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A review by dylanhenning
The Walking Dead, Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire by Cliff Rathburn, Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I want to like The Walking Dead comics. I really do. Unfortunately they are rooted in 2005 which means rampant and unapologetic sexism, misogyny, and slurs.
As I’ve said in a previous post Kirkman doesn’t know how to write women or doesn’t seem to enjoy writing women. He improved a bit in the first half of this volume but in the second half he reverted back to women existing solely to fuel the plot for the men. Even Michonne a really cool new character to the story is quickly used for sex and drama.
The story seemed like it was even going to address it’s misogyny head on when Rick was baffled that no women were going to be on this new committee but it was quickly explained away as “they would rather us men do it” as if women wouldn’t want to have some say in a functional democracy.
Later there is use of the R slur which unfortunately was used pretty frequently in media back in the early 2000’s and no one seemed to think twice of it.
As I’ve said in a previous post Kirkman doesn’t know how to write women or doesn’t seem to enjoy writing women. He improved a bit in the first half of this volume but in the second half he reverted back to women existing solely to fuel the plot for the men. Even Michonne a really cool new character to the story is quickly used for sex and drama.
The story seemed like it was even going to address it’s misogyny head on when Rick was baffled that no women were going to be on this new committee but it was quickly explained away as “they would rather us men do it” as if women wouldn’t want to have some say in a functional democracy.
Later there is use of the R slur which unfortunately was used pretty frequently in media back in the early 2000’s and no one seemed to think twice of it.