Broken Frontier

Revenge is bittersweet, but for Michonne it may never be enough even after she annihilates the man who violated her.

Well, this was the moment most of us were waiting for and it was so obviously played out to the letter. So it’s no surprise that I would like to dub this story the revenge issue since Michonne’s tormentor (a man who calls himself the Governor) gets his just rewards by her hand. You also have to hand it to writer Robert Kirkman for devising the vilest moment of vengefulness ever committed to the sequential form, and this one hit all the correct story beats.

I think the closest comparison I can make is to a film like I Spit on Your Grave, whereby the victim gets the chance to turn the tables on her captors. Well, Michonne (who was raped repeatedly starting in issue 28) came back to confront the man who proclaimed himself the governor of a small gated community. He was obviously bigger than his britches, so you knew it was only a matter of time before some of his own brutish medicine was used against him.

This one had it all and surprisingly Kirkman pulled no punches as he systematically brought this man down to his knees. There was very little dialogue used and much of this confrontation was dictated by action mostly. It was quite a contrast to the harrowing events that started in issue 28 when the Governor leaned heavily upon Rick and his crew, so let’s just say it was bittersweet revenge here (at least for Michonne). Beyond that, Kirkman managed to close this current chapter out accordingly and set up the events for the next major story arc. From what I am hearing several other unexpected twists and turns awaits all the characters and readers should prepare for yet another change in the status quo. I can’t wait to see what he has in store in the next installment.

Artist Charlie Adlard continues to plow along on this series with swift confidence coupled with his keen eye for dramatic flair. He’s definitely come into his own after picking up the reigns from Tony Moore earlier on in this series, and I’ve come to enjoy every broad stroke of his drawing style and subtle nuance with his inks. He’s become the perfect counterpart to Kirkman’s uncompromising approach to storytelling, and I am hoping this ideal union goes on for as long as humanly possible.

So for my tastes, this series manages to titillate and manipulate my senses at the same time. Kirkman is such a great storyteller and if you are looking for a book that has guts in addition to strong characters, then look no further. The Walking Dead is that rare combination melted together to bring readers on a freaky ride and face survivalist horrors of the worst possible kind.