As life begins to settle into a semblance of normalcy and the survivors start experiencing a rudimentary daily routine, an unexpected event, the crash of a helicopter, will force Rick, Glenn, and Michonne to leave the safety of the prison to search for any potential survivors... However, outside the prison walls, they will encounter not only the living dead, but also some other survivors... with not so friendly intentions.

The fifth volume of "The Walking Dead" marks a turning point for the entire series as new elements, characters, and situations are defined, laying the groundwork for future volumes.