The Walking Dead #72

Written by Robert Kirkman
Art by Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn

Now that the crew has made it to their new safe haven, they face a challenge perhaps more difficult than the others they've had to deal with when they were surrounded by zombies:  fitting in in the suburbs.

The people in the town they are now living in seem very nice.  They want Rick and his friends to acclimate to things, and so they throw them a party, and this results in some of Kirkman's best writing on this title.  Some of the characters are not ready to let go of their mistrust or their edge, while others are beginning to revert to something more like what they were before the zombies started showing up.

Kirkman has been doing a great job of building these characters over the last few years, and it's quite interesting to see them in this type of situation.  Michonne, who is always so quiet and capable, cannot handle hanging out with gossiping housewives.  Abraham, who was so quick to act, is now dreading leaving the walls of the town.  Glenn and Maggie are having their first domestic arguments, and Carl is still being very sullen and morose.  Andrea is the new target of Douglas, the town's leader and self-styled Lothario.

What really stood out in this issue is how Adlard has started to change the way some of the characters are drawn.  They aren't as unwashed and haggard as usual.  Now they are shaving, and look more clean-cut than ever before.  It almost looks like they are gaining weight and becoming less stressed.  He really is a great artist.

Also of interest in this issue is the way that Kirkman is beginning to lay the groundwork for future issues.  It's clear that some of these townspeople have some secrets, and I loved the last page reveal of what Rick has planned.  This is a great series that shows no signs of slowing down.