“The continuing story of survival horror” referred to on the
cover to the volume does a good job of summarising precisely what it is the
covers conceal between them – the story of a group of survivors who are
fighting against the odds for their lives in a post-apocalyptic world which has
been overrun by zombies. (If you opt for
the hardcover volume, as opposed to the trade paperbacks, you get the first two
volume trade paperbacks within the one hardcover format, here.)
The story concentrates predominantly upon Rick Grimes, a cop
in a former life, his wife, Lori, their son, Carl and the people whom the
family have found themselves surrounded by during the course of their journey
to date as they travel around America, seeking to stay alive and fight off the
ever present danger to which they are forced to remain alert.
We begin with Rick’s wakening from a coma in hospital,
surrounded by the undead, travelling rapidly to Atlanta and beyond, as he
searches for his family in amongst the chaos, confusion and walking dead or
“walkers” as they subsequently become known.
Pushed to the limits as they are by the circumstances within
which the group and the others they
encounter along the way are, the graphic novel series is a study in
human psychology and the lengths to which individuals are willing (or
otherwise) to go to survive.
Unsurprisingly, the necessity for unceasing vigilance drives some to
lengths to which they had not possibly considered they were be willing to go. There are those who do not survive, whether
as a direct result of zombie attack or otherwise. Similarly, characters are shown to clash over
decisions and judgment calls – frequently.
Given the pressure they remain under at every stage, this is scarcely
surprising. No one individual is perfect
or remains infallible in the face of danger; particularly given the high
stakes. In this kind of scenario there
are no genuinely easy answers. One wrong
decision results in loss of life - possibly the decision-maker’s own. Small wonder there is a tendency towards
aggression once the immediate zombie-related threat has passed.
The lack of certainty as to who will stay safe from one day
to the next feels real and adds to the sense of threat under which the group
travel. Similarly, the geographic
boundaries of the narrative switch rapidly, with the group changing location a
number of times, given winding down too much could result in their premature
death. No one resting place remains
secure for long, with the nomadic group forced to relocate, their RV being the
only constant within the equation. This
keeps both characters and reader on their toes, as we are unsure from which
direction the next threat to their existence may come. In some instances, this stems from the
individuals they encounter. In others,
the threat is more mundane; such as a lack of fuel for transportation, leaving
them momentarily stranded. Again, this
builds upon the overall concept of survival horror. Practicalities are a necessary evil; even in
a world overrun by the undead. Food is
just as essential as shelter and Kirkman ensures we are aware of this along the
way.
Further, the constant shadow of death is seen to have an
impact in each instance on those who are left behind. We see those who struggle to reconcile
themselves with the fact that friends and family have passed beyond their aid
and seeking to maintain compassion for those who have succumbed along the way,
as well as the longer term effects of coming to terms with loss. Whilst the narrative is violent and pulls no
punches in terms of the manner in which the characters are dispatched, it never
feels gratuitous.
Ultimately, this is a gripping and pacey character driven
tale of humanity, rendered beautifully in black and white (or grey)
throughout. The narrative zips past,
leaving the reader wholly committed to following the future turmoil surrounding
the group by its conclusion. As you may
have gathered, I will be back for more.
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