The Walking Dead: Is This How Father Gabriel Dies?

Warning: spoilers for The Walking Dead comics to date follow.

The Whisperer War has begun in The Walking Dead comics, moments which wouldn't take place until at least season nine or ten of the TV series if accurately adapted. Closing out the first part of what will be a six issue arc, a 16-panel grid of The Walking Dead's main characters took the last page.

"Everyone featured on this last page will have drastically different lives five issues from now," The Walking Dead editor Sean Mackiewicz teases of the last page, adding, "If they're still living..."

In the top left corner of the page was Father Gabriel. The character finds himself at the top of the water tower, rifle in hand, seeing the massive army of Whisperers approaching. He has a choice: be a coward and survive by allowing them to pass or sound the horn and alert Alexandria of their arrival, likely costing himself his own life in the process.

As pointed out by a Reddit user, Gabriel's story has an opportunity to mirror a Biblical angel of the same name, according to angel's Wikipedia page. "The trope of Gabriel blowing a trumpet blast to indicate the Lord's return to Earth is especially familiar in Negro spirituals," the page reads. "However, though the Bible mentions a trumpet blast preceding the resurrection of the dead." At times, the angel is even referred to as "God's trumpet."

If Gabriel doesn't sound the alarm, Alexandria is certainly in for an unexpected fight or, even worse, the mostly defenseless Hilltop will come under attack. It sure does seem that Gabriel is set up for the ultimate redemption and sacrifice, though. The character's arc will have come full circle should he choose to save those who once saved him.

The Whisperer War will continue over the next six months with an issue hitting shelves once a month. The first, issue #157, hit shelves this past Wednesday. The Walking Dead will return for its seventh season October 23 at 9 PM ET on AMC. For complete coverage, insider info, and more all season long, be sure to follow me on Twitter @BrandonDavisBD and check out The Walking Dead on ComicBook.com on Facebook.