It seems like comic book creator of The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman, wanted to end his comic series on his terms before AMC screwed up the series even more with their vision of how the show should end like HBO did with Game of Thrones. Spoiler Alerts: Rick Died! Ricks death was more of reasonable death to spark change instead of make you pissed off or cry/ tear jerkers.
Rick once said we are the walking dead. Rick ended his run in the series by saying we are the living not the walking dead. We have to live and enjoy life with hope.
What you might have missed in 193
While the walking dead represented a violent threat and the life as we knew it on Earth for 192 issues, they represent something far different in this 193rd and final one. The narrative jumps forward many years to a quiet farm in the countryside. There we see an adult Carl Grimes, his wife Sophia, and their daughter Andrea, peacefully living out their days. That peace is interrupted when a walker stumbles onto the Grimes’ property and Carl puts it down with a very familiar sword.
Maggie and Glenn’s son is a failure
In this post apocalyptic future, walkers are less common. Maggie and Glenn’s now adult-ish son, Hershel Greene, has brought his walker carnival sideshow act to town. He has a group of walkers in a covered wagon that he charges townsfolk a pretty penny to gawk at. Sure enough, the walker that Carl put down was one of his.
Maggie is alive
But in this brave new world, Carl hasn’t just killed a walker, he has destroyed another citizen’s property. Actual walking dead are a prized and expensive commodity nowadays. Though the new sheriff (who is the Sheriff Kapoor revealed in the fake 194 cover) is loath to do it, he has to bring in Carl for a hearing with the local magistrate. While at the hearing, the President of the Colonies herself, Maggie Greene, turns up to have a word with the judge. Carl’s punishment, rather than a debilitating fine, will be to find a walker to replace Hershel’s property. Carl responds to this good news by killing the rest of Hershel’s herd in the dead of night.
United States is United
Carl’s job is that of a messenger. He travels out to the outer reaches of society to deliver important messages. After killing Hershel’s walkers, he heads out once more. We find out a couple of important things about this distant future world. For one, Rick Grimes remains a legend. The Grimes name goes far in these parts and it’s one of the reasons why Carl wasn’t hit with a fine. Also, the “colonies” led by Maggie are set to link up with the Western Alliance very soon. It sounds like the political landscape of the world is slowly putting itself back together and the continental United States may soon all be one political entity again.
Megan is alive
Negan is a hermit now but Carl still appreciates the connection they have, even if it is just leaving food outside his door and praying he’s inside. Carl and Lydia’s dialogue also reveals that Jesus and Aaron are still around, living their best lives. Also: the bird population is coming back and with a vengeance.
Eugene and Laura are alive
Carl reaches the Western front by train, where he delivers a message to a very familiar railroad engineer. Eugene Porter is finishing the most important work of his life: the railway that will connect East and West and further unite human society. Eugene is sad that his wife Stephanie is gone and that he seems to be coming down with a sickness himself. He’s happy to see Carl all the same. Less happy to see Carl is Laura, now one of Eugene’s workers. Laura still hates Rick for killing Dwight in the Commonwealth.
Michonne is alive
The climax of the Walking Dead’s final issue sees Carl pleading his case to Judge Michonne Hawthorne. He says he is grateful for everything they have built together. But he just can’t suffer a walker to live. Everything can slide back to the way it was during “The Trials” so easily. Michonne agrees, citing the words that appear on the statue outside (which is literally just the book jacket description of The Walking Dead). She sets Carl free.
Peaceful Ending
Carl returns home once again to a grateful Sophia and Andrea. Andrea wants her dad to read to her from her favorite book, so he does. He reads to Andrea the story of Rick Grimes - how he lived, suffered, and helped build a better world. We see images of most of the remaining characters, living out their old age in peace, as Carl reads. Carl, Sophia, Earl, Hershel, Maggie, Lydia, Eugene, Laura, Michonne, Aaron, Jesus, Mercer, Princess, Elodie, Sebastian, and Pamela are still around thanks to the efforts of Rick Grimes.
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