Summary
One ofThe Walking Deadcomic series' most enduring romances officially started with one of its most iconic quotes; according to author Robert Kirkman,the tense moment in which Andrea declared “we’re the ones that live” to Rick Grimes, their relationship fundamentally changed, leading them to eventually end up together.
The Walking Dead Deluxe#94 – written by Robert Kirkman, with art by Charlie Adlard, and fully-colorized for the first time by Dave McCaig – contains the author’s annotations on the process of writing the issue, as well as his retrospective analysis of how the series developed over time.
As Kirkman noted, this moment “sealed the bond” between Andrea and Rick, subtly signaling the evolution of their close relationship into something more; the love between the two ultimately endured untilThe Walking Dead’spenchant for tragic endingsinvariably struck.
Walking Dead’s Commonwealth Originally Had a Very Different Name
According to Robert Kirkman, the “Commonwealth” which proved pivotal to the later stages of the Walking Dead almost had a very different name.
In this scene, Andrea establishes herself as Rick’s equal not just on a narrative level, but within their group of survivors – forging the already strong connection between the two into something unbreakable.
Though it led to a great love story,the scene fromThe Walking Dead#94 that precipitated the start of Andrea and Rick’s romance is a confrontation, as Rick tries to put his increasing desire to protect Andrea ahead of the best interests of their group. When Rick tries to find a pretext to keep her from going on a dangerous mission, Andrea rebukes him angrily. She declares:
I’m going and I’m not going to die. I’m going to prove to you that you’re not the only one who survives. Haven’t you been paying attention? We’re the ones that live, Rick. We’re the ones who survive. Time after time, it’s us.
In the immediate context of the story, it is a triumphant moment: Andrea effectively forcefully declares herself a main character of equal value toRick, who is effectively the comic’s protagonist.
InThe Walking Dead Deluxe#94,Robert Kirkman cited the more long-term implicationsof this moment: it signaled the beginning of Rick and Andrea’s relationship. Kirkman wrote:
This issue also features Andrea’s line, “We’re the ones that live.” Which I believe eventually evolved into “We don’t die,” If I’m not mistaken. It sealed the bond for these two characters, and really solidified their connection.
In this scene, Andrea establishes herself as Rick’s equal not just on a narrative level, but within their group of survivors – forging the already strong connection between the two into something unbreakable. It makes sense, then, that they would come to view each other as the only romantic option; if it was not evident to both by this point,The Walking Dead#94 made it clear to Rick and Andrea that they understood one another better than anyone else in the world.
The “Ones That Live,” But Not Forever
Warning! Spoilers forThe Walking Deadcomic series ahead.
As Kirkman continues to revisit Andrea and Rick’s romance – and their inevitable respective tragic deaths – inThe Walking Dead Deluxe, it will be especially exciting to get more of the author’s behind-the-scenes perspective on the evolution of their love story.
The Walking Dead#192 featured the death of Rick Grimes, the shock of which was only overshadowed by the abrupt,unexpected conclusion to the serieswith the following issue. Andrea, meanwhile, met her fate thirty issues earlier in issue #167. Her death wasone of the comic’s most gutwrenching; in large part,the tragedy of it was accentuated by the fact that, for so long, she had been right – her and Rick had been “the ones that live,“until suddenly they weren’t anymore.
Andrea’s demise brought this moment fromThe Walking Dead#94 full circle; though readers didn’t recognize it at the time, it effectively signaled the beginning of the comic’s final act. As Kirkman continues to revisit Andrea and Rick’s romance – and their inevitable respective tragic deaths – inThe Walking Dead Deluxe, it will be especially exciting to get more of the author’s behind-the-scenes perspective on the evolution of their love story. For many, theAndrea-Rick comic relationship is the bestThe Walking Deadfranchise has to offer, and theDeluxereprint offers the chance to chart it in detail, step-by-step.
The Walking Dead
Cast
The Walking Dead is a television series that premiered on July 28, 2025. It follows Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. He embarks on a journey to locate his family, encountering various survivors amidst the chaos.
