**SPOILER ALERT** PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ WALKING DEAD #96.**
Rick Grimes has been forced to wear many hats, but it looks like he fits into the "leader" one best of all after reading WALKING DEAD #96.
In this issue, Jesus has brought Rick, Carl and a small group of his fellow survivors to a safe zone called "THE HILLTOP". With the promise of refuge from the zombie threat, Rick has just put a knifeblade into the throat of a man named Ethan. From what it appears, Ethan attempted to kill Gregory, the leader of the Hilltop colony.
Jesus informs him that a rival group of survivors outside of the hilltop showed up shortly after the wall was built called THE SAVIORS. Led by a man named Ethan, the SAVIORS (again, according to Gregory) demanded half of all the Hilltop's supplies and goods and in exchange, they would keep the zone relatively zombie-free. This arrangement has NOT been a positive one for the Hilltop.
Carl (who at this time has lost his eye from a gunshot several issues back) casually suggests killing the bad guys and they get half the food. Rick goes along with the plan and makes an arrangement with Jesus and Gregory, who survived the attack.
By the end of the issue, Rick has the task of convincing Glenn, Andrea, Michonne and the others that following through with this plan is the right thing to do. He believes the Hilltop could be their last and best hope of finding sanctuary. And thus, the issue ends.
It goes without saying that Robert Kirkman is a fantastic writer on THE WALKING DEAD. He really makes Rick shine as the leader in this particular book. Even after all the crap he's been through (and I'm still not convinced Rick's totally playing with a full deck), after the speech he gives at the end of this issue...yeah, I'd follow Rick, too. Charlie Adlard's art has become so attached to this title I can't imagine anyone else drawing it. His loose pencils combined with the black and white nature of the comic make for a really gripping read.
And by the way, this book sold out at my local comic shop after a day. As #100 approaches, this book might not be as scarce as the other recent back issues because stores are finally starting to figure out "Hey. I can order extra copies of this book. They always seem to sell." So this one might be more plentiful than the other 3 issues of the "LARGER WORLD" story arc, which overall, was a great arc.
In any case, I highly suggest you buy WALKING DEAD #96, read it, and get ready for a ride in the next 4 issues. Not only does it give us something to do before SEASON 3 comes out...but from what I can gather...issue #100 will have us DEAD fans talking for a LONG time.