We have finally arrived at the second part of Robert Kirkman and crew’s “Fear the Hunters” arc, and I am once again quite disappointed. While the level of my sadness does not reach my opinion of the last issue, this book has yet to fulfill my expectations for this storyline.

Past Andrea’s heartbreaking and relentless search for Dale, the gang finally makes the trek to Gabriel’s church and uncovers the truth beneath his flimsy story. His confession is frightening; to think that he committed such an act against his brothers and sisters right under the eyes of his god truly unmasks the horror Kirkman was once so keen in illustrating for us. All the same, this makes me wonder whether God is watching after his children after all, considering Gabriel somehow managed to survive unharmed on his way to Rick’s group after such a contemptible deed. Granted, this is under the assumption that Gabriel’s confession is veritable… If so, the reveal reminds me more of Kirkman’s ability to portray humans’ true ugliness when mirrored against the undead (compared to the hunters reveal).

About those hunters… (spoilers after the jump)

CANNIBALS?! Really? I mean, I have picked up on the scarcity of food in this reality, and I know that we should expect to come across humans who have a proclivity towards human flesh, but… the hunters are cannibals? At most, I was expecting the most obvious plot twist would be Gabriel’s involvement with the hunters, and I was mildly upset about that. Then again, I suppose I had been reading far too into the hunters propaganda, anticipating a wilder twist. Instead, I ought to have put the two together: hunters = meat.

The presence of cannibalism in this world was expected and rightly so; yet, a full-fledged arc need not be dedicated to it. I find myself sounding rather negative about this issue and Kirkman, but I’m merely disappointed. Yes, I could stop buying the comics and read another series, but I still believe that Kirkman will soon be penning up something absolutely abhorrent and delectable.

Hopefully we’ll get some extra Walking Dead fix when San Diego Comic Con rolls around next week!