That was a big problem.  But then, every character has the exact same voice, so it's not like it would be a difficult transition to a new lead.

I'm a little more forgiving, and I can even see why his book has become the juggernaut that it is, but I largely agree with everything you said.  It's a big part of why I gave up on the book - the arcs really run together, with the scenery changing more than the characters, and Kirkman never actually improves as a…

I'm a little more forgiving, and I can even see why his book has become the juggernaut that it is, but I largely agree with everything you said.  It's a big part of why I gave up on the book - the arcs really run together, with the scenery changing more than the characters, and Kirkman never actually improves as a…

Also, it's not nearly half as well written as your piece - what can I say, I've gotten very slightly better at writing about comics in the last few years - but a few years back, I did a similar project, looking at The Walking Dead on an arc-by-arc basis up through the fifth or sixth trade.  I eventually gave up…

Also, it's not nearly half as well written as your piece - what can I say, I've gotten very slightly better at writing about comics in the last few years - but a few years back, I did a similar project, looking at The Walking Dead on an arc-by-arc basis up through the fifth or sixth trade.  I eventually gave up…

I think the thing about The Walking Dead that makes it work (at least for me) is that it keeps going - for a few arcs, at least, particularly in the prison, he actually does do the Rebuilding Society thing… and it's fascinating.  Plus, the "humans are the real enemy" nihilistic thing that's so common in zombie fiction…

I think the thing about The Walking Dead that makes it work (at least for me) is that it keeps going - for a few arcs, at least, particularly in the prison, he actually does do the Rebuilding Society thing… and it's fascinating.  Plus, the "humans are the real enemy" nihilistic thing that's so common in zombie fiction…

I actually disagree, Tasha - I think Kirkman actually portrayed Rick as a pretty flawless hero.  Yes, he was tactless, but he Got Things Done.  Sure, his gun run was a disaster, but they did get the guns, and without them, EVERYONE would have died when the zombies came.  Sure, he was a jack-ass to Lori and an idiot to…

I actually disagree, Tasha - I think Kirkman actually portrayed Rick as a pretty flawless hero.  Yes, he was tactless, but he Got Things Done.  Sure, his gun run was a disaster, but they did get the guns, and without them, EVERYONE would have died when the zombies came.  Sure, he was a jack-ass to Lori and an idiot to…

Kirkman is like Geoff Johns - he's a mediocre writer, but he's a solid marketer.  He knows why people read his books, and he's not afraid of twisting that in some genuinely interesting ways that make his books feel surprisingly well-plotted even when they aren't.  It's in the character work and dialogue that Kirkman…

Kirkman is like Geoff Johns - he's a mediocre writer, but he's a solid marketer.  He knows why people read his books, and he's not afraid of twisting that in some genuinely interesting ways that make his books feel surprisingly well-plotted even when they aren't.  It's in the character work and dialogue that Kirkman…

Badass Digest is currently doing a comic book club looking at Y: The Last Man one arc at a time, if you've a taste for a stronger book to start with.

Badass Digest is currently doing a comic book club looking at Y: The Last Man one arc at a time, if you've a taste for a stronger book to start with.

And it was such a mixed opportunity in the comics, too, especially since

And it was such a mixed opportunity in the comics, too, especially since

The writing remains bad-to-mediocre - at least when it comes to the dialogue - but the plotting becomes delightful by the prison arc.  Basically, the characters never stop telling you everything they are thinking, feeling and doing in a voice that no human being in history has ever used, but the book slowly moves away…

The writing remains bad-to-mediocre - at least when it comes to the dialogue - but the plotting becomes delightful by the prison arc.  Basically, the characters never stop telling you everything they are thinking, feeling and doing in a voice that no human being in history has ever used, but the book slowly moves away…

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Oglaf is surprisingly awesome, though the Funpire thing needed to end about two months before it actually did.