, get the hell out of the way!
I WANT Rick to kill the psycho who kills two innocent little girls. String that asshole up, or let the fucking zombies eat him. I am okay either way as long as Thomas has a VERY painful death.
AGAIN, Lori. Shut the fuck up. No one gives a shit about what you have to say. So go sit your stupid ass down or take your complaints elsewhere you dumb bitch. You do not get a say unless YOU are the one who has to do the dirty work for the group or are the leader, both of which you are not.
I am DEFINITELY with Andrea on this. Kill the fucker and just be done with this bullshit. The guy killed two helpless and defenseless little girls, and tried to kill Andrea. That alone should have them ALL wanting his ass dead.
That is right Rick, I agree with you. "You kill, you die." Yep, I am DEFINITELY on board with that motto. In the type of world you are in, that is the only thing that makes sense. If they tried to lock Thomas up, he would eventually get out and kill someone else. So, KILL THE FUCKER, I say!
And Lori, again, SHUT THE FUCK UP. I am SO sick of your CONSTANT bitching. Until you have something worthwhile to to say, sit down and shut the fuck up.
God, if I were Rick, I would kill Lori, just to get the bitch to shut up and stop acting like SHE is in charge or like SHE knows what the hell to do. Lori irritates the shit out of me. Hope the bitch dies soon.
YES!! So DAMN HAPPY THAT RICK FINALLY TOLD LORI TO SHUT THE FUCK UP!! It's about DAMN time! Thank God, he finally said it. Maybe the bitch will actually listen for once, though I doubt it.
Whoo! Loved this issue! First, Rick finally told Lori to shut the fuck up, and now they are going to hang the psycho Thomas who killed Hershel's daughters. What an issue! LOVE IT!
After the pure utter carnage of the last few issues Rick is having a crisis of leadership, fortunately he soon discovers the culprit behind the grisly murders and gets it all out of his system. I have to say I am on Rick and Andrea’s side with that one, all rules of law and order go out of the window in an apocalypse. And you certainly don’t go around lopping kid’s heads off…
Adlard goes from strength to strength on art duties and regularly picks the tricky “shots” to draw (see page six – all the fencework).
On the subject of art, it was fascinating to hear that Kirkman had a deal with Adlard to pay extra sum of money each issue completed (the estimate he gives is $1000) and Kirkman would get to keep the original pages. After a few issues he realised he couldn’t afford it (this was pre-TWD media sensation) and had to back out of the deal. How much would a single page now cost on the open market? $1000 a book seems a steal now.
Things begin to crumble inside the prison. Dexter was found guilty without evidence and he wants some kind of retaliation for this. Meanwhile, the real killer reveals himself but before he could kill Andrea, Rick stopped him and the decision he made about Thomas' fate could be a turning point in their lives and the end of his marriage.
The Best. The artwork, the tension between Rick and Lori, the factor Andrea is the only one that stands by Rick with thinking that Thomas deserves EVERYTHING Rick plans on dishing out, and Rick's RIGHT HAND. Just take a look at the amount of detail Charlie Adlard put into that last page. I mean its creepy sick that one of Thomas' teeth are still stuck in Rick's hand.
The Worst. Rick got his hand busted up and probably won't be able to use it all that much for a while. I know I stated it as part of the best, but why is no one other than Andrea thinking that Thomas deserves everything Rick is giving him and more. I mean, I understand the need to have rules and punishments, but COME ON, Thomas killed the two little twin girls.... what is the group thinking with feeling "bad" or "sorry" for Thomas getting his teeth knocked in by Rick. I'm honestly surprised he didn't just wipe his pistol out and blam blam, dead goes Thomas.
The Differences. Well here we are again. The TV series has none of these things in it, so the whole issue doesn't even come into play with the TV series. I will say that the question of what to do in this or that situation does come up a lot on the TV series, but as time goes on the group acknowledges and I think even expects it as just a part of hard living and survival at this point.
Those Remembered. Andrea's beautiful face, now that Thomas has cut a big gash across her cheek, it just won't ever be the same. Rick's right hand, for once it was in perfect working order before it met Thomas' mouth/teeth. Thomas' face and mouth, before Rick's hand met it, it was in good working order.
Recommended. To the fans of The Walking Dead Universe, zombies, horror dramas, and prison shows.
I don't understand Lori's reactions in this chapter. Why would she be against killing Thomas? Locking him up is the most "liberal minded" approach, but then they'd have to feed him and make sure he had all of his necessities, otherwise they'd be killing him by leaving him to starve. Or turning him to the zombies. I agree with Rick on the hanging front. Not so much because of the particular method, but a formal kind of "capital punishment" is a good idea. Kinda takes the whole "murder" feel out of the mix. And I would say killing Thomas would be justice for what he did to Hershel's girls.
Speaking of Hershel, I'm worried about him and his remaining clan. I wonder if Glenn and his oldest daughter are going to stay together or if something crazy will tear them apart.
Dexter and Andrew are also up to no good. They are after some guns, and are planning an escape. Hopefully, Rick or someone can get to Dexter in time to set him free, and just let Dexter and Andrew decide to leave ... or stay, before anything nasty goes down. There is only one more issue left to this volume. I have a feeling those who remain won't be staying at the prison ...
حقا لا أصدق ما أراه بعينى من وصول الرسوم الكاريكاترية إلى هذا المستوى كم هى رائعة بما تحتوى من تفاصيل مذهلة تشعرك وكأنك داخل المشهد بالإضافة أنه يروق لى أسلوب الحوار بين الأشخاص بشدة
قصة ذلك العمل تدور حول انتشار أحد الأوبئة التى جعلت البشر أشبه بالزومبى من آكلى لحوم البشر ويستعرض محاولات بعض الناجين البقاء على ظهر الأرض فى ظل عدم وجود أدنى أمل فى استمرار الحياة بقيادة الشرطى ريك
بالاستمرار فى القراءة أشعر بروعة متابعة الأحداث ، فالقصة مشوقة حقا لا عجب حين تكون الصورة الأصل مبهرة هكذا ، فتكون النسخة -العمل التليفزيونى- أكثر من رائع
Esta entrega de los cómics de The Walking Dead no me a parecido muy interesante ni tampoco me ha emocionado mucho. Eso sí, para darle sentido a la historia tiene que estar ahí pero no ha habido nada de acción, 0 zombies por eso le doy 2 estrellas. Eso si, en la página 18 hay una ilustración que enamora y el final del cómic como todos los anteriores te obliga a leer el siguienta ya que alguien deberá pagar y bien caro lo que a cometido.