Walking Dead, Volume 9: Here We Remain by Robert Kirkman

I am not much of zombie fan - never had more than a passing interest in zombie movies or literature - but I am a Walking Dead fan... it is my 2nd favorite ongoing comic book series (Fables still beats it soundly). So how does a non-zombie fan become a fan of the most popular (and I’d say best) zombie comic book series available? That’s an easy one - Robert Kirkman. His writing is clear, compelling, and emotional, and the story is more about life after the unthinkable than it is about zombies. In an introduction to a previous volume (I believe it was the first) Kirkman describes his desire to write a zombie story which takes place after the point where all your typical zombie movies ends - what is life like in world where everything has changed and you are never safe? The Walking Dead series is an examination of that world.

Volume 9 picks up after the dramatic events of volume 8 and moves the story forward ever so slightly while looking at the implications of those events. As always, this volume is poignant in a no punches held sort of way and leaves you wanting more. The volume also opens up the prospect of learning what caused the zombie outbreak, although that never seemed to be the point of the story, and I doubt it will pan out. In a way, Volume 9 is more about catching your breadth from the previous volume and setting up the story to follow than about anything else... this was somewhat disappointing, yet the knowledge the story is continuing on is worth it. I am in it for the long haul and perfectly fine with letting Robert Kirkman take his time... when in doubt, trust the storyteller.

The art is stark and clear, creating a level of suspense and drama that works more than adequately for the story. The use of black and white (something I often shy away from in comic books) fits the story so well that I think the addition of color would distract from the story... there is no need to see zombies in full color goriness, you get the point just fine with what is given.

I recommend visiting your local comic book shop and picking up the first couple of volumes if you have not read The Walking Dead yet... I say “couple of volumes” as this series goes down rather quickly and always leaves me yearning for the next volume - now that I finished the 9th volume, I am anxious for the 10th to make its way to store shelves. If you like post-apocalyptic tales, zombies, or just plain old compelling graphic narratives you will like The Walking Dead.