After putting down their former protector (Shane) on account of him "flipping out", the survivors move out from their campsite just outside of Atlanta, realizing that it is no longer safe.
There are two main stops for the survivors in this issue. Both give the group hope for a safer, more comfortable future. Both prove to be anything but that.
The first stop is to a gated community, which seems like heaven on Earth for the group. The homes are generous in size and filled with food. And of course, who could overlook the wrought iron gate surrounding the community. The safe haven is a perfect example of writer Robert Kirkman understanding the human mind. This is the exact kind of place I would be looking for during a sombie apocalypse. So he really toys with the reader's emotions when it turns out Wiltshire Estates was actually a compound they used to store zombies!
The second stop is a farm a few miles away. The resident farmer has been harbouring survivors for weeks since the start of the zombie invasion. Little do Rick (our hero) and his gang know that the farmer keeps a special surprise in the barn. Stop two, no good either. But don't worry, the final page offers salvation for the survivors. Just over the hill, they find a maximum security prison. What could be safer right?
It is easy to see why this series has garnered so much critical acclaim. Kirkman's storytelling is amazing. He examines the human condition in a way that few can capture in words and throws in zombies just to help speed up the conflict.
Buy this series!