Clementine brings us back to The Walking Dead universe with release of the first book in the graphic novel trilogy.
Written and illustrated by the Ignatz and two-time Eisner Award winning Tillie Walden, Clementine picks up from The Walking Dead Skybound Games Telltale Series of video games.
Cracking open the graphic novel and seeing black and white with grey tones from Cliff Rathburn on top of Walden’s art brings you back to the days of Rick Grimes trying to make his way in the crazy post-apocalyptic world.
The young adult graphic novel reads at a different pace than the original comic series, but almost reads more meaningful. Clementine’s struggles with missing the lower half of her leg and trying to survive while always moving. This book sees herself being forced to stop and live for a bit. The real enemy might not be the zombies lurking in the world, but the living with others on the top of a mountain in Vermont.
Those who haven’t played the video games might think they are missing some information, but can get by with the amount of knowledge you learn to give you a little intrigue on her past.
Like others have said, Clementine speaks to us, the reader, more than at you. You get to learn more about what it’s like to be Clementine and live new stories in The Walking Dead world that don’t always include Rick Grimes and his connected people. Something refreshing, but still in the crazy world created by Robert Kirkman those many years ago.
Walden is the perfect person to take on this series of books and the ability to write a story that will not only grab the attention of older readers, such as myself, but also those young adults the book is geared towards. Personally, I find it amazing that there are TWD stories now out there appropriate for young adults.
Book One made left me wanting more and am anxiously waiting the release of Book Two in October 2023. In the meantime, read Clementine Book One or the original The Walking Dead series on ComiXology.
