Cover to Walking Dead #33
© Image

Mania Grade: B-
Issue: 33
Authors: Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn
Publisher: Image
Price: $2.99

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"The Walking Dead: #33"

This 33^rd issue of The Walking Dead has caused a small amount of controversy after selling out at Diamond, causing Image to print a second run slated for release shortly.  The interest stems not from merely selling out, but for its issue-long torture sequence in which Michonne repays the sadistic Governor for raping her several times in the past few issues.  After Rick and a few others of our erstwhile gang of survivors left their prison colony and found the Governor’s enclosed city a few issues ago, the lot of them endured a series of indignities including, but not limited to, gladiatorial fights with zombies and, in Rick’s case, losing a hand.  At the end of the last issue, mere seconds from freedom, Michonne elected to revisit the Governor and repay him for his torturous sexual assaults.  Repay him she does, subjecting him to a series of atrocities involving a power drill, a blowtorch, and a spoon.  Use your imagination to fill in the details. 

I find it difficult to review this issue not because the torture offends me – it doesn’t – but because it lacks much story otherwise.  Robert Kirkman leaves the reader wondering if the Governor survived.  By all rights he should remain dead, but comic book logic can easily fix that.  Outside of that, the reader watches Michonne torture the sadist for several pages before catching up with Rick and the others outside the city.  As I said, the torture scene hardly offends me.  I’ve seen too many horror movies – along with a bit of real violence – in my life to stress over a few graphic illustrations.  But, the issue does little to advance the story and almost feels like an interruption from the escape begun last issue.  In that regard, the entire scene feels almost gratuitous.  Yet, I can’t summon a prudish and indignant response about the declining morals of a country that embraces torture films and, in this case, comics.  The issue fulfills its intentions in spades – give the Governor the punishment he deserves and show that Michonne will likely lose her mind soon enough.   

Charlie Adlard’s art impresses, as usual.  He pulls few punches with the graphic violence, and I can only imagine that the Cliff Rathburn’s gray tones add a level of restraint to the viciousness.  Fans of The Walking Dead have likely already picked this one up, and judging from the sell-out at Diamond, the speculators have already jumped on it.  I wouldn’t recommend new readers start with this issue, but old fans will likely stay aboard.  

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at comicscape@mania.com.