The Walking Dead: 5 Comics To Read To Prepare For ‘Service’

The Walking Dead series has always handled the comic source material in interesting ways. At times, the two are frame-for-frame copies of each other. On other occasions, it’s like the two are completely different stories.

After watching the trailer, it looks like this Sunday’s episode, ‘Service’, will closely align with the books it’s based on.

Many scenes in the footage that has been released so far is nearly identical to the comics. If you want to prepare yourself for this episode, or find out what could happen before it airs, some of the comics can help with that.

Flip through the slideshow to check out five issues of The Walking Dead you should read before Sunday’s new episode.

Issue #98

Issue 98 is a painful one for many comic fans. If you haven’t read this one before, prepare to grab the tissues.

While a lot happened in this issue, it’s remembered for one devastating event — the death of Abraham.

Just before this issue, Eugene had discovered that he could manufacture bullets on his own. After finding an abandoned pressing facility, Eugene decided he was going to show Abraham his new operation.

When the friends were walking to the facility, and arrow peirced through Abraham’s eye in the middle of a conversation. This was the same fate that befell Denise on the show last season.

This is one is significant for Eugene’s story. He mentioned the bullet press in season six, but it will be a great refresher for what he’s up to this season.

Issue #102

Issue 102 gives a little more insight to Eugene’s bullet plans, but also shows readers how Glenn’s death has affected everyone in Alexandria.

Rick and Andrea have taken Dwight hostage, and Andrea wants to kill him. Rick, on the other hand, knows that hurting Dwight will only further anger Negan. Dwight warns them of this, and fans finally see the moment where Rick breaks.

This episode of the show is the first one with the main characters since Negan has appeared. Since the last two showed the communities of The Kingdom and The Sanctuary, this episode will provide the first look into how these events have affected Alexandria.

Issue #103

Issue 103 is arguably the most important when thinking about this upcoming episode. The trailer shows Negan arriving to Alexandria early, catching Rick off-guard. This is exactly what happens in this issue of the comics.

Negan terrorizes the people of Alexandria by sending his Saviors through their houses and taking many of their possessions. Most of his personal time, however, is spent further hurting Rick.

The villain mocks Glenn’s death around Rick, making him feel that it was all his fault. He even makes Rick hold Lucille while he walks around. Rick could have easily used the bat to kill Negan, but his submission shows that Negan’s plan is working.

Issue #105

After Negan leaves Alexandria in issue 103, Rick can’t seem to find Carl. At the end of issue 104, when Negan’s convoy arrives back at The Sanctuary, Carl leaps out of the back of a truck and shoots multiple saviors.

Issue 105 picks up right there.

Negan ends up taking Carl under his wing, and leads him around his home. He teaches Carl about all of his ways, influencing the young boy. Since Rick is already weakened at this point, Carl takes a lot from the things Negan teaches him.

At the end of the issue, Negan burns a man’s face with an iron, just as he did to Dwight. Carl has to watch this unfold, and readers were given a much better idea of just who Negan was at the time.

Issue #109

Issue 108 takes Rick and Michonne to The Kingdom, and Ezekiel is first introduced. At the end of that issue, it’s revealed that Dwight has turned on Negan.

Issue 109 picks up where that left off, and it shows that Rick isn’t just laying down for Negan. Although he hadn’t said anything yet, he reveals that he now has a plan to defeat the villain.

Fans of the show don’t like seeing Rick broken, but it may be a while before he’s okay again. This issue can give you hope that the Rick you’ve always known is still in there, it’s just going to take a little time to draw him back out.

Every issue of The Walking Dead is great, and we encourage you to read them if you’ve never had the chance. There’s plenty in there to surprise you, even if you’re a fan of the show.