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Rick Grimes

The Religious Affiliation of
Rick Grimes
 

Religion: Christian (denomination unknown) CBR Scale: S

Name: Rick Grimes

Other Names: Richard Grimes; Officer Rick Grimes

Classification: hero hero  

Publisher(s): Image

First Appearance: The Walking Dead #1 (Oct. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 1"

Creators: Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Andrew Lincoln (actor)

Number of Appearances: 151

   Comic Book Appearances: 108

   TV, Film Appearances: 43

Teams/Affiliations: Rick's zombie apocalypse survivor group

Enemy of: zombies

Allies: Tyreese, Alice Warren, Andrea, Glenn Rhee, Shane Walsh

Family/Relatives: Lori Grimes (wife), Carl Grimes (son), Judith Grimes (daughter)

Occupation: police

Worked for: Cynthiana Police Department

Location: Cynthiana, Kentucky, USA

Race: white

Gender: male

Excerpts

BELOW: Rick sees a deeply religious family (with Bibles) who committed suicide rather than be reanimated as mindless zombies.

Rick sees a deeply religious family (with Bibles) who committed suicide rather than be reanimated as mindless zombies.

Source: The Walking Dead #2 (Oct. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 2", pg. 4, panel 7. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: cross; suicide; Bible; family; Rick Grimes; unnamed Georgia family

BELOW: Hershel Greene suggests that Rick should pray for his son:

Hershel Greene suggests that Rick should pray for his son

Rick: Thanks, Mister, I really--

Hershel: Name's Hershel Greene. Don't thank me just yet. Your time would be better put to use praying for the boy. I ain't had a prayer answered in a good solid few months... So I figure we're about due for something good.

Source: The Walking Dead #10 (July 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 4", pg. 7, panel 6. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: prayer; Protestant; Rick Grimes; Hershel Greene

BELOW: Dale talks to Rick and Shane about his living situation with Amy and Andrea, pointing out that he's not doing anything with them, despite Donna's suspicions and religious objections: Whatever Donna might suspect is happening in Dale's RV, it seems unlikely at this point that her suspicions are correct. Dale, whose wife died about 6 to 7 weeks previous, is indeed living with two young women (Amy, who is 19, and Andrea who is 26). But he tells Rick and Shane that they're "not doing anything" (meaning that they are not doing any sexual, i.e., fornication, which is Donna's apparent concern).

Dale talks to Rick and Shane about his living situation with Amy and Andrea, pointing out that he's not doing anything with them, despite Donna's suspicions and religious objections

Rick: Lori tells me Donna just won't shut up about you and the girls living together in that camper. She started right after we got back from target practice a couple days ago and hasn't let up since. Pretty much the only thing she's talked to me about since I let Carl start practicing with us.

Dale: Donna ain't shown a lick of gratitude for my saving her life. I don't see how Allen puts up with her.

Shane: Those poor boys... Think about how she's going to be raising them twins.

Rick: Y'know, I figure you've earned the right to have two pretty young women keep you company. Without all your camping gear, we'd be screwed.

Dale: C'mon guys... I'm not doing anything with those girls. To be honest, I'm an old man... My plumbing ain't what it used to be. It's just-- after losing my wife not two months ago... It's nice having them around. They keep the place clean... Remind me of what it was like with her around.

Rick: You don't have to explain yourselves to us... It's your business. Donna's just an old housewife who doesn't have soap operas to keep her small mind occupied. Don't let her get to you.

Source: The Walking Dead #5 (Feb. 2004): "Days Gone Bye, Part 5", pg. 8, panels 1-5. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: sexual morality; judging others; Rick Grimes; Dale Horvath; Amy; Andrea; Shane Walsh; Donna

BELOW: Rick Grimes' prayer for strength? After being shot and gravely wounded, Rick Grimes was in coma, lying in a hospital bed for a month. He wakes up to find himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. After nine pages of encountering no living people - only horrific zombies - Rick drops to his knees while whispering "Oh God..." He buries his face in his hands and remains silently on his knees for some time. He then stands back up and seems to have the resolve to carry on. He mounts a bicycle he found and heads to his family home intent on finding his wife and son. "The Walking Dead" comic book series does not use thought balloons or internal first-person narrative captions. Readers are not privy to exactly what is going through Rick's mind while he is on his knees, although he was clearly in despair and clearly found the strength to carry on. It is up to the individual reader to decide if Rick's expression "Oh God..." was the beginning of a prayer, a semi-prayer, or merely a profane utterance. Similarly, it is up to the individual reader to decide if Rick's prayer (or non-prayer) was answered.

Rick Grimes' prayer for strength?

Source: The Walking Dead #1 (Oct. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 1", pg. 11. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: prayer; kneeling; God; Rick Grimes

BELOW: "Oh, thank God.": Against all odds, Rick Grimes travels from Kentucky and finds his family safe and well living in a camp on the outskirts of Atlanta. Rick woke up in a coma in a hospital in the previous issue, only to find himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Within only a day or two, he has found his family: his wife Lori and his son Carl. Yet nearly everybody else in the country is apparently dead or has been turned into a zombie. Given the situation, Rick's quiet expression after finding his family - "Oh, thank God" - may be an actual expression of thanks to deity, rather than simply a routine profane utterance. Given the seeming improbability of Rick finding his family well and alive so quickly, one might wonder if this is an actual miracle, a sign of divine Providence, perhaps in answer to Rick's prayer on page 11 in the previous issue. The events depicted in this series are extraordinary and present genuine philosophical questions. Depending on one's perspective, one might see these events as anything from a divine miracle to evidence of God's non-existence or non-involvement with humanity.

Oh, thank God.

Source: The Walking Dead #2 (Oct. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 2", pg. 22, panel 3. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: gratitude to God; miracles; family; Rick Grimes; Lori Grimes; Carl Grimes

BELOW: Dale warns Rick that Shane has "had his eye on" Rick's wife: Soon after Rick Grimes arrives at the camp on the outskirts of Atlanta where he finds his wife Lori, son Carl, and friend Shane Walsh, Dale (one of new people he meets in camp) gives him a warning. Dale believes that Shane has "had his eye on" Rick's wife Lori. At this point, he dismisses Dale's concerns because he trusts his friend. After leaving Dale, Rick says to himself that Dale is a "crazy old man." Rick later find out how right Dale was about this. Later, Shane's covetousness even drives him to plan to murder his friend Rick.

Dale warns Rick that Shane has had his eye on Rick's wife

Dale: So you're Lori's husband, huh?

Rick: Yeah.

Dale: I don't want to stir nothing up... And you gotta understand this has nothing to do with your wife. She did nothing but talk about you while you were gone... She worried about you. She felt bad about leaving you. But that Shane... He's a good man... He helps out a lot around here... He took care of your wife... But he's not glad you're back. He's had his eye on Lori for as long as I've known them.

Rick: I appreciate the advice, but Shane's my friend. He was just keeping her safe. I don't have anything to worry about.

Dale: I wouldn't trust him around my wife...

Rick: I'll keep that in mind.

Source: The Walking Dead #3 (Dec. 2003): "Days Gone Bye, Part 3", pg. 8, panels 4-6. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife; Rick Grimes; Lori Grimes; Dale Horvath; Shane Walsh

BELOW: Rick thanks God the snow is letting up and Dale says it is about time God gave them a break: When Rick says "Thank God the snow let up," he may or may not just be using the phrase "thank God" as an expression of speech. But Dale decides to interpret the expression somewhat literally, and refers to God pointedly, saying that God has got to stop giving them such a hard time. At various times, Dale is something of the "moral center" of this group of survivors. His statement here may be light banter, but it also may stem from a genuine belief that God is in control and that God was in some way responsible for the zombie apocalypse as well as the weather.

Rick thanks God the snow is letting up and Dale says it is about time God gave them a break

Dale: It's a bumpy ride, but we'll be fine as long as I take it slow. We should be on the road in no time.

Rick: Thank God the snow let up, eh?

Dale: He's gotta stop sh--ting on us sometime, y'know?

Source: The Walking Dead #7 (Apr. 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 1", pg. 10, panels 2-4. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: God; gratitude to God; Rick Grimes; Dale Horvath

BELOW: Rick is firm in his belief that zombies should be killed; Hershel believes to do so may be murder: Rick Grimes has just learned that Hershel Greene has been keeping family members and neighbors who became zombies locked up in the farm's barn. Rick is shocked and argues with Hershel about it. Hershel is shocked to learn that Rick kills zombies. Hershel believes that doing so may be murder. He regards the the zombies as sick "people," while Rick believes that the people they were are dead, and that the zombies that remain are soulless monsters who should all be killed. An excerpt from their argument is shown here. Note how Hershel adamantly states he does not want to have "blood on his hands" if the zombies turn out to be sick people who are really alive. He is deeply concerned about not committing the sin of murder.

Rick is firm in his belief that zombies should be killed; Hershel believes to do so may be murder

Rick: I don't think I could live without my son... But you've got to listen to me, Hershel. That thing in your barn... It's not your son.

Hershel: Get your f---ing hand off me! Not my son?! What made you such a g--damn expert?! I don't know about you but the zombies around here didn't come with a f---ing instruction manual! We don't know a g--damn thing about them. We don't know what they're thinking--what they're feeling. We don't know if it's a disease or side effects of some kind of chemical warfare. We don't know sh--! For all we know these things could wake up tomorrow, heal up, and be completely normal again! We just don't know! You could have been murdering all those people you "put out of their misery."

Rick: They're dead. Before they get back up--before they try to eat you--they die. You said you saw your son die. He's dead. Those things are rotting corpses with pieces missing. They're not sick people... They're dead.

Hershel: Rick, listen. These things could be in the early stages of recovery. They could be healing... and that's why things aren't working right. This is all completely unknown to us. We've go no clue how to handle this. I don't want to have blood on my hands if we find out these people are alive.

Source: The Walking Dead #11 (Aug. 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 5", pg. 4, panels 1-5. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: murder; sanctity of life; Rick Grimes; zombies; Hershel Greene

BELOW: Allen tells Rick he heard his deceased wife talking to him: Rick tries to console Allen, who is still distraught over the death of his wife about a week ago. Allen tells Rick that he heard his wife speaking to him, urging him to take care of their sons. Was he dreaming? Hallucinating? Or did Donna's spirit visit Allen to try to to pull him out of his despair so he could better care for their children?

Allen tells Rick he heard his deceased wife talking to him

Allen: I just can't sleep in there, y'know. I sit and think about how we both used to sleep in that area in front of the couch and how she's not there anymore. I can't stop thinking about her. Last night... I swear I heard Donna talking to me. I was lying there trying to sleep and she just kept saying "Take care of my boys." It was clear as day... It was like she was sitting right next to me. I think I'm losing my mind.

Rick: You'll get through this, man. Don't worry.

Source: The Walking Dead #11 (Aug. 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 5", pg. 6, panels 5-6. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: spirit; Rick Grimes; Allen; Donna

BELOW: Hershel's strong ethical and religious beliefs prompt him to "do what he can to help his fellow man": Hershel Greene has been tremendously kind to Rick Grimes and Rick's band of zombie apocalypse survivors. Hershel used his medical skill to save Carl's life after Carl was shot by Otis. Plus, Hershel has allowed Rick's entire group to stay on his farm and has shared his food and resources with them.

Hershel's strong ethical and religious beliefs prompt him to do what he can to help his fellow man

Rick: Still, I just wanted to let you know that I really do appreciate all you've done for Carl, and you allowing us to stay here.

Hershel: Don't mention it, I'm just doing what I can to help my fellow man.

Source: The Walking Dead #11 (Aug. 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 5", pg. 8-9. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: charity; Rick Grimes; Hershel Greene

BELOW: Rick Grimes expresses his belief in the sanctity of life after Carl kills Shane: Rick Grimes' long-time friend Shane Walsh was about to commit murder by killing him. Before Shane could pull the trigger and kill Rick, Rick's son Carl shot Shane. Shane dies grotesquely and horribly. Carl is distraught at seeing this and rushes to his father for comfort. When Carl observes that killing Shane was not the same as killing the undead zombies which have been attacking them, Rick states that it should never be the same. Rick here expresses a belief in the sanctity of life. For him, killing a living person is a different thing from killing a soulless zombie.

Rick Grimes expresses his belief in the sanctity of life after Carl kills Shane

Rick: Oh, son...

Carl: It's not the same as killing the dead ones, Daddy.

Rick: It never should be, son. It never should be.

Source: The Walking Dead #6 (Mar. 2004): "Days Gone Bye, Part 6", pg. 21-22. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Tony Moore. See also: murder; sanctity of life; Rick Grimes; Carl Grimes; Shane Walsh

BELOW: Rick decides that his group of survivors should not observe Christmas this year:

Rick decides that his group of survivors should not observe Christmas this year

Dale: Oh, and one more thing... Andrea's been keeping track of days since this whole thing went down. Unless she's messed up along the way-- tomorrow is Christmas.

Rick: Don't tell anyone! Do you hear me? I don't want anyone to know. I don't want to have to explain to my son that on top of all this other sh--... Santa can't find him. Let's just skip Christmas this year, okay? I don't want to upset the kids.

Dale: Okay... Understood.

Source: The Walking Dead #7 (Apr. 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 1", pg. 7, panels 6-7. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: Christmas; Rick Grimes; Dale Horvath; Andrea

BELOW: Tyreese expresses belief in the sanctity of life when he tells Rick of his concern about not feeling bad about killing the man who viciously attacked his daughter:

Tyreese expresses belief in the sanctity of life when he tells Rick of his concern about not feeling bad about killing the man who viciously attacked his daughter

Tyreese: A couple weeks after this all started... the first time we ran out of food, we made a run down to a country store about two miles from our house. We got there to find the place torn apart... It'd been looted three times over... But there were stray cans all over the place. It seemed safe enough so Julie, Chris and I split up... Looking the place over to find as much food as we could. There was this nice old man, gotta be at least sixty. He was always sitting in front of the store with buddies chatting away about God knows what... Nicest old man you'd ever meet. Always had a kind word to say. While we were separated, he got a hold of Julie... pulled her into a back room. Seems he'd been living in the place... We had no idea anyone was even there. The sweet old man... The first thing he thinks of when he finally sees other people... He tried to rape Julie. Had I been two minutes later when I found them... He'd have done it. I killed that man, Rick. I wanted to... But I didn't mean to. I beat on him... and he died.

Rick: Jesus, man... Don't beat yourself up over that... You did what any father would have done in that position. I may be a cop... But I don't let rules blind me to what's right and wrong, especially in light of our current situation.

Tyreese: I'm not beating myself up because I did it... I'm beating myself up because I don't feel bad about it. Yeah-- The end of the world changed him... But look at how it changed me.

Source: The Walking Dead #7 (Apr. 2004): "Miles Behind Us, Part 1", pg. 14-15. Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Charlie Adlard. See also: murder; sanctity of life; Rick Grimes; Tyreese; unnamed old man at country store

Rick Grimes


This character is in the following 24 stories which have been indexed by this website:
The Walking Dead


Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
  - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Grimes
  - http://www.comicvine.com/rick-grimes/4005-42443/
  - http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0188769/
  - http://comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=2984
  - https://www.comics.org/issue/260204/
  - http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=1973
  - http://imagecomics.wikia.com/wiki/The_Walking_Dead_Vol_1_1
  - http://www.comicvine.com/the-walking-dead-1-days-gone-bye-1/4000-106379/