The end to an era arrived when Sebastian shot and killed Rick. For weeks Rick had been slowly learning that the Commonwealth was not happy with Governor Milton and he had worked towards helping to improve the situation for its residents. In the process Rick sacrificed several friends which led him, along with Mercer, to over throw Governor Milton and her government and establish a more just one. Despite this progress, Sebastian who has lived his life under privilege decided to get his revenge by killing Rick for ruining his life. Eventually, Sebastian is caught and is sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars as the Commonwealth begins to move toward the fairer society Rick envisioned for them. Although Rick is dead the achievements, decisions, and lessons he taught and preached to the Four Communities, the Commonwealth, and several others will be implemented as these societies continue to restore themselves to what they were before the apocalypse.
The Good:
The comic takes an interesting approach to Rick Grimes’s death as it shifts Carl, his son, into adulthood. Prior to the events in the Commonwealth Carl has slowly been becoming an adult as he moved to the Hilltop, has learned the skill of being a Blacksmith, and has entered a sexual relationship with Lydia. Despite Carl doing all of these things, he has not fully transitioned into adulthood and remains between his adult and teenage years. Eventually, under orders from Maggie, Carl arrives in the Commonwealth as the citizens are clashing with their government, which leads to Pamela peacefully relinquishing power. This had given Carl and Rick an opportunity to talk where Carl asked Rick about how he knows how to make the right decisions. In response, Rick makes it clear that it is just a feeling he knows how to do and is implying that Carl has it, too. Rick and Carl go to bed and in the morning Carl goes to wake up his Dad so that they can grab pancakes together to find that he has been shot and has reanimated. Without hesitation Carl shoots his father in the head, officially killing, him to put him out of his misery and reduce the risk of having an outbreak within the Commonwealth. This for Carl is a major transition to becoming an adult as he had to make a tough decision not only for himself but for the safety of the people in the Commonwealth. Furthermore, the decision he made is a reflection on Rick to make quick but rational choices, which implies that Carl was taught well by his father. A few days later we learn that Sebastian has been caught and that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Carl tells Pamela that he is sorry she is going through this, despite the fact that her son killed his father. This shows that Carl has maturity and understands the gravity of several different situations and does not let his personal problems affect them. Carl goes to visit Sebastian in prison who attempts to say he is sorry, but it corrected by Carl who makes it clear Sebastian is only sorry about what happened to himself. Carl further goes on to say that Sebastian doesn’t deserve to die rather he deserves to spend the rest of his life locked up as his punishment as that is the more civilized thing to do. This is the same response Rick gave to Negan when he was caught and asked for his death. This captures how Carl has embraced his father’s leadership role and is ready to be a leader within the Four Communities or the Commonwealth to continue what his father had started in restoring society back to the way things were before the outbreak had occurred.
The Bad:
Now for the better part of 192 issues Rick Grimes has been the glue that has held this story together and in many ways the comic feels incomplete without him and he is now officially dead. Furthermore, the comic feels a bit off-center because everyone is acting rationally despite the fact that the leader for those Four Communities, and the inspiration for the Citizens of the Commonwealth, was just killed. This does not appear to be realistic or probable way people would react to what has occurred. Also, the comic leaves an odd feeling as the main character Rick is taken out of the spotlight and very little is mentioned about his legacy or what he has done for his people or for the Commonwealth. In many ways, it seems to be a dismissal of his character, the last sixteen years, and that he has touched millions of readers through nearly two hundred comic issues.
The Verdict:
It is clear that Issue 192 is the end of one era of The Walking Dead and is the beginning stage of a new one. Rick has died, but what he has achieved, built, and taught has not. The only question that remains now is who will pick up where Rick left off and continue to expand the legacy of restoring society back to the way it was before the apocalypse.
