It’s been a while since Jules had a graphic novel for the beloved readers, so here is a YA favorite whose third book is set to release in comic book shops Wednesday, June 25th!
Clementine comes from the universe of The Walking Dead. That’s right, folks… Did you know the big, bad “Don’t Open, Dead Inside” goes beyond what we’ve been given on TV? The Clementine Series does an equally great job of having characters that are trying to grasp at normalcy in the horrors of the new world, but without the added adult violence and themes that TWD tends to give us. Sure, there are some mature aspects considering it is Young Adult fiction, but I’d probably let the almost 10-year-old take a gander and most definitely the teenager who resides somewhere in my house and deigns to come out for food.
The third book in this installment is the finale for Clementine’s story. Tillie Walden, Eisen and Ignatz award-winning author, has no stops and no holds in this one. The ten pages that fell into my inbox gave me mixed feelings of hope and despair. Clementine finally has a safe living space, a kitty cat, and a girlfriend, making this the perfect Pride Month release (go, Image Comics)! Yet, in a world wholly overrun by creatures so dangerous to the living and where resources are scarce… it truly makes what we take for granted an ordeal for these characters.
There is a relevance to this, too. I’m not going to pretend to be apologetic, TWD is a little dated at this point, while admittedly still beloved!… and I will also admit that I have not seen all The Last of Us episodes or seasons, however, this series has strong vibes of those kind of character dynamics. While this is geared towards more middle-grade ages, it certainly can appeal to those who’ve played that video game or spent a lot of time binging the TV series. The same goes for you TWD fans (I am looking at you, Dad).
Lastly, you know I can’t go without mentioning the artistry. One thing that really itched my brain just right about these books: Tillie Walden is also the artist. As an artist and a writer, hello to my new hero. If y’all didn’t know, this isn’t super common. Anyway, stepping away from that sidebar.
The paneling is fun. There is an overlap between frames that flow well, and the gutters are used to help the eyes move quickly where the pacing should move faster. Walden does a great job playing with shadow and not overwhelming the page with cross hatching or stippling. Shading is key here, and it really helps with pages looking clean despite being in black and white. Not going to lie, though, it made me want to pick up an old Captain Underpants. Not because of the writing… just the artwork.
All in all, I can’t wait to swing by my local store and bug them for this graphic novel. It is set to be released in comic bookstores on Wednesday, June 25th of 2025. However, if you can’t make it, but still need a physical or digital version, online retailers will have it available for you by July 8th, 2025.
Publisher: Image Comics
Author and Artist: Tillie Walden
Length: 256 Pages
Cost: $14.99
Additional Skybound Comet YA releases upcoming:
Family Force V by Matt Braly and artist Ainsworth Lin – June 2025 ($16.99)
TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever: Meet Ballpoint by Brian “Smitty” Smith and artist Marz Jr. – July 2025 ($12.99)
Pizza Witch by Sarah Graley and Stef Purenins – September 2025 ($16.99)
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