The Walking Dead #126

[cyberghostface]

Comments

[keerruhn]

I can see why a lot of people wouldn't, but I really like this ending. Between Invincible & the Walking Dead Kirkman has a habit of exploring protagonists who try to make mature decisions, or at least ones that attempt to side step the same old tradition of face punching and stuff.

I think this has a lot of potential to be interesting, the end of last issue really made it clear what kind of character Negan is when he had his chat with Rick and I'm really interested in seeing how he fits into the new world Rick is trying to create, or if he even allows that world to be made.

Either way, this ending felt anti-climactic but the all of the potential has me excited again and at the very least it was a bold move.

[cyberghostface]

Yeah I think it can lead to some interesting stories with him alive as opposed to just killing him off.

[keerruhn]

He'll, if nothing else we're sure to get more Negan/Carl interaction, and I just know that's headed to a darkly awesome place.

[cyberghostface]

I liked the 'bromance' they had going on a while back even if it was more from Negan's perspective whereas Carl just wanted to kill him.

[keerruhn]

Exactly! I know there's more to come with that, there has to be. It's like Negan is the only one willing to acknowledge a part of Carl that's really unsavoury, whilst Rick is trying to, I guess, channel it into a less destructive and anti-social avenue.

Having Negan around Carl as a regular influence will be very cool to read.

[shadowpsykie]

....i'm so confused.....

[superfangirl1]

I can see that Rick might think that death is too much a easy way out and it might be too good for Negan. But won't Negan men once they know that their leader is still alive, might try a rescue attempt and devastate Rick camp trying to save him?

[xammax]

None of them seem at all fond.

[flint_marko]

They were there when Rick had him saved.

One of Negan's men, Dwight, had been helping Rick out and he became their new leader.

[beyondthefringe]

This still won't end well.

Because nothing good ever comes of leaving an enemy alive. Not one like Negan. Either he continues to be an antagonist and a bomb waiting to go off, or he has some SERIOUS shit to work through before he can even come close to being considered on the road to redemption. Not given what he's already done.

There's being the better person... and there's knowing when a mad dog needs to be put down for everyone else's safety.

[leoboiko]

I don't support capital punishment in real life, but what would me in this situation is that not only Negan is incredibly dangerous, but also society is unstable and constantly at threat. I just don't see how this precarious society could safely hold someone like him for a lifetime. At the very least he should be incapacitated to lessen the risk, say by ruining his hands and tongue… wait, what the hell am I saying :o

[tugrul]

I just hope the creative team doesn't let him escape and make them regret it. That would be a tired plot point.

[leoboiko]

Exactly my worry. Let's hope it goes some other way…

[keerruhn]

I think that's probably one of the more interesting bits of the story. Right before Rick shanked Negan it looked like Negan might have maybe been convinced by what Rick was saying. Obviously he could have been faking it to get close like Rick was but that chance could go to a lot of different places.

[leoboiko]

I think Negan is just too unstable. In my opinion there's a good chance he was being sincere, and he'd probably embrace the cause with admirable conviction, but then again he'd freak out the first time something didn't go his way, and brutally murder someone at the slightest slight.

[keerruhn]

Negan certainly has an edge to him, but it feels like that's an image he's cultivated for himself and continues to cultivate so that he can keep control. Everyone he's hurt so far in the series (that I can recall at least) has been for a reason, generally because they in some way disobeyed the rules he set in place.

I don't doubt that he's at least slightly nutty, definitely egotistical and often very cruel, but it seems like he's genuinely trying to be reasonable half the time.

[jetblack927]

Ah, the ol' "Star Trek Into Darkness" Lets-not-kill-the-psycho-just-keep-him-in-cold-storage resolution...it always works, right???...DUM DUM DUMMMMMMM!!!!

[northstarfan]

Last I checked, relatively painless execution was a perfectly civilized response to a sadistic asshole beating someone to death just for the hell of it. An actual attempts at rehabilitation, vindictive shaming, whatever this is supposed to be, it doesn't sit well. As mentioned upthread, this still isn't a stable society, and keeping this guy alive just so Rick can try to prove a point about how much better they are puts everyone else at risk.