In Rick and Morty #24, Kyle Starks and Marc Ellerby tackle a done in one issue as Rick and Morty attempt to steal back a ghost spaceship! What could go wrong–and is it good?
Rick and Morty #24 (Oni Press)
So what’s it about? The official summary reads:
In this special one-shot illustrated by series back-up artist Marc Ellerby, Rick and Morty find themselves stranded on an alien ship. But could the ship be HAUNTED? Yeah, I mean, it probably is.
Why does this book matter?
The haunted spaceship idea is one we’ve seen in a few great science fiction films and it’s fun to see it appear in a Rick and Morty comic. Ellerby meanwhile, is a master at drawing these characters as they look in the show. If you’re complaining about season 3 not arriving yet, stop, because this is your fix!
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Cool name of a ship, I guess.
Starks continues to write these characters very well with Morty, Summer, and Rick going on an adventure together that–as always–goes horribly wrong. It’s fun to see Morty pick fun at Summer and for Rick’s ego to be once again knocked down a peg. The issue opens innocently enough (don’t they all) and eventually devolves into some wicked violence. The violence and the aftermath of it all is strongest element of the issue. In a way, this issue is split into two sections with the heroes entering a ghost ship to start and then the horrible result of going in. Starks focuses in on the violence well and once again shows us how violence has real repercussions. Is it tragic? Yep, but it reaps benefits for humor.
Ellerby does a fantastic job on this issue as always. The ghosts have a comedic look to them though they also harbor a weirdness that makes them formidable too. The ending montage of despair is done quite well with repeating panels to help convey the awful ongoing process of rehabilitation. There’s also a fantastic bit where Rick has lost his marbles and a bit of drool drips down making him look truly out there. It’s a funny bit that’s one of many images that make the comedy work.
It can’t be perfect can it?
The issue takes a bit long to get going. Summer, Morty and Rick banter back and forth for a good seven pages before any weirdness begins. That’s a lot of average, go nowhere banter to start the issue and it might make you tap your feet impatiently like it did for me.
Is It Good?
This is a fun done in one issue that brings ghosts into the fray and ends up with a tragic and comical ending.
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