***Contains Spoilers***
In this second installment of The Walking Dead, Kirkman delivers again. This second compendium picks up from the destruction of the prison and brings us through issue 96 and the midway point in the series.
During this second compendium, we start to see a shift in storytelling. While The Walking Dead has always been about human nature, the first 48 issues were heavy on Zombies. Starting from the prison, the zombie storylines fade into the background, and the focus doubles down on interpersonal relationships and how each character is affected by this new dystopian world.
We see early signs of Rick beginning to crack as he talks to his dead wife on the phone. We see Carl become hardened as he takes it upon himself to execute another kid in the group and Sofia as she breaks from reality to cope with the loss of her parents. Additionally, some great new characters are introduced — Eugene, Abraham, Rosita, and the town of Alexandria. Of course, there are more shocking deaths that make The Walking Dead so great. Like the cannibalistic hunters that pick off Dale and eat his leg. By the end of issue 96, you see that this group can take on any challenge/evil. Little do we know what will come as Rick agrees to take on the Survivors.
This compendium closes with the introduction of Jesus and the Hilltop. Again you can see that the story is turning form a small group just trying to survive (Compendium One) to a group trying to build a home (Compendium Two) to a group trying to rebuild a civilization (Compendiums Three and Four).
For me, this second installment of The Walking Dead is even better than the first. This is another 5-star graphic novel!
Feature Image The Walking Dead Compendium Two cover art by Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn
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