Amen to that. At that age your sole purpose, and only goal in life is to see a girl naked. Then, once you accomplish that, you find you want so much more. LOL

 

I think he's actually older than 13. The wiki can't be trusted; and we all know the time skip is purposely ambiguous. But we do know it was more than 2 years.

I think he may be closer to 15.

 

I though this was a fairly obvious theme growing within the TWD narrative. As we slowly but surely grow closer to the the issue #200 make, and as the world of TWD changes vastly as the years go by; Kirkman is trying to desensitize us readers to the idea of a TWD universe without Rick Grimes.

It's been prophesied and theorized for quite sometime that eventually, Carl, the heir apparent, would eventually inherit the throne and Rick would fade into the background and eventually die. Even so, it is still something that has to be approached slowly, subtly, and as painlessly as possible. So, one issue at a time, we're growing used to Rick not being the center of the TWD universe; and subsequently we're learning more about other complex and interesting characters and their agendas; and we're also learning that TWD can be very enjoyable and compelling without King Rick at the forefront of the story.

Now, don't get me wrong; I wouldn't enjoy a TWD without the Grimes element. But, a TWD without Rick won't be so bad; atleast it seems like it won't be.

 

You know, I hadn't put much thought in the method of Rick's death until now. But now that you mention it; I completely agree with you. I'd prefer for Rick to die due to some variation of natural death. I don't want him to be murdered, or eaten alive/torn to bits by walkers.

Also, personally; I would completely despise the idea of Rick being "assassinated" for some strictly political reason. Similar to what's currently brewing against Maggie at the Hilltop.

But yeah, that being said, I would life for Rick to die a natural death. I can't believe more people haven't been the victims of various illnesses and viruses we used to inoculate against but no longer do post-outbreak. Such as influenza, measles, polio, tuberculosis, pneumonia, hepatitis, etc. Not to mention to possibilities from lack of hygiene, extremely close living quarters, and 99% of the world's population existing as rotting corpses.

Also, I'd imagine a great number of people now suffer from PTSD and other mental illnesses, as well as possibly suffering from the physical maladies and illnesses attributed to enduring unbearable stress for long periods of time. Such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, GI problems, and possible heart attacks and stroke.

I could see Rick going that route in the end; similar to how Michael Corleone goes out in the final installment of The Godfather trilogy. I could see Rick having a stroke or heart attack in his old age as a culmination of all the stress, pain, and trauma he's endured in a short period of time.

I can almost see how it would go down--

It's many years from now, Carl is a grown man with a child on the way and Rick is nearing his golden years. Carl has been in charge for sometime now at this point; having assumed his father's role as leader several years earlier. We find them at the annual fair which was founded back in issue #127. Except now we see many differences, paved roads, street lamps, all sorts of little municipal markings of civilization. Biggest of all is that the fair is now hosted on it's own personal and sprawling fair grounds. Complete with ampitheater, large hotel, a large concessions area which includes several stand alone diners, a sprawling market/bazaar covered by large circus style tents, an enormous children's playground and the list goes on. We find the father and son duo on stage, giving their charismatic speeches as they do every year to mark the final moments of the closing ceremonies of another spectacular annual fair. Long after the large crowds have dispersed and the fair grounds cleaned up, packed up, and locked down, we see a contented Grimes family heading to their horse-drawn carriage to make the short trip back home to Alexandria. Rick begins reminiscing, getting nostalgic with Carl and Andrea, talking about old times, good ones, bad ones, the wins, the loses, the fights, of how he loved a good fight. Just then he'll collapse, with Carl and Andrea catching him under the arms before he can fall to the ground and injure himself. Andrea screams for help, but it doesn't matter. Carl slides to a sitting position on the ground and cradles his father in his arms as he endures the final spastic and painful throes of the stroke, and then expires with a hoarse and raspy final breath.