The second Walking Dead companion series, World Beyond, just debuted on October 4, and already, there is a huge connection to the mainline AMC series and an even bigger connection to the show's former main protagonist Rick Grimes. During a panel at New York Comic-Con 2020, we got to learn a bit about how Grimes is connected to the newest Walking Dead series.

During Season 9 of The Walking Dead--spoilers--Grimes seemingly sacrificed himself but ended up living, unbeknownst to his friends. He was picked up by a black helicopter with an insignia on it. Early on in the first episode of World Beyond, a black helicopter with that same insignia is seen and we learn it's the symbol of the Alliance of the Three, also known as the Civic Republic.

"The show obviously serves as an introduction to the organization--civilizations--that Rick has gotten somehow tied up in, in some way," explained Walking Dead chief creative officer Scott Gimple. "Do we need to worry about him? Rick Grimes kind of takes care of himself. He's pretty good at that sort of thing but it does look like his situation is going to be challenged in some pronounced way."