Pat Shand 2008-03-13
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
If you bought this book or are considering buying it, you've likely read the first volume (which collects the first and second story arcs). Furthermore, you were probably entertained or at least intrigued by what you read in Volume One. However, if you're at all like me, you probably noticed that the first six issues of the series are of a much higher quality than the next six. Well, seeing as this book collects the NEXT twelve issues, the main question of this review is if this book is better or worse than the first volume?
Worse. Ever since Issue 7, this series has been on a steady ride down to the pits of mediocrity, but as you trudge through the book, you'll notice that it's quickly surpassing mediocrity and heading for "just plan bad." I'll break it down with a list of problems and then a list of positives, and you can decide if those problems are enough to keep you from buying this or not.
NEGATIVES
- The characters are one-dimensional, mostly because of the wooden dialogue. The characters that might have had a bit of promise in the first volume are reduced to exposition machines. "Character-driven," Kirkman? Yeah. Right.
- The art is pretty bad. There are times when it gets good, but it just seems really rush. The fact that the series started with the much superior artist Tony Moore makes it feel like a tease.
- The story doesn't really go anywhere, but it does pick up a bit in the latter half of this edition.
- The sexism is ludicrous. And it's blatantly shoved in your face, so if you can ignore it... I would say "good for you," but really, if you can ignore such blatant and disgusting sexism, it's really not good for you at all.
POSITIVES
+ There are some good ideas thrown about. If they ever come to fruition, this series may become worth reading again. Not sure if I can stick it out long enough to find out, but only time will tell.
+ Rick is pushed into a pretty bad place, and its interesting to see his reaction.
+ There are glimmers of good story underneath the piles of bad dialogue.
Overall, you choose. I'd say buy the trade paperbacks just to see if you like where Kirkman is taking the story, because this volume costs a lot for a story that's more likely to anger you than entertain you.
4/10
