Is there any stopping this war?
Even if Image hadn't announced "The Whisperer War" by now, it's plainly obvious that The Walking Dead is building towards a major new storyline. Based on the events of this issue, war between Alexandria and the Whisperers is inevitable. So while The Walking Dead #155 is very much a transitional chapter, there's plenty of reason to be excited for what's coming down the line.
Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard divide their focus among several fronts this month. While Michonne fights to save the mortally wounded Aaron from Beta and Eugene brings his reinforcements to bear, plenty more drama is unfolding back at Alexandria. And that's to say nothing of the dangerous alliance being forged as Negan worms his way into Alphas good graces. Or attempts to, anyway. Part of what makes their dynamic so enjoyable is the fact that Alpha has absolutely zero patience for Negan's bravado and vulgar language. And yet somehow, she can't help but be intrigued by this bizarre X-factor that's stumbled into her midst. As with the previous issue, every page featuring Negan is automatically a highlight.
The rest of this issue isn't quite as successful. After the dramatic cliffhanger from issue #154, seeing Aaron still clinging to life feels like a bit of a dramatic letdown. It doesn't help that the battle scene between Beta and Michonne loses some of its punch because of the muddled choreography. Blame the shadowy environment or the fact that it's entirely too difficult to distinguish between Whisperers and zombies in the heat of battle. Adlard's art is great for those moments of stark emotional intensity, but in terms of action this issue doesn't deliver as well as many have in the recent past.
The Alexandria scenes have their strengths and weaknesses as well. Kirkman attempts to juggle a few too many characters in this issue, resulting in a Carl/Lydia scene that feels a little out of place in the larger context of the story. On the other hand, this issue continues the fascinating exploration into Rick's dangerous mindset. He's becoming more and more like Negan by the month, and at this point it's enough to wonder whom the villain of "The Whisperer War" really is.
The Verdict
This isn't the strongest recent chapter of The Walking Dead by any means, but there's a lot to savor in issue #155 as Negan forges an alliance with Alpha and Rick's fall from grace continues. This chapter makes it abundantly clear that a massive war is drawing close, and when that happens the series will surely become even more exciting than it already has been these past few months.
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