Rick Is Completely Defeated In New The Walking Dead Cover

04/12/2017 04:08 pm EDT

Spoilers for The Walking Dead comics follow.

Times are tougher than ever for Rick Grimes right now. The leader of Alexandria had to fight Negan and the Saviors in an effort to start rebuilding civilization. Rebuilding civilization fell apart when the Whisperers decided to interfere with the peaceful lifestyle the community was building and another war ensued. His girlfriend appears to have been bitten by a zombie in a place where no amputation can help her. And, now, Rick has accidentally killed the new leader of the remaining Saviors while his community is completely overrun by walkers.

On the cover of issue #169, nothing is getting easier for Rick Grimes. In fact, it appears Rick may have hit an all time low.

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On the newly released cover of the issue set to hit shelves in July sees Rick Grimes on his knees before Dwight, armed with a machine gun, ready to blow Rick away. This is likely the aftermath, showcasing Dwight's reaction to Rick's slaying of Sherry. After all, it will be quite difficult for Rick to convince anybody that her murder was an accident.

Covers of Robert Kirkman's books tend to be misleading, historically. A recent cover which saw Negan appearing to cozy up with Alpha, the leader of Rick's enemy faction the Whisperers, which would be the same issue where he cut off her head to deliver it to Rick.

If issue #169 is not to be taken literally, the message might be Rick's feeling of constant defeat finally catching up to him and Dwight's anger over Sherry's death causing him to think of Rick as an enemy going forward. It has been clear that Dwight struggles with where he should stand in the past.

All of that said, writer/creator Robert Kirkman has promised on several occasions to kill Rick "eventually." Has the time come?

Check out the cover of The Walking Dead issue #169, as illustrated by Charlie Adlard, in the gallery at the bottom of the page.

MORE WALKING DEAD: TWD Actor Teases Epic Return From Season 1 / Five Comic Book Moments Coming In Season 8 / Why Rick Will Never Bow To Negan Again / When Does TWD Season 8 Premiere? / Three Things TWD's Time Jump Will Skip / Why TWD Changed An Iconic Comic Death For Finale

The Walking Dead will return for its eighth season in October of 2017. The first trailer will arrive at San Diego Comic Con in July. For complete coverage and insider info all off-season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.

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