Rick Grimes Shocking Twist Rocks The Walking Dead

By Jesse Schedeen

The long cartoon Walking Dead has just received one of its greatest twists.

Warning: This article contains notes about The Walking Dead # 192!

Number 191 ended in an unexpected shock: the triumphant Rick Grimes managed to avoid the war between Alexandria and the Commonwealth, but was shot dead by Sebastian Milton, the spoiled son of former Mayor Pamela Milton. The prospects were already dark for Rick at that time and the number 192 was wasting little time before it was established that Rick had really left. Sebastian repeatedly pulls Rick before he runs away, letting Rick bleed to death in lonely hours until sunrise.

Rick's body is discovered the next morning by his son Carl. To make matters worse, Rick was resuscitated as a walker, forcing Carl to shoot his own father.

Art by Charlie Adlard. (Image credit: Skybound Entertainment)

This tragedy calls into question the fact that the hard-won peace between the settlements can survive the death of Rick Grimes. Already, Pamela seems to use chaos as a way to recover some of her lost power. But fortunately, Carl manages to honor his father's memory by refusing to take revenge on Sebastian, who is now imprisoned. Although Carl makes it clear that all bets are open if Sebastian escapes or is released from jail.

This question culminates with members of Alexandria and the Commonwealth who are preparing for a massive funeral procession, escorting Rick's body to his resting place, along the grave of Andrea. However, Carl breaks down during the trip, telling Michonne that he simply does not have the strength to continue without his father.

Art by Charlie Adlard. (Image credit: Skybound Entertainment)

Needless to say, the death of Rick Grimes marks a turning point in the series. Rick was the first character introduced to The Walking Dead # 1 in 2003 and has remained the main protagonist ever since. This makes Carl one of the few members of the original cartoon cast still alive.

This turn is reminiscent of recent developments in the television series The Walking Dead, since Rick Grimes of Andrew Lincoln was writing midway through the series in mid-season 9 last year. However, even here, viewers learned that Rick had survived a certain death, with AMC announcing a new series of films derived from Rick.

It is safe to say that Rick's death will have huge and lasting consequences on the series. Will Carl succeed in overcoming his grief and filling the void left by his father? Will old enemies like Negan come back to take advantage of this power vacuum? Is Rick's dream of a renewed human civilization still possible without him to guide the survivors? These questions will undoubtedly be at the forefront of the series with the approach of The Walking Dead # 200.

To learn more about this crucial new issue, check out our article on The Walking Dead # 192.

Jesse is a writer with gentle manners for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket in follow @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.