Walking Dead: comic vs. TV. SPOLIERS

I’ve not read the comics, but comparison in other threads and reading about the comics on the web brings up some questions.

Did the Warden cut off Rick’s hand? Is Meryl the stand in amputee for the television program?

How much time has passed in the comics? It seems the walkers would eventually rot away.

Is the comic Lori as widely hated as the TV Lori?

Additional questions and any spoilers are welcome.

Some of this might happen in the TV series, hence the redundant spoiler box:

The Governor cuts off Rick’s hand. Merle isn’t in the comics, so his role in the story is unclear, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he joins up with the Governor’s crew.

This isn’t really addressed well, to the best of my knowledge. I believe it’s been between 2 and 3 years since the start. I could be way off on this.

I don’t think so. I certainly don’t hate her as much. She’s not my favorite character, but she’s far from the obnoxious, troublemaking moron she is in the TV series.

Sophia is still alive in the comics.
Dale lived for MUCH longer in the comics.

There’s more, of course, but I’m trying to be careful not to drop too many spoilers that could still apply to the TV series.