'The Walking Dead' #150: Closing In on Its Biggest Conflict in Years

FUSE TV - 'The Walking Dead' #150: Closing In on Its Biggest Conflict in Years

In the course of celebrating and reviewing The Walking Dead's landmark 150th issue, this post will contain spoilers. If that will ruin your day, turn back now. Maybe try our gallery of the series' 15 coolest covers ever.

Nearly two years ago in real-life time, Rick Grimes led three communities in a gruesome but successful campaign against an F-word-crazed, spiked-bat-swinging tyrant named Negan. The Walking Dead's 12-issue All Out War arc was one of the book's most disturbing and depressing stretches; it was also one of its best.

Enter #127, May 2014, an unprecedented two-year time-jump in the story. Rick and Andrea live together, Carl calls her "mom"; together they're the First Family of Alexandria, one of three safe, agriculturally and socially flourishing colonies. The Hilltop, led by Maggie, and the Sanctuary, headed by Dwight, form a three-pronged civilization with Alexandria. Peace reigns, save for interpersonal squabbles that sometimes turn bloody but rarely descend into chaos. Suddenly the biggest event on the horizon—in a story that grew from unending slaughter and white-knuckled survival—is a community fair. The problems are pre-zombie-apocalypse-sized.

It was a beautiful narrative development, The Walking Dead's biggest shift in its then-11-year run. But with Rick Grimes' buzzed hair and post-war cane came a fear, on readers' and Rick's part alike, that if shit went down, our man wouldn't be up to the task.

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

2m

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

Dwayne Johnson and The Blue Devils Break It Down In Hawaii

3m

Dwayne Johnson and The Blue Devils Break It Down In Hawaii

The Beatles: In the Life

1h 2m

The Beatles: In the Life

Putting It On Wax

23m

Putting It On Wax

Tension In The Tenderloin

20m

Tension In The Tenderloin

Chaos In The Cage

44m

Chaos In The Cage

All in the Family

20m

All in the Family

Out in the Ring

1h 43m

Out in the Ring

Out in the Ring - Trailer

2m

Out in the Ring - Trailer

Cher: Life in the Spotlight

56m

Cher: Life in the Spotlight

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

1m

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

Out With The Old, In With The New

20m

Out With The Old, In With The New

Brunch In The Castro: Deleted Scene

2m

Brunch In The Castro: Deleted Scene

Plenty Of Fish In The Street

20m

Plenty Of Fish In The Street

Love In The Time Of Pandademic

20m

Love In The Time Of Pandademic

The First Time, In A Long Time

20m

The First Time, In A Long Time

Dipset in the Building Minus Cam'ron

3m

Dipset in the Building Minus Cam'ron

Have Beauty Standards Changed Over The Years?

8m

Have Beauty Standards Changed Over The Years?

Take It. Own It. ROCK IT!

20m

Take It. Own It. ROCK IT!

Don't Swear In Front of The Song

21m

Don't Swear In Front of The Song

Punching In

45m

Punching In

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

1m

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

Moving In

41m

Moving In

Love It or Leave It

20m

Love It or Leave It

Fire On The Floor

22m

Fire On The Floor

Battle on the Catwalk

45m

Battle on the Catwalk

Eye On The Prize

44m

Eye On The Prize

Freaky On The Floor

22m

Freaky On The Floor

Eyes On The Prize

22m

Eyes On The Prize

Rogelio Shows His Acting Prowess In 'The Dark Military'

55s

Rogelio Shows His Acting Prowess In 'The Dark Military'

Mole Chilaquiles in Los Angeles: Fluffly Off the Menu

2m

Mole Chilaquiles in Los Angeles: Fluffly Off the Menu

Comedians React to Unbelievably Strange Laws in the US

6m

Comedians React to Unbelievably Strange Laws in the US

Bacon Wrapped Bacon in Harlem: Fluffly Off the Menu

2m

Bacon Wrapped Bacon in Harlem: Fluffly Off the Menu

Keeping Your Girls The Girls In Check: G-Thing

2m

Keeping Your Girls The Girls In Check: G-Thing

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

Poetry in Falsetto

21m

Poetry in Falsetto

Back In Time

22m

Back In Time

Lawyer In Lust

44m

Lawyer In Lust

Get In Formation

20m

Get In Formation

Trouble In Paradise

21m

Trouble In Paradise

Up in Smoke

24m

Up in Smoke

Hot In Hollywood

22m

Hot In Hollywood

Lost In Paradise

21m

Lost In Paradise

Drama In Paradise

22m

Drama In Paradise

Leitis in Waiting

1h 5m

Leitis in Waiting

Christmas in Carolina

1h 11m

Christmas in Carolina

Rae in LA

20m

Rae in LA

Worth It

20m

Worth It

Crispy Maple Chicken Donuts in Atlanta: Fluffy Off the Menu

2m

Crispy Maple Chicken Donuts in Atlanta: Fluffy Off the Menu

Indian Hot Chicken Pakora in Nashville: Fluffy Off the Menu

2m

Indian Hot Chicken Pakora in Nashville: Fluffy Off the Menu

Check It

1h 24m

Check It

Flaunt It

22m

Flaunt It

Deviled Duck Eggs in D.C.: Fluffy Off the Menu

2m

Deviled Duck Eggs in D.C.: Fluffy Off the Menu

It's Not a Vacation, It's a Movie

20m

It's Not a Vacation, It's a Movie

What The Hell Are We? Are We Living In A Simulation?

18m

What The Hell Are We? Are We Living In A Simulation?

King Keraun Falls Into a Sunken Place While in the Woods

2m

King Keraun Falls Into a Sunken Place While in the Woods

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow: Amanda Cerny's Run-in With the Bulls

3m

Hollywood Puppet Sh!tshow: Amanda Cerny's Run-in With the Bulls

Sleepless in North Hollywood

23m

Sleepless in North Hollywood

Salt in My Soul

1h 28m

Salt in My Soul

Eminem: Count Me In

3657s

Eminem: Count Me In

No Christmas In India

21m

No Christmas In India

New Girl In Town

22m

New Girl In Town

In Football We Trust

1h 25m

In Football We Trust

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

12m

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

Shake It Up!

22m

Shake It Up!

It's Probably Illegal

21m

It's Probably Illegal

It's Quitting Time

45m

It's Quitting Time

Asking For It

1h 21m

Asking For It

Check It - Trailer

1m

Check It - Trailer

Kick It Up

22m

Kick It Up

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 2: Optimism

1m

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 2: Optimism

What Does The Transcendent Star Look For In A Man: Dear Bambiana

1m

What Does The Transcendent Star Look For In A Man: Dear Bambiana

Clash of the Corps Drummers Step Up and Show Out in Rhythm

1m

Clash of the Corps Drummers Step Up and Show Out in Rhythm

What's In Your Fridge: Dumbfoundead

2m

What's In Your Fridge: Dumbfoundead

What's In Your Fridge: Tinashe

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Tinashe

In Football We Trust - Trailer

2m

In Football We Trust - Trailer

In Memory Of Mascot Man

18m

In Memory Of Mascot Man

1 Night in San Diego

1h 23m

1 Night in San Diego

What's In Your Fridge: Smino

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Smino

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong

1h 3m

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong

Diva’s Day In Court

20m

Diva’s Day In Court

Vacations: It’s Not a Luxury, It’s a Necessity

2m

Vacations: It’s Not a Luxury, It’s a Necessity

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 1: Hollow Man

1m

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 1: Hollow Man

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

51s

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

This Season On Clash of The Corps

1m

This Season On Clash of The Corps

Cajun Fried Mac and Cheese Balls In New Orleans: Fluffy Off the Menu

3m

Cajun Fried Mac and Cheese Balls In New Orleans: Fluffy Off the Menu

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 3: Inner Thoughts

1m

A Day In the Life of Wilmer Valderrama's Puppet Ep. 3: Inner Thoughts

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

1m

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

It's Hard Being Precocious

21m

It's Hard Being Precocious

It's Offensive, Not Artistic

24m

It's Offensive, Not Artistic

Asking For It - Trailer

2m

Asking For It - Trailer

It’s Soul Food

20m

It’s Soul Food

It Just Got Real

41m

It Just Got Real

OMG, It’s Beyonce!

20m

OMG, It’s Beyonce!

Britney Spears: Workin' It

55m

Britney Spears: Workin' It

What's In Your Fridge: Guapdad 4000

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Guapdad 4000

What's In Your Fridge: Joyce Wrice

2m

What's In Your Fridge: Joyce Wrice

What's In Your Fridge: Maria Isabel

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Maria Isabel

Smoothini Schools Iggy Azalea In Magic

2m

Smoothini Schools Iggy Azalea In Magic

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong - Trailer

2m

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong - Trailer