By Matt Molgaard
I won’t be there first hand (thank god) but prison life seems pretty tough. Being in prison with murderers and complete strangers, you never know who is who… I mean it, Who is who? These are the questions dealt with in The Walking Dead Volume 3: Prison Security. Rick’s appointment as the group’s leader has landed him in a tough spot, but the prison he and the group’s survivors discover seems to offer new hope. A whole new way of life, albeit a completely different one. The massive gates and endless bars give a sense of security, as do the countless cans of food. But looks can be deceiving, as Rick and his companions are about to learn firsthand.
After killing the walkers inside the prison gates again, Rick and the team find four inmates trapped in the cafeteria. They’re caged, but there’s food and the zombies can’t get in, so they’re in a pretty good position. While everyone is a little wary of cohabiting with a couple of convicted felons, there’s nothing that can be done about it. Throwing these people out with the walkers is a death sentence, and trapping them outside seems just as inhumane. They’re released, but the decision comes with a heavy price. One of the inmates is not who he seems. Children have been beheaded and women have been brutally attacked. The team must investigate and find the killer before more bodies pile up. Andrea is a big help in this regard, and before the book ends, we not only know who the killer is, but we also witness his own horrific death.
That’s the crux of this particular storyline, but rest assured, there’s much more to the story than that. Troubles are brewing, and both Hershel and Tyreese are tested like never before, as is Rick and his place in the team. I don’t mean to spoil the entire book, but I will say this: there are a lot of casualties in Behind Bars, and some of the murders really resonate on a very visceral level. This is a risky storyline, one that’s so intense that it could have caused some controversy and reflected badly on Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Image Comics. But that’s not the case. And with that risk comes great rewards, as the adventurous storyline has only strengthened The Walking Dead’s fanbase.
Sensitive parents may want to steer clear of this book. This is a stomach-churning read to say the least, and the violence in this graphic novel is decidedly more punchy than what we’ve seen in the story so far. Why, you ask? Because for the first time since Shane started losing his mind, the humans look scarier than the monsters. Zombies are still the main threat here, but it’s actually the ones with a pulse that you have to be wary of. I’d love to spoil the details for you, but Volume 3 is too good to commit that crime. You have to buy this book and read it, it’s absolutely gripping, completely revolting, and oddly addictive all at the same time.
Order yours here.
grade:5/5
