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Imo, anyway.

The biggest problem that Kirkman is facing (aside from becoming repetitive and boring - which could happen) is the lack of investment in his cast. Ever since the Prison I've been hard pressed in becoming invested in any of his new characters. Abraham was really the only one who had become a prominent and popular cast member despite the fact that characters like Eugene and Gabriel have been around for quite a while now. Douglas was certainly interesting but he didn't last too long and I felt he was underused. Morgan was another chance to get us invested in a (sort of) new cast member but alas, he was also underused and killed.

And now that Glenn bit the bullet there seems to be very little in the way of characters we can be invested in. Rick, Michonne, Andrea and Carl are all that remain. Even maggie and sophia really haven't reached the same heights despite their longevity.

If Kirkman expects this book to last he needs to focus on the other characters of Alexandria. Sure, they have their fans, but we need they need to become the new Glenns, Abrahams and Tyreeses of the series. Kirkman needs to get us to really care about Jesus, Aaron, Eric, Heath, Nicholas, Rosita, Holly, Gabriel Dr. Cloyd and Spencer (well, at least the ones who survive this arc) so that when they go we go "Shit!! NOOOOOOOOO! Fuck you Kirkman!!!". Eugene is the only character who Kirkman has recently began to spend more time with and I'm glad for it. Although he has his supporters (I'm looking at you Euge) it wasn't really until the last few issues where he's become a prominent member of the Walking Dead cast.

Unless he does this Kirkman's going to resort to killing the last few major cast members we have left in order to shock us. And who really wants to read a book where only Rick and an ever changing supporting cast remain? Not I.

Completely agree. Since the prison I could care less about any of the newer characters outside of Jesus. The other problem for me now is that its not a matter of if they are going to die its a matter of when, so I tend not to get too attached to anyone. They have kind of painted themselves into a corner in that respect.

ABSOLUTELY 100% AGREED. In order for my interest to really be kept by TWD, it needs to have a STRONG ENSEMBLE cast. Part of my negative feelings toward Rick are based in the fact that he's one of the few elite characters getting panel time. Andrea is thankfully getting some love and attention and I like her character now more than I ever did.

You're right on the money with Glenn, part of the sting I have from TWD 100 is that I *should've* felt more when he died. The number 1 reason I can think of that I was left numb was because Glenn was stuck so far in the background for so long that I almost stopped caring, but it sucked because I really *used* to care about what happened to the guy. It felt like a disservice to his memory as a significant character and a "fuck you" to the fans.

And if I had something to do with The Euge getting brought to the forefront in recent issues... awesome.

To give away the secret: it was totally this shirt, brah:

The reason we feel this way is because we got attached to characters in the prison arc and then watched them all die in 46-48. We have hardened as readers because of that, and we can get attached easily again.

What made this comic so great, what made that arc so great.. Is exactly what is stopping us from getting attached again. The writing hasn't changed... The comic has changed/hardened you as a reader.

Another reason is the characters introduced have seemed subordinate to Rick's main group. Abe shattered the ceiling and was one of the main guys. Every new character seems like they are below Rick's originals. I would have rather seen Heath go than Glenn , even though there is way more unexplored story with Heath. I do think Jesus will be front and center and not take a backseat to the older, more established characters. Given time, we will almost forget Abe and Glenn and I'm sure we will come to know and love new protagonists in the ongoing struggle of survival.

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I want you to remember the one man who beat you.

jesus and abe were the only people after the prison i cared about, to be honest i dont even care about anyone in this book really anymore, i just know rick is gonna survive and i want andrea to be with him cause its gettin annoying how all his mates just keep dying, like i cared more about axel and billy then i did about anyone as of late, the characters were written so good back then and made you wanna get invested, i think he focuses too much on the world outside of our little crew like oh theres people outside these guys now and oh whos gonna die next, like back then the governer was pretty much the only human threat, like the few doods are the prison were but they were takin care of real fast, this book is really jumpin the shark

We got attached to all the characters at the prison because it was top notch story telling and character development. Something that hasn't happened since the prison arc.

The comic hasn't changed or hardened me. To say that is silly and it's making excuses for poor writing and not developing characters properly. Kirkman seems stuck in a pattern right now and doesn't know where he should take thing thing. This new arc is shaping up to be exactly like the governor arc. A lot of people are going to die, and in the end I bet Rick, Carl, and Andrea run away to start over somewhere and have the same stuff happen.

I'm a huge TWD fan, but right now I'm getting a better story out of the video game than I am the comic.

That moment for me came when Carl got half his head blown off and not only survived, but has no problems other than some long-term memory loss.

Come on...

Changed or hardened you as a reader... Not as a person. In most stories we have been taught the main characters are safe... TWD taught us different.

I think everyone that can't stop bitching, whining and crying about TWD every day should stop reading it and hang up their crying towels.