Does Rick Grimes die in The Walking Dead? Comics vs TWD show explained

❘ Published: 2024-03-05T18:25:24

AMC / Image Comics

If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, you’ve likely wondered at some point over the years… What happens to Rick? Or even, does Rick die in all of this? Here, we’re going to unravel the famed storyline surrounding Rick Grimes and his fate in both the comic book series and AMC‘s TV adaptation.

Rick Grimes is a central character in The Walking Dead universe. Played by Andrew Lincoln in the TV show, Rick is a former sheriff’s deputy who wakes up from a coma to find a world overrun by flesh-eating zombies.

Throughout the series, he becomes a symbol of hope and leadership, guiding a group of survivors through the post-apocalyptic landscape. And it’s not quite over for him, either. Rick is back at the forefront in The Ones Who Live, a new spin-off that reunites him with his wife, Michonne.

With The Ones Who Live, The Walking Dead is venturing into more original territory, but the source material could still hint at his ultimate fate—as one key scene from the show proves. So, let’s take a look at it and see how things differ.

Does Rick die in The Walking Dead? Show vs Comics

Rick has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly in The Walking Dead universe. But does he survive?

In the AMC television show, Rick Grimes is very much alive. However, in the comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Rick does have a tragic death.

When does Rick die in TWD? Comics death explained

Rick Grimes meets his fate in issue #192 of The Walking Dead comics, released in June 2019. This shocking twist left many fans in disbelief as they witnessed the demise of the beloved character, who led the series for many years.

How does Rick die in The Walking Dead comics – and who killed him?

In issue #192 of the comics, Rick Grimes is shot and killed by Sebastian Milton, the spoiled and reckless son of Pamela Milton, the leader of the Commonwealth.

Sebastian kills Rick in a fit of anger and desperation, blaming him for the downfall of his privileged life within the Commonwealth community. Rick’s death is a huge moment in the comics, not least of all because the next issue – showing how Rick’s death affected the communities of survivors 25 years later – was the final issue, something that had not previously been solicited.

In the show, Sebastian also dies in Season 11 – the final season of the show – after walkers enter the Commonwealth and one hits him with a nasty bite.

Sebastian was one of the most hated characters in TWD Season 11, as the people of the Commonwealth exposed him as a fraud. In the comics, though, he had a major role in Rick’s story.

It made for one of the most dramatic exits in the series’ history on-screen, and Eugene was later accused of having killed him.

While the comics may have bid farewell to Rick Grimes, Rick’s legacy lives on in The Ones Who Live. That show sees Rick join the nebulous CRM after being taken in the Season 9 finale. The show focuses on Rick and Michonne’s reunion, as the two aspire to take down or escape the CRM.

Just as Daryl Dixon found new adventures in his spinoff in France, Rick Grimes is embarking on a fresh journey, ensuring that the spirit of The Walking Dead continues to thrive on our screens. So, keep your eyes peeled for this exciting new chapter in this universe.