Issue #102 Synopsis And Review

Also let down that we never discovered who's on the cover of this issue.

besides negan and dwight everyone else were just background characters, isn't it safe to assume that machete man is one too? or possibly that this machete man is danny trejo himself?

There were some things I liked, and some I didn't. Great development in Michonne. No one thought she would go the peaceful route. She is truly a strong person that will do whatever it takes to survive. Really cool that Rick sent Jesus after Dwight. that will be interesting. And we have the Rickdrea conflic, that for sure adds some drama. I didn't like the pacing since issue 100. Three isssues in the span of like a day or two in their world? Seems like this series has been going in slow motion. No Spencer, no Zombies, No Dwight getting the Euge sicked on his genetalia. Kind of felt like a filler issue, not the end of a story arc. Oh well hoping for more action soon

SPENCER SPENCER WAS IN LKJUYFUBKF,.HJFGKUHDJGX HE HELPED GET TTHE GATE CLOSED DIKFIDJKFSCHSKYUJIHDKFDKGJFD,FHBKJD SPENCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i hope he doesnt die ~forever alone~

SPENCER SPENCER WAS IN LKJUYFUBKF,.HJFGKUHDJGX HE HELPED GET TTHE GATE CLOSED DIKFIDJKFSCHSKYUJIHDKFDKGJFD,FHBKJD SPENCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i hope he doesnt die ~forever alone~

Is that really Spencer? most likely it's Matt Damon lol.

I really liked this issue for what it was, a set up issue. It got back to connecting back to the characters again. It was like a slow down, lets catch our breath type issue for our survivors, because of all the trauma they have had in the last couple of issues. With that said, I think Kirkman is going to need to pick it up soon because you can not have too many issues like this in a row.

I really enjoyed the complexity of the characters that was displayed in this issue, sometimes we get consumed by the bad-ass-ery of these characters and forgot they are human, and they still have feeling and emotions, and nowhere in this comic was that more self-evident than the conversation between rick and andrea, about glenn. Kirkman is such a good writer, and you can truly see that come out in issues like this.

On another note did any one else notice how strongly Kirkman made Jesus, look like the real J.C. in some of the frames of this issue? My god it was like so obvious you could not notice it, I wonder if that is use of foreshadowing?

TROLLED !!! but i agree it was a good read nothing confirmed on just about anything so there is your classic end of an arc cliffhanger i do think michonne is going to die...............trollllllled

Also Carl is sooooooooooooooooo badass i cant wait for him to take over................

i do think michonne is going to die...............trollllllled

You may be on to something there. I could totally see Kirkman doing that. If she starts to get more and more time devoted to her, i fear he may kill her

You may be on to something there. I could totally see Kirkman doing that. If she starts to get more and more time devoted to her, i fear he may kill her

i dunno seems like the whole i am TIRED speech was kinda like Kirkman forshadowing her death like she is getting to be a TIRED character to write and its time for her to go....

ricks a pussy, the only good thing he did was make jesus follow dwight. i think carls gonna break and get some justice

He told him about some "real plans" I think that was bait.

Has anyone else been trying to work out what Rick's plan is without having Eugene casting bullets?

It's still possible that this is an integral part of the plan; it's just not viable now. Rick knows not to have people leaving Alexandria until Negan believes that they are under his thumb, lest he lose Eugene and their chance of rearming.

Other than that, Rick only has three options to tip the scales in his favor.

One, he could add people to his side of the scale. This would require him to recruit 'soldiers' from the various other communities. This seems like the least likely; as far as I can tell, no one has put up any sort of real resistance to Negan before. Rallying the few people in each community willing to fight without raising suspicion seems far too risky, and not worth the potential reward.

Two, he could remove people from Negan's side of the scale. Doing this surreptitiously is going to be very difficult; you can't just walk into the Saviors' camp and kill a bunch of people without noticing. Driving a herd through their campsite, however, seems like a possible way to deal with them.

Three, he could move people from one side of the scale to the other. This seems like the biggest hail mary of all, but the opportunity may soon arise. Consider that Negan wants "half" of whatever they may have. Rick has already pointed out that they don't have a whole lot to Jesus and Gregory other than their ability to fight... but in issue 102, Jesus, an outsider to Alexandria, pointed out something else they have in spades -- homes. Negan may impose his will upon Alexandria and force them to shelter a number of Saviors. If they're forced to be in constant contact with each other, they may have a shot at turning a few of them. Releasing Dwight may have been a double-edged sword -- not only does Rick have a way to find out where the Saviors are, he may have also been building goodwill with someone high in the ranks.

I imagine the final push against the Saviors will require a confluence of methods; Rick won't just add people or just kill off Saviors, but do a combination of these things.

One other thing: Kirkman said in a recent Letter Hacks that he's inspired by and mirroring events from history with this current storyline. I recall seeing someone on the boards here suggest that it might be loosely based on the American Revolution. I initially dismissed the idea, but I'm starting to see some parallels that I hadn't previously noticed. Negan is taxing them all into the ground and ruling them without any sort of say; there are a number of 'colonies' he rules over that, if they are to separate from his tyranny, will need to band together; and one colony in particular is poised to start the rebellion. Furthermore, if I am right about Negan's desire for Alexandria's homes, it lines up well with the Quartering Acts that required colonists to house British soldiers.

In all honesty, I can see where Rick is coming from in a way. Vastly outnumbered (or so it seems, anyway), low on ammunition, left feeling totally mind fucked post Lucille...rushing in and inviting not only your potential demise, but the demise of all those you know. That being said, they could submit to Negan on a superficial level, have Eugene the Ball Buster and some otherwise useless people (i.e. Spencer "Andrea, my life for youuuu!") work on those bullets in secret, gather some intelligence about the enemy, and train the Alexandianites for battle...then let the revolt ensue. I think this is one situation where patience will pay off in the end. But alas, that's just my POV.

That being said, they could submit to Negan on a superficial level, have Eugene the Ball Buster and some otherwise useless people (i.e. Spencer "Andrea, my life for youuuu!") work on those bullets in secret, gather some intelligence about the enemy, and train the Alexandianites for battle...then let the revolt ensue. I think this is one situation where patience will pay off in the end. But alas, that's just my POV.

I agree with the majority of this, but I don't think Rick will have Eugene casting bullets any time soon. He doesn't want to risk them killing Eugene, and he also can't risk the bulletmaking being discovered. If Negan finds out, the opposition is suddenly very well-armed.

I agree with the majority of this, but I don't think Rick will have Eugene casting bullets any time soon. He doesn't want to risk them killing Eugene, and he also can't risk the bulletmaking being discovered. If Negan finds out, the opposition is suddenly very well-armed.

Definitely see what you're saying. I'm torn, though, because what if Eugene meets his maker before bullets are made and the process is perfected and taught to others? After Eugene's infamous crotch attack, I'm afraid he may have just tattooed a bullseye on his forehead. I'll very easily admit I know nothing of how complicated bullet making is, nor the skill level required to do it. Augh, catch 22's. I do enjoy hearing your views on it all, btw. Very well thought out, and always nice to have someone make me think about angles I hadn't yet considered.

Definitely see what you're saying. I'm torn, though, because what if Eugene meets his maker before bullets are made and the process is perfected and taught to others? After Eugene's infamous crotch attack, I'm afraid he may have just tattooed a bullseye on his forehead. I'll very easily admit I know nothing of how complicated bullet making is, nor the skill level required to do it. Augh, catch 22's.

You make a very valid point. I would like to think that Rick should really have him doing the research immediately and detailing as much of the process as possible on paper. They really need to take an inventory of their firearms anyway -- so they can stash some away. Negan knows far too well that Alexandria is, at least compared to his own group, well-armed. He's going to be demanding more than half of their guns when he shows up (and I suspect he will want to test them out on someone), and they need to be prepared for that.

This kind of research might save them in the end -- if they give the Saviors the guns with the rarest and most depleted ammo, they're not really giving them much. On the other side of the same coin, if Alexandria keeps only .22 or .45 or whatever caliber guns, then they'll be manufacturing one type of bullet. That means all sorts of things -- interchangibility, not having to recalibrate the machinery, less manufacturing errors due to increased labor specialization, etc.

I do enjoy hearing your views on it all, btw. Very well thought out, and always nice to have someone make me think about angles I hadn't yet considered.

Right back at you! I only started reading the comics a few story arcs ago, so I blasted through the first eighty or ninety issues straight. Turns out half the fun of reading it is trying to anticipate the storyline and discussing it with other people trying to do the same. I particularly appreciate sound, logical counters to my own ideas (like the alternate view on Eugene) -- once you think you've got it figured out, you need to figure it out again.

Issue 102.... Wow what a snooze-fest zzzzzzzzzzzzz... Thanks troll for pushing this issue back a week and get everyone worked up for a sleepy read. I've watched episodes of Full House more entertaining than this. At this pace 10 years from now at issue 300 Carl will be 12.

DITTO

besides negan and dwight everyone else were just background characters, isn't it safe to assume that machete man is one too? or possibly that this machete man is danny trejo himself?

machete man is actually maggie avenging glenn.

<- click me ^ _ ^

Issue 102.... Wow what a snooze-fest zzzzzzzzzzzzz... Thanks troll for pushing this issue back a week and get everyone worked up for a sleepy read. I've watched episodes of Full House more entertaining than this. At this pace 10 years from now at issue 300 Carl will be 12.

Sounds like you better pick up some seasons of full house son!
Goodbye Ben and billy, helloo Mary-Kate and Ashley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGYWKefBDjw <- click me ^ _ ^

Dislike!

Anyway...

This issue was probably my favorite out of the "Something to Fear" arch. A lot of traditional drama, Rick not knowing what to do and what not seemed to be a rehashing at first glance. The final panel of issue 102 had me literally leaping in excitement!

I think that we might actually see some long seeded foreshadowing come to fruition in the upcoming arcs. The parallel of releasing prisoners from the prison saga and the release of the captive Savior seem to suggest that Rick - although certainly not as bat shit crazy as the Gov. - is willing to deceive his own people in order to effectively combat his enemies. The somewhat "black op" tactics that Rick is choosing to utilize will be an interesting aspect of the comic that I look forward to following.

Some questions arise naturally, and not some crazy hypothetical stuff:

How will Rick maintain contact with Jesus while he chases down the Saviors?
How will Rick keep his people in line when Negan - or his agents - arrive to take their tribute?
-This, IMO, reiterates the point made by a few people on these boards. Will Rick have to punish such insubordinates?

In summary, issue 102 has left us with the best cliff hanger since the beginning of the arc. Although it might not lead to intense speculation, it certainly multiplied my appetite for #103 a hundred fold.

I love how people complain about Spencer NOT being in the issue... seriously!

And, to stay in topic, I really like number 102!

Dislike!

Anyway...

This issue was probably my favorite out of the "Something to Fear" arch. A lot of traditional drama, Rick not knowing what to do and what not seemed to be a rehashing at first glance. The final panel of issue 102 had me literally leaping in excitement!

I think that we might actually see some long seeded foreshadowing come to fruition in the upcoming arcs. The parallel of releasing prisoners from the prison saga and the release of the captive Savior seem to suggest that Rick - although certainly not as bat shit crazy as the Gov. - is willing to deceive his own people in order to effectively combat his enemies. The somewhat "black op" tactics that Rick is choosing to utilize will be an interesting aspect of the comic that I look forward to following.

Some questions arise naturally, and not some crazy hypothetical stuff:

How will Rick maintain contact with Jesus while he chases down the Saviors?
How will Rick keep his people in line when Negan - or his agents - arrive to take their tribute?
-This, IMO, reiterates the point made by a few people on these boards. Will Rick have to punish such insubordinates?

In summary, issue 102 has left us with the best cliff hanger since the beginning of the arc. Although it might not lead to intense speculation, it certainly multiplied my appetite for #103 a hundred fold.

Click the "what will happen in 103" thingy LOL this dude is funny.

Also I think there's a copyright violation there. For the download haters.

Michonne showed some feelings for RIck with her snappy "isnt that what you got andrea for?" comment it was not just a grumpy hello.
I think the Troll is at it again and now we are getting into Michonnes feelings a little bit he will KILL her off in the next arc and if Jesus does turn out to be a good guy(i dont think he will) he could take her place as the defacto "killer" and he is just introducing her in the TV show if that actor does a great job with bringing her to life the chubby one will KILL her off just like Glen. The troll even said in this issue letter hacks that is reason to kill Glen off was because the actor is doing better then he expected and thought the TV Glen is more interesting then the COMIC Glen so he killed him off so he could write better things for Glen in the TV show. KirkTrollMan knows people will still get there Glen fix on TV to me everyone is now on a thin list and even everyones favorite Rick could be killed and the story will change on TV for the rickshippers that think he cannot die in the comic. Some big changes are coming i can feel it in my bones with the TV show kicking so much ass and making KirkTrollMan tons of cash he wont worry about losing some die hard readers of the comic it wont hurt his pocketbook at all its a perfect time to shake shit up in the comics with all the money rolling in.