Negan’s introduction in The Walking Dead marks a huge turning point for Carl in the comics. It will be interesting to see how Carl handles the big Lucille death and what it means for his relationship with Rick.
[WARNING: MAJOR COMIC BOOK SPOILERS AHEAD]
In the comics, Carl develops a bloodlust after witnessing Glenn’s brutal death. He sneaks onto one of the Savior’s caravans and opens fire in their community. Carl manages to kill some of Negan’s people before he’s caught. Instead of killing Carl on the spot, Negan decides to take Carl on a tour of the Savior compound.
Negan shows Carl how he rules over his people, how he demands respect, and the two have a weird heart-to-heart. Negan sits Carl down and asks him to take off his eye patch. Negan is taken aback by how gruesome Carl’s injury is and Carl starts to cry. Negan apologizes for his reaction and tells Carl he should wear his scars with pride. Carl leaves Negan a bit more confident and it starts to affect his relationship with his father Rick.
Carl begins to question his father’s decisions and slowly grows apart from him. He starts to spend time in The Hilltop community making friends outside of Alexandria. Carl eventually befriends a craftsman who offers to teach him how to make weapons. Carl begs Rick to let him become an apprentice and Rick can’t handle it. Rick eventually learns to let Carl become his own person, but Negan is always there between them.
For example, after the All Out War storyline, Rick leaves Negan in Alexandria’s makeshift prison cell. Carl sneaks into Negan’s holding room at night to talk to him about the problems he’s having with Rick. Carl gets close to Negan, but never close enough to think about setting him free. Rick is aware Carl goes to Negan for advice, but doesn’t say anything to him. Rick hates Negan even more for coming between him and his son, but also starts to confide in him as well. Negan offers his advice to Rick, and sometimes he takes it.
Even if Rick successfully takes down Negan, the infamous comic book villain isn’t going anywhere. Negan has a way of getting himself out of dangerous situations. It may not be long before Negan finds an opportunity to take out Rick and rise to power once again.
Do you think the show will explore the Carl-Rick-Negan dynamic? Let us know in the comments below. The Walking Dead Season 7 premieres Oct. 23 on AMC.
