Creator of 'The Walking Dead' Discusses Rick and Carl's Ages

The Walking Dead stands as one of the most enduring television series. gremlin / Getty Images

A longstanding topic of conversation among The Walking Dead enthusiasts centers on Carl Grimes' age. The comic series indicates Carl was 7 years old at the start of the apocalypse, while the TV adaptation portrays him around the same age, potentially aligning more closely with Chandler Riggs' actual age of 10 during the first season.

Naturally, Carl has grown considerably in both the comics and the TV series. In the latest comic issue, Carl positions himself as a natural leader, whereas TV Carl appears to be in his late teens (Riggs is currently 17). The challenge lies in determining the exact passage of time since the story's inception, leading to ongoing discussions about the true ages of Carl and Rick.

In the Letter Hacks segment of The Walking Dead

issue #164, creator Robert Kirkman and editor Sean Mackiewicz address a fan's observation. The fan asserts that Rick was 27 years old in the initial pages of The Walking Dead, while Carl was just 7. Mackiewicz, however, counters this, stating Rick was closer to 30 when the series began.

“Rick’s exact age has never been explicitly stated in the comic,” Mackiewicz noted. “It’s true! Based on the details provided, Rick was 23 when he became serious with Lori… which contradicts the fan’s theory, as Rick couldn’t have been 27 while Carl was 7.”

Mackiewicz acknowledges ongoing discussions within The Walking Dead’s writing team regarding Carl’s age.

“Robert and I often disagree, but Carl’s age might be our biggest point of contention,” Mackiewicz said. “The irony is that I, like everyone else, know Carl is 7 because Robert stated so in issue 5. As long as Carl doesn’t mention his age post-time jump, you can disregard our letter page comments as speculative. (Except for what I just wrote.)”

“Officially, the time jump between issues 126 and 127 isn’t defined by a specific number of years,” Kirkman added. “It appears to be around two years, but it could be longer.”

Based on Kirkman’s remarks, Carl’s age in the comics would be approximately 13.

“It’s entirely plausible that Carl has aged five years since the series began,” Kirkman stated. “Children grow up quickly!”

Photo: Image Comics

The TV adaptation, however, presents a different scenario. While Riggs has aged seven years since his first appearance, the show’s timeline suggests far less time has passed. This likely explains why the series takes liberties with time progression, never specifying exact durations. At this pace, Riggs will be at least 20 by the time the show aligns with the current comic storyline (and Andrew Lincoln, portraying Rick, will be nearing 50).

Alternatively, it might be reasonable to assume the characters are younger than they appear, as surviving years in a zombie apocalypse would undoubtedly take a toll on anyone’s appearance.

Reference: ComicBook.com