After the massive drama - and upheaval - of the previous story arc, the pace has (mostly) slowed down a bit, spending time concentrating on the human interactions that have always been the strong point of The Walking Dead. To my mind, the title has suffered when writer Robert Kirkman has been in 'event' mode - I'll always argue that the Governor was a poor choice of character to bring into the story, being too much of a comicbook villain to have any place in the believable world that he has created. So the way these last ten issues have unfolded has been particularly satisfying, with the focus squarely on the quieter character moments which have earned the book such a dedicated following.
Having drastically reduced the number of living cast members, issues #51-53 are spent regrouping those who are still alive, whilst also introducing a handful of new characters. Of these, Sergeant Abraham Ford is of the greatest interest, with Kirkman having developed him into one of the more compelling figures. Initially coming across as as a generic no-nonsense tough guy, the last handful of issues have displayed him in a different light. The ending of #57 shows him at his weakest, and most human, leading into his explanation of the events that hardened him so comprehensively in #58, at the same time highlighting the parallels between Abraham and Rick, making it obvious that the previous tension between the two was down to their similar natures. Both are leaders, willing to do whatever they need to do in order to survive and to protect those they care about - no matter how extreme their actions may appear. As Rick puts it, "we do terrible things for the ones we love."
Of the other new characters, Doctor Eugene Porter and Rosita Espinosa haven't been given a great deal to do, yet still have enough about them to suggest that they'll be good additions. Father Gabriel Stokes debuted in #61, and his chosen vocation should play interestingly within this world - what place does religion have in the Walking Dead landscape? And we're reintroduced to Morgan, who finally looks set to become a permanent fixture. He hasn't fared too well in the aftermath of his son being turned - his mental state is clearly fragile, and not everyone is happy to have him around.
Mental fragility has become a recurring theme throughout the book - there are several characters who seem to be on the verge of cracking up, creating a sense of uncertainty that is affecting relations between the characters. 'Fearless reader' Rick hasn't escaped from such a criticism - between his telephone conversations with his dead wife Lori and his own self-doubt as to whether or not he was responsible for her death, his suitability to lead the group has been called into question, by himself and by several others. Dale in particular is turning against him, asking "how often does he put us in danger? It seems like it's happening more and more often," which isn't quite as unreasonable as it may seem - under his leadership, they have endured a great deal of tragedy; perhaps poor decision-making on Rick's part has been a factor. Rick's interactions with his son have also changed - he is frequently lecturing Carl on the full horror of their situation; hardening the boy to an extent that becomes painfully apparent during #61.
Ultimately, the title has gone back to what it does best, focussing on the characters rather than on any particular drama. The tension is ever-present anyway, which means it isn't necessary to ramp it up with artificial plot developments. The solicitations for the upcoming story arc have me a little worried - images of soldier-types hunting the group seem a little close to what we've already seen before. That being said, these last ten issues have really given the book a greater sense of purpose - they have a goal now, and I look forward to seeing the obstacles they have to face in order to achieve it.
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