SPOILERS: ‘The Walking Dead’ Kills Off Key Character In Comics

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Walking Dead #186.

There’s been a slight change of pace since our protagonists arrived at the community known as The Commonwealth in the world of The Walking Dead. Michonne was reunited with her daughter, Eugene found love, as did new character Juanita “Princess” Sanchez, and Rick Grimes has slowly but surely managed to convince Commonwealth leader Pamela Milton that her ways of thinking should change. But there’s been a constant sense of dread in the Commonwealth due to its class system. And no character has been more outspoken about that than Dwight.

The most recent issue of The Walking Dead, which was released on Wednesday, December 5th, picked up where the last issue left off with Dwight, having caused a ruckus in the Commonwealth, being released from jail. At this point in the story, Dwight is attempting to convince Rick that they can take over the Commonwealth and save them from this outdated system. Rick agrees with Dwight’s idea, but not his execution of the plan. And even Laura at one point tries to convince Dwight to slow down, even though he may be on to something.

When Rick explains Dwight’s plan to Michonne, who would have more to lose as a result of being reunited with her daughter and being enlisted as a Commonwealth attorney, she tells Rick that the Commonwealth people need Rick’s mind, not his gun or iron fist. It’s not until after Pamela brings out a group — Rick, Dwight, and Michonne among them  — to a staged hunting party that Michonne summons both Rick and Dwight to talk. And this is where Robert Kirkman raises the tension in the issue.

It’s during this meeting that it’s revealed that Michonne invited Pamela to the discussion. With Rick and Dwight furious about Michonne’s supposed “betrayal,” a standoff ensues with Dwight pointing a gun at Pamela’s head. All seems tense, with no one certain about what will happen.

And then Rick shoots and kills Dwight with a bullet to the head. It diffuses the situation and Pamela is thankful for Rick’s help, but later we see Rick chew out Michonne for her actions. Rick believes that he would’ve been able to diffuse the situation and talk down Dwight, but Michonne inviting Pamela to the meeting ruined that. And with Dwight dead, Rick places his death on Michonne’s hands. The two now seem to be at odds, with Michonne saying that Rick prevented a war, and Rick believing that maybe he just chose a different side.

Since Negan’s downfall at the end of the “All Out War” arc, Dwight had become a reformed character in the world of The Walking Dead. He took over the Saviors, but soon wanted to give up the position. He became a key ally to Rick and the other communities during the war with the Whisperers and even after Sherry’s death, he still came through when needed. But now he is gone as another key character of The Walking Dead leaves the world that Kirkman has created.

And it will be interesting to see how Dwight’s death will affect the other communities back at home. What did you think of Dwight’s death in the most recent issue of The Walking Dead? Let us know in the comments below.

The Walking Dead #187 will be released on January 2, 2019.