Broken Frontier

With the TV series adaption of The Walking Dead launching in a matter of weeks, most would expect the comic to kick into a higher gear, getting ready for the onslaught of new readers about to jump onto the book. But if the teasers Image Comics has been sending out are anything to go by, could we be seeing the end to Robert Kirkman’s zombie saga sooner rather than later?

If these images are anything more than PR pieces designed to create a fanboy frenzy, then things are looking rather bleak for our group of survivors. As any of you following the series monthly will no doubt already know, we are currently watching the group struggle back into the trials and terrors of regular life – something that is proving just as scary as the dudes who want to chomp on your brains.

However, tension has been building at an increasing rate as we see Rick & Co struggle to remember what it was like out in the wasteland and become increasingly paranoid that they could loose what they’ve found and helped build. As issue #77 showed, things look like they could be taking a turn for the worse for the community as the mayor puts some real power into Rick’s increasingly troubled hands.

The question now is, can the walls protect them against an outside threat? Are the walls going to be a prison if (or once) the zombies get in?

These are questions I can’t answer, but I can tell you this; the 'No Way Out' story arc starts with #80 in December. With just over a year left before the series reaches the illustrious #100 and with the TV series about to air, can we see the comic ending?

The Walking Dead is one the present day classics, as its winning the 2010 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series showed, so let’s hope the story is far from over… One thing is for sure: Kirkman never plays by the rules and without a doubt, this is going to be one hell of an explosive arc.