The Walking Dead #4

The Walking Dead (Single Issues)

by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore (Illustrator)

It is decided that in order to survive... every person at the camp should have guns. As it is, they don't have enough to go around and the only place to get more guns is the city, but it means certain death to go into the city. Is Rick crazy enough to risk his life for the good of the camp?

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Zombies, Fiction, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics

32 pages

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.

Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.

In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a zombie attacks a member of the group Rick decides to go into the city with Glenn to get more guns and ammo. Glenn has never been that far into the city; and warns Rick it is dangerous. After 'masking' their scent with 'zombie secretions' they seem to be safe - then it starts to rain! Time to get moving!

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

САЩ е територия на супергероите. Ако комикс, в който няма и помен от тях вземе да се превърне в хит – това говори много за заглавието. И не ще и дума, че „Живите мъртви” на Робърт Къркман и Тони Муур е истинско явление, и то още преди Франк Дарабонт да адаптира поредицата на екран. Все пак трябва да сме благодарни на едноименния сериал на AMC за пиковата популярност на комикса „Живите мъртви”, както и на „Студио Арт Лайн” за превода и издаването на първите броеве у нас! Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":

https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Inna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Добрите хора от озон ми подариха комикс, защото знаят, че аз такова нещо сама няма да си купя :D
Противно на очакванията ми, всъщност ми хареса, въпреки че знам историята от сериала. Харесаха ми рисунките. Бях изненадана да видя как изглеждат Глен и Лори.
И все пак ще се огранича само до подарените комикси. :)

[benita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick and Glenn walks into Atlanta to find guns to protect the camp, since they came close with one of the zombies he doesn’t want anyone to die. But what will happen when they enter further into the city? What will meet them, and will they both get out safe?

Finally some zombie action. And I sense some drama in the next issue. Oh the ending.

Happy reading!♥️

[Meegz Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book and Show still pretty similar so far. This is where its going to start getting interesting with Shane I think.....

[skylar lokota · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.75

Really good issue! I liked this more than #3, but I really hate how women are portrayed. I think it gets better, if the show is true to the series, but I forgot how much I hated that aspect!

[Chris Greensmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Just stay calm... don't freak out. We're going to be fine."
A plan is hatched resulting in the I famous 'zombie juice disguise' we will all be trying when this finally happens in 2022. Rick and Glenn get to know each other more when they go scavenging, and Lori destroys Shane...

[Tiffany Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rick tells Shane about his doubts, staying as close to the city as they are but Shane dismisses them. Rick decides if they have to stay they all need to be armed so he and Glenn head to the city to get guns. Rick and Glenn ask Jim where the closest gun store is and to their dismay they find it far into the city. The two men decide to go anyway and on the way Glenn tells Rick about how Jim got out of the city. Jim's family had acted as a human shield for Jim and he saw them get ripped apart as he escaped.

Rick has an idea to keep the undead away, he smears blood from a dead zombie all over his and Glenn's body. Rick's idea works and they are not bothered by the zombies as they walk to the gun store. Finding a shopping cart and filling it they head back to the camp but it begins to rain and washes the blood away from them. Running out of the city Rick gets bitten but his leather jacket protects him. As Lori waits in the rain for Rick, Shane tries to comfort her and talks about a night they shared but Lori tells him that was a mistake and now that Rick is back he needs to let it go.

Tensions rise between Shane and Rick and its starting to affect the rest of the group. And the one thing I really, really was hoping was only going to be in the TV series I'm finding originally started in the comics. I'm referring to the fact of gutting a walker so that they can get the stink on them to blend in. Oh course, seeing Glenn be sick was kinda funny in the comics. It made me feel sorry for him but laugh at the same time. I really enjoy this issue and I'm surprised by it as well. Just when I think the series went and added something that wasn't in the comics, BOOM it shows up. The tank! Right after Rick's plan of walker stink works they just stroll down the road to the gun store and along the way...tank!

Another credit to my fandom to Tony Moore! Around page 14 or so, the actual tank page...the detail. I know I keep saying it but seriously. If you don't buy the comics fine but pick up an issue or graphic novel and thumb through it a sec! DETAIL! You can see the flies buzzing around the corpses and walkers! Even Rick and Glenn have them. You can't see the flies on the two so much on the tank page, but its noticeable when they finally find the gun store and get a cart to go shopping. The only complaint and its not really even that but at the end.... Did Lori's face grow longer? I mean I know she was sad about Rick leaving to go off and do something again, and I know Shane was hounding her about their "special one night" but I think you can actually see her face grow longer over three frames! It's kind of funny!

Besides the awesome issue and detail and artistic value, I should probably have mentioned it before now, but the lettering on this issues are amazing. Robert Kirkman, of course, understands the story more than anyone since he created it, but to actually see his lettering brings highlights to the story that may not have been there before. I love how the larger lettering really captures the sounds and the double speech bubbles highlights the importance of that one word or phrase in it. HURRY! It wouldn't be the same if Kirkman just bold faced it. Bold facing and double bubbles really make you pay attention world of hurt they are going to be in if they don't hurry or whatever it is in the bubble. Being clear and legible is a plus as well. Some times, I have come across a few comics where the lettering and the colors don't mix very well and you either can't read it cause it bleeds with the background, or the words can be one of five different ones.

This whole comic didn't really happen in the series. The series characters used a walker to go and get a vehicle, not weapons, to drag the other walkers away from the building so that they could leave and make it back to camp. The "gun shopping" kind of happened. They didn't go to a store but went back to the tank in the middle of the road to get Rick's bag of weapons from his old precinct. The rain scene did happen in that while Rick and Glenn were making their way to a vehicle to drive the walkers away, the rain completely washed away the stink. And as far as Shane and Lori talking in the rain go.... well, it wasn't raining, but they talk/yell at each other several times. In fact, more than one time, Lori has to tell Shane to leave her and her family alone and that what they had didn't and doesn't matter anymore.

There are of course things I love and hate between comics and TV series and they are to numerous right now to list all in one sitting, but I do in fact really love this issue. There is so much action in this issue and so much more dramatic detail. Ripples in the water when Glenn drops the guns, the shading and blurred vision of walkers while the downpour of rain occurs, the tank page, but the one that gets me the most excited is the story line. It is such a small thing in this issue that I am almost embarrassed to say it, but the little change of Rick and Glenn putting the walker stink on for the guns made more sense to me than them putting it on and going through all the vomiting and near hits from biting for a vehicle that may or may not have keys and may or may not run in the show.... I really can't explain it, but to me weapons would have been worth more of the risk than pulling walkers away from a building that was going to be over run eventually in the first place. But hey that's just my two cents. Anyways....

I recommend as always to fans of The Walking Dead Universe, zombies, dystopian and apocalypse genres.

Originally posted: http://tiffanyfoxbooks.blogspot.com/2...

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the entire series.

Rick Grimes is a strong-willed deputy who missed the end of the world because he was in a coma for a month after getting shot in the line of duty. Shaken, starving and confused, Rick escapes the horror of the abandoned hospital only to be met with something far more terrible. Not only has the world ended, but the dead have learned to walk and to kill without mercy. After learning that his wife and son have fled to Atlanta from a single survivor and his son, Rick goes on a journey to reunite with his family and search for more survivors.

Rick quickly has to come to terms with the fact that the world has ended and only a select few survived. The dead have risen from their graves and they prey on the living. In a world where every minute feels like hours, where there's no such thing as law and order, where finding a small meal is a tremendous task, the walking dead are quite possibly the least threatening thing for the survivors to have on their breaking minds. Humanity is pushed to the brink of destruction, forcing them to embrace their cruel and primal nature in order to survive. Sometimes you have to be more concerned about who you let into your community so they don't kill you in your sleep and steal everything you once cared about. Rick has no choice but to abandon the ways of law and order that he's upheld as an officer for so long in order to protect the few loved ones he has left. He has to become a monster to protect his crew or risk being devoured by those who became more monstrous than him and even the walking dead.

Despite zombies running the world and having the series named after them, what really sets this series apart from the average zombie apocalypse tale is the focus on realism and the daily struggles, flaws and depth of the characters. There's plenty of badass zombie killing action, but the action often takes a back seat to give the characters plenty of times to share their extremely tragic yet endearing stories, grow through mutual suffering and learn to adapt to a world that has left them to die. Even after the world has ended, many people still can't see eye to eye. They turn on each other and kill each other when they should come together. Others form alliances in spite of their differences and try to rebuild over the corpse of everything that was lost. The daily human drama and conflict is more intense than any monster apocalypse could hope to be.

We watch Rick struggle to balance his old moral code with the many necessary evils he has to commit in order to survive and make the world a better place for the ones he holds close. We watch people like Glen, Dale and Maggie attempt to find love in spite of having every reason to be filled with fear, hate and self-loathing. Characters like Michonne have to learn how to forgive themselves and convince themselves they deserve to be loved despite all the blood on their hands. We watch the weak like Carl and Andrea become strong and sometimes the strong become evil like The Governor. Even monsters like the wicked yet oddly lovable Negan are given the chance to find new ways of redeeming themselves by struggling alongside the other survivors that have all been changed by the horrors of the fallen world.

The pacing is extremely slow and I can understand why that may be a turnoff for a lot of people, but I eventually learned to enjoy watching the characters grow, overcome their trauma, find meaning in life and learn to love again. The characters are forced to do many terrible things to survive and it haunts them every waking moment. The ways they overcome these regrets is very realistic, human and hopeful. The slow pacing really gives the feeling that we're living beside these people. The way every tiny detail of their lives and who they are is explored makes them feel very real and believable.

When I first started reading the series, I wasn't expecting it to have such an uplifting ending. It seemed so bleak and nihilistic for a long time and things would go horribly wrong even when they seemed to be going so well, but the finale channels all the pain, suffering and betrayal of the previous volumes and tops it off with a very touching and inspiring finish. This was never a story about hopelessness. It's about learning to appreciate the little things, learning to forgive yourself and learning to move on even when it's hard. When everything seems lost there's always more to be found, even when we believe otherwise because we convince ourselves that we don't deserve to be happy ever again. Instead of dwelling on what was lost, strive to try and make things better than they were before.

I've never been a huge fan of zombie apocalypse stories, but The Walking Dead had enough heart and strong social commentary to make me stick by the characters until the end and I enjoyed every moment of their long trial.

***

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[No_One · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tension in this was so well done. The stakes were high and there’s even some great worldbuilding.

So far the comic > show.

[Fadoua ϟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH MY GOD ! This was so intense !! My heart was beating thinking the zombies would get them !! + some shocking stuff that happened wooow !! I like it so far !

[John Michael Martinez (Elio. Journal) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issue #4 of The Walking Dead delivers a hauntingly tragic narrative that encapsulates both the physical and emotional toll the apocalypse takes on its survivors. One of the most gut-wrenching aspects of this issue is Jim's backstory. His haunting tale of survival, where he witnesses his family being torn apart by walkers while he narrowly escapes, adds a deep sense of tragedy and loneliness to the character. It's a harsh reminder of how the world of The Walking Dead strips away hope and leaves survivors grappling with immense guilt and trauma. I felt Jim’s despair far more keenly in this issue than in other adaptations, especially with the comic's slower, more intimate pacing.

On the lighter side of things, there’s a morbid sense of dark humor when Glenn vomits not once, but twice, while smearing zombie guts on himself as part of Rick’s plan to blend in with the walkers. This moment of grim absurdity offered a brief respite from the otherwise heavy tone of the issue. Seeing Glenn, who had been so brave in venturing into the city, react this way is both relatable and, in its own way, comforting—it reminds us that these characters are still human, with all the vulnerabilities and discomforts that come with it.

As for Lori and Shane, their brief conversation in this issue is layered with unresolved tension and guilt. Lori’s insistence on putting their past behind them, now that Rick has returned, feels like a desperate attempt to restore normalcy. Yet, it’s hard to ignore the fact that both Lori and Shane are to blame for this situation. It’s infuriating how quickly they disregarded Rick, assuming he was dead, and even more so that Shane—his best friend—crossed a line. This lingering tension between them taints every interaction they have moving forward. It leaves me feeling a mix of frustration and anger toward both characters, especially considering the potential consequences their actions could have on Carl, who is already living in a nightmarish world.

The issue begins with Shane standing watch over the camp after the events of the previous issue. Rick joins him, and the two discuss the group's next steps. Rick, seeing how dangerous the proximity to Atlanta is, suggests they should leave the area, fearing another attack like the one that almost took Donna's life. However, Shane dismisses this concern, holding on to the belief that the government will swoop in and save them if they remain where they are. This difference in outlook between Rick and Shane subtly highlights the growing divide between them—Shane clings to a pre-apocalyptic belief in order and structure, while Rick is adapting to the new reality and learning to be proactive in ensuring his family's survival.

The following morning, Rick formulates a plan to retrieve more weapons from Atlanta. Glenn is enlisted for the mission, as he has already made supply runs into the city. Jim, still in shock from his traumatic experience, points them toward the location of a gun store, which sets Rick and Glenn on their way.

Before leaving, Rick has a tense conversation with Lori, informing her that he plans to teach their son Carl how to shoot. This moment struck me as both necessary and heartbreaking. While Rick’s actions are motivated by a genuine desire to protect his family, the reality of teaching a child to wield a weapon—one that could end a life—is a stark reminder of how far gone the world is. Lori’s concern for Carl’s innocence contrasts sharply with Rick’s pragmatic outlook, reflecting the tension between parental protection and the brutal realities they now face.

Rick’s theory about masking themselves with zombie guts as a form of camouflage leads to a scene that is both thrilling and nauseating. The idea is innovative, yet grotesque—covering themselves in the remains of the undead in order to move safely through the city. Glenn’s reaction, vomiting twice as they apply the guts, added a sliver of dark humor to the grim task. While initially I found the plan fascinating, the eventual rainstorm that washes away their cover adds a nerve-wracking layer of tension. The panel where they slowly realize the rain is revealing their human scent made me feel an impending sense of doom as they rush to gather as many weapons as possible before they’re attacked.

The gun shop sequence offers some of the best tension in the issue. As Rick and Glenn make their way through the horde, the brief moments where zombies seem to notice something off are nail-biting. The desperation of the two men trying to gather supplies as the walkers close in, followed by their frantic escape through the rain-soaked streets, creates a nerve-wracking balance of risk and reward. The moment when a walker bites Rick's shoulder only to reveal that his skin hasn’t been broken was particularly effective—it teases us with Rick's vulnerability, making us question how close he can come to death before his luck runs out.

Meanwhile, back at camp, the conversation between Lori and Shane carries a heavy weight. Lori, still grappling with her guilt, tries to push Shane away now that Rick has returned. But Shane isn’t so quick to let go of their brief relationship, even reminding Lori of the night they spent together. The fact that Shane refuses to move on speaks to his emotional instability and foreshadows the deeper conflict brewing beneath the surface. Shane’s jealousy and obsession with Lori become more evident, and it’s clear that this dynamic is on a dangerous trajectory. Lori's final words to Shane—calling their night together a "mistake"—are damning, but the damage has already been done.

Overall, Issue #4 successfully builds on the tension within the group and moves the plot forward while delving deeper into the personal struggles of the characters. The issue’s balance of action, emotional stakes, and interpersonal drama makes it a standout in the early arc of The Walking Dead. The moral dilemmas the characters face, whether it’s risking their lives for weapons or dealing with the emotional fallout of infidelity and broken trust, are laid bare, reminding us that the real horror in this world isn’t always the undead but the decisions we make and the people we become in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a huge fan of the show, I wanted to see how the original writing started and how the show writers followed and deviated from the comics. My dislikes were that the comics are much more crude, crass, and unnecessarily violent. I did like the change in relationships and how people worked together differently, and the comics have a different creepiness feel than you get watching it on TV. Overall, I prefer the show, and probably will not finish out the comic book series.

[Ehab Fathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

- But what about that night when we -- on the road down here ?
- That night--
- ...
- That night was a mistake .

[Blancactus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta mierda es buena, me está enganchando bien, y eso que por ahora es bastante similar a la serie. Va rápido, mantiene la tensión, el dibujo es genial... ¡¡y sin conversaciones en voz baja!!

[Agung Wicaksono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick berencana untuk mengambil senjata api di tengah kota supaya di kamp pengungsian ada lebih banyak yang bisa melindungi diri. Ia pergi ke sana dibantu oleh Glenn yang berpengalaman menyusuri kota dengan peta miliknya. Namun, karena Glenn merasa belum pernah pergi sejauh ke toko senjata, maka Rick memiliki ide untuk melumuri tubuh mereka dengan darah zombie sehingga bisa berbaur dengan makhluk tersebut. Setelah berhasil masuk ke toko dan membawa banyak peluru serta senjata untuk persediaan, tiba-tiba hujan turun dan secara perlahan menghilangkan noda darah zombie di tubuh mereka. Lantas, para zombie di sekitar Rick dan Glenn pun mulai bereaksi.

[Kaoyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Más interesante que el tercer tomo del cómic, en este Glenn y Rick van de regreso a la ciudad de Atlanta en la que hay cientos de mordedores en busca de armas es casi un absoluto suicidio , si no llega a ser por la genial idea de Rick no saldrían de allí con vida.

La parte final de Lori con Shane casi me ha dado igual.

Un 8 por la parte Rick-Glenn.

[M. Ashraf · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Walking Dead
Issue#04
Volume#01
Robert Kirkman

Rick want to take charge of the group and the decision making but concede to Shane for now being the one more experienced with the situation
Smell masking first time early on in the series
Getting more guns for the camp
We get to know what is up between Shane and Lori

[Eric Salinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best splash panels so far: the tank in the middle of the city. It is fascinating how they took this idea and evolved it in the TV show.

There are so many things that I would like to highlight in this issue: the dynamic interaction between Rick and Glenn, the idea of them covering themselves in zombie liquids to make their trip into the city, and the great final. Wow, this issue has a lot of great things going on; it's my second favorite so far.

[Kelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this comic more as it was mostly Rick and Glenn. This issue was about them heading into Atlanta to get some guns, more action with the zombies ... ahem, excuse me, the Walkers, a lil' back story about Jim & Lori still being annoying.
x

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my favorite out of The Walking Dead graphic novels so far. In some ways I really enjoyed reading this yet I also like how this was adapted to the tv series. I think it brings out the best of Rick (creativity) and Glenn (willingness to help).

[Clau♡☁️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTA-> 4/5⭐

Es bastante corto, pero me ha gustado mucho por haber encontrado las referencias en las que la serie se basó:)
PD: Sigo sin superar que en los cómics no existan los Dixon, sobre todo Daryl:(💗

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked the first couple pages, love the art and especially the zombies and the post apocalyptic setting 😻🤩🧟‍♂️🔥🔫

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I decided to give it a shot again and this issue is fine, nothing big but the story is moving forward.

[Rose 'I Have Too Many Books To Read And No More Room' Barrientos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the differences between the show and the comic. It's really good so far.

[Cony · Rating 5 out of 5]

aaa lori es una trola hasta en los comics muy bueno

[Carrot95x · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5.

[Aimée Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy way to start the new year and a new reading goal😝

[Caroline Herondale · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★

[Chad Bunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better in color.