Richard Grimes, universally known as Rick, is the protagonist of Image Comics' The Walking Dead who was first encountered in Issue 1 in 2003. Rick has been described as an everyman who emphasizes moral codes and values. Over the course of the comic book series, he eventually succumbs to sheer and uncompromising brutality in order to protect his fellow group members and later community from harm. Currently, he is one of the last remaining Atlanta survivors. The comic series is meant to follow his life for the approximate 300 issue run.