The Walking Dead #174

A SOLITARY LIFE

Written by Robert Kirkman
Penciled by Charlie Adlard
Cover by Charlie Adlard
Published Dec 6, 2017

   Although Negan lives a quiet life in exile, talking to flowers and of course dropping constant f-bombs, he still makes time to remember his dear Lucille. Rick gave him his freedom after the Whisperer War, but it seems his reclusive life in the middle of nowhere takes it's toll.

Ooooh, cussing cussing. I love cussing...

   He raids camps, kills dogs, rinse and repeat. But one day, he makes an even bigger discovery. A new bat lies in a corner in a farmhouse, and after some intense internal negotiations, Negan ultimately decides it would make a good substitute, though definitely not a replacement for his dear Lucille.

Not really...

   As he walks along a barbed-wire fence, he wraps his new weapon in it when suddenly he has a guest. Maggie stands behind him with a pistol, clearly catching him by surprise. The more they talk, he seems more and more sorry for what he did. To Glen. To everybody. She screams at him. After everything, doesn't he know what he did?! He does but it was too late. She asks if he can still see his wife in his mind. Yes, he says. He can. Maggie can see Glen as well, except it's with his head bashed in and his eyeball hanging out.

Aw come on, Maggs!

   Negan begs for death, pulling the gun closer and against his forehead. DO IT, he says. Please, he begs. He could do it all again. Eventually Maggie backs away. She won't give him what he wants. Instead, he has to live with what he's done. She walks back out to Dante, stirring up some walkers on the way before planting a big kiss on him. Negan on the other hand stays on his knees. Eventually he rises and walks towards a fire. He tosses the new bat in the flames and smiles. With that, this issue is concluded.

Burn Motherf*cker, Burn...

   So after finally getting an opportunity to kill him, Maggie instead opts for the high road and leaves Negan to deal with his actions. I can't say I'm surprised. If anything, the character's stock is higher than it's ever been. But the ability for an illustrated subject is far easier to keep inside new pages while actors begin to wane. Hence Carl's walker bite in last season's cliffhanger. Either way, this issue of the comic version was a good one. Negan's still crazy after all, if there was really ever any doubt. And the glimmer of a smile on the final page sets him up for getting revenge somewhere down the line. I give this one a 10/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book HERE.

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.