The Walking Dead #170 (Image Comics 2017) Charlie Adlard & Dave Stewart Cover

This 2017 Image Comics issue delivers a critical turning point in Robert Kirkman’s zombie saga, isolating Eugene Porter on a multi-day journey that redefines his role in the series finale. Part of the “ON THE ROAD” story sequence, the chapter strips away exposition-heavy plotting to focus on survival logistics, environmental hazards, and the psychological toll of traveling through reclaimed territory.

Crafted across 28 pages of original black-and-white artwork, the issue relies on the collaborative precision of artist Charlie Adlard, background artist Stefano Gaudiano, and letterer Cliff Rathburn. Their linework emphasizes terrain difficulty and resource scarcity, allowing narrative tension to build through careful panel composition rather than color staging. The accompanying cover by Adlard and Dave Stewart establishes the immediate stakes before readers reach the first interior page.

Eugene’s expedition shifts from a promise of technical revival to a relentless test of endurance when supply lines fracture and unfamiliar threats emerge in low visibility. Rated M for mature content, the installment grounds its fear in human error, equipment failure, and geographic isolation rather than supernatural escalation. Reading order matters here: this volume bridges earlier convoy collapses with the later settlement phases, ensuring character motivations align cleanly with the eventual conclusion.

• Writer: Robert Kirkman
• Artists: Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano, Cliff Rathburn
• Cover Design: Charlie Adlard & Dave Stewart
• Format: 28-page black-and-white interior
• Content Rating: Mature

For collectors tracking the complete run or readers mapping Eugene’s canonical trajectory, this installment provides essential continuity between the highway chapters and the finale’s concentrated conflicts. The absence of print color serves a structural purpose, directing attention to facial microexpressions, weathered environments, and the precise mechanical details of mid-century firearms. Secure this number to maintain chronological integrity in your library or to examine how minimalist staging elevates long-form serialized horror.