The war ends with a whimper.
This issue wraps up the massive "The Whisperer War" storyline. At least, that's what the cover proclaims. The truth is that the odd pacing and structure result in a comic that's partly an epilogue to the recent battle and partly a transition into the next major conflict. That results in a disappointingly anticlimactic conclusion, but one that nonetheless sets the stage for compelling drama to come.
Negan has very much been the MVP of this storyline, and that's still the case in this finale. The "death" of Lucille has brought out a vulnerable, sentimental side to Negan that he managed to keep successfully buried until now. This issue opens with a surprisingly sweet little scene as Negan holds a funeral for his shattered bat and gives it the burial he couldn't for its namesake. Usually, Negan is compelling because he's so darned sadistic and charismatic. Here, he becomes a wholly sympathetic character, one painfully aware of his misdeeds both before and after the zombie apocalypse.
Needless to say, that scene starts the issue off on great footing, but it's mostly downhill from there. The reader is left perpetually waiting for a final escalation in hostilities between the Whisperers and the citizens of Alexandria, but it never really comes. Instead, much of the issue focuses on various major players as they reflect on the course their lives have taken. This material offers some solid insight into the mindset of characters like Rick and Andrea, but again, it doesn't make for the riveting climax this arc deserved. What's especially frustrating is that Robert Kirkman's script seems to gloss over some key moments where the Whisperers are concerned. Even more so than with issue #161, there's a sense that the creative team are more interested in moving onto the next phase of this ongoing saga rather than fully exploring the here and now.
The art team finish off the arc in strong form, even with the relative lack in action. If anything, the slower pace allows Charlie Adlard to loosen up a bit and focus less on the intricate grid layouts that have defined "The Whisperer War." Adlard's facial work is top-notch, particularly when it comes to the aforementioned Negan scene. And along with Cliff Rathburn and Stefano Gaudiano, Adlard delivers an eye-popping splash image that reminds readers once again that the undead are still a force to be reckoned with in this world.
The Verdict
"The Whisperer War" easily ranks among the biggest and most significant Walking Dead storylines to date, which is why it's so surprising to see the final chapter take such a quiet, low-key approach. There's some strong character drama to be found here, but little in the way of action or a satisfactory wrap-up to the war between our heroes and the Whisperers.
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