The survivors continue to...survive. Too often big story arcs simply end but we get to see the results of everything that has happened as we prepare for what might come next.
The Good
The Walking Dead is all about the characters. It's easy to think it's about the zombies but they are a minor part. They're simply background scenery. That is how Robert Kirkman has managed to make this a successful zombie story that is nearing 100 issues. You have to become invested in the characters. That way if something good or bad happens, it matters.
The fallout and character development continues and we finally get to see what happens when a certain wounded character tries to recover. Readers have been wonder if this will be a happy moment or one of those bad times that the survivors seemed to be plagued with. Kirkman does things for a reason. It's great to see past events continue to matter. Conversations that occurred have follow ups. Characters are allowed to evolve.
Despite centering around the zombie apocalypse, there isn't a lot of zombie action here. This happens every once in a while and it's always welcome. Sure we want to see people get chomped or zombies get hacked to pieces but it's issues like this that help build up the characters and the series.
The Bad
Even though I do like a lull in action now and then, this issue does feel like we're all letting out a deep breath. It's hard to say that whether or not any impending doom that might be just around the corner is a bad thing. We do get attached to these characters and the possibility of bad things happening isn't necessarily a fun thing. But it's because they do make us feel bad, you can see how good of a job Kirkman is doing.
Each issue is pretty much known for having some sort of big cliffhanger or moment that makes us gasp. This issue did have one but it didn't really make me gasp.
The Verdict
Has there ever really been a bad issue of The Walking Dead? This issue continues to give us a little downtime. That is essential in building up the characters and allowing them to grow and evolve. We had one character greatly wounded. Could this be the issue we find out their fate? Kirkman always sets up bad things for the characters we get attached to. Normally we get a big shocking moment in each issue. I don't feel we really had one here. Is that enough to complain about? Not really. Having too many shocking moments month after month could be too much. Even though this is a calmer issue, obviously that can't last long.