Review: The Walking Dead, Vol. 15: We Find Ourselves

The Walking Dead, Vol. 15: We Find Ourselves by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This volume was comparatively uneventful. Our survivors are working on safety measures, some people are hooking up, some are waking up, and some are planning a coup against Rick.

Wait, what?

Yeah, there's always going to be that one asshole. Or, maybe two assholes. We'll see.

Oh, and good morning, Carl! Welcome to the zombie apocalypse. It's ok to cry.



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Review: The Walking Dead, Vol. 14: No Way Out

The Walking Dead, Vol. 14: No Way Out by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



After a horrible accident, Rick sums up what I've been saying all along with these graphic novels: In comparison, the undead are manageable; it's the living that cause the real problems.

I think the one thing that really draws me to this story, to which I was introduced through the television show, is how realistic and honest the interactions are between the living. It's like a lesson in human nature in its rawest form. What we see these characters do for, to, and with each other is what we see in people every day - whether it be after a natural disaster or just in every day situations.

Some people will step up, some will slink away, some will plunder and then want what is yours, and some will go above and beyond for those they love.

And, of course, some will just go batshit crazy.

After reading through this volume, it occurred to me that Kirkman may be taking a page out of George R. R. Martin's playbook: "Oh, you love this character? I'm going to kill them."



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Review: The Jesus Presidents: Holy Grail Holy Presidents Holy Nation

The Jesus Presidents: Holy Grail Holy Presidents Holy Nation by L.E. Cooper

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I'm giving this book an extra star ONLY because I know how difficult it is to do genealogical research. Researching my family history has been my life's work. That said, I also know how important it is to: cite sources, pay attention to dates, attribute the right child to the right parent, and CITE SOURCES.

I came across this book while researching an 11th century ancestor, who I just so happen to share with President James Madison. According to this book, that ancestor is a direct descendant of Charlemagne. Well, this was exciting! It's not the purpose of genealogical research, as I see it, but it's always exciting to find you're directly related to someone so famous - or am I?

While trying to research the information L.E. Cooper lists in this book - the lineage, that is - I'm hitting dead ends and finding mistakes (on the author's part). Children are attributed to the wrong parent, the dates don't add up (children born before their parents were) - and maybe that's just a typo, but still - and there are NO SOURCES CITED.

Where did the author get this information? This wrong information, I should add. There is one person in the lineage that is keeping me from saying, "I'm directly descended from Charlemagne!" But one person - one mistake - is all it takes to go down a completely wrong path in genealogical research.



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Selfie Friday

The Sims 3 edition

Review: The Walking Dead, Vol. 13: Too Far Gone

The Walking Dead, Vol. 13: Too Far Gone by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Which is worse - dealing with the living dead or the living? In this volume, it's definitely the living that pose the most danger. If they make too much noise, however, it could attract either.

I like how Rick posed the same question I had a few reviews back: are the bad people inherently bad or just a product of their new circumstances? When the fighting is done, albeit temporarily, and a survivor has time to be alone with their thoughts, what personal issue - or just plain fuckery - will arise?

The title "Too Far Gone" could apply to any one of our survivors, so I wonder which one has been pushed so far over the edge that it is really too far.





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Review: The Walking Dead, Vol. 12: Life Among Them

The Walking Dead, Vol. 12: Life Among Them by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Our survivors were found and lead to a small utopian village set up outside of Washington, DC. The residents there are fat, happy, and oh so complacent.

Of course, to our survivors, this is surreal. Because our survivors have been disarmed, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for something really bad to happen - and then, nothing.

Or something? Rick may just have a plan to get their weapons back. Have our survivors become the bad guys? Are they going to disrupt the happy lives of the inhabitants of their new village? Maybe they just want to be armed and prepared in case something does happen. I would hate to think that Rick has turned into someone - something - akin to The Governor.



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Review: The Walking Dead, Vol. 11: Fear the Hunters

The Walking Dead, Vol. 11: Fear the Hunters by Robert Kirkman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Excuse my language, but this volume was completely f**ked up.

(***SPOILERS***)

Here we find a boy killing his twin brother because, hey, he's going to come back to life. Right? This creates desperate fear amongst our survivors. What to do with a child who doesn't understand what he did? Will he do it again? What no one asks if he is a product of the world they now live in, or a true sociopath?

This is where Carl exhibits his own sociopathic tendencies. Again, is he just doing what needs to be done without a second thought, or is he enjoying this?

Let us not forget the hunters (it's not called Fear The Hunters for nothing, ya know). When animals are scarce, and maybe a little too fast, what makes for better game than survivors passing through?

Humanity and humility shine through when Dale recognizes Rick's sacrifices and hard choices, through Rick's remorse over doing what had to be done, and Carl's ultimate confession.



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