This hardcover volume covers issues 85-96. I am rating it a bit lower because to be honest, the series is starting to feel a bit more like soap opera and a bit less horror. Sure, the zombies (walkers) are still out there, but they are becoming more of the routine of life (even the characters point this out in the book). Now, the author continues to show that indeed the true horror may not be so much the monsters as other people. The cliffhanger from the previous volume is resolved as Carl, Rick's son, wakes up from his coma after a gunshot to the head. However, his memories are not all there, so that adds pain. Rick continues to struggle with the leadership role thrust upon him, but he maintains steadfast in his resolution to keep his group alive, even if he has to get a bit extreme to do so. But aside that, we are getting more human drama of who sleeps with who or not, blah blah, which I honestly don't really give a shit about. The possibility then revelation of another group out there adds something to the mix, though it turns out they are well supplied (they can farm), but being extorted by another group. Rick elects to help the farmers out in exchange for supplies, and there it ends. So, we shall see if Kirkman can keep up the pace and good story elements because some of the people drama is wearing thin. While I will still be reading the series, I am honestly wondering how long before it jumps the shark. The volume did start a bit slow, then pick up a bit about halfway through. ( )

I don't know how Kirkman does it, but this series just keeps getting better. No repetitions, great mix of tension and intimacy, real personal drama, continuous evolution of all characters, and always a new focus. This time they are getting out of survival mode and looking to the future, establishing contact with other communities. Continues to be brilliant. ( )

Things are on the mend and a little quiet in this one. Which is nice, the gang needs a break from murderous zombies and ruthless humans looking for a place to crash. While it's not as violent as some of the other installments it's still heavy. It's raw and gritty, and deals with the emotional trauma of the survivors. Carl wakes up from his coma, the community sets about rebuilding and fortifying their home away from the zombies, and they have a new guest, Jesus.

As always, great stuff and I can't wait to see where the next one picks up as this one ended on an exciting note. ( )

Out just in time for the third season premiere of the television series. The survivors are trying to move beyond mere survival to recreate society. All of the human emotions are amplified. Unfortunately it shows what is lacking in the TV series. ( )

Carl slowly recovers from his near-fatal shooting, and Rick suffers a crisis of faith as he struggles with his inability to keep his loved ones safe in a time in which the dead walk. A particularly good bit of dialogue takes place as he is confessing his fears to a fellow survivor, Andrea:

"There's nothing left in me, not anymore. I feel like a died a long time ago."

"Have you forgotten? Death doesn't affect people quite like it used to. Don't you think it's about time you came back to life?"

Later, they find a scout from a nearby community of 200 survivors, who need their help protecting them from predatory humans, kind of a "Magnificent Seven" scenario. Again, a major theme is that the living represent a greater source of danger than the dead who walk. ( )