The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Was Inspired by This Comic Line

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As a die-hard fan of The Walking Dead, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of nostalgia when I revisit issue #94. This comic book page is more than just ink and paper to me; it’s a testament to the resilience of humanity in the face of adversity.

In issue #94 of “The Walking Dead” comic book, Andrea told Rick Grimes, “We’re the ones who endure, Rick.” She emphasized, “We’re the ones who survive… again and again, it’s us.” The 2012 comic book issue inspired a season 5 episode of the AMC TV series where Andrew Lincoln (as Rick) first uttered the line “we’re the ones who live.” This phrase was later repeated by both Rick and Danai Gurira’s Michonne, leading to the title of their spinoff series: “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Survive.”

In this week’s revamped version of Walking Dead Deluxe #94, Robert Kirkman notes that Andrea’s line, ‘We’re the ones that live,’ seemed to morph into ‘We don’t die.’ I can’t help but feel that it was this moment that truly strengthened their bond and made their connection indelible. (First person: “I found myself reflecting on how this pivotal exchange between these characters, as Robert Kirkman puts it in Walking Dead Deluxe #94, evolved from ‘We’re the ones that live’ to ‘We don’t die.’ This moment, I believe, was instrumental in forging a bond and solidifying their relationship that has stayed with me.”)

In Volume 16: A Bigger Perspective, the storyline has Rick, Andrea, Michonne, and Glenn tagging along with Jesus to visit the Hilltop settlement. This is approximately where the relationship between Rick and Michonne (often referred to as Richonne) was confirmed on the TV series, although a similar romantic development was hinted at in the comic books.

In the TV series, Andrea’s narrative was transitioned to Michonne following her character’s premature demise in season 3. This shift served as the catalyst for the spin-off show titled “The Ones Who Live“, as Kirkman humorously remarked about the choice made by the producers. He jokingly expressed his dissatisfaction, stating “They chose a more grammatically correct option, but I can’t help but disagree.”

Previously, Scott M. Gimple shared with Entertainment Weekly that the phrase “The Ones Who Live” in their show was always quite powerful. While many characters were dying, the phrase wasn’t just about the survivors, but rather it symbolized a bond of relationship and love that endured even through hardship. To Gimple, this bond meant that they not only lived together in the present, but also continued to live for each other, transcending beyond their shared ordeal. This, he believed, was the core message of the series as a whole.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #94 is on sale now from Image Comics.

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2024-08-08 22:12