The Walking Dead: Compendium Two

This compendium collects issues 49-96 of the comic series The Walking Dead. The story continues in the aftermath of the zombie outbreak, picking up after the Governor arc (but before Negan). We lose and gain a lot of characters along the way with alliances constantly forming and breaking. Everyone undergoes major transformations as they grapple with moral dilemmas left and right. As always the gritty black and white artwork is fantastic, filled with raw, gory details. My review below is organized by volume/story arc and contains spoilers as it progresses. Art: 4.5/5 Plot: 4.5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 My Enjoyment: 4.5/5 Vol. 9: Here We Remain Issues 49-54 This volume picks up after the dramatic end of the Governor arc, with Rick and Carl on their own and the status of the other survivors still a mystery. I liked that this new story arc feels like a reset for the series. They’re starting over once again, and everyone has endured so much that they’re becoming different versions of themselves. This volume is more of a psychological thriller than nonstop action, exploring how these events affect everyone and the thin line between madness and sanity. Vol. 10: What We Become Issues 55-60 Rick, Carl, and the remaining original survivors have joined up with a new group heading toward Washington, D.C. They’re out on the road again, with plenty of differing opinions about how to move forward, and even more big feelings about the recent events. I enjoyed this story arc and the new direction the series is taking. It feels like a return to basics, with the group back on the road, camping. Especially how the series is exploring more deeply the aftermath of everything they’ve endured, and just how far each of them is willing to go to survive. Vol. 11: Fear The Hunters Issues 61-66 Rick, Carl, and the group continue their journey to DC, but of course, things don’t go smoothly. A devastating incident brings horrific consequences, and a new arrival shakes things up even more.This is another dark and twisted volume, full of more morality questions and haunting situations. I appreciated that this story arc felt relatively episodic, and I especially enjoyed Rick’s developing friendship with Abraham. Vol. 12: Life Among Them Issues 67-72 This volume picks up a little after Volume 11 in the timeline, but also continues right from the cliffhanger that one left on. Food is running low as the group continues toward D.C., when they encounter a situation that seems too good to be true. Of course the question is, is it? I enjoyed this volume, it was character-driven and raised a few important moral questions that hadn’t been explored in the series yet. There were also a ton of new characters introduced. Vol. 13: Too Far Gone Issues 73-78 Rick, Carl, and the group are trying to settle into their new roles in the Alexandria community. Everyone has jobs, and the kids are going to school. But, for those who’ve been surviving on the outside, adapting isn’t easy. Their perspectives and priorities clash with the community’s, and tensions rise quickly as threats start coming from both inside and outside the walls. I’ve been really enjoying this story arc. The new characters add depth to the plot, and the community has an uncanny valley creepiness that amps up the tension and anticipation. The suspense is killing me, I hope it’ll last. Vol. 14: No Way Out Issues 79-84 Rick, Carl, and the rest of the group find themselves once again facing off against masses of undead. The safe haven they’ve built is in serious danger. This volume is packed with tense moments and big revelations. I really enjoyed returning to the classic zombie threat. Of course, it’s still filled with the moral dilemmas we’ve come to expect from this series. It’s devastating, with a lot of loss, but I did like seeing them savagely fight zombies again. Vol. 15: We Find Ourselves Issues 85-90 Rick and the remaining survivors are dealing with the aftermath of the horde attack on Alexandria. Carl is alive but unstable, and Rick is a bit emotionally unstable himself. Several other characters are wrestling with ego-driven conflicts that complicate everything even more. This is another cerebral issue. As usual the title “we find ourselves” really sums up what’s happening in this volume. People are figuring out who they are, who they want to be, and what they’re becoming. Everyone is also looking around and questioning what “safe” even means anymore. Vol. 16: A Larger World Issues 91-96 Rick, Carl, Andrea, and their crew are rebuilding and regrouping in the Alexandria settlement. But they soon learn they aren’t the only survivors out there. It’s hard to know which decisions are right and who to trust, with danger lurking around every corner. I liked that this installment branches out from the relative safety they’ve built. There were a few times when characters mentioned being safe or happy and I thought “oh no don’t say that,” so I’m definitely worried about what happens next, especially with the boogeyman essentially lurking outside the walls.

I don't dish out a five star rating to just anything, because, let's be honest here, most things aren't deserving of them for one reason or another. This is one item I can give the full five stars for many reasons, and for once, I feel it is deserved. I'm going to start by saying that this collection of the individual comic books is a great value. To buy one individually can cost you around 20 bucks, and if you're like myself and most of America, you can't afford that, even though they are worth the price. My husband had bought individual issues before the compendium was released, and I was amazed at what talent goes into each and every page; from the detail of the decayed bodies of the dead, to the storyline (which although is at times far-fetched but fun) you can see just how much time, effort, and talent this must take the guys that produce this. The other thing about this series of comics is that it is amazing how much it differs from the TV series. You can read ahead without worry that you will spoil the next episode of the show! The characters in the show are different, some don't even exist in the comic, such as Darryl and Merle, T-Dog, and others. Some are compilations on the show of many characters pooled together to make a similar, however different person. My personal fave of the character difference of the comics v. the show is Carol. She exists in both but couldn't be more different. In the show, she's an older woman with a daughter, who would do what's best for the group in all situations, and grows stronger as a person the longer she is out in this terrible world they live in. In the comic, she is a sex crazed lunatic (at one point she even sticks her tongue down Lori's throat!) in her 20s and although Sophia is still her daughter, she is not the loving matriarch we all see in the show. In fact, I personally find her intolerable in the comic. That's how much things differ between these two mediums of the same basic plot. This is a fun way to spend some time, and its well drawn, and goofy, which makes it all the more shocking when you were just laughing at something funny someone said or did, then BOOM, someone is dead from an unseen attack. I have put on my review of the first compendium that my husband reads this out loud to me, voices and sound effects included, which is a lot of fun. For couples who can't decide who will read it first, this is a great compromise. Its good fun, and I highly recommend this for a bit of well spent time between couples. This is not a comic for everyone, but I think most people will think their money and time well spent. Five stars given to the most awesome piece of the zombie genre. Happy reading!

LOVE IT. It does have a little dang spots, but that is to be expected with amazon. I would suggest for anyone who's looking to buy these books to look through the pages. Just in case there was a printing error.

I had to get part 2!

This omnibus has the post prison arc, and ends after meeting the hilltop, it has some of the best arcs, with the hunters, Alexandria, and the zombie herd, and though it is the shortest compendium, it is easily one of the best, and probably sees the group in its darkest moments

So I had been following along in the graphic novels. I got sidetracked and when I came back to play catch up with the graphic novels, I found that they had compiled the first 90 some odd issues into 2 giant compendiums. Having read the contents of the first compendium, I ordered this and was just as enthralled as before. Finished it in 2 nights. Some pluses, there is virtually no fluff in this book. No ads, no extraneous nothing. No intro, no epilogue, its just straight into humanity's trial by fire (or zombies) survival epic this series has become. People testing themselves, and learning just what happens when they are no longer required to be civilized. How much of your humanity can you lose and still be counted as a survivor and not become just a predator? If you like the show (and if you haven't seen it, go find it, ask someone, borrow a dollar and watch the pilot on Amazon, whatever it takes), then you should definitely read the comics. The show and the comics are like parallel universes. Same (mostly) characters, going through different (yet similar) experiences, and learning who and when to trust and how to trust themselves. I highly recommend Compendiums 1 and 2 if you haven't yet touched the comics, as they are a great deal for an amazing tale of being human (and unhuman). Even though I have the first compendium in the form of individual graphic novels, I will likely get the first volume of the Compendium as well for ease of access. On a side note, there are some VERY adult issues covered in these books. While I will not say what is and isn't appropriate for YOUR child, I would highly recommend reading and discussing the material with your young'in' if they are under 18. Bonding over zombies is fun for "all" (read "most") ages!

What I loved about The Walking Dead: Compendium One was that it had a good balance of action and character development. Whether Rick and the group were defending the prison from the Governor and horde of zombies or trying to make a living in their new home, there was never a dull moment. The problem with Compendium Two is that it focuses much more on character development over everything else. Not that good character development is bad, in fact it's my favorite thing about TWD. Unfortunately there were times where even I was hoping something interesting would happen. There were exciting moments, but they were few and far between. Following the Governor's assault on the prison, the group has lost most of their people and those that survived have been separated. The first half of the book follows Rick and his son Carl as they wander from place to place trying to reunite with the group. Along the way new characters such as Abraham Ford and Eugene are introduced, among others. The first half of the story has plenty of great moments but looking back it felt like it took too long for anything interesting to happen. The second half is where the story becomes much more interesting, at the cost of having far fewer exciting moments. Overall I really enjoyed the story and it was very well-written, but it isn't quite as balanced as Compendium One and some people are likely to get bored reading it. As always the characters and their development is excellent. I especially loved Rick and how his actions constantly made me question his morality and even his sanity. The story also focuses more on Carl this time around and how growing up in a lawless world like this has affected him. Returning characters are great (Andrea is just awesome) and new characters are likable as well (specifically Ford and Jesus). The artwork is also excellent, as Charlie Adlard's skills have only gotten better over time. The only complaint I had in regards to the artwork is that it seems not much effort goes into the zombies and most of them look the same. Of course for a long running comic like this I don't expect each zombie to look completely unique, but it just felt like they lacked the variety I saw in Moore's work during his short run with the series. As for the book itself, it feels like it weighs five pounds and at times it was difficult to find a good way to hold it. I didn't want to bend or ruin any pages so finding a proper way to hold it while reading was admittedly a bit of a challenge. But my lack of strength aside I was happy with the book. The pages are all high quality and I think the cover just looks awesome. Overall The Walking Dead: Compendium Two was an excellent book and difficult to put down once I started reading. The story is slow and less eventful this time around but it is by no means bad. If you enjoyed Compendium One than I definitely recommend you buy the second.

My wife and I bought the 1st compendium by complete happenstance. We were at Wal-Mart one night, bored, looking through the books section and saw it. We had already become fans of the show thanks to Netflix and a co-worker who told me about it. Neither of us are comics fans; we didn't read them as kids and didn't plan to as adults with adult children, but we both absolutely loved the 1st compendium, so of course we had to order the second one as soon as we finished the 1st. My wife has finished the 2nd compendium, and I'm about 10% through, but I already love it. I think these books are far better than the TV show, and I love that the characters are given more opportunity for development in the book. The one thing that complicates matters is that you never know if what you're reading is going to be a spoiler for the tv series. I am just now reading about Abraham, and I saw the episode where he was introduced a couple weeks ago, I believe. Even though the show doesn't follow the book verbatim, there are lots of parallels in the storyline, and with the characters. My only gripe about these compendiums is that they are so heavy to the point that they're not comfortable to read while lying in bed, or on the couch. You pretty much need to be at a desk b/c the books are unwieldy enough b/c they're paperbacks, on top of the fact that they must weigh about 5 pounds each. I do love the feel of an actual book in my hands (I love hardcovers) but I would be fine with these in eBook form just because they're so weighty. I read Stephen King's "The Stand" unabridged edition which was around 1200 pages, and it wasn't nearly as heavy as this thing. I'm a big guy, and I have no issues carrying my sleeping wife up a flight of stairs, but to hold this big book for an extended period of time sort of pulls you out of the story b/c you'll be reminded of the spine of the book digging into your lap or belly. Aside from that, it still deserves 5 stars b/c Robert Kirkman is an excellent story teller with a great talent for creating believable characters that you can't help but care about.

El cómic es perfecto igual que su predecesor, ilustraciones muy buenas y de calidad inmejorable y en ingles como yo lo quería.

Wer die Serie mag, wird den Comic LIEBEN. Starke Parallelen zur Serie, aber weit besser erzählt und aufgebaut. Mittlerweile lese ich den Comic lieber, als dass ich die Serie gucke. Das Kompendium ist die preiswerteste Variante um die Comics zu lesen. Mit 1000 Seiten aber auch die ungemütlichste. Auf's Sofa kuscheln geht damit eher schlecht, da schwer und groß. Dennoch, bei der Spannung (im Comic wird nichts in die länge gezogen..) merkt man das gar nicht.

Just got done reading this straight after getting the first one. I obviously can't tell you the plot line, because this book has over a thousand pages and I would be here FOREVER going over the story without spoiling anything. But I will tell you what I did, hopefully convincing any sceptics who may be hesitant about buying this. Firstly, DON'T buy it if you haven't read the first one. It will still be good, but come on, you can't jump on board half way through! You won't start feeling genuine feelings for these characters if you do that! Secondly, I was a fan of the TV series first. Being such a mega fan of the TV series and an avid comic reader, I thought to myself "why am I not reading The Walking Dead comics?" Then I had that argument with myself i'm sure we've all had at some point if you like TWD, "don't read it, it'll spoil the TV show!" But honestly, it doesn't. (THE SEASON 3 PREMERE WAS GREAT!) The TV show is its own machine. Sure, there's always going to be things that you can predict will obviously happen, but just remember, the TV show originated from THESE BOOKS. It is an AWESOME show, because this story is AWESOME. Anyway... Got a bit sidetracked there. So I bought the first Compendium thinking I'll give it a try... A week later, I pre-ordered this one (it arrived on the 9th of October!! Great service!!) because I got done reading the first one in a week (it was THAT addictive). So then another week goes by, I've finished this one. EVEN DAMN BETTER! So what I've done now is, because I absolutely have to have more of this amazing story, I ordered the next story arc in the series in single issues (even though it comes out in trade in a month or so). Read them all today. EVEN BETTER!!!!! So now, I will buy a new issue each month until the day I die and become a walker (hopefully even as a walker I can still read it). So in a matter of weeks, I've gone from worrying about buying it and reading the story, to being caught up in 10 years worth of story-telling. Anyway, to finish this boring review, buy this book and don't have a go at me when you find yourself ordering the single issues because of how great it was.

Just a bit too big, need two hands to handle this thing! quite heavy but so good to read. Enjoy

Buen producto