The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman considered killing off Rick Grimes in the sixth issue of his comic book ending Volume 1: Days Gone Bye. In issue #6, Rick confronts his best friend and police partner Shane about his romantic relationship with Lori, Rick’s wife, who believed him dead at the onset of the zombie apocalypse. When the shouting match turns violent, Shane blames Rick for waking from his coma and reuniting with Lori and their son Carl. An unhinged Shane is moments away from shooting Rick when he’s gunned down and killed by the nine-year-old Carl, who tearfully tells Rick: “It’s not the same as killing the dead ones, daddy.”