This pivotal installment in the long-running Image Comics series chronicles the survivors’ arrival at the Alexandria Safe-Zone, seemingly offering respite from the post-apocalyptic world. This issue introduces key characters and establishes a new status quo, significantly shifting the narrative focus from constant survival to rebuilding and community development. It also features a shocking and brutal act of violence that underscores the persistent threat of both the undead and human depravity, permanently altering the group’s dynamic and their leader’s approach to survival.
The centennial issue marked a significant turning point in the comic’s narrative arc. It solidified the series’ exploration of complex moral dilemmas, the psychological impact of long-term survival, and the challenges of rebuilding civilization in a world overrun by the undead. It also garnered widespread critical acclaim and cemented its place as a landmark achievement in the horror comic genre, attracting a broader audience and influencing subsequent zombie fiction.
