Robert Kirkman
VOLUME 9
Michonne finds the RV, but only finds zombies near. She moves on. Rick and Carl keep moving and looking for a safe place to stay. They find a store in a small neighborhood and take what they can. The house next door seems secure so they decide to stay there. Rick cleans his wounds and takes whatever medicine he can find, knowing he is too sick to keep traveling. He passes out and Carl yells at him to wake up until zombies come to their door. Carl leads them away, but ends up having to shoot all three to get away. He goes back to tell his unconscious father that he’ll be okay on his own. Later, Carl admits that he doesn’t want to be alone. Rick wakes up and Carl thinks he is a zombie. He can’t shoot his dad. A few days pass before Rick is good enough to get up. They raid nearby places for supplies and then Rick hears a phone. A lady tells Rick that she is with a group of fourteen, but they don’t know if they can let him and Carl come to them. After three days of phone calls, and not much luck hunting (took an El Camino full of supplies from a man that was eaten), he tells the lady they have to move on. When he asks for her name and number, she tells him it is Lori, his wife. He realizes that the phone is unplugged from the wall and the calls aren’t real. Rick starts teaching Carl how to drive, but he has some issues. Rick gets out to clean off the windshield of splattered zombies and is attacked. Michonne shows up and saves him. She was following tracks from the RV, but they are the only ones she has found. They decide to go to Hershel’s farm, but can’t find it before dark. Rick and Michonne take turns sleeping and watching from the back of the car. The next morning, Glenn and Maggie arrive on horses and lead them back to the farm. Maggie goes to her room to cry, having just learned about her brother and dad. Carl goes to see Sophia and tells her that his mom is dead now too. Sophia gets angry and says Maggie is her mom. Carl thinks that Sophia is crazy and Rick tells him to let her deal with all that she has been through however she can. Dale has a talk with Rick to tell him he can’t blame himself. Rick hears Michonne talking to no one and asks her about it. When she says she is talking to her boyfriend because she can hear his voice, he shows her the phone he took from the house. The next morning, everyone is woken up by a gunshot. Three people - Abraham, Rosita, and Eugene - have arrived looking for supplies. Eugene explains that they are headed to Washington D.C. so that he, a scientist, can stop what is going on with the dead. Abraham explains that the guns attract zombies from miles away and can cause them to join into herds, which are dangerous. Eugene says that his information is classified when pressed for details. Abraham points out that Eugene is really smart. He wants their help. As if on cue, a small herd arrives. Abraham takes them out himself. Dale thinks Abraham is right and they should move on. Rick says he will do whatever Dale thinks is best. Maggie wants to leave and forget her family ever existed. Before the whole group heads out, Rick tells Carl if he ever wants to split off from the rest, they will.
VOLUME 10
Rick wakes up from a bad dream where Lori is a zombie and eats him. He takes over watch from Abraham and pulls out his phone to talk to Lori. When Glenn wakes up for his shift, Rick takes that too. Glenn goes back to bed where Maggie can’t sleep. Later that day, the group stops in a small town for supplies. Abraham yells out that it is time to go because of approaching zombies. One grabs Rosita’s ankle, but Eugene points out how it is too weak to attack. He wonders what made it that way, but doesn’t have time to study it because they have to leave. As everyone is gathered around a fire, Glenn notices that Maggie has been gone too long. He goes to check on her and finds that she has hung herself. He yells for help and they get her down. Glenn goes to start CPR, but Abraham puts a gun to her head. Rick points his gun at Abraham. Maggie wakes up and apologizes. Abraham tells Rick if he ever points a gun at him again, he will kill him. Rick retorts that he won’t hesitate to pull the trigger next time. The next morning, Rick goes to the woods to urinate and is attacked. Abraham saves him by shooting the zombie. ALone, he tells Rosita that he isn’t in control of his rage from how Rick talked to him and followed him into the woods. Rosita says he is in control and what happened before wasn’t his fault. She kisses him. Maggie and Glenn debate whether or not they should set the horses free. The group comes to a split in the road and Rick tells Abraham about the police station he locked up with supplies in it. They decide that they (and Carl) will take the El Camino and meet back with the group in two days. That night, while Rick and Carl are sleeping, Abraham is attacked by a group of men that want to steal their supplies. Rick wakes up and starts fighting, so one of the men starts trying to rape Carl. Rick rips a man’s throat out with his teeth, Abraham shoots one, and Rick tears apart the one that was going to rape Carl. The next morning while Carl sleeps, Abraham tells Rick how his first group raped his wife and daughter while he was helping gather supplies. When he found out, he killed the men responsible brutally. He scared his family and they left. When he found them, they were already dead. Later, when people tried to leave their group and take supplies, he killed them too. Rick tells Abraham about his past. Carl tells him about shooting Shane and his thoughts. Meanwhile, Dale tires to convince Andrea that Rick is dangerous and they should take the twins and split. Andrea refuses. He plans on going on a supply run while the others inventory what they have. Rick finds Morgan still living in the same house. Duane is a zombie and chained up inside. Rick gives Morgan his gun to kill the zombie, but Morgan shoots the chain to free it instead. They get what they need from the police station and start heading back to the others. On the road, a huge group of Zombies appears along the road. Rick tries to plow through them, but hits another car. They make a run for it, but Rick realizes they could lead the herd to the other at the camp. Carl points out a house they can use to distract the zombies. They set up things that make noise and leave through the back, hoping they can crawl through the tall grass to get away. Glenn, Maggie, and Michonne are waiting at the gas station Rick, Abraham and Carl left from. Maggie tells Glenn that she was in a dark place, but is fine now. Rick comes running up with the others to tell them they have to move on. When they get to the farm the others have been staying at, he tells them what is going on. Dale says he and Andrea are staying. Eugene explains how it doesn’t take much for a herd to destroy a house, even without hearing anyone inside. Andrea convinces him to leave, but he is bitter towards Rick, thinking it is all his fault.
VOLUME 11
The group continues down the road until Andrea finds a van (with mattresses in the back) they are able to get running. Rick pulls out his phone that night and Lori tells him they need to talk about Carl. He hangs up. The next day during a stop, Andrea goes to check on the twins in the woods. She finds Ben has killed Billy, but left his head alone so he will come back. Everyone argues over what they should do with Ben. Father Gabriel approaches the group offering sanctuary in exchange for food. That night while everyone is sleeping, Carl kills Ben. No one saw who did it, but a few are suspicious of him. They leave in the morning for the church that Gabriel spoke of. There were people watching them from the bushes. Dale is having trouble dealing with the loss of the twins. He gets up in the middle of the night and is taken by the people that were watching the group. Andrea wakes up in the morning to find that he is gone. Everyone starts searching. Rick and Abraham decide they can’t search too long, especially if he just left. Rick promises they will look for Dale, but they need to get the group to the church fist. When they arrive, Andrea hears someone in the woods. when she calls out, he runs away. She accuses Gabriel of being part of the people that are watching them. He thinks they are there to punish him because he wouldn’t let anyone in the church when the zombies started. Rick believes him. Abraham says they have to be smart about dealing with the people watching them. Chris introduces himself to Dale, saying they do what they do out of necessity as he eats a piece of Dale’s leg. Eventually Dale starts laughing at them. He shows them that a zombie bit him and screams they are eating tainted meat. Since the cannibals can’t continues to eat him, they drop him off at the church to scare the others. As they are trying to figure out what to do with Dale outside of the church, Rick knows people are watching them. He gives everyone instructions to go inside. Glenn is shot in the leg. Once they are all inside, Eugene patches Glenn up. Rick talks to Dale about where he was. He could tell they were in a back yard in a neighborhood. Rick figures they are within walking distance so he asks Gabriel about the closets neighborhoods. Rick, Abraham, Michonne, and Andrea follow Gabriel. when they find the cannibals, Rick tells Andrea to shoot one in the ear after he explains that he didn’t come alone. Abraham takes their weapons. Chris begs for their lives, but Rick has already decided they have to die. Afterwards, they return to the church where the others are waiting. Dale thanks Rick for all he has done for the group and dies that night while Andrea is with him. She keeps her promise and doesn’t hesitate. They burn his body the next morning. Food is becoming a serious issue, but Rick wants to have a minute alone. He tells Abraham that he is haunted by wheat they did to the hunters, but when he turns around, it is Carl that is standing there. Carl admits that he killed Ben.
VOLUME 12
While out looking for food, Rick and Carl have a chance to talk. Carl admits that he didn’t want to kill Ben, but had to for the safety of the group. He cries about it every night. They rejoin the group to find that nobody had much luck. Rick asks Eugene about checking the radio. They end up fighting over it and Rick drops it. Eugene admits that it never had a battery and he was only a high school science teacher. Abraham starts to beat him because he killed people for a fake mission.. Rick stops him and they start talking. A man named Aaron approaches them to tell them about the community he lives in called Alexandria. Rick punches him and they tie him up. He explains that he wants them to audition for membership. Zombies start attacking. Aaron is freed and given a gun to help take them out. When the dust settles, Aaron gives back the gun. Michonne says she is going with him and many of the others agree. On the way, they meet Aaron’s partner, Eric, who joins them. After traveling for a while, they take a break near Washington D.C. A flare goes up and Aaron explains that someone from their group is in trouble. Rick and Abraham take the van and are able to load the hurt guy in the back. A few more community members arrive in a truck to clear the way of zombies for them. THey make it to Alexandria, which is surrounded by sturdy walls. Rick meets with the leader, Douglas, who seems to like Rick. He makes him the constable and then sends him to join the others for a tour. After interviewing several other people, Douglas shows them around and the three houses their group can take over. After Rick divides them, Abraham suggests they all stay together. Rick agrees. Douglas tells them about a halloween event they are having, but Carl doesn’t want to participate. He doesn’t want to get weak. The event is held during the day. Late that night, Douglas asks Rick about jobs for Michonne (will assist Rick) and Andrea (will be lookout). he then goes to hit on Andrea, saying his marriage is only political. Andrea turns him down. Glenn and Maggie have an argument about him being a runner and going into Washington D.C. The next night there is a dinner party. Andrea talks to Douglas’ son, Spencer. Michonne leaves early because she gets annoyed with the ladies catty chit-chat. Maggie takes Glenn home after he makes a drunken scene. Rick takes Sofia home and goes to talk to Glenn. The act was to cover up that he was looking for the guns. He found them, but hasn’t figured out how to get them yet. Rick wants to make sure they are prepared to take the community if necessary.
VOLUME 13
Rick and Glenn distribute the guns. Andrea refuses to take one. Abraham goes outside the fence to work with the construction crew. When a woman, Holly, is attacked, everyone leaves her for dead. Abraham saves her and becomes crew leader. Gabriel tell Douglas that the group is full of horrible people, but Douglas doesn’t care. Heath feel responsible for Scott’s broken leg and the fever that is accompanying the infection. He and Glenn go into the city to get stronger antibiotics, but get stuck on a roof when an ally is unexpectedly full of zombies. The next morning, they see another group throw one of their own people to the zombies to try to save themselves. Rick suspects that a man named Pete is hitting his wife, Jessie, and son, Ron, who has a black eye. Rick goes to talk to Jessi and she says it is only sometimes. He tells Douglas what is going on, but he doesn’t do anything because Pete is a doctor. Rick goes and starts a fight with Pete. They end up in the street and Rick pulls out his gun. Michonne hits him over the head to stop him. Douglas indicates they are going to kick Rick out. They have a private conversation. The only part Douglas has a problem with was questioning his leadership. He tells Rick about how the man that started the community, Davidson, had to be exiled because he abused his power. Rick tells him about Shane. Heath is with Scott when he dies. He is upset that they aren’t going to have a funeral. Andrea is having dinner with Spencer when she sees Pete walk by with a knife. He wants to kill Rick because he now has to live in a separate house from his family. Regina, Douglas’ wife, tries to calm him down, but gets sliced across the chest. Douglas tell Rick to shoot Pete. There is a funeral for Scott, Pete, and Regina. Andrea decides to skip it and go to the watch tower. During the service, a gun is fired at the gates. Michonne stays with most of the people in the church. Rick takes Abraham and his construction crew. The people that Glenn and Heath saw in the city have found them. Rick meets the leader at the gate. He demands to be let in and his sniper is aiming at Rick, indicated by the red dot on his chest. There is a gunshot and the red dot disappears. Andrea takes out the leader next. Rick gets out of the way and the rest of the construction crew takes out the rest of the invaders when they refuse to leave. Rick tries to tell Douglas that he needs to talk to the residence and reassure them. Douglas thinks Rick needs to be the leader.
VOLUME 14
The walls are starting to become crowded with zombies. Abraham and Glenn each lead a group around the outside to thin them out. On the way back, they find out that a herd is coming right for Alexandria. They get inside and tell Rick. Holly is upset that Abraham left a man who was bit. He apologizes in a way that reveals they are having an affair. Rick tells them they need to check the walls and keep constant watch. Since not all of the steel beams are settled into concrete, he says they might want to stay closer to the older parts of town. Jessi and Ron move in with Rick and Carl. Rick and Jessi sleep together before he leaves for his shift. Abraham shows him a piece of wall is failing. They try to re-secure it as best they can. Glenn and Heath plan to get supplies to Andrea, who is stuck int he tower. Spencer brings them rope and wants to go with them. Heath and Glenn make it across the rope to another building outside the walls, but the rope snaps and Spencer starts to fall into the zombies. Andrea arrives to help pull him onto the building with the others. The wall collapses. Spencer suggests that he and Andrea leave everyone behind. She punches him and says their relationship is over. Rick and Morgan try to kill zombies as they are bottlenecked into the town. Morgan in bit and Michonne takes over with her sword after cutting off Morgan’s arm. Rick rushes him back to his house while sending for the doctor, Denise. Abraham and Rosita get away. Gabriel lets Eugene and Nicholas in the church. Morgan tells Carl that he knows he killed Ben and that he needs to make sure he stays good. Aaron and Eric are stuck in a less secure building. Michonne is with Morgan when he dies. Rick lets in a zombie so they can use it to sneak out. Michonne takes Denise to the infirmary. Rick leads Car, Jessi, and Ron through the zombies. Jessi and Ron attracts too much attention and are dragged down. Jessi won’t let go of Carl’s hand, so Rick cuts hers off. Douglas starts shooting and ends up being eaten. He shoots Carl in the head in the process. Rick rushes his son to Denise and promises to keep the zombies away. A whole mess of people come to help and they are able to take out the herd. Glenn, Andrea, Heath, and Spencer are able to get back in. Rick knows they have to rebuild and train hard to keep surviving.
VOLUME 15
Rick tries to stay positive while they clean the town out. Everyone contributes ideas on how to make the city safer. He spends most of his time watching over Carl. Rosita knows that Abraham has been sleeping with Holly. She moves in with Eugene because she feels like they are still friends. Michonne admits that she cared about Morgan, but for some reason, always tries to play it cool. Andrea starts teaching people how to shoot. Abraham feels guilty for what he did to Rosita, but still wants Holly. Carl wakes up and has some gaps in his memory. Rick has to tell him that Lori is dead. Carl feels like he already knew and got got over it a while ago. Rick takes out a large group to search for supplies. They spread out and Andrea finds Rick crying in a house alone. He explains that he is worried that Carl is loosing his humanity. Andrea tries to reassure him that Carl is hiding his emotions to be more like Rick. Nicholas meets with a few people to talk about how Rick shouldn’t be in charge. Glenn approaches as he says they need to kill Rick. When the group does return, Glenn and Nicholas have guns pointed at each other. Rick points out how they are trying to keep everyone alive and lets Nicholas go when he agrees. Carl is allowed to go home later. Nicholas approaches Rick on the way to tell him he is with them. Glenn is worried about Nicholas roaming the streets and Maggie is loosing her mind worrying about the safety of their family. Rick tells Andrea that he feels dead. They kiss.
VOLUME 16
The supply runs continue with large groups. Maggie goes on one and is less worried about Glenn going out. Rick tells ANdrea they can’t be together because everyone he loves dies. She says they are perfect for each other because they are both strong. The city is running low on food. Abraham and Michonne go out for a quick run and meet Paul Monroe, who goes by Jesus. He says he is friendly, but Michonne is startled and attacks. Jesus ends up with her sword at Abraham’s throat while she goes to get Rick. Jesus explains he is part of a large community built around a farm that looks for other communities to trade with. Rick acts like he trusts him just to get an opportunity to knock him out. They keep him tied up at the infirmary and Carl sneaks back to talk to him. Rick decides that he, Glenn, and Michonne will take him back and check out the trade offer. Andrea insists on going. Eugene says he will work on how to make bullets they can trade for food. Halfway there, they stoop for the night and find Carl stowed away. They continue on in the morning and make it to the Hilltop. They are let in and Rick talks to Gregory, the pompous leader. A man returns inside the walls and says Neagan will kill a girl named Crystal if he doesn’t deliver a message. He stabs Gregory. Rick tackles him and fights him. When he has no other choice, he kills the man. Jesus explains that Neagan demands half of their supplies for protection (Gregory wasn’t the best negotiator). They don’t know how many people Neagan has or where they are. Rick offers to deal with Neagan if they are willing to give them food. They load up the van in hopes it will be enough to convince their group they need to help. Rick feels optimistic about their new alliance and the safety of the Hilltop.