Like most fans revisitingThe Walking Deadissue-by-issue, following along with theDeluxereprint of the series, I have been both anticipating and dreading the approach of the pivotalWalking Dead#100, and the death of Glenn –butwhat I didn’t realize was that the tragedy of the character’s exit from the series would hit much earlier on this read through.
The Walking Dead Deluxe#96 – written by Robert Kirkman, with art by Charlie Adlard – features the start of Glenn’s last day, and what legitimately broke my heart was how unexpectedly hopeful the issue finds him, as he embraces the potential of joining the Hilltop community.
In his annotations to the issue, Kirkman himself pointed out how Glenn “loves this place.” Of course, this was deliberate character choice, done in service of making Glenn’s imminent demise even more brutal, and in retrospect, it is incredibly effective.
Looking Back Now, I Can See Where Rober Kirkman Planted The Seeds Of Glenn’s Devastating Death
When I first readThe Walking Dead#96, at the time of its 2012 release, I didn’t know, of course, that when Glenn stands and watches the sunrise over the Hilltop walls, a blanket around his shoulders, with a hot mug of coffee in his hands, it would be his last morning alive. In part because I know what is coming for the character, and frankly, in part because I’m older and more aware of my mortality now, this moment struck me as particularly effective storytelling.
Walking Dead’s Ending Makes Glenn’s Death Even More Tragic
While Glenn’s death is a horrifying moment in The Walking Dead comics, the deeper tragedy is that he isn’t around to help raise his son Hershel.
Further, the full-color rendering of the panel, as part of theDeluxeedition, also helps make this moment especially striking for me as a reader. As much as I appreciateThe Walking Deadin its black-and-white original form,the infusion of color gives certain scenes an entirely new meaning, and Glenn’s final sunrise is the perfect example of this. Also strikingly amplified by the added color are the subtle expressions on Glenn and Rick’s face, when they are interrupted by Andrea – perhaps as close as either came in the series to a moment of peace.
Glenn’s Death Scene Is Unforgettable – But I Think, In Retrospect, His Last Day Is The Truly Heartbreaking Part
It’s Brutal How Hopeful He Is
I admit, in anticipation ofThe Walking Dead Deluxe#100, I was at first tempted to jump ahead and reread Glenn’s death scene ahead of the full-color version’s release – but ultimately, I’m glad I didn’t. Reading the series in sequence, as eachDeluxeissue comes out, has made me pay greater attention to the issues leading up to the milestone. I’m thankful for this, because it has given me a new, more detailed appreciation for the set-up that went into making Glenn’s death such a turning point for the series.
The tragedy of Glenn’s death is a result of where he ends up, not where he started out.
As you might expect, the events of these issues are not as burned into my brain as Negan’s arrival in issue #100, and his murder of Glenn, butas I read with the knowledge of what’s coming, they are actually the most devastating part. As readers, we tend to equate theimpact of Glenn’s losswith his longevity, having first appeared inThe Walking Dead#2. Yet it is about more than that – the tragedy of Glenn’s death is a result of where he ends up, not where he started out.
After Revisiting His Last Day, I’m Not Sure That I’m Ready To Experience Glenn’s Final Moments Alive Again
The release ofThe Walking Dead Deluxe#100 is imminent, and I find myself fixated on Glenn’s sunrise scene fromThe Walking Dead Deluxe#96 whenever I think about the character’s death scene. As rough as the gore of Glenn’s violent ending is going to be to behold in full-color,it will be so much worse when compared side-by-side with the image of him peacefully watching the sun come up, thinking about the possibilities of a new life – one that would be snatched away from himby arguablyThe Walking Dead’sgreatest villain.
In a way, Glenn’s arc ends at the Hilltop, in this moment where he feels a long-dormant sense of optimism; everything else he does leading up toThe Walking Dead#100 is saturated with the tragic irony of his fate.
As an author, Robert Kirkman did everything as carefully as possible when craftingThe Walking Dead, and that included his decision to giveGlenn a moment of contentment before killing him off. In a way, Glenn’s arc ends at the Hilltop, in this moment where he feels a long-dormant sense of optimism; everything else he does leading up toThe Walking Dead#100 is saturated with the tragic irony of his fate, which remains among the most unquestionably dramatically potent moments inWalking Deadhistory.
The Walking Dead Deluxe#96is available now from Image Comics.
The Walking Dead
The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as “walkers.” The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.
