Rick and Mortyis a widely beloved adult animation series, and it’s easy to see why. The Adult Swim show expertly merges elements of high-concept Sci-Fi with the most immature toilet humor imaginable.Rick and Morty’s funny, smart, and introduces a number of fascinating characters and interesting story arcs - all of which go beyond the TV show itself.
WhileRick and Mortyprimarily exists in the form of an animated series (plus theRick and Mortyanimespin-off), it also has a massive presence in the world of comics. The mainRick and Mortycomic series has had multiple volumes, not to mention theRick and Morty Presentsanthology-style books and standalone specials. In essence, there’s no shortage ofamazingRick and Mortycomics, but there are certainly some that fans of the animated series will enjoy more than others. Here are the10 bestRick and Mortycomics every fan of the TV show should read!
10Rick and Morty Pushes Its Meta Storytelling to the Absolute Limit
Rick and Morty: Corporate Assetsby James Asmus and Jarrett Williams
Rick and Mortyis one of the most meta series in history. It regularly breaks the fourth, calls out common television tropes (while doing them), and even commits entire episodes to explaining the process of writing aRick and Mortyepisode. However, the series has never been more meta than in the comic book miniseriesRick and Morty: Corporate Assets.
In this comic, Morty signs away his and Rick’s life rights to an alien corporation that turns them into IP and quickly bleeds them dry. The whole thing isa meta commentary on the real-world merchandise-explosion of theRick and Mortyfranchise, meaning it’s the perfect comic to read for any fan who thinks the series became too commercialized, too quickly.
9Rick and Morty Reveals Why Cthulhu is Chasing Them in the Opening Credits
Rick and Morty vs Cthulhuby Jim Zub and Troy Little
EveryRick and Mortyfan is familiar with the opening title sequence, including the one part of the opening credits that doesn’t change: the clip showing Rick, Summer, and Morty flying away from Cthulhu while holding its baby. That scene has never appeared in an episode, yet it remains in the opening of every one - and it took a comic to explain it.
Rick and Morty vs Cthulhuis an epic story that pits Rick’s unparalleled genius against Lovecraftian Old Ones, making it well-worth the read for that fascinating concept alone. However, it stands out because it actually explains why Rick, Morty, and Summer are running from Cthulhu. In the comic,Morty is impregnated with a baby Cthulhu, and after giving birth, he refuses to part with his child, leading to the chase scene shown in the opening credits.
8Rick and Morty Gives Rick a ‘Doctor Who’ Nemesis
Rick and Morty#16 by Kyle Starks and CJ Cannon
Rick and Mortyhas oftentimes been compared toDoctor Who(at least, a twisted parody of it), as it stars a character capable of bending space and time to go on wacky Sci-Fi adventures with a bright-eyed companion. While the comparisons are broad-strokes, it was enough to makeRick and Mortyanswer back with its own ‘Doctor Who’: Peacock Jones.
Peacock Jones is a time-traveling adventurer who - like the Doctor - almost exclusively takes on female companions. However, unlike the Doctor, Peacock Jones only works with women because he expects something in return. He’s a sexual predator, using ‘calls to adventure’ to pressure women into sleeping with him. Naturally,Peacock Jones becomes Rick’s nemesis, perhaps representing the franchise being sick of theDoctor Whocomparisonsby creating its own ‘Doctor’, and making him an absolutely disgusting character.
7Rick and Morty Confirms Exactly Why Rick Hates the Devil So Much
Rick and Morty: Go To Hellby Ryan Ferrier and Constanza Oroza
One of the funniestRick and Mortyepisodes is “Something Ricked This Way Comes”, as it shows Rick outsmarting the devil himself. And throughout the episode, it was apparent that Rick was tormenting the devil not just because he thought he was a hack, but because Rick truly hated him. While no one really needs a reason to hate the living embodiment of universal evil, that didn’t stopRick and Mortyfrom offering one.
InRick and Morty: Go To Hell, it’s revealed that Satan has the power to peer into the souls of mortals, and he reveals that Rick is one of the worst humans in existence.Rick hates people who think they have him ‘figured out’, and since the devil can actually look into Rick’s soul, and knows exactly what kind of man he is, Rick hates him most of all.
6Rick and Morty Continues the 1st Mr. Meeseeks Story
Rick and Morty: Crisis on C-137by Stephanie Phillips and Ryan Lee
“Meeseeks and Destroy” might be the most belovedRick and Mortyepisodes of all time, and for any fan that agrees, this comic is a must-read. InRick and Morty: Crisis on C-137, practically all of Rick’s enemies are brought together to destroy Rick and the entire Smith family by a mysterious villain: a Mr. Meeseeks.This Mr. Meeseeks was the last-remaining Meeseeks from the “Meeseeks and Destroy” episode, as he didn’t disappear after Jerry perfected his golf game.
This comic reveals exactly what happens to a Meeseeks that lives way longer than he’s supposed to, as he not only loses his mind, but he also starts to mutate.Crisis on C-137is an awesome continuation of this belovedRick and Mortyepisode that’s made even cooler by the inclusion of a number of iconicRick and Mortyvillains.
5Rick and Morty Gives Morty a Love Interest WAY Better than Jessica
Rick and Morty#2 by Alex Firer and Fred C. Stresing
Rick and Mortyfans know that Jessica has been Morty’s primary love interest since the start of the series. However, aside from a single date, the two of them never quite hit it off. Plus, with everything Morty’s been through, he should probably find someone who could relate to his experiences a bit more. Well, interestingly enough,Rick and Mortyagreed, and actually gaveMorty a love interest he was way more compatible with than Jessica: Noelle Goldenfold.
Noelle is the niece of a Mr. Goldenfold from a universe where he is as smart as Rick. Like Morty, Noelle has gone on wacky adventures with her genius relative all across the multiverse. While Rick and this Goldenfold become enemies, Morty and Noelle actually form a genuine connection, leading to Noelle becoming Morty’s ideal girlfriend.
4Rick and Morty Reveals How Rick Met Birdperson
Rick and Morty: Infinity Hourby Magdalene Visaggio and Marc Ellerby
Birdperson is Rick Sanchez’s all-time best friend, and a belovedRick and Mortycharacter in his own right. So, anyRick and Mortyfan will be curious to know how Rick and Birdperson first met, and this comic explains it. Back when Diane was still alive, and Rick was a scientist at NASA (recently fired), Rick finds a strange alien creature who has information about how to destroy a Galactic Federation super-weapon. The alien is a member of the Resistance, andafter Rick takes him in, he’s quickly recovered by a known Resistance member: Birdperson.
The entireInfinity Hourcomic is basically a giantStar Warsparody, with Rick acting as a kind of twisted Luke Skywalker. However, the reason it’s a must-read is that it tells the full story of how Rick and Birdperson became such good friends.
3Rick and Morty Somehow Makes the “Pickle Rick” Episode Even More Badass
Rick and Morty Presents: Pickle Rick#1 by Delilah S. Dawson and CJ Cannon
TheRick and Mortyfranchise reached an all-time high in terms of widespread popularity when it introduced “Pickle Rick”. The concept was absurd, the episode was hilarious, and the merchandise was off the charts. And that’s assuredly why theRick and Mortycomics decided to tell its own version of the “Pickle Rick” story, one that’s even more badass than the original.
InRick and Morty Presents: Pickle Rick, the events of the comic play out more or less exactly as they did in the original episode, but with a few key differences, including thatPickle Rick was battling Snowball. This linked the “Pickle Rick” episode back to one of the oldest in the franchise, and actually ended with Snowball (aka Snuffles) being brought back into the Smith family. Any fan who loves Pickle Rick will love this alternate take on his story.
2Rick and Morty Introduces a Jerry who is a Rick-Level Threat
Rick and Morty#21-23 by Kyle Starks and CJ Cannon
Jerry is famously the most moronic and pathetic character inRick and Morty, to the point where his name is basically used as an insult. However, there is one Jerry who goes against that completely: Doofus Jerry. While his name suggests that he’s the dumbest of the bunch, Doofus Jerry is actually the exact opposite, as he’s a legitimate Rick-level threat.
In Rick and Morty #21-23, Doofus Jerry (who is the king of his own world) discovers multiversal travel, gets ahold of a portal gun, and travels to the Citadel of Ricks. Doofus Jerry takes down every Rick with a Rick-killing toxin before taking control of the Citadel of Ricks, and the entire Central Finite Curve.Doofus Jerry is probably the coolest original character inRick and Mortycomics, and fans of the series need to read about his story.
1This Rick and Morty Comic is the Ultimate Tribute to the Show
Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Specialby Alex Firer, Fred C. Stresing, and Dean Rankine
There are a number of reasons why aRick and Mortycomic is worth reading for fans of the TV show. Some of them add to the wider lore in ways that fans won’t want to miss, while others re-imagine some of the franchise’s best moments to make them even cooler. And then, there are comics that simply pay tribute to the beloved series - and this one pays the ultimate tribute.
Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Specialtells the story of Rick moving out of his garage and into a nursing home, though that’s merely the narrative vehicle fora super-sized cameo-fest that explores every corner ofRick and Mortylore, including the Butter-Robot, the Fear Hole, and - of course - Pickle Rick. Everything fans love about the franchise (including meta humor, high-concept Sci-Fi elements, and plenty of ‘toilet jokes’) is present in this one issue, making it one of the 10 bestRick and Mortycomics every fan of the TV show should read.
Rick and Morty
Cast
Rick and Morty is an animated science fiction series that follows the eccentric scientist Rick Sanchez and his impressionable grandson Morty Smith as they embark on perilous adventures across space and alternate dimensions. The show explores the impact of these exploits on Morty’s tumultuous family life and personal challenges.
