Sci-Fi Jubilee My YouTube Channel Resident Evil 3 Remake

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Horror, Jill Valantine, RE3, Resident Ecil 3 Carlos, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil 3 Nemesis, Resident Evil 3 remake, Resident Evil 3 Remake gameplay, Resident Evil 3 Remake Walktrhough, Zombies

Sci-Fi Jubilee My YouTube Channel Resident Evil 3 Remake

The Resident Evil 3 remake from Capcom is finally here! I’ve been really looking forward to this remake of 1999’s Resident Evil 3 Nemesis, and thought it would be a great chance to feature some new gameplay videos on my YouTube Channel for you.

Resident Evil 3 is set in Raccoon City amidst the nightmarish outbreak of the T-Virus created by the Umbrella Corporation. The game features S.T.A.R.S member Jill Valentine and soldier Carlos Oliveira. As if being thrown into the midst of a zombie apocalypse wasn’t enough, Jill must also confront the towering Nemesis, a hulking humanoid Bo weapon that’s armed to the teeth and powerful enough to crush anything that gets in his way!

Check out the Opening Nemesis Chase!

Set during the events leading up to and after the acclaimed Resident Evil 2 remake, Resident Evil 3 is a tense survival horror game that features intense combat, puzzles, and encounters with numerous characters as Jill battles her way across Raccoon City with the seemingly unstoppable Nemesis relentlessly hunting her at ever turn. As well as the single player game there’s also Resident Evil Resistance, an online multiplayer addition that sets a team of players against a mastermind working behind the scenes to eliminate the survivors.

I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve played of the Resident Evil 3 remake so far. There are lots of nice nods to the original Resident Evil 3 to enjoy, the storyline is really good, its plays well, looks great, and they’ve done a fantastic job with how the fearsome Nemesis chases you through the game – he’s still as scary as ever, and then some!

The Nemesis Flamethrower Fight!

It does feel a bit strange playing a game like Resident Evil 3 with everything going on in the world right now and being in lockdown here in the UK because of the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s a worrying time for sure, but on a positive note, its given me more time to spend with my family, loads more time to write, I can also box set binge myself silly to my hearts content, and now thanks to the Resident Evil 3 remake I also get more time to play games on the PS4!

I’ll post more gameplay videos on my YouTube Channel as I work my way through the game. I might do some live streams as well, so please feel free to like and subscribe if you enjoy, and I’d also like to say a big thank you for your continued support of Sci-Fi Jubilee and my YouTube Channel. Cheers everyone, take care, and stay safe.

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About The Author

Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook

Sci-Fi Jubilee My YouTube Channel Resident Evil 2 Remake

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Horror, Paul Bowler, Paul Bowler YouTube Channel, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 2 livestream, Resident Evil 2 remake, Resident Evil 2 walkthrough, Sci-Fi Jubilee, Sci-Fi Jubilee YouTube, The Tyrant, Zombies

Sci-Fi Jubilee My YoouTube Channel Resident Evil 2 Remake

Hello everyone, and thanks for checking out my YouTube Channel! The first big game of 2019 is here! Yes, the Resident Evil 2 remake has been released, and I thought it’d be the perfect game to stream some gameplay footage for you over on my YouTube Channel. The original Resi Evil 2 was released in 1998, it capitalized on the success of the series’ first game, and quickly became a mega hit! Its arguably one of the best survival horror games ever, so I’ve been really looking forward to this new version of the game, and I’m pleased to say I’ve found the new Resident Evil 2 remake to be every bit as scary and as fun to play as well!

Check out the start of the Resident Evil 2 remake!

Right from the outset the Resident Evil 2 remake gives you all the nostalgic chills of the original game. Essentially the same in many ways, yet updated with gorgeously detailed modern graphics, and new slants on classic moments from the original Resident Evil 2.

So far I’ve played the opening, starting at a creepy gas station, before reaching the Raccoon City Police Dept, where I’ve encountered hordes of zombies, the fearsome Lickers, a grotesquely mutated William Birkin, and the relentless Tyrant! I’ve had a blast playing the game so far, so I look forward completing the rest of it, and then doing the next play though as Claire.

I’ll be streaming some more glameplay videos as I work my way through Resident Evil 2, so please feel free to like and subscribe if you enjoy them, and I’d like thank you all so much for your continued support of Sci-Fi Jubilee and my YouTube Channel. Cheers everyone

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The Walking Dead #174 Review

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Alexandria, Charlie Adlard, comics, Dwight, Dwight The Walking Dead, Image Comcis, Michonne, Negan, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, The Hilltop, The Kingdom, The Saviors, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead #174, The Walking Dead #174 review, The Walking Dead All Out War, The Walking Dead Jesus, The Walking Dead Princess, The Walking Dead season 8, The Whisperers, TWD, Walker herd, Walkers, Zombies

The Walking Dead #174

Review by Paul Bowler

It’s a solitary life for some in The Walking Dead #174, as the spotlight falls on the series’ infamous big bad and former Saviors leader, Negan. Because of his help during the Whisperer War, Rick granted Negan his freedom, on the condition that his lived alone and away from all of the surrounding communities. Negan’s solitary existence has given him time to reflect on the past, but not all off Rick’s allies agreed with his decision…

The Walking Dead #174 is a challenging, unexpected, and welcome change of pace from recent issues as writer Robert Kirkman offers us a powerful insight into Negan’s character and what he’s been up to since the Whisperer War. Some might say it’s about time we had a Negan centric issue like this, others might worry it will demystify Rick’s foul mouthed, bad-ass, nemesis too much, but they’d be wrong on both counts.

Negan’s been around for seventy five issues now, but here we finally begin to get an idea of the inner rage, torment, and grief that drives him. Never in a million years would I have dreamt that Negan would have green fingers either! However, the glimpse of Negan simply living day-to-day in the Zombie apocalypse ultimately proves as moving as it does unsettling, especially when dark echoes from the past start creeping in to tarnish his new found freedom.

Charlie Adlard’s art in this issue magnificently captures the uncanny blend of ordinariness and the macabre that seems to permeate every scene. Negan’s life away from Rick and the other communities plays out amidst a series of seemingly unrelated events, the inks by Stefano Gaudian and gray tones by Cliff Rathburn stylishly accentuates the emotional beats of this issue, and the way an old love from Negan’s past returns – albeit briefly – hits home with chilling clarity as we realize exactly where the narrative is leading us.

The final confrontation in this issue between Negan and Maggie is one that I’m sure many will think has also been a long time coming. Love him or hate him, Negan’s impact on the Image Comics series (and indeed the TV series), has led to some of The Walking Dead’s most talked about storylines. He’s been a divisive character at times, his actions have been heinous, evil, and truly horrifying, and his ruthless glee in dealing out death with Lucille is probably only matched by the rapturous barrage of four letter words and twisted comments that constantly pepper his dialogue at every given opportunity.

Although the main storyline has had a few up’s and down’s since the Whisperer War, Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard get things back on track with The Walking Dead #174’s great story of revenge, redemption, and closure to make it one of the best issues of TWD of the year. Where Negan’s character goes from here will be interesting to say the least. Whatever the future holds for Negan, one thing’s for sure, with the six-part New World Order story-arc beginning in January, big events are in store for The Walking Dead in 2018!

Publisher: Image

Writer: Robert Kirkman / Pencils & Cover: Charlie Adlard / Inks: Stefano Gaudiano

Gray Tone: Cliff Rathburn / Letterer: Rus Wooton / Cover Colors: Dave Stewart

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The Walking Dead #173 Review

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Alexandria, Charlie Adlard, comics, Dwight, Dwight The Walking Dead, Image Comcis, Michonne, Negan, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, The Hilltop, The Kingdom, The Saviors, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead #173, The Walking Dead #173 review, The Walking Dead All Out War, The Walking Dead Jesus, The Walking Dead Princess, The Walking Dead season 8, The Whisperers, TWD, Walker herd, Walkers, Zombies

The Walking Dead #173

Review by Paul Bowler

Twilight confrontations and a major new threat rises in The Walking Dead #173 as Jesus fights for his life and Michonne’s team head for Ohio. While the eighth season of the Walking Dead is going all-out for the All Out War storyline on TV right now, the character in the Image comic book series are still picking up the pieces after The Whisperer War – the Walker skin wearing group that unleashed a Walker herd on Alexandria and razed the Hilltop to the ground!

So, with Rick devastated by Andrea’s death after she was bitten by a Walker and Dwight still doubting his role at either Alexandria or the Saviors Sanctuary, last issues cliff-hanger which saw Jesus and Aaron set off to help with the rebuilding of the Hilltop – only to be ambushed by the hulking Whisperer leader Beta – finally seemed to herald a resurgences in hostilities with the Whisperers. However, although The Walking Dead #173 does deliver an edge of your seat face-off between Jesus and Beta, the resolution proves to be somewhat surprising to say the least!

Kirkman manages to keep the plot moving along at a brisk pace. There’s some great character moments for Jesus and Aaron, Maggie is still coming to terms with Rick’s decision to let Negan remain free after he helped them during the attack on Alexandria in The Whisperer War, and Carl and Lydia’s rekindled relationship back at the Hilltop is tested when Lydia begins to feel jealous about Carl’s friendship with Sophia.

The art by Charlie Adlard, together with inks by Stefano Gaudiano, and gray tones by Cliff Rathburn, are on fine form as ever. In the no-holds-barred fight between Jesus and Beta, every nerve jangling moment plays out in a flurry of fists, kicks, blades, and bullets. The quieter character moments skilfully punctuate the action, while the starkly rendered and uncluttered page layouts seamlessly relays the action and various locations – no mean feat considering how a lot of events in this issue take place in almost pitch black darkness.

For the most part, Robert Kirkman has dealt with the aftermath of The Whisperer War adequately enough, but things have felt like they’ve been coasting a bit for a few issues. It seems the resurgence of the Whispers might not be in the offing after all, especially if the encounters with them in this issue are anything to go by. Hopefully we will also find out more about the group Eugune made contact with on his radio soon as well, but will they be friends, or foes?

Meanwhile, during their trek to Ohio, Michonne’s group encountered Princesss, a feisty new spear wielding character who has already proved her worth by fighting alongside them against Walkers. I must admit, although I found Princess a bit grating initially, the character brings some vibrant new traits into the group, and it’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the survivors react to her. That is, if they survive that long as this issue sees Princess, Michonne and her team confronted by an unknown threat in a particularly eerie setting.

With its strong characterization from writer Robert Kirkman and great art by Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead #173 is a good overall issue. It feels more like a scene setter really, with characters and situations settling into place, and now with the New World Order story-arc on the horizon there is a real sense that big game-changing events are on the cards.

Publisher: Image.

Writer: Robert Kirkman / Pencils & Cover: Charlie Adlard / Inks: Stefano Gaudiano

Gray Tone: Cliff Rathburn / Letterer: Rus Wooton / Cover Colors: Dave Stewart

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The Walking Dead Season 8 Official Comic-Con Trailer

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Alexandria, AMC The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln, Carl Grimes, Carol, Danai Gurira, Daryl Dixon, Fear TWD, Lauren Cohan, Lucile, Maggie Green, Melissa McBride, Michonne, Negan, Norman Reedus, Rick Grime, Robert Kirkman, The Kingdom, The Saviors, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead season 8, The Walking Dead Season 8 SDCC trailer, TWD, Walkers, Zombies

The Walking Dead Season 8 Official Comic-Con Trailer

Check out the new first look trailer from SDCC for The Walking Dead Season 8!

Looking forward to the new season even more now!

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The Walking Dead #165 Review

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Alexandria, Charlie Adlard, comics, Dwight, Dwight The Walking Dead, Image Comcis, Lucile the Walking Dead, Michonne, Negan, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, Stefano Gaudiano, The Hilltop, The Kingdom, The Saviors, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead #165, The Walking Dead #165 Review, The Whisperers, TWD, Walker herd, Walkers, Zombies

The Walking Dead #165

　Review by Paul Bowler

Opportunity strikes as the battle for survival rages on in The Walking Dead #165, Alexandria has fallen before the terrifying might of the Walker herd unleashed at the end of the Whisperer War, and now the shambling tide of the dead threatens to overwhelm them all. Trapped inside Alexandria, Rick and Negan must work together to have any hope of escape. Meanwhile outside, Carl leads a group of Hilltop survivors into battle with Dwight and his team to thin out the herd while Maggie, Andrea, Eugene, Michonne, and Jesus set out on horseback to drive the horde away from Alexandria and towards the ocean, as the Saviors continue to watch, and wait for their moment…

The war with the Whisperer might be over, at least for now anyway, but there have been major losses on all sides. Father Gabriel is dead, the Hilltop has been completely raised to the ground, and Beta’s parting act to set the massive Walker herd on Alexandria has placed Rick’s community and his friends in dire peril.

Rick Kirkman always writes The Walking Dead in a way that often challenges and defies out expectations with the completely unexpected. In hindsight of Negan’s and Rick’s impromptu hear-to-heart last issue – now there’s a sentence I never EVER thought I’d write in a million years – the dynamic between them has been radically altered, but as they fight side-by-side against the Walkers in this issue there’s still that gnawing doubt that the reluctant trust this situation has forged between them is more a case of better the devil you know for both of them. Still, it will be interesting to see how this pans out. Its also good to see the rest of the Alexandrians following their lead – especially after they all high tailed it and left Rick and Negan to fend for themselves when the gates of Alexandria fell – and rise up to fight alongside them against the undead masses.

Charlie Adlard’s artwork for The Walking Dead #165 provides us with a veritable tour de force of action and drama, with bold, stylishly structured page layouts building the tension. The 16 panel page grid is once more utilized, arguably to ever greater effect that even during the Whisperer War, to condense the action featuring Rick and Negan, Carl and Lydia, Dwight’s team, Andrea, Maggie, Dante, Jesus, Michonne, and Eugene as the battle inside with the zombies and the plan outside to ferry the herd away form Alexandria unfolds at break neck speed! Stefano Gaudiano’s stunning inks and the impeccable grey tones by Cliff Rathburn bring added fervour and intensity to every scene. The panoramic Cliffside two-page spread is both beautifully and horrifically realized by Adlard, Guadiano, and Rathburn, succinctly and sharply polarizing the simplicity of Eugene’s assessment of the success of their plan with the potential environmental consequences such action will bring to coldly illustrate that – zombie apocalypse or not – humanity is still probably going to end up dumping its shit into the sea until the end of the world and beyond anyway.

This issue frenetically intercuts between a number of plot strands, with attempts to prevent sections of the Walker herd turning back towards Alexandria putting key characters in moral jeopardy, and the Saviors – who have been observing from the sidelines for so long – finally decide to make their move. To think, only a few issues ago, it looked like Rick had won the Whisperer War, but as Beta retreated the Walker herd was released, and with all the communities in disarray everything that Rick and the survivors have fought so hard to build looks like it could be swept away overnight.

The Walking Dead #165 is another terrific issue from Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard that takes this Image Comics series to new heights of unparallel drama and suspense. Things that have been foreshadowed are slowly coming to pass, the spoils of victory are there for the taking, it just remains to be seen who will be left standing to claim them! The Walking Dead #165 certainly has a cliff-hanger to end all cliff-hangers as well, and its one that’ll sink its teeth into the collective fandom of The Walking Dead like never before!

Publisher: Image

Writer: Robert Kirkman / Art: Charlie Adlard

Inks: Stefano Gaudiano / Grey tones: Cliff Rathburn / Letters: Rus Wooton

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The Walking Dead #162 Review

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Alexandria, Charlie Adlard, comics, Dwight, Dwight The Walking Dead, Image Comcis, Lucile the Walking Dead, Michonne, Negan, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, Stefano Gaudiano, The Hilltop, The Kingdom, The Saviors, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead #162, The Walking Dead #162 Review, The Whisperer War Part 6, The Whisperers, TWD, Walker herd, Walkers, Zombies

The Walking Dead #162

Review by Paul Bowler

Rick Grimes and his fellow survivors face their darkest hour in The Walking Dead #162 from Image Comics as the final battle with the Whisperers begins. Maggie led The Hilltop to victory during the Whisperers devastating attack on her community, but Barrington House is now a smouldering ruin. Now, as Eugene risks everything to deliver a much needed consignment of ammunition to Alexandria, Rick and Andrea plan their next move, but the Saviors are secretly plotting against Rick, and the Whisperers are about to launch their last ditch offensive against Alexandria as the Whisperer War reaches its blood curdling conclusion!

The Whisperer War has certainly shaken things up for The Walking Dead universe as the communities of Alexandria, The Hilltop, The Kingdom, and The Saviors have gradually been drawn into the conflict with the Whisperers. There have been plenty of shocks and surprises along the way. Dwight has really stepped up to the plate during this storyline, helping train the Alexandrian’s to fight the Whisperers, and the way his team survived the Walker herd by using Whisperer skins was ingenious. Eugene’s ongoing radio conversations with an unknown community slowly began to grow in trust, Carl also risked his life helping to get people to safety when the Hilltop was attacked, and Lydia refused to rejoin the Whisperers – making her point clear in the most spectacular way imaginable. There have been casualties too, most notably Father Gabriel’s gruesome death, and perhaps the most shocking event of all was the unexpected demise of Negan’s beloved baseball bat Lucille during his fight with the Whisperer’s hulking new leader, Beta!

Robert Kirkman begins to gather the numerous plot threads and communities together in this final part of the Whisperer War. This issue we are treated to some of the series’ most poignant and emotional scenes so far, with Negan mourning Lucille, the reinforcements from The Kingdom arriving to help the survivors of the battle at the Hilltop, and there’s an especially moving scene between Carl and Lydia as well.

The 16 panel page grid is used to great effect once again in this issue. Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard have had so many characters and locations to cover during this arc and this panel layout really plays to their strengths, particularly here in The Walking Dead #162, enabling the issue to strike just the right balance between action, drama, and strong character moments to drive the plot towards its thrilling conclusion. The artwork by Charlie Adlard, together with Stefano Gaudiano’s exceptional inks, and grey tones by Cliff Rathburn delivers some brilliant set-pieces: including Negan’s poignant moment of reflection, the sweeping vista depicting the aftermath of the Hilltop battle, and a terrifying Walker horde that will make your jaw hit the floor!

You might be forgiven at one point into thinking that this storyline is winding down a little too conveniently at one stage, with Eugene, and then Dwight and his team, returning to Alexandria, but there is a gnawing sense that all is not going as well as it seems, and sure enough, Rick’s instincts prove horrifically right!

The Whisperer War has been one of the most epic, bloody, and violent storylines we’ve seen in a long while in The Walking Dead. If you thought the title had been coasting along a little in the aftermath of All Out War, then this issue will certainly change all that with its game changing finale scenes, and you will be left in no doubt that the zombie apocalypse is really going to heat up now in the wake of what Beta has unleashed.

So, get ready for some exciting times ahead as The Walking Dead celebrates Image’s 25^th anniversary next month, with The Walking Dead #163, an bigger issue than normal at lower price of 25 cents, and then The Walking Dead #164 that also ships in February!

Publisher: Image

Writer: Robert Kirkman / Art: Charlie Adlard / Inks: Stefano Gaudiano

Grey tones: Cliff Rathburn / Letters: Rus Wooton

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The Walking Dead #158 Review

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Alexandria, Charlie Adlard, comics, Dwight, Image Comcis, Lucile the Walking Dead, Michonne, Negan, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, Stefano Gaudiano, The Hilltop, The Kingdom, The Saviors, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead #158, The Walking Dead #158 review, The Whispere War Part 2, The Whisperers, TWD, Walker herd, Walkers, Zombies

The Walking Dead #158

Review by Paul Bowler

The Whisperer War rages on in The Walking Dead #158 as Beta, enraged after Alpha was killed and beheaded by Negan, sends the Whisperers mighty undead herd to strike back against Rick and his allies. Still mindful of Negan’s motives, Rick allows Negan to help on the front line. The communities of Alexandria, The Saviors, The Hilltop, and the Kingdom will soon face their greatest challenge, but nothing could prepare Dwight’s new military force for the sight of the terrifying Walker herd the Whisperers have unleashed on them…

The Whisperer War: Part 2 begins with the shock death of one of the series’ regular characters, and its one that few could’ve genuinely seen coming. The Whisperers are certainly amongst the most chilling adversaries that Rick and his fellow survivors have ever faced. This unnerving Walker skin wearing group have proved to be as cunning as they are deadly, having already used ruthless terror tactics against those who dared to violate their territory, but with Beta now out to avenge Alpha’s death this issue illustrates just what a force they are to be reckoned with – especially now that Beta’s let loose what can only be described as this apocalyptic worlds Undead equivalent of a weapon of mass destruction: the Walker herd!

Robert Kirkman skilfully builds the action and tension throughout this issue. It may have taken a while to actually get to the Whisperers War, but now that this new arc is in full swing its sure turning out to have been well worth the wait! Numerous events unfold, taking in Alexandria, The Saviors, The Hilltop, and the Kingdom, as the separate communities react to the current threat in very different, and sometimes surprising ways. There’s also a greater sense of just how tenuously balanced this brave new world that Rick has been striving to establish, really is. One of the big highlights of the issue are the scenes with Dwight and Negan on the front line, the dialogue here is utterly priceless, and the way it spills over into the attack by the Whisperers herd is brilliantly staged.

The Walking Dead #158 features the winning combination of Charlie Adlard’s excellent artwork, Stefano Gaudiano’s inks, and grey tones Cliff Rathburn, in what is arguably one of their finest issues so far. The use of 16 panel page grid is employed once more in this issue, it’s been a good move by Robert Kirkman Charlie Adlard, and works really well in the context of this arc – especially as its been so densely plotted and action-packed in places. All of the different character arcs and geographic locals this issue packs in are deftly handled by the creative team, the action flows seamlessly, and the narrative is peppered with some great character moments. There are so many standout events in this issue: the gruesome death of a main character is probably one of the most visceral scenes I’ve seen in this series for a long while, likewise, the sight of Michonne and Jesus charging into battle is great scene stealer, and the overwhelming power of the Walker herd is also another jaw dropping set-piece as the Whisperers vicious tactics press home their advantage.

We’re only two issues in with this six-part story arc and its already shaping up to be one hell of a game changer. The Walking Dead #158 builds to a rousing close. Battle lines are drawn, Eugene’s radio conversation subplot continues bubbling away mysteriously in the background, and the arrival of reinforcements certainly prove to be a rousing moment. But everything is overshadowed by the anticipation of the mother of all showdowns that’s set up for the next issue, as two of series’ biggest, baldest, heavy hitters face off at last!

Publisher: Image / Writer: Robert Kirkman / Art: Charlie Adlard

Inks: Stefano Gaudiano / Grey tones: Cliff Rathburn / Letters: Rus Wooton

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First Trailer For The Walking Dead Season 7

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First Trailer For The Walking Dead Season 7

　

Here’s the first look at Season 7 of AMC’s The Walking Dead, from Comic Con International in San Diego. Of course the trailer doesn’t spoil Season 6‘s nerve jangling cliff-hanger, but it certainly gives us a taste of what‘s in store, and it looks as exciting as hell! We also glimpse the Kingdom, their leader, and his faithful friend…

Hurry up 23rd of October! Cant wait for Season 7 of The Walking Dead!

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The Walking Dead #153 Review

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Alexandria, Charlie Adlard, comics, Dwight, Image Comcis, Michonne, Negan, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, Stefano Gaudiano, The Hilltop, The Saviors, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead #153, The Whisperers, TWD, Zombies

The Walking Dead #153

Review by Paul Bowler

Brandon attacked Rick Grimes to get revenge after Rick killed his father, but Rick easily defeated and humiliated him. After disobeying the order to return to the Hilltop community, Brandon foolishly decided to free Negan from his cell and help him escape from Alexandria. Now, Negan is on the loose in The Walking Dead #153, and it doesn’t take the former Saviors leader long to resume his murderous ways…

In the wake of Negan’s long-awaited debut in the Season Six finale of The Walking Dead TV series, it’s perhaps no surprise that the characters role in the Image Comics series now takes centre stage once more. Yes, after his long incarceration in Alexandria after the events of All Out War, Negan is free at last! After Rick rallied the people of Alexandria to face the threat posed by the sinister Walker-Skin wearing Whisperers in the series’ landmark 150^th issue, Rick and Dwight started training a new Alexandrian military force to fight the Whisperers, along with a new recruit – Father Gabriel. Michonne is now set to become the next leader of the Kingdom, and Eugene has managed to make contact with an unknown group via his radio experiment.

This issue of The Walking Dead really gives the series a new sense of momentum. Right from the opening moments, where Negan dons his jacket once more, Robert Kirkman skilfully builds the tension as Rick faces the prospect that his old enemy is out there somewhere plotting his downfall. The scenes with Negan and Brandon are some of the issues finest moments, Negan is at his foul-mouthed best, its great to see the character taking such a prominent role again, and Brandon’s plan certainly points him in the right direction for revenge against Rick and Alexandria.

Rick and Michonne soon figure out that Negan and must have snuck out with Maggie’s group as they left Alexandria to return to the Hilltop. But, while Aaron and Michonne go looking for Negan, tensions run high at Alexandria, a near fatal mistake by one of the Alexandrians causes Rick to question his recent actions, and the price his community might pay for the intense methods he’s used to prepare them for war against the Whisperers. Dwight also gets some great moments while training a group of Alexandrians. Since renouncing his leadership of the Saviors to work alongside Rick, Dwight has really come into his own as a reformed character now, and we also get to understand his reasons for brining the Lucille with him after he uses the notorious baseball bat to dispatch some Walkers after his team get caught off guard while training in the woods.

The Walking Dead #153 features some great artwork by Charlie Adlard, the brooding menace caused by Negan’s escape seems to permeate though every scene, and we are left in no doubt just how serious the situation is becoming. Adlard realizes several different characters and locations throughout this issue, with Stefano Gaudiano’s inks and Cliff Rathburn’s grey tones giving each scene its own distinctive look and atmosphere. Negan looks every bit the series’ big bad, all he needs now is a certain baseball bat to complete the look! There’s also some great zombie action when Dwight and his team come under attack, but it is the scene where Rick questions Paul that is probably one of this issues – if not this arcs – most defining moments.

Although the newer characters introduced since All Out War still need some pretty major development to make them anywhere even half as interesting as the comic book series’ major characters, this issue feels very much like a step in the right direction to accomplishing just that. Negan’s escape is another great move on Kirkman’s part, it’s certainly sure to shake up the new status quo, and spell big trouble for Rick and his friends. The Walking Dead #153 closes with one of the most ruthless and callous moments that we’ve seen in a long while, oh yeah, Negan is back, he’s as nasty as hell, and we wouldn’t want it any other way!

Publisher: Image / Writer: Robert Kirkman / Art: Charlie Adlard

Inks: Stefano Gaudiano / Grey tones: Cliff Rathburn / Letters: Rus Wooton

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