The Walking Dead, Volume 25: No Turning Back

It seems not that long ago Rick Grimes decided that the way forward was to stop fighting and to work together to create a new society among the dead. Well, since the creators of The Walking Dead seem only about to work with one or two ideas (while tantalizingly dancing around something more brilliant) we're back to all out war as the central narrative of the ongoing zombie story. Rick gets advice from Negan of all people and takes on an authoritarian leadership role to channel the Alexandrians rage at against the Whisperers. Plus ça change...

Negan's back, back again.

To make up for the action of the previous volume, as well as the revelations about just how dangerous The Whisperers potentially could be, we have this volume. [b: No Turning Back|33867511|Turning Back (Turning #2)|J.A. Huss|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484561509s/33867511.jpg|54871691] pours more into the story and character developments than action, and in doing so serves as a beautiful build up for what inevitably shall come. Lydia has now joined the fold, and people are not happy about it.

After The Whisperers show of strength and defining of the borders of their territories everybody wants a call to action, but that is exactly what Rick can't give. A war with The Whisperers would inevitably cause show more the settlement's destruction. The lack of action, while wise, is not what the people want. So what do they do? What groups inevitably do. They begin to dissolve and turn on each other. A return to form is something Rick is determined to avoid, but after how Maggie dealt with the problem of Gregory, people are beginning to view her as a desirable alternative.

So who does Rick to turn for help?

Negan.

Oh, things are bound to get good. show less

I missed volume 24, but this volume picks up with Rick, Michonne and their group finding the heads of twelve of their people on spikes, including Rosita and Ezekiel. Alpha and the Whisperers (sounds like a band) are responsible, their way of marking their territory. Rick doesn't know how to respond. He has to do something, yet a counter-attack would lead to his people being slaughtered. He goes to his captive psychotic, Negan, for advice.

This volume of The Walking Dead mostly deals with the repercussions of the deaths that the Whisperers left in their wake. Some are angry at Rick for his slowness to respond while others are looking at Lydia, the daughter of the head Whisperer, as a way to have their revenge.

Rick sends Carl, Lorna and Andrea away to keep them safe and then consults with Negan as to how he should respond to this threat to their peaceful way of life. He comes to the realization that without the power of a strong military behind them, they will always be vulnerable to attack.

Plans are to immediately arm and train a militia while their long term plans will be to take out the Whisperers.

After reading the latest 6 issues of the Walking Dead, I feel very apathetic. Nothing surprises me anymore when I read this series. I feel like every time I see Rick he is just delivering an empowering speech. Dare I say it... It's becoming boring. The anniversary issue #150 just seemed padded out by full page artwork, and the big event that happens was really anti climatic, we all know Rick won't be killed off so there's no tension or uncertainty there.

I am bored with the built up communities, I want them catapulted back into the constant fight for survival trying to find somewhere safe. I miss a lot of the characters that have been killed off thus far and to be honest at this point I like watching the TV show more. It's really sad.

Art is getting a little lazy. Hands often look like the turkeys children draw for Thanksgiving by outlining their splayed hands. Also, on the FIRST page the artist forgets Rick is missing a hand...one panel after drawing him without the hand.

The story told in this volume is a bit slow, by necessity. I'm also a little surprised and confused by their decision at the end of what to do/create, as it seemed like they already did/created it over their past few years. I mean, I can see brushing up and making it more organized, but this volume makes it seem like they are as inept as the television show's original Alexandrians.

I still love the series and these are nitpicky points.

2.5 stars
Dang it.
The art is swell, but the story is just getting a bit boring. I know that's probably hard to believe, given the way the last book ended. There were flashes of action in this volume, but also a whole lot of talking. And the Negan storyline continues to be vexing and dumb.
I hope more happens in the next book and that Rick maybe does more and says less.