Everyone loves the ol’ “cop with nothing to lose” trope, but The Walking Dead shows you what happens after the credits roll with Rick Grimes.

We’ve all asked ourselves who we would become in the event of a zombie apocalypse. And in 2010, everyone was plotting thanks to AMC’s must-see series The Walking Dead. Based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, the story starts when a cop wakes up from a coma and the whole world has gone to the zombies. His name is Rick Grimes and he’s our window into a reality that, let’s be honest, most of us wouldn’t survive.

Who Was Rick Grimes Before Zombies Took Over Everything?

Before the zombie apocalypse, Rick Grimes was just a regular ol’ police deputy in a small town in Kentucky. When he and his partner and BFF Shane respond to a call, Rick is shot and falls into a coma.

Before all that, in his first year at the police academy, his younger brother introduced him to high school senior Lori. When Lori went off to college, the two kept in touch, and would later be married. A few years later, Lori gave birth to their son, Carl.

Rick and the End of the World

The Walking Dead comic book and TV series both start the same way. Rick Grimes wakes up in a hospital after the world has fallen dark due to a zombie takeover. Disoriented and weak, he makes his way home, where he meets a father-son duo who are living in a house nearby. The new world is explained to him, and his journey to find and protect his family begins.

After he finds Lori and Carl at a nearby campsite of survivors, everyone is forced to move on after a zombie hoard shows up. From there, the name of the game is finding a secure place to call home. There’s a brief stint on a farm where Rick is introduced to more characters who would be his lifelong friends. When the farm falls to walkers, the gang hits the road again, moving into a prison and setting it up as a community.

But a neighboring community, Woodbury, is run by a guy named The Governor. And he wants all the toys on the playground. In an effort to get Rick to tell him where to find the prison, The Governor cuts off Rick’s hand. When Rick and his crew escape and head back home, the Governor destroys the prison. Rick’s wife Lori and their newborn daughter Judith are killed while trying to escape.

After the Prison

After the loss of his wife, Rick, his son, and the surviving members of the prison community search for a new place to call their home. Over the years, they eventually discover Alexandria, The Kingdom, and Hilltop. Each town sees power struggles that put Rick and his crew in leadership positions. The communities initially band together to fight against Negan, the merciless leader of a local protection racket called The Saints.

Once he’s finally defeated, Rick locks Negan in a prison cell. He says that his past ethos, “you kill, you die,” was a little too simplistic. Negan’s real punishment would be watching everyone thrive without his leadership.

The Death of Rick Grimes

In 193 issues, the original comic book follows Rick as he finds his family, finds a community, and becomes a leader. A whole lotta people die along the way. And wouldn’t ya know it, they’re not all killed by zombies. The series is known for illustrating what is monstrous in the human race, sometimes through Rick himself.

Rick manages to survive for quite a few years. During that time, he and his friends/family painstakingly secured a cluster of settlements and established trade. They fight off a variety of threats to their communities, including the Whisperers, a barbaric group of believers in the righteousness of the new world.

As the communities reach a place of prosperity, Rick starts trade discussions with The Commonwealth. After giving a rousing speech that turned community favor toward him, Rick Grimes is shot in the chest by the son of the former leader of The Commonwealth, Sebastian Milton.

How Did Rick Lose His Hand?

From a small camp and an RV to a prison to a town, Rick Grimes’ growth as a leader came with innumerable costs. In his first tango with another survivor community’s bloodthirsty leader, The Governor cuts off Rick’s left hand. Just, you know, to prove to him that he was serious.

Rick Grimes & The Walking Dead in Other Media

The Walking Dead on AMC

In 2010, AMC turned the hit comic book into an even bigger hit show. People were going to episode showings in bars and everyone was talking about what happened on the episode the night before.

The show still has a pretty solid fanbase. It ran for 11 seasons, spawned multiple spinoffs, and even added some original characters. It also goes way off the rails in terms of sticking with the books. But Rick Grimes remains, more or less, the same determined leader he is in the comics.

The Walking Dead Universe RPG

Free League recently released The Walking Dead Universe RPG, which uses the Year Zero Engine to play Campaign, Survival, or Solo mode. The playable characters in the game don’t include Rick Grimes, unfortunately. But at least you can poke around in the universe!

Rick Grimes in D&D

Of course, you could add Rick to just about any open-world RPG that allows you to create a character. If you’re looking for tips, our very own Meaghan Colleran had this to say:

Rick’s a cop so we’re staring out with the classic cop class with a Paladin. I’m leaning Path of Devotion because Rick genuinely sees himself as a good guy who wants to help and protect his friends…. And usually I believe him.

Next we’re going in one of two directions depending on your game. He needs to be good with a ranged weapon. If guns are in your adventure, a Gunslinger-Fighter is a solid choice. If not, I’d go with a Ranger with an archery fighting style. I think the best cases could be made for Monster Slayer or Hunter conclaves.

I’d also opt for feats like Crossbow Expert, Inspiring Leader, Lucky, and Sharpshooter.

And, of Course, the Memes

Thanks to Andrew Lincoln’s very particular version of a Georgian accent, his pronunciation of Carl’s name has become a very famous meme. It’s usually paired with a really corny Dad joke and him insisting Carl acknowledge his funny joke.