The Walking Dead: Volume 1: Days Gone Bye

First off, the Walking Dead stories are fantastic. The story paints a grim, and frighteningly plausible, picture of the perils, horror, and torment that a small group of survivors might endure while trying to survive the collapse of modern society. While there is an ample serving of gore, skull-cracking, and gun-play, the real meat is in the characters, their interactions, and the changes they all undergo.

I must compliment the creators of The Walking Dead, as I find their depiction of this scenario very believable. The survivors are ordinary folk with a mix of skills, experiences, and psychological responses to this catastrophic event. The good, the bad, and the ugly all emerge in one form or another, and none of the characters are immune. Despite the dangers of starvation, and undead cannibal hordes, I believe the volatility of human nature may be the single greatest threat to their (and our) survival.

*Warning* Spoilers

[ZOMBIE PHYSIOLOGY]

Now, there are many subjects of interest broached in this story, but the first I’d like to bring up is the idea that zombies identify the living by sense of smell. In the story, Rick and Glen were able to walk unnoticed through crowds of the undead after they smeared their clothing with the rotting flesh of a neutralized zombie. I have mixed feelings about this possibility. If the undead rely on smell, they would have to be remarkably sensitive in order to identify the living from any distance greater than a few meters. However, if they had some sort of heightened sense of smell, I don’t see them being fooled by these two characters just smearing a bit of zombie blood on themselves.

Additionally, whilst on their little foray amongst the walking dead, the two characters are chatting it up, scavenging a shopping cart, and smashing their way into a gun store. How can this not attract the attention of the undead, while the first shot of a pistol is guaranteed to immediately give up the game? Given that we are talking about people that have risen from the dead, I’ll admit that anything is possible, but I honestly think the undead population will be utilizing the same senses as the rest of us.

[PROTECTING CHILDREN]

Another topic that stood out to me was the issue of when children should be given firearms. While there is some debate amongst the story’s characters, Rick ends up arming his seven year old son Carl. The point is made that the weapon will be taken away at the first sign of misuse, but the authors clearly favor the idea, as the story goes on to have Carl save both his mother and father, in separate incidents, with the help of that gun.

I don’t have a rock solid opinion on this issue. I’m neither strongly pro, or anti, gun-control. I can see the importance of arming every survivor, but I have some doubts about someone so young having the necessary life experience to properly manage that responsibility. On the other hand, as the story illustrates well, age and maturity are woefully inadequate guides for who can be counted on in an apocalyptic scenario.

Well, I don’t want to spoil the story for those who have not read The Walking Dead, so I’ll simply say that there is much more to be considered. If you enjoy a dark tale of the human condition, these stories will certainly be a treat. I whole heartedly encourage everyone to check these out.

Read other “The Walking Dead” posts:

• Yeah, I’ve got a barn full of zombies. What of it?
  The Walking Dead: Volume 2: Miles Behind Us
• A day in prison is like a day on the farm.
  The Walking Dead: Volume 3: Safety Behind Bars
• Nurse, scalpel please. But Doctor, all we have is this hatchet. OK, that’ll work.
  The Walking Dead: Volume 4: The Heart’s Desire
• Post-apocalyptic entertainment idea #67: Fish tanks full of zombie heads!
  The Walking Dead: Volume 5: The Best Defence