Comics
GRAPHIC CONTENT PICK OF THE WEEK: Lonmonster – ‘The Walking Dead’ #88
Before the big zombie craze, before World War Z, before Frank Darabont quit the TV series, Robert Kirkman was working hard to bring a certain air of intelligence to the big zombie apocalypse. To this day there remains to be a zombie comic that comes close to The Walking Dead; it’s the Night of The Living Dead of comic books, if you will. Rick Grimes has been through a literal hell and still, after all he’s been through he manages to maintain the will to survive. If I’m ever caught in any sort of end of the world scenario, I will model my behavior after this man (so what if he’s nuts). It’s been almost a decade of TWD, and Kirkman is not showing signs of wearing down anytime soon. Of all the horror comics out there today, of all the zombie literature, this one will always have a spot at the top. Read on for the skinny…
WRITTEN BY: Robert Kirkman
ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $2.99
”Every day, it becomes a little bit easier.”
It’s not common for a writer to want to stay on board for a series this long, but it’s apparent that Kirkman wants to see his vision through to the very last page. Somehow the quality of writing and the story arcs only get better as the series continues, and Kirkman still has a fair share of shocks up his sleeve, as we all witnessed a few issues back.
Many people have said that this is the book that got them back into comics, and it just so happens to be the one book I would suggest to anyone looking to get into the genre. However, I doubt that when The Walking Dead starting that anyone thought it would be the success it is today. Every arc, fans have said Kirkman can’t top that last one, but he sure is doing his darndest to blow people away leaving their stomach in knots. Kirkman manages to build such strong and relatable characters that when they die, it hurts. Nobody is safe in this series, as Kirkman proved a few issues back teasing the death of Carl. (Seriously, read the fan letters in the back of the book, some fans chastise Kirkman for the way he treats his characters).
The past few months have not been easy for Rick, Michonne and the gang, everyone hanging onto their sanity by a tiny little thread. Many of the major characters are dead, dying, or completely losing their minds. If they don’t find some sort of salvation soon things will get uglier than they already are. Rick is declining further and further down that dark path of madness. Last issue he picked up the unplugged phone, once again, to speak with Lori, but lucky for him she didn’t want to talk.
With everything on the ropes it’s hard to know where things will go from here. The survivors are now working to rebuild the walls of the Alexandria compound (where they’ve been hiding out for the past few arcs). The original crew is showing signs of wear and tear because Michonne and Andrea both seem to have a thing for crazy Mr. Grimes. Obviously, this split would be cause for panic among fans (sniper vs. sword master…yes please!). To make things even more interesting Kirkman has brought some new character into the fray; surely it’s not long til they turn on the survivors, or get their throats ripped out by a horde of zombies.
The fact that I’ve gone on for so long speculating about character interactions and deaths says something about the art as well. The black and white art fits the writing style perfectly, really matching the bleakness of living in a world where time doesn’t matter because death is literally lurking around every corner. Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn do an admirable job of contrasting characters, while leaving their faces utterly blank for readers to decide what’s on their minds.
I only have two bad things to say about the series. First, the new readers really can’t jump in, but have to start from issue #1, which is really a good thing. Second, Unfortunately right now things are at a lull between major events and not much action is happening. Then again, this “calm before the storm” style is precisely what Kirkman is known for, so again, not really a bad thing.
Whether you wait for the trades, you’re new to TWD from watching the show, or you’ve been on board since issue #1, it’s undeniable that this is one of the best and most original zombie stories ever. Now that the fate of the show is uncertain, and Darabont is completely off board, nobody knows what to expect, and the cast seems to be just as scared as we are. It’s reassuring to know that Kirkman won’t be leaving the books anytime soon and we’ll always have the comics to fulfill all of our zombie needs.
‘The Walking Dead’ Issue #88 Drops Wednesday August 17th from Image
Comics
‘You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive’ – IDW Dark’s Next Horror Comic Will Make You Question Reality
Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life. Bloody Disgusting is excited to exclusively announce You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, a brand new horror comic from IDW Dark.
From Eisner-Nominated writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and rising horror artist Heather Vaughan, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is described as a “paranoia-laced, socially-conscious, horror mystery that will leave you questioning reality, and reveal that this crafted world is more of a nightmare than the idealistic dream they were expecting.”
Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets. Until the night of their graduation.
When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life—and what she finds is something far more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Because this place isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a cage. And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.
Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing (Batman – One Bad Day: Clayface, Star Trek: The Last Starship) co-write the upcoming IDW Dark horror comic, featuring art by Heather Vaughan.
Jackson Lanzing said in a statement to Bloody Disgusting, “You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive is in many ways a spiritual successor to our last creator-owned horror, The Principles of Necromancy – a dive into the promise and consequence of playing god with the blood of innocents. But the Hivemind book this reminds me of most is Clayface: One Bad Day. This is a deeply human story with intensely raw emotions – five best friends and their five mysterious parents, tearing one another apart for the promise of some impossible glory that’s waiting just beyond their darkest actions. We’re thrilled to be bringing this story to life with our long-time partner in crime, editor Heather Antos, at IDW Dark – and we’re particularly excited to give our Clayface fans a new, brutal and emotional horror made just for them.”
Adds Collin Kelly, “We’re deconstructing a feeling that seems universal these days; our elders have a death grip on their power, without any intention of giving it up to the generations that come next. YNLTPA is about growing up with the limitless potential of the future… and realizing how much it’s a lie we’ve been fed to keep us under the yoke of the past. Bringing this brutal experience to life is our artist and co-creator, Heather Vaughan, who brings an incredible amount of humanity to our cast. But it’s in our youthful leads that Heather’s art really shines – you are going to fall in love with these young people, even as they go through the worst experience of their lives. What we’ve all crafted together is going to be tragic, painful, but above all else, sincere – with a future so uncertain, there’s only one thing we can trust: you’ll never leave this place alive.”
“Some horror stories are about monsters in the dark. YNLTPA is about realizing the monsters raised you,” previews Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. “Working with Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly on this series has been a dream in the darkest possible way. They’ve built a story that’s layered, brutal, and deeply emotional, and every issue gives artist Heather Vaughan opportunities to push the art into places that feel both haunting and deeply personal. Some horror comics will keep you up at night…this is one that will stick with you for years to come.”
The first issue of You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive goes on sale October 14, 2026! Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop by September to guarantee a copy.
Exclusively check out the various covers for Issue #1 down below.
IDW Publishing’s horror imprint IDW DARK features comics like A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, Smile: For the Camera, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees, The Twilight Zone, Event Horizon: Dark Descent & Event Horizon: Inferno, and more.
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