Rick and Morty didn't start as a comic. It first gained popularity as an animated series. The show's unique storyline and characters made it a hit before any comic adaptations were made.
I'm not aware of any Rick and Morty comic in the newspaper. Maybe it's possible in some very specific or niche newspapers, but it's not a common occurrence.
Rick did die in the comic. The circumstances surrounding his death were complex and had a major impact on the story's direction and the other characters.