Recap of The Walking Dead issue 185: On Guard

What happened in Issue 185 of The Walking Dead comics? Here is the full recap of events from the November 2018 installment titled “On Guard”.

Things have been quite interesting in The Walking Dead comics lately, with Rick Grimes and his communities being introduced to a new group called The Commonwealth who run a class-based system struggling to maintain a power hierarchy.

A new issue was released on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 titled “On Guard” and followed up on the story of Rick Grimes and his group visiting The Commonwealth to find out how their community works and experiencing what they have to offer. Here is the full rundown of events from that issue!

***NOTE: FULL SPOILERS FROM ISSUE 185 BELOW***

The issue kicks off with Rick sitting at a table with Dwight at The Commonwealth. He asks Dwight what his intentions are with the community and learns that is his intention. Rick says that is dangerous because they are so well armed and have many soldiers. Dwight says the people wouldn’t fight with The Commonwealth, but against them, since they are oppressed.

Rick gets very upset and tells Dwight to leave and that fighting them would be a massive mistake. The two have a staredown for a moment before Dwight does as he is told and leaves.

Back at The Hilltop, Carl is sitting on his bed. He says he’s worried about Rick even though Michonne lives there now but he’s is still concerned about all the unknowns. Lydia is still peacefully sleeping not having heard anything he said.

He gets up and gets dressed, about to head out the door when Sophia asks him why he’s up. He says he is going to the bathroom, but is quickly called out because he’s going the wrong direction. She says he is having more sex than Maggie and Dante but he says he doesn’t mind that too much.

Sophia says she’s going to stay a virgin forever since there are no good candidates at The Hilltop. Carl suggests Roland, the blacksmith, but she says he is lame and all boys are “interested” in here. Next, he suggests Mikey, but she says he’s in Alexandria and that doesn’t do them any good. Carl goes back into his room as Sophia says goodnight.

In Alexandria, Magna is on watch when Yumiko comes up to her. She’s surprised Magna is taking watch, but is told she wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway. Yumiko says they are safe, but Magna sees how bad things are under the surface and worries about another war.

Yumiko says they could just leave if another war breaks out, but Magna says she’s done running and would rather fight and the calm times are just pausings between conflicts and any conflict with The Commonwealth would be a big one.

Back at The Commonwealth, Rick is having a meal with Michonne and Elodie. He says how strange it is to be eating at a restaurant. Michonne makes a joke about surviving the apocalypse only to become a waitress, but didn’t know their server was right behind him. She apologizes, but their waitress says not to worry about it.

Rick says the fact this is a big worry is amazing and remembers when Carl used to love breadsticks at their favorite restaurant before the outbreak. Then, he breaks out in tears, sad that Andrea never got the chance to experience this and knows what this community has is special.

Outside The Commonwealth, Eugene is looking at a train. He says to Stephanie that the train is in much better condition than he thought and thinks he could get it up and running again. Stephanie leans in and gives him a big kiss, catching him off guard and gives her a huge kiss back.

At The Commonwealth, Lance is apologizing to Pamela about what happened while she was gone and swears it won’t happen again. She says he would be better to stop reminding her it was his fault. She orders patrols to be doubled for protection as well as intimidation.

She is told Rick has arrived to talk to her. Lance leaves as Rick enters and is told to take a seat. He says she prefers to have others look up at her, which she agrees to. She asks if he is okay and says there were rumblings he was crying at breakfast. He says he recently lost his wife and knew she would enjoy The Commonwealth. Pamela says she had a daughter who passed away before being able to see the community as well.

Out on the streets of The Commonwealth, Dwight is extremely frustrated. He stops some of the soldiers in the street and says the number of soldiers patrolling is outrageous. The soldier says to calm down, poking his finger into Dwight’s chest. Dwight tells the soldier to take his hand off him before yelling that the community is living in a police state.

The soldier grabs Dwight’s arm, but is quickly shoved away. The soldier pulls his club and says they need to take him in for him to cool down. The citizens start to surround Dwight, saying he has done nothing wrong and to leave him alone. Dwight surrenders and is taken by the soldiers, smiling as he knows he has riled up the crowd.

Rick visits the detained Dwight. He asks what happened and Dwight says he tested the people and they were more than ready to turn against the soldiers. He says if they work fast, the number of soldiers and their personnel would steamroll them.

Explaining that this place is close to what they have been looking for, Rick says to focus on the good things in the community instead of picking at the bad. Dwight tries to say he’s sticking up for the people, but is interrupted by Rick, who shouts that it is his turn to talk. Rick says he knows the community is flawed and there is a clear line and eventually they will need to do something about that. But he doesn’t want to do it in a dangerous way, and that Dwight starting a war is the wrong way to do it.

Rick leaves Dwight, but discovers Mercer was outside the cell standing guard and heard everything. He starts to apologize, but Mercer says Rick is the man this community needs as their leader as the issue come to an end.