Rick’s Hand Chop in The Walking Dead Comics Created Major Story Problems, Reveals Creator

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Summary

  • Rick losing his hand in the comics created challenges for the protagonist’s narrative later on by limiting his abilities.
  • Kirkman adapted Rick’s storyline with storytelling cheats like a hook to ensure survival after hand amputation.
  • The decision to remove Rick’s hand led to creative challenges but ultimately shaped the character in a unique and compelling way.

Although “The Walking Dead” television series by AMC debuted as early as 2010 with the memorable first episode featuring Rick Grimes waking up in a hospital overrun by walkers, its comic book counterpart was actually published six years prior. Initiated by Robert Kirkman, the comic series initially aimed to be a sequel to George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead,” set during the 1960s. However, Kirkman and artist Tony Moore opted for a more contemporary approach when reimagining the zombie genre instead.

The TV show The Walking Dead stood out for its gripping plotlines and exceptional acting talent that brought the narrative to life in a unique way. Drawing inspiration from the comic books, the zombie apocalypse series featured several unforgettable scenes etched into TV lore, such as Judith’s birth, Carl getting wounded, Rick sharing Dr. Jenner’s revelation with the group, and Hershel meeting a gruesome end at Michonne’s hands. However, one intense scene involving Rick gave creator Robert Kirkman some trouble when deciding how to progress the storyline afterward.

Robert Kirkman Reveals That Rick’s Hand Chopping Moment “Led to Some Difficulties”

According to Screen Rant, a fan asked Robert Kirkman in the “Letter Hacks” section of the latest edition of The Walking Dead Deluxe #105 comic if he regretted severing Rick Grimes’ hand in issue #28 of The Walking Dead back in 2006. However, Kirkman shared that he doesn’t regret the amputation, but admitted it did cause “some complications” for Rick’s storyline. In the comic, Rick lost his hand when the Governor chopped it off because he wouldn’t reveal the location of his camp, which is a significant difference from how it unfolded on the TV series.

“Every now and then Rick does something he just shouldn’t be able to do”

In their query, the fan mentioned that the gruesome amputation of Rick’s hand transformed him as a character throughout the series. Kirkman concurred with this observation but emphasized that he wouldn’t change anything about the narrative of the series. However, having Rick only use one arm for the rest of his journey made it harder because it required “storytelling tricks” like giving him a hook to fend off walkers and preserve his role as a leader. Kirkman admitted that he had to think up over a hundred issues and innovative solutions to ensure Rick wasn’t dependent on his severed arm, enabling him to fight and survive just as effectively as any other character, if not more so.

Lately, Kirkman shared an intriguing tidbit about one of the coldest and brutal antagonists from The Walking Dead; it turns out he was named after Kirkman’s high school tormentor. For those who have yearned for the return of original characters like Maggie and Negan, season 2 of The Walking Dead: Dead City is set to air this year. Unfortunately, a specific air date hasn’t been announced yet.

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2025-01-28 16:37