Rick Grimes
Encyclopedia
Rick Grimes is a fictional character in the ongoing black-and-white
comic book
series The Walking Dead
and as well as its television series adaptation, The Walking Dead
.
and illustrated first by Tony Moore
, and currently Charlie Adlard
. He has appeared in almost every issue of the comic except issues 30 and 43.
Rick was a sheriff's deputy in the small American town of Cynthiana, Kentucky
. He is shot by a criminal and subsequently awakens from a coma. After being mistaken for a zombie
and hit over the head with a shovel by Duane Jones, Duane's father Morgan takes Rick in and explains the zombie apocalypse to him. In search of his wife, Lori, and son, Carl, Rick heads to Atlanta, Georgia
, where it is said people were taken to for protection. Upon arrival Rick is nearly killed by a large group of zombies, being saved by a fellow survivor Glenn, who takes him to his camp where Rick reunites with his wife and son, as well as his former colleague Shane, who is depicted to have had a romantic relationship with Lori. Rick then leads a group of survivors, trying to find shelter and safe haven from the undead. After the camp is attacked by zombies Shane and Rick get into an argument. When Shane aims a gun at Rick, Carl Grimes shoots him through the neck.
Rick's group unsuccessfully tries to stay at a zombie infested neighborhood, which results in a death of one of their own. Eventually two other members of the survivors find a prison, where they seek refuge and decide to settle down. When searching for a nearby crashed helicopter Rick and several other survivors find the town of Woodbury, Georgia
, where Rick's right hand is severed by the town's ruthless leader, The Governor. Woodbury attacks the survivor's prison with disastrous results and a large death toll, with those killed including Lori and her baby daughter Judith.
After the prison is made insecure by the attack, Rick and the surviving members leave with others to Washington, D.C. On the way to the capital, they find out that the man leading them, claiming to be in contact with D.C. scientists, is lying and find that the capital is as infested as the other major cities. They are eventually recruited to stay in a secluded and secure township on the outskirts of Washington D.C., called the Alexandria Safe-Zone
. Each person tries to find a semblance of real life, but Rick doesn't trust the leader of the town, former US Congressman Douglas Monroe. He becomes the Constable, attempting to keep the peace in the town, but is eventually forced to kill a man who was abusing his wife and child.
Rick assumes leadership of Alexandria after Monroe grows reclusive over the death of his wife. The town is soon in danger, as a skirmish with a group of bandits attracts a nearby horde of zombies that quickly breach the town’s defensive walls. As the survivors fight for their lives, several people are killed and Rick’s son is grievously wounded by a gunshot to the head. Using the combined strength of all of those remaining in the community the survivors fend off the horde and Rick returns to Carl, whose condition is very dire. Following the attack, however, Rick concludes that the undead can be beaten if the survivors put their differences aside and work together. Rick mentions that this is the first time in a very long time that he has hope for the future.
. Wounded in the line of duty, he is in a coma when the apocalypse occurs. When he awakes alone, he sets off in search of his wife and young son, and along the way discovers what has happened to the world.
- smart, calm, a good friend and father - but flawed. He sees most problems as black or white and will often stubbornly cling to his personal moral code, which results in not always making the best decisions. He has been partners and friends with Shane Walsh for a long time and he is used to their easy camaraderie, even though he has perhaps taken it for granted. In "What Lies Ahead
", Rick mentioned that he is not particularly religious, despite a weak attempt at prayer towards a statue of Jesus Christ. Hershel Greene has tried converting him several times, but Rick has always resisted.
Rick is a natural leader, someone his fellow survivors will turn to in crisis, and he is confident in his guidance, even when he at times doubts himself. However, his overwhelming need to do the right thing and protect those who cannot protect themselves sometimes pulls him away from his family, causing tension within his marriage and his relationship with his son Carl. Shane calls him weak-willed and unable to make the hard decisions, which causes friction between the two. Later on though, Rick begins to believe what Shane says, and starts to wonder if he is the one who should be leading the survivors.
in the category of Best Actor in Television.
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a monthly black-and-white US comic book series published by Image Comics beginning in 2003. The comic was created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore, who was replaced by Charlie Adlard from issue #7 onward, although Moore continued to do the covers through issue...
and as well as its television series adaptation, The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead (TV series)
The Walking Dead is an American post-apocalyptic horror television series developed for television by Frank Darabont and based on the ongoing comic book series, The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard...
.
Comic book series
Rick Grimes debuted in the first issue of The Walking Dead, which is written by Robert KirkmanRobert Kirkman
Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead and Invincible for Image Comics, and Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt...
and illustrated first by Tony Moore
Tony Moore (artist)
Michael Anthony "Tony" Moore is an American comic book artist, whose work consists mainly of genre pieces, most notably in horror and science fiction, with titles such as The Walking Dead, Fear Agent and The Exterminators.-Career:...
, and currently Charlie Adlard
Charlie Adlard
Charles "Charlie" Adlard is a British comic book artist and penciller.He is best known for providing art on The Walking Dead and Savage.-Biography:...
. He has appeared in almost every issue of the comic except issues 30 and 43.
Fictional character biography
Before the zombie apocalypseZombie apocalypse
A zombie apocalypse is a particular scenario of apocalyptic literature that customarily has a science fiction/horror rationale. In a zombie apocalypse, a widespread rise of zombies hostile to human life engages in a general assault on civilization....
Rick was a sheriff's deputy in the small American town of Cynthiana, Kentucky
Cynthiana, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,258 people, 2,692 households, and 1,639 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,873.6 people per square mile . There were 2,909 housing units at an average density of 870.9 per square mile...
. He is shot by a criminal and subsequently awakens from a coma. After being mistaken for a zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
and hit over the head with a shovel by Duane Jones, Duane's father Morgan takes Rick in and explains the zombie apocalypse to him. In search of his wife, Lori, and son, Carl, Rick heads to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, where it is said people were taken to for protection. Upon arrival Rick is nearly killed by a large group of zombies, being saved by a fellow survivor Glenn, who takes him to his camp where Rick reunites with his wife and son, as well as his former colleague Shane, who is depicted to have had a romantic relationship with Lori. Rick then leads a group of survivors, trying to find shelter and safe haven from the undead. After the camp is attacked by zombies Shane and Rick get into an argument. When Shane aims a gun at Rick, Carl Grimes shoots him through the neck.
Rick's group unsuccessfully tries to stay at a zombie infested neighborhood, which results in a death of one of their own. Eventually two other members of the survivors find a prison, where they seek refuge and decide to settle down. When searching for a nearby crashed helicopter Rick and several other survivors find the town of Woodbury, Georgia
Woodbury, Georgia
Woodbury is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,184 at the 2000 census.- History :Woodbury is one of the oldest towns in Meriwether County. It grew up about ten miles southeast of Greenville in the late 1820s. It was first named Sandtown for the white sand that...
, where Rick's right hand is severed by the town's ruthless leader, The Governor. Woodbury attacks the survivor's prison with disastrous results and a large death toll, with those killed including Lori and her baby daughter Judith.
After the prison is made insecure by the attack, Rick and the surviving members leave with others to Washington, D.C. On the way to the capital, they find out that the man leading them, claiming to be in contact with D.C. scientists, is lying and find that the capital is as infested as the other major cities. They are eventually recruited to stay in a secluded and secure township on the outskirts of Washington D.C., called the Alexandria Safe-Zone
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. Each person tries to find a semblance of real life, but Rick doesn't trust the leader of the town, former US Congressman Douglas Monroe. He becomes the Constable, attempting to keep the peace in the town, but is eventually forced to kill a man who was abusing his wife and child.
Rick assumes leadership of Alexandria after Monroe grows reclusive over the death of his wife. The town is soon in danger, as a skirmish with a group of bandits attracts a nearby horde of zombies that quickly breach the town’s defensive walls. As the survivors fight for their lives, several people are killed and Rick’s son is grievously wounded by a gunshot to the head. Using the combined strength of all of those remaining in the community the survivors fend off the horde and Rick returns to Carl, whose condition is very dire. Following the attack, however, Rick concludes that the undead can be beaten if the survivors put their differences aside and work together. Rick mentions that this is the first time in a very long time that he has hope for the future.
Future
In an interview with Newsarama.com, Robert Kirkman stated "If I keep doing horrible things to that guy (Rick Grimes), I'm going to eventually have to kill him or this book will become completely unrealistic."Television series
Rick Grimes is a sheriff's deputy from King County, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Wounded in the line of duty, he is in a coma when the apocalypse occurs. When he awakes alone, he sets off in search of his wife and young son, and along the way discovers what has happened to the world.
Personality
Rick is an everymanEveryman
In literature and drama, the term everyman has come to mean an ordinary individual, with whom the audience or reader is supposed to be able to identify easily, and who is often placed in extraordinary circumstances...
- smart, calm, a good friend and father - but flawed. He sees most problems as black or white and will often stubbornly cling to his personal moral code, which results in not always making the best decisions. He has been partners and friends with Shane Walsh for a long time and he is used to their easy camaraderie, even though he has perhaps taken it for granted. In "What Lies Ahead
What Lies Ahead
"What Lies Ahead" is the first episode of the second season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on October 16, 2011. The episode was written by series developer Frank Darabont and series creator Robert Kirkman, and...
", Rick mentioned that he is not particularly religious, despite a weak attempt at prayer towards a statue of Jesus Christ. Hershel Greene has tried converting him several times, but Rick has always resisted.
Rick is a natural leader, someone his fellow survivors will turn to in crisis, and he is confident in his guidance, even when he at times doubts himself. However, his overwhelming need to do the right thing and protect those who cannot protect themselves sometimes pulls him away from his family, causing tension within his marriage and his relationship with his son Carl. Shane calls him weak-willed and unable to make the hard decisions, which causes friction between the two. Later on though, Rick begins to believe what Shane says, and starts to wonder if he is the one who should be leading the survivors.
Critical reception
Rick Grimes was named the 26th Top Comic Book Hero by IGN. Lincoln's portrayal of Grimes garnered him critical acclaim as well as a nomination at the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films awards ceremonySaturn Award
The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
in the category of Best Actor in Television.
External links
- Rick Grimes at The Walking Dead Wiki