| This article is about the comic character. You may be looking for his TV Series counterpart or his Road to Survival counterpart, or the FTWD character, the actor. |
| “ | Am I the only one who's noticed we've been overrun?! Taken over by crazy people?! We used to be safe! We used to be happy! Now Rick has us running outside, digging holes and searching places we've already searched! Doesn't this seem suspicious?! I think he wants this place for himself... I think he's trying to pick us off! One by one! Nobody put him in charge - He came here and just took over! I can't be the only one who's noticed this!
―Nicholas to Alexandria residents about Rick Grimes's group[src]
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Nicholas is a main character and a former antagonist first encountered in Issue 71 of Image Comics' The Walking Dead. He is a resident living at the Alexandria Safe-Zone, and is the father of Mikey and the husband of Paula. He served as an antagonist of Volume 15: We Find Ourselves, wanting to strip Rick Grimes of his leadership position, before defecting from that plan and aiding Rick in the war against The Saviors, where he was killed, having sacrificed himself to save Rick.
Pre-Apocalypse
Location Unknown
Almost nothing is known about Nicholas' life before or as the outbreak began, other than he brought his family to the Alexandria Safe-Zone. When apoligizing to Rick after his failed coup attempt, he mentions that he was a failure in the world before, but does not elaborate.
Post-Apocalypse
Life Among Them
He is first seen approaching Rick Grimes to complain about a fight between his son and Rick's son, Carl, saying that the former's son was pushed. However, after Rick explains what really happened and says it's just "boys being boys". Nicholas calms down, but is shocked to hear that Rick gave Carl a gun. He begins to complain to Douglas Monroe about the gun, but Douglas is able to calm the situation by explaining that they will be storing all guns in the armory and that he was unaware Carl had possession of a gun as well. Even though he listens to Douglas, Nicholas still shows some uneasiness about Rick and Carl.
Later on, Nicholas attends the welcome party for Rick and the others and apologizes to Rick for his earlier aggression towards him. Rick accepts, but their conversation is interrupted by Nicholas's friend, Peter Anderson. Nicholas keeps to himself well into the winter months and is absent from the funerals for Scott, Peter, and Regina Monroe.
No Way Out
As the roamers around Alexandria begin to grow in numbers, Nicholas and his son, Mikey, join a crowd in front of Rick's home. Nicholas, becoming increasingly angry, begins to shout at Rick, asking what he is going to do about the problem. After Rick calms everyone down, Nicholas heads home with his son to prepare for the worst.
Once the wall in front of the zone breaks, Nicholas leaves his house to help Abraham Ford clear the roamers as they flood the zone. After the roamers gather up, Nicholas and Eugene Porter retreat into Father Gabriel Stokes's church. He later leaves the church after Carl Grimes is shot and helps to wipe out the remaining roamers in the zone and participates in the clean up after. He is last seen attending the funeral for those lost during the chaos.
We Find Ourselves
After the chaos, Nicholas becomes a part of Rick's new construction crew and helps to scout the nearby area. Over time Nicholas becomes disgruntled and aggravated at the change in leadership after Douglas Monroe's death during the invasion of the walkers. He begins to get into arguments with Heath about Rick's sanity. Finally, while Rick is out on a supply run, Nicholas, Olivia, and Spencer Monroe begin a riot while on construction duty. Glenn overhears them and as the group, in particular Nicholas, decides to target Glenn in order to keep their plans of otherthrowing Rick from being revealed, Glenn pulls a gun on Nicholas in defense, prompting Nicholas to disarm him and beat him on the ground. Glenn kicks Nicholas off him and runs home with Nicholas's rioters following behind him. Heath tries to stop him as a crowd gathers around Glenn's house. Nicholas is about to shoot Glenn as Rick arrives demanding answers. Nicholas backs down almost immediately and Rick tells him to go home to his family, though Rick would reveal that he had desired to end Nicholas' life. Later that afternoon, Nicholas finds Rick and apologizes for his actions.
A Larger World
During this time, Nicholas becomes less disgruntled and develops a respect for Rick as Alexandria's new leader, slowly joining Rick's inner circle.
Something To Fear
Nicholas helps Rick carry supplies into the Alexandria when he returns from the Hilltop. He is present at Abraham's funeral with his wife Paula and Mikey next to him. The next morning he helps Rick pack for his trip to the Hilltop and helps watch the front gate as he leaves. After Glenn is killed by the leader of a hostile group calling themselves the Saviors, Rick arrives back at Alexandria. He is greeted by Nicholas holding a rifle. Nicholas informs Rick that the Saviors attacked while he was gone and helps him get through the broken gate.
What Comes After
The next day, Nicholas is presumably at the town meeting when Rick decides to supply the Saviors. A day or two after Negan leaves, Nicholas helps Rick, Andrea, and Michonne look for Carl outside the fences. While they search they are attacked by a herd of roamers, but are able to fight them off.
March To War
During one of The Savior supply trips to Alexandria, Nicholas, Rick, Heath, and Holly attempt to kill Negan. They manage to kill two of his men, with aid from Andrea; however, a hidden group of about 30 Saviors ambush the group and shoot the guns out of their hands. Nicholas is shot in the arm and is lined up by Negan to be executed by his bat, unless the remaining citizens of Alexandria throw Carl over the wall. The citizens refuse his demands and he turns his attention to Rick. Nicholas interrupts and attempts to plead for his life. This only angers Negan, who says that if either Rick, Holly or Heath tell him to kill Nicholas he will do so and spare their lives. In response Heath tells him Nicholas is just scared. Negan proceeds with the execution and starts singing to select his victim, however unknown to Negan and his men Paul Monroe sneaks up behind them. Paul grabs a Savior and uses him as a body shield against incoming fire. He then orders Nicholas and the others into the trench, while he fights off The Saviors. Nicholas is later seen with his arm in a sling and standing with his family as Jesus and Ezekiel talk and load the trucks for the upcoming war. Nicholas and his family stay in Alexandria, due to his injury.
All Out War - Part One
After Rick and others return from the successful attack on a Savior outpost, Nicholas is seen at a meeting where the group discusses what to do next. Nicholas takes cover as Negan attacks the Safe-Zone and begins lobbing grenades.
All Out War - Part Two
In the aftermath of the attack on the Safe Zone, Nicholas tells Rick that he is moving to the Hilltop with his family. Rick assures him that he wouldn't force anyone to stay, and that they are all leaving. Nicholas leaves for the Hilltop with the rest of the group.
Soon after this, Negan attacks the Hilltop with the Saviors. Nicholas participates in the battle and defends the Hilltop. Later, Rick takes him and Aaron to help corner the saviors.
In Issue 124, he tries to help Rick, after the latter's injury from Dwight's arrow. However he is attacked by a Savior with an walker-blood-infected knife and slashed in the back. He is later seen with Paula, suffering from a severe fever and succumbing to the effects of the wound.
Death
Killed By
- The Saviors (Caused)
- Infection
- Unnamed survivor (Before Reanimation)
During the events of the Hilltop invasion, an unnamed savior cuts Nicholas's back with an infected machete, sealing his fate. After several hours of suffering from the symptoms of a roamer bite, and saying his final goodbye to Paula, Nicholas dies from his fever.
After he dies from his fever and Paula leaves the room, Dr. Harlan Carson orders an unknown survivor to stab Nicholas in the head so he wouldn't turn. His body is later put with Marcus's, Richard's, Arnold's, and possibly others'. He is presumed to have been buried or cremated.
Killed Victims
This list shows the victims Nicholas has killed:
Relationships
Paula
Paula and Nicholas are married, with a child. Even though they love each other deeply, they are hardly seen together, and Paula is only seen on few occasions. In Issue 90, Nicholas confronts Rick and thanks him for saving his family, Nicholas states he went home, seen his family and tells Rick he loves them deeply. The only confirmed times the two are seen together are at Abraham's funeral in Issue 99 with their child, Mikey, between them as well as in Nicholas' final moments alive. After Alexandria is blown apart Nicholas tells Rick that he is leaving for both Paula and Mikey again showing how much he cares about the both of them.
Mikey
Nicholas and Mikey have a good father-son bond, Nicholas defended Mikey in his argument against Carl and when Mikey was proven to be the one at fault Nicholas didn't punish him. Also after Nicholas' failed attempt of taking over Alexandria Safe Zone and Rick spared his life, Nicholas told Rick he went home, saw his family and tells Rick he loves them deeply.
Olivia
Not much interaction was shown between the two but it is assumed they have a stable friendship; this is shown when Nicholas attempts to convince Olivia to join him in removing Rick from leadership of the Alexandria Safe-Zone.
Peter Anderson
| “ | NICKY BOY! Where have you been hiding, man? I haven't seen you in days! How's Mikey and Paula?
―Pete to Nicholas at the Monroe house party[src]
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Pete and Nicholas seemed to be good friends; this is shown by their interactions towards each other at Douglas's house party. Nicholas was angered by Pete's death, and wanted to lead a revolt against Rick. It's unknown if he knew about Pete's abusive behavior or if he simply didn't care.
Rick Grimes
| “ | You're taking back this community? Really? From Andrea? From Abraham? From Michonne? From Glenn? From me? Do you have any fucking idea who you're talking to?
―Rick to Nicholas[src]
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Rick met Nicholas shortly after moving into the Safe Zone. They initially met when Nicholas approached him about a fight between his son, Mikey, and Carl, but they soon resolved the issue and were later seen talking at the party. However, in Issue 88, during the cleanup of the Herd's attack on the Safe Zone, Nicholas came to hold Rick responsible for the Safe Zone's recent misfortunes: the deaths of Pete and Regina, the attack by the Scavengers, and the aforementioned herd that swept through and caused several more deaths. Fearing that Rick was going to get them all killed, he attempted to lead a revolt against him. Rick was later able to talk him down before anyone was hurt, and both had since reconciled. Nicholas later participated in several of Rick's meetings and helped Rick in the initial search for Carl once he disappeared from the Safe-Zone.
Spencer Monroe
| “ | Nicholas, damn it--how far are you going to take this?
―Spencer to Nicholas about the latter's aggressiveness towards Glenn and his family[src]
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Spencer and Nicholas seem to have a stable relationship. Spencer went along with Nicholas' plan to kill Rick's group, but became much more reluctant when Nicholas beat Glenn and threatened his family.
Douglas Monroe
Douglas and Nicholas seemed to have a stable relationship, and Nicholas seemed to possess great respect for Douglas and his position as the leader of the Safe-Zone.
Heath
Heath challenged Nicholas' planned uprising against Rick. Although they were rarely seen interacting since, it can be assumed that Nicholas and Heath had stabilized their relationship, as Heath justified Nicholas' selfish attempt to get his life spared while being lined up together with him by Negan in Issue 114.
Appearances
Trivia
- Up until his death, Nicholas's family had been the longest-lasting family or group to have all known members alive.
- Paula revealed Nicholas was the one who escorted his family to Alexandria.