Walking Dead #78

Plot Overview: A small band of survivors head off to locate the gunshot they heard. The gunshot came from Rick shooting Pete in the last issue. We shift gears to the town where Rick and company are preparing for a funeral for three of the recently departed in the town. Douglas objects to Pete being included but Rick points out that he was a father and husband despite how his life ended.

Rick gives a speech during the funeral. He wonders if they are who they are or if they're created by their surroundings. He asks that people remember Pete for the man he was. Not the man who killed Regina at the end of his life. Rick's speech is interrupted by a gunshot.

They head outside and the leader of the band of survivors is at the gate. He makes several threats to try and gain entrance but Rick calmly explains how they do things here. Andrea takes out the survivors' sniper and then takes out the leader of the survivors. The other survivors try to force their way in but Rick's band makes short work of them. Nearby zombies react to the gunfire as the battle ends.

Later on, the town is ending the funeral. Mayor Douglas tells Rick that the town needs Rick instead of him. Rick saw the evil in Pete and put Andrea in the sniper tower. The mayor walks off leaving Rick as the final shot of the issue.

My Take: Great issue here. I had been really down on the Walking Dead since they entered the town. I felt the series had really slowed and that it had become too safe for the characters. But now we're getting the challenges of the position they're in. People are going to try to get in by any means necessary and a huge horde of zombies are most likely going to be finding them soon.

Rick yet again finds himself being thrust to the leadership role that he never seems eager to take. I'm curious to see if he'll take on that role this time or if he'll convince Douglas that he needs to remain as the mayor. Either way, I'm guessing the town is going to be destroyed by the zombies very shortly. The cast has gotten pretty large again and I imagine we're due for another purge of the characters. I'm actually curious to see how much longer Andrea and Glenn are going to last. They've been around since the beginning and I imagine one of them will probably end up dying soon.

Let's throw speculation aside though. This issue really picked up the pace that the last 4 or 5 issues had been lacking for me. It's building up to a big fight with the zombies that should be really soon. Rick seems to be less crazy now and more back to the man that has survived longer than almost anyone else. The art was also great in this issue. I love the black and white art for this comic. It really adds to the atmosphere of the book.

This is an easy A+ for me. The book seems to have regained it's focus over the last 2 issues and I find myself excited for the next issue.