Carl Grimes is a huge part of The Walking Dead in both the comics and the television series, growing into a moral compass for the group of survivors his father leads. Fans were shocked and outraged when Carl was killed in season 8, namely because he is one of the characters to live through the entirety of the comics run. A number of Carl Grimes’ comic storylines were adapted to fit other characters, including his younger sister Judith or Carol’s adopted son Henry.

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RELATED:Every Lost Carl Grimes Story The Walking Dead ReusedOne of Carl’s most iconic arcs in the comics, the Whisperers and his relationship with Lydia, made Henry the center of the story. Carl’s relationship with Lydia is one of his most important and formative, helping Carl grow into the hopeful hero that he is known for being. By taking Carl off the board, The Walking Dead completely changed the dynamic between the characters.

Carl’s legacy has continued to be an important part of The Walking Dead series and will continue to hang over the stories, especially with the highly anticipated Rick & Michonne spin-off series. However, given the way the comic ends, the loss of this character is still felt by many fans, especially after the series finale. Riggs’ own excitement about that storyline makes this loss even more disappointing because he clearly had more to explore with Carl Grimes, but The Walking Dead cut his development short.