Like most fans revisiting The Walking Dead issue-by-issue, following along with the Deluxe reprint of the series, I have been both anticipating and dreading the approach of the pivotal Walking Dead #100, and the death of Glenn –but what I didn’t realize was that the tragedy of the character’s exit from the series would hit much earlier on this read through.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #96 – written by Robert Kirkman, with art by Charlie Adlard – features the start of Glenn’s last day, and what legitimately broke my heart was how unexpectedly hopeful the issue finds him, as he embraces the potential of joining the Hilltop community.

In his annotations to the issue, Kirkman himself pointed out how Glenn “loves this place.” Of course, this was deliberate character choice, done in service of making Glenn’s imminent demise even more brutal, and in retrospect, it is incredibly effective.

Looking Back Now, I Can See Where Rober Kirkman Planted The Seeds Of Glenn’s Devastating Death

The Walking Dead Deluxe #96 – Written By Robert Kirkman; Art By Charlie Adlard; Color By Dave McCaig; Lettering By Rus Wooten

When I first read The Walking Dead #96, at the time of its 2012 release, I didn’t know, of course, that when Glenn stands and watches the sunrise over the Hilltop walls, a blanket around his shoulders, with a hot mug of coffee in his hands, it would be his last morning alive. In part because I know what is coming for the character, and frankly, in part because I’m older and more aware of my mortality now, this moment struck me as particularly effective storytelling.

Further, the full-color rendering of the panel, as part of the Deluxe edition, also helps make this moment especially striking for me as a reader. As much as I appreciate The Walking Dead in its black-and-white original form, the infusion of color gives certain scenes an entirely new meaning, and Glenn’s final sunrise is the perfect example of this. Also strikingly amplified by the added color are the subtle expressions on Glenn and Rick’s face, when they are interrupted by Andrea – perhaps as close as either came in the series to a moment of peace.

Glenn’s Death Scene Is Unforgettable – But I Think, In Retrospect, His Last Day Is The Truly Heartbreaking Part

It’s Brutal How Hopeful He Is

I admit, in anticipation of The Walking Dead Deluxe #100, I was at first tempted to jump ahead and reread Glenn’s death scene ahead of the full-color version’s release – but ultimately, I’m glad I didn’t. Reading the series in sequence, as each Deluxe issue comes out, has made me pay greater attention to the issues leading up to the milestone. I’m thankful for this, because it has given me a new, more detailed appreciation for the set-up that went into making Glenn’s death such a turning point for the series.

The tragedy of Glenn’s death is a result of where he ends up, not where he started out.

As you might expect, the events of these issues are not as burned into my brain as Negan’s arrival in issue #100, and his murder of Glenn, but as I read with the knowledge of what’s coming, they are actually the most devastating part. As readers, we tend to equate the impact of Glenn’s loss with his longevity, having first appeared in The Walking Dead #2. Yet it is about more than that – the tragedy of Glenn’s death is a result of where he ends up, not where he started out.

After Revisiting His Last Day, I’m Not Sure That I’m Ready To Experience Glenn’s Final Moments Alive Again

The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 – Releases November 6 From Image Comics

The release of The Walking Dead Deluxe #100 is imminent, and I find myself fixated on Glenn’s sunrise scene from The Walking Dead Deluxe #96 whenever I think about the character’s death scene. As rough as the gore of Glenn’s violent ending is going to be to behold in full-color, it will be so much worse when compared side-by-side with the image of him peacefully watching the sun come up, thinking about the possibilities of a new life – one that would be snatched away from him by arguably The Walking Dead’s greatest villain.

In a way, Glenn’s arc ends at the Hilltop, in this moment where he feels a long-dormant sense of optimism; everything else he does leading up to The Walking Dead #100 is saturated with the tragic irony of his fate.

As an author, Robert Kirkman did everything as carefully as possible when crafting The Walking Dead, and that included his decision to give Glenn a moment of contentment before killing him off. In a way, Glenn’s arc ends at the Hilltop, in this moment where he feels a long-dormant sense of optimism; everything else he does leading up to The Walking Dead #100 is saturated with the tragic irony of his fate, which remains among the most unquestionably dramatically potent moments in Walking Dead history.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #96 is available now from Image Comics.