Clementine: Book Two

Clementine #2

by Tillie Walden

Clementine and her new friends are rescued by an island community led by an enigmatic doctor called Miss Morro, but just as Clementine’s scars are finally beginning to heal, she discovers dark secrets that threaten to tear her new life apart.

Can Miss Morro be trusted? What about the rest of the islanders?

And just how far will Clementine go to protect the ones she loves?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Horror, Comics, Zombies, Young Adult, Queer, LGBT

296 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2023

About the author

Tillie Walden is an American cartoonist and illustrator.
Born in 1996 in San Diego, California, Walden graduated from the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont, where she is currently a professor.
Walden started publishing short comics when she was just a teenager. Her first long-form graphic novel The End of Summer was published by the British publisher Avery Hill in 2015. Her second book I Love This Part came out only a few months later, winning the 2016 Ignatz Award for promising new talent. Later Walden received the 2018 Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work for her memoir Spinning (2017). Among her other works are A City Inside (2016), On a Sunbeam (2018), Are You Listening? (2020), Alone in Space (2021) and the series Clementine.

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life amongst the undead is never an easy time but this follow-up to Tillie Walden’s Clementine was a lot of good gory fun. I felt this was a stronger volume than the first, which is set in the world of Robert Kirkman’s Walking Dead series and while I would rather read a Walden original than an IP continuation I do enjoy seeing Walden make it their own (that said I thought Tegan and Sara: Junior High was delightful). I think, with IP, that the joy is mostly in seeing the continuing adventures of familiar characters in a familiar world and we are able to get more of that here now that the set-up of the first volume is out of the way. Also it’s cool to see Walden breathe fresh life into tired IP so there’s that too. Here we follow Clem, Ricca and Olivia as they end up on an island community off the coast of Canada and are finally able to remain in one place in safety for awhile. But danger always lurks—zombies wash up on the shore every day—complications arise and one must always be ready to fight in a world where one small mistake can end not just your life but your entire community.

As always, Walden’s art is really lovely. In the first volume I felt it was occasionally a bit difficult to see who was who and what was going on—which I suppose does lean into the whole, fighting in a snowstorm thing—but here the art has a bit better direction and visual clarity. The characters also look more varied, which helps. I do wish these were done with perhaps a little splash of color, but the black and white does help represent the starkness of their world. Clementine continues to be a really badass queer character, wrestling with taking care of her friends and navigating a new community full of their own motivations and with a character becoming pregnant all sorts of new complications will be coming. I think an aspect I really enjoyed about this one is all the nods to the teens not really having any education beyond survival which really drives home the harshness of being born in the post-zombie apocalypse. Another point of interest was something I don’t think I’ve seen in a zombie story before; the story asks us to consider if and how we can honor the deceased in a world where the dead rise back up to mindlessly feast on the living.

So while these aren’t my favorite, they are still pretty exciting. This one does take a bit to get going and it doesn’t quite have the same melancholy magic as Walden’s other works, but its still a good ride. Looking forward to the third volume.
3.5/5

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Keeping in mind how much I love Clementine, I was warily hopeful that I would like this more than the first book. I did not.

One important thing to point out: a lot of TWD fans hate Walden on a personal level, and because of a sex scene here between Clem and a character that, apparently, looks like Walden, a lot of people are going as far as to say that Walden made her self-insert character have sex with a beloved character we're all very protective of. I don't like the scene, but I think claiming Walden is a pedophile, which I HAVE seen, is a massive reach and very insulting to her. Now that that's out of the way:

This doubles down on a lot of the bad aspects of the first one. Clem says things that are straight up not true or consistent with stuff she lived through in the Telltale games, and some of the references to other important characters, like Kenny, are so dumb and read like fanservice written by someone who's not even familiar with the source material. The new characters are very weak and not memorable in the slightest. No one, and I mean NO ONE here comes close to characters like Lee, Kenny, Jane, AJ, Luke, Javi, Louis, Violet... Or even other minor and less accomplished characters from the games like Tenn, Gabe or Lilly. The relationships are wooden and the characters are paper-thin. The plot is not interesting.

A fundamental flaw of this interpretation of the story is, in my opinion, the fact that it is YA. Following up such a dark and brutal story with a YA approach just because the MC is a teenage girl feels very, very off. I don't think it would be impossible to make a good YA story with Clem, mind you, but this execution which consists of shitty wooden characters and direct contradictions to the source material is not good at all.

I didn't expect much, yet I'm disappointed all the same. Clem is one of the best characters in TWD franchise and this doesn't do justice to her whatsoever. She, as well as the fans, deserve better.

[Jenna-booklooksbyjenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

tillie walden you cant keep doing this to me.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fleeing the events of the first volume, Clementine, her girlfriend and another girl find themselves moving between islands off the east coast of Canada -- specifically the Magdalen Islands, a/k/a Îles de la Madeleine -- where they fall in with a new group of survivors. It all hearkens back a bit too much to Rick Grimes' first visit to Hershel Greene's farm, but it's Walden's depiction of the characters and their relationships that won me over.

There's good representation for persons with disabilities in addition to LGBTQ+.

I'm looking forward to the final book of the trilogy.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yea...the only reason why I read this book was because it was a part of our Realm of Comics book club pick. It still wasn't a good reading experience. If you want to know more of my in-depth thoughts and feelings, be sure to check out our discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/live/PL0WjS1o...

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why don't I look up release dates for sequels, why why why? The wait for the 3rd and final book in this series will be TORTURE! I'm so obsessed with these characters and their story! (Although I do know this is set within Robert Kirkman's "The Walking Dead" universe, I don't think I'll read those because I just want Clem's story lol).

[Aaron Esthelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying these continuations of clems story! fantastic cutsie stuff with the pretty heartbreaking losses constantly. the art is killer and the characters are fun. I look forward to seeing where this goes

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tillie Walden has created a story that is grand - in the places it goes, in the growth of its characters, and in the emotion and weight instilled in every illustrated panel. In the second volume of Clementine, readers are met with not just a companion to a well-known universe, but to a story with breadth and character.

Clementine, herself, is an enormous young character whose wisdom and toil beyond years are striking on the page. But the real applause is for the relationships throughout the story - the primary trio based on survival, the resilience of relationships lost and the development of bonds with countless characters along the way. This is a story that speaks deeply and slowly, a story of apocalyptic survival that will resonate with hearts today.

→ trigger warnings: death of a friend, death of a child, death of a son, blood depiction, pregnancy, grief depiction, knife violence, suicide, drowning mentioned, starvation, poverty themes, loss of vision

Note: Review copy received from Edelweiss. This does not impact opinions within this review.

becandbooks.com ‧ the storygraph ‧ trigger warning database ‧ more links

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is starting to grow on me. I still have some issues with this book however. For example, it’s really odd that Clementine named her prosthetic after Kenny. I understand the gesture but something about that makes me cringe a bit.

There are moments where the action and dialogue confusing. It’s a little hard to tell what is happening and who’s saying what, but I feel that these issues have slightly improved from the last book.

What I do like is that this feels like a perfect balance between a zombie survival story and a coming of age. We get to see Clem explore the ups and downs of relationships (romantic and platonic) while battling zombies, and her own struggles. We get to see her in a different light but it’s also not so different that she feels like a stranger to fans who’ve loved her for years.

Overall a decent story. This Clementine feels more like the Clementine from the final game (except more mature and relatable) whereas book one Clem felt like almost an entirely different person.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of survivor Clementine continues here and takes a turn almost immediately. After passing out from stump infection, Ricca and Olivia get Clem to an island, where they appear to be in relative safety. The community works well and their leader Ms. Morro seems friendly enough. All is not as it seems (wouldn't be The Walking Dead universe if it was!) and Clem must not only make hard decisions about friends and walkers, but also whether or not to admit her burgeoning relationship with Ricca.
After tragedy (read to find out what happens), Clem and company end up on a fishing boat headed for Greenland. This should be interesting....

Tillie Walden definitely has a hit here. These are one session reads for sure.
Recommend.

[Sarah Cavar · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those rare occasions where the sequel is better than the first book! Richly drawn and tenderly emoted, Walden makes good on her emotional promises to readers of the first volume of Clementine. Here, we get backstory both for the post-apocalyptic world we wander through and for characters new and familiar, as well as depth and tension/texture added to ongoing relationships. Of particular note was the development of disability awareness/context throughout this volume, as Clementine comes into contact with other amputees/physically and mentally disabled survivors as they (re)make their lives together.

[Luís · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart 🔪💔

[Auntie Terror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other than the Walking Dead TV series, I'm not bored yet - mostly, I think, because this has a lot more story and a lot less just people killing zombies and being cruel to each other in between.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one even more than the first!

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this more than the first one, so good <3

[Logan Capizzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda predictable.

[Insomniac Library (Drew) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars - 18 / 100 for 2024 - Paperback
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TW/CW - Discussions and depictions of death, grief
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I have said this before, but Tillie Walden isn't usually my vibe. I wish they were, I love the ideas they have. The set up for their stories are always really fun and interesting, I just don't love the art and very often the pay off isn't for me either. The only reason I really went into this and will read the third is because I love the character Clementine.
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Okay, I will read volume three which will be the last, but in my opinion Clementine deserves better.
She's one of the best TWD characters, she's complex and has gone through so much growth since we were first introduced to her. She's sarcastic but caring, she can be ruthless but also self-sacrificing and she's just an overall badass.
Apparently Walden has played the games which to be honest I don't fully believe, Clem doesn't feel like herself. Things she has been through are either totalled glossed over or not included at all. When mentioning other characters, it's like they had no affect on Clementine. Like when Kenny is brought up it's like he was someone Clem barely knew not a HUGE part of her life? The same can be said for AJ, Lee and Javi. These are huge characters we all know and loved, they should have gotten more than they did.
If you're going to write about beloved character, you have to get the character right otherwise it doesn't matter how cool your story is. I see this Clem and the one I love from the games as two different people.
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The art in this is so hard to see, the colours are black, grey and white and in a lot of the panels it's hard to see what's going on. It's just not really for me. I said before I will read the next installement serving as the finale because I want to see how it ends but I doubt it'll be more than a three star for me.

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book, I think it brought something new to both the Walking Dead franchise and Tillie Walden's bibliography. This felt.. less so.

It's an all right continuation of the story, and there's some very strong high points. But overall, it really just felt like déjà vu. I could see the ending from a mile away, the the whole book just feels like a detour to add a new character to the line up.

Like I said, there's some very moving moments in there. I was just talking about Walden's work the other day, and how her being pregnant might affect her future projects, well it's definitely starting to seep in. That fear of bringing life into a world that's falling apart. The anger at previous generations for allowing things to become this bad, and this try to lecture us. There's definitely some interesting commentary to be found along the way.

But it also really felt much more like a teen book this time around. There's a whole backdrop of this bunch of kids figuring out relationships and sex and all that, and it just felt very awkward and out of place. And I guess it's supposed to awkward, and some of it was very heartfelt too, but it just kinda too me out of the story.

Also, I think I hadn't read any Walden in the while when I jumped into the first book, but having read Are You Listening ? and watching my girlfriend read On a Sunbeam recently, I definitely miss the colors... She's really making the black and white thing work for her, but man it's just not the same.

Anyway, I'll still pick up the third book. I thought this was supposed to be a trilogy but I don't see how this could wrap up in another 250 pages.. I hope she doesn't overextends her stay in that universe forever

[Patrick Sambiasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always felt like The Walking Dead comics lacked something. They had great villains and visuals. An overall interesting story but they missed relatability (especially as an European) TWD is almost written outside of time, it could have been released in the 80s and it would have been the same thing. Walden’s Clementine feels real. It feels like it could happen to us right now. Of course the representation helps but it’s also the way the dialogues flow effortlessly. Structurally speaking there is nothing new here of course but it does feel special overall. TWD universe has never felt more alive to me.

PS: I don’t give a fuck about how this version of the character has nothing to do with the games. Have you heard about the multiverse? Even the whole idea that characters across different medias (games and comics) have to be exactly the same is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Look at how many versions of Batman there have been among the years…just enjoy what you love in your corner and let others do the same.

signed.

a Massive Walking Dead Fan.

[Thom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received access to read this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Two continues the pace of the first and manages to expand the cast of memorable characters in the process. The artwork is great and especially stands out in pictures of the sky. Looking forward to the next one

[J MaK · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.0)Somewhat riveting yet very predictable. This volume seems rushed leaving the reader asking “Did I miss the subtext?”

[Meggie Ramm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it's a zombie apocalypse but if Ricca or the cat dies I WILL LOSE MY SHIT

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Clementine, Olivia, and Ricca find themselves on a small island seemingly enveloped in safety, the cracks start to reveal themselves more than ever. Ricca and Olivia just want to settle down in one place, but Clementine is suspicious of everything, especially the elusive Miss Morro. Will the trio be able to repair things now that everything appears to have settled down?

I went ahead and picked up the second volume even though I haven’t finished the game series yet. I can’t tell you if it’s true to the remainder of the games, but I can tell you that if you haven’t played them or only played part of the games, you can still enjoy this series. We follow Clementine, Olivia, and Ricca as they try to get back on their feet. The story continues to deal with trauma, but now it’s dealing with the characters trying to heal as much as this new world allows them to.

The characters are dealing with shared experiences as well as the things they’ve experienced before we met each other. We see this when Clementine gets sick and almost dies when she pushes herself too hard instead of resting when she can. Now that Clementine has a new found family with her friends, we see the cracks start to appear thanks to how the three of them deal with things differently. Olivia and Ricca just want to rest while Clementine is suspicious about everything, but we also see how the three of them just need to figure out how to meet somewhere in the middle.

It was also nice to continue to see a combination of characters. We see the unsavory characters who put themselves first, but we also see the characters who are still trying to help out and create a livable community. It was nice to see the trio get a little bit of rest on the island, but it’s also sad to see that the zombies are going to zombie no matter where you’re at. I’m interested in seeing how this series will end since it seems like everyone is trying to find somewhere they can stay put somewhat safely now that more and more people are banding together to survive.

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like where the story went and I'm excited to see where it goes. After crashing their plane, Clementine, Ricca, and Olivia make their way toward eastern Canada. They find someone with a boat who takes them to a small community on an island off the coast. Clementine is afflicted by an infection, so she's unconscious for a while and we miss a part of the story. A medical examiner and de facto community leader named Miss Morro is able to nurse her back to health. Although Clementine is reluctant to let her guard down, they eventually make a home there. In a similar way, Clementine is hesitant to enter a relationship with Ricca, but she eventually does after a group bat mitzvah. There is a walled-off community of walkers on the other side of island which worries Clem.
She starts a plan to kill the walkers with a couple others, but eventually it fails and the island is overrun. Clementine, Ricca, and Olivia manage to escape in a boat (with their cat), but are forced to leave everyone on the island. Oh, and Olivia is pregnant.
The artwork is easier to discern than the first volume.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clementine, Ricca, and Olivia begin life anew on a Canadian Atlantic island after a crash landing in their small plane. The island is already populated with survivors, all of whom are fairly unique, helping expand the cast in interesting ways. The interpersonal drama feels more natural in this second book, so when the zombies arrive, you really care about who survives. Bonus: Clementine's slightly less of an aggro dickhead and her relationship with Ricca is mercifully overt.

I also liked this book better than the previous one because the broad, open landscape is better suited to Tillie Walden's writing style and artistic skills. Less cramped, dark art, more clearly delineated characters and action.

Another fast-paced, cliffhanger conclusion, so I'll definitely pick up the final book.

[☆ Caylah S ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

Honestly I didn't get into The Walking Dead franchise before this, as multiple people said I didn't need to when I searched. So with that in mind, whatever rating I put out is purely based on how I thought it was just as a separate book/trilogy, as I know some people rate the book keeping its ties to TWD in mind.

So I would take this rating with a grain of salt, as I'm sure the rating will be more accurate if you know of The Walking Dead beforehand

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm shocked by how much stronger this was than the first volume!

Clementine abandoning AJ and pretty much never thinking about him will never make sense, but leaving that aside - this was definitely an improvement in terms of plot and character. Also I found many of the panels in the first volume very confusing but didn't have an issue with this volume at all. If the art style wasn't the same I'd almost think book 1 & 2 were created by two different people.

[albie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3,5☆

Moins marquant que le T01 à mon goût, même si ce second tome m'a + replongé dans la réalité de l'apocalypse zombie comme le faisaient les jeux.

Clem, dans ce tome, était fidèle à celle des jeux et ça m'a fait plaisir de la retrouver autant à travers l'écriture de Walden. (Bon le fait qu'elle n'évoque pas AJ et l'école plus que ça reste a bit weird mais on s'y fait)

Un peu une impression de "rush", comme si le tome allait trop vite et que je manquais d'éléments

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great art and fun continuation of TWD Universe: Clementine. Great story about Clementine and other new characters of Book 2. Also, interesting to what happened to some of the previous characters with Clementine from Book 1.

I can't wait to read next book (chapter) of TWDU: Clementine, Book 3 and be able to rent (check it out) from my local public library at Stuarts Draft or Augusta County.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3
I don’t know if I necessarily enjoyed this one more, but it was interesting to see just how much these characters don’t know because of the zombie apocalypse( sex, pregnancy etc). That being said I feel like most of these characters made such stupid decisions and choices.