The Walking Dead #176

Part two of the "New World Order" arc finds The Walking Dead in unsettling new territory, with a composed, pearl-necklaced woman seated calmly behind a desk — hands folded, wearing a quiet smile that suggests she's very much in control. Flanking her on either side are two heavily armored soldiers in white riot gear, respirator masks, and goggles, their weapons and equipment on full display in a scene that radiates structured authority. Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano, and Cliff Rathburn deliver a cover that feels more like a diplomatic portrait than a post-apocalyptic tableau — which may be precisely the point.