What Went Wrong? The Walking Dead Creator Reflects on the Moment That Changed the Series

Live-action and comic book Rick Grimes side-by-side in front of comic panels featuring zombies in The Walking Dead.

The Walking Dead ’s first issue premiered over two decades ago, with series creator Robert Kirkman putting his characters through harrowing situation after harrowing situation as Rick Grimes and his fellow travelers did whatever they could to survive the zombie apocalypse in one piece. Incorporating dozens of iconic moments sprinkled throughout his epic undead saga, Kirkman has revealed how one brutal event changed The Walking Dead’s story in a way he never imagined, forcing him to rethink how he wrote his main protagonist entirely.

Concluding its 193-issue run with a surprise flash-forward finale that featured an older Carl Grimes as he navigates the new world his father helped build, The Walking Dead was always a comic series that didn’t shy away from killing off major characters while piling on jaw-dropping twists and turns — often to the surprise and utter horror of fans.

Rick Grimes Hand The Walking Dead

Asked in the “Letter Hacks” section of The Walking Dead Deluxe #105 if Kirkman regretted cutting Rick’s hand off way back in The Walking Dead #28, Kirkman admits that while he didn’t regret the decision itself, it definitely “led to some difficulties.”

Robert Kirkman Says Rick Losing His Hand Made Writing His Character More Difficult at Times

The Walking Dead Deluxe #105 – 2025 (Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Dave McCaig)

Walking Dead, Rick Grimes wakes up after having his hand severed

Losing his hand after refusing to reveal the location of his group to the Governor, it’s noted by the fan posing the question how Rick getting his hand chopped off “was a vital part of the book and made him into what he is ‘today’” — an accurate and entirely valid comment that Kirkman wholeheartedly agrees with. Saying, “I don’t regret doing it, I never regret story decisions on this book,” Kirkman further reveals that while the decision did make writing Rick more difficult at times, he’s able to use “storytelling cheats” as needed to make up for Rick’s physical limitations.

Admitting how “Every now and then Rick does something he just shouldn’t be able to do,” Kirkman further leans into the already high suspension of disbelief The Walking Dead’s zombie story demands by allowing Rick to accomplish feats that aren’t always possible or probable even for the most adept one-handed person — consistently fighting off the undead hordes being the most obvious example. Eventually giving Rick a nifty hook attachment that no doubt made some of his story cheats easier to write, Kirkman ensured that Rick losing his hand didn’t stop the character from being the leader he needed to be.

Rick Grimes Became an Even Better Character After Losing His Hand

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes standing in an empty store with zombie hands either side of himCustom Image by Yeider Chacon

Though Kirkman doesn’t regret cutting Rick’s hand off in the slightest, he has expressed that he might have done it too early in The Walking Dead’s almost 200-chapter run — a creative concern that makes sense considering Kirkman now had to come up with 100-plus issues of ways for Rick to do things he “just shouldn’t be able to do,” without constantly resorting to the aforementioned storytelling cheats. But credit where credit’s due, Robert Kirkman made Rick Grimes a one-handed protagonist to be reckoned with, turning this iconic Walking Dead character into an even more impressive hero than he already was.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #105 is available from Image Comics.

Related Posts

Kayleigh McEnany’s Heartwarming Studio Visit with Her Daughter Turns Shocking as Kat Timpf Unveils a Jaw-Dropping Secret.

The Fox News studio, a place synonymous with heated debates and breaking news, became the backdrop for an unexpectedly emotional moment that has viewers across the nation…

Jasper Jones, Son of Marine Veteran Johnny Joey Jones, Wins Second Place in Regional Photography Contest with Veteran Portrait 📸 ‘I’m proud of Jasper every day, but seeing him use his talent to honor a veteran—it hits different.’

In the small town of Calhoun, Georgia, where community ties run deep and stories of resilience are woven into the fabric of everyday life, a young talent…

Prince Harry’s Explosive Defense Against Vicious Meghan Markle Pregnancy Rumors: “She Is My Wife” Ignites Global Frenzy Over Royal Secrets and Troll Conspiracies

In a world where every move of the British royal family is dissected under a microscope, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has once again stepped into…

Single Dad Sings on the Street for Sick Son—Blake Shelton Stops and Said: “Your Voice is Amazing, do You need a Job?”

In the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, on a warm afternoon of June 25, 2025, a poignant scene unfolded that would soon capture the attention of millions. A…

When Sydnie Christmas Said She Was Singing “Tomorrow,” Simon Looked Unimpressed. Seconds Later, Jaws Dropped.

On a seemingly ordinary evening in April 2024, the stage of Britain’s Got Talent became the backdrop for a moment that would redefine expectations and captivate millions….

Meghan Markle and Adam Lambert’s Shocking Street Duet Sparks Chaos in Seconds: Who Stole the Show and Who Crumbled Under Pressure?

In an electrifying moment that no one saw coming, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex turned lifestyle mogul, joined forces with rock icon Adam Lambert for an…