Shhhh! There’s a Hunter around…
The Walking Dead #62: Fear the Hunters, Part 1 of 5 
Publisher: Image
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Charlie Adlard
Inker: Charlie Adlard
Colorist: Cliff Rathburn
Covers: Cliff Rathburn
Summary: Kirkman’s long awaited introduction of the hunters in his previous “The Dead Do Not” story arc swims its way into this issue…but doesn’t make a very big splash. Dale grieves unhealthily, Carl continues to tumble down the rabbit hole of insanity, Eugene likes to Watch, and the Reverend is a little too snarky for comfort. Following quite the explosive issue, TWD #62’s aftershock barely registers.
Review: After the shocking murder of his adopted sons, Dale seems to have used up the last of his reserves. Feeling depressed and worthless, Dale secludes himself from the group, including Andrea. His desire to drift away and seclude himself (along with Andrea and the kids) from the others has been an ongoing issue as well as attempt recently. However, while grieving, Dale is not given a chance to make any kind of decision. The grand debut of the hunters’ emerges when they knock out and whisk away Dale to what must be their ‘headquarters’. That’s it. Frightening? I guess. Lived-Up-To-The-Hype Dramatic? Not so much.
The issue takes on a disturbing angle when we find out little Eugene has an affinity for voyeurism. How nice. What’s worse is the fact that the Reverend now makes jokes. Oh he’s a comedian now? Apparently so. The survivors aren’t having a laugh when he jokes that he could be planning to kill them all. Strangely, I wouldn’t find that funny either. On a lighter note, Michonne steps into the limelight after sword-slicing in the background for awhile, and discusses her sex/love life with Rick.
Carl is teetering on the edge of sanity at this point in the series; the influence of his father and his impressionable young mind have triggered his ‘fight’ instinct. He now deems what is necessary for survival and exerts his assumption on what’s best for the group by carrying out gruesome deeds. Murdering fellow survivors, much less kids his own age, indicates bouts of psychotic episodes. However, a brief glimpse of humanity in Carl appears towards the end of this installment, which breathes a bit of relief. Adlard’s brilliantly crafted panels of detailed pictures and no dialogue showcases just how tortured inside Carl has become.
Kirkman is deliberately toying with our emotions and our perspectives on morality. Many characters have exhibited signs of growth and change within the story, but none have so much as our favorite little hero, Carl. Subjected to almost-rape, bearing witness to the death of his mother and younger sister, all the while surviving through the zombie apocalypse has schooled Carl in the rules of emotional detachment and pragmatism. When he shocks us in the last issue with the cold-blooded murder of his fellow survivor, it is easy to be conflicted on if we actually agree with his actions because of pity or because we have grown as hard as Carl’s wavering demeanor by this point in the series.
There’s going to be a lot more to come for this series, and the introduction to the five part arc is most definitely the calm before the storm. Down to only a few of the original survivors, the tone and importance of some characters have undergone some gradual, yet massive changes. Unquestionably now a quintessential asset to the group, will Carl be the next Rick? Worse yet–is Kirkman building up a solid case for Carl because he plans to off Rick? Say it isn’t so!
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:58 am
Damn, the more I read about this series, the more I want to start reading it from the beginning. When will I find the time (and money)? x___x
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:48 am
You have to! But be forewarned: once you start, you can’t stop. I mean seriously…everyone I know that begins it, goes out and buys all the trades within a week. Worth it!
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I can’t wait to get my hands on more. I read the first 2 or 3 of the giant hardcovers.