Rick and Morty: The End #1 has been advertised as “the actual end of Rick and Morty,” and the stakes do feel like this could be an actual series finale. Following the events of Rick and Morty vs. the Universe, Rick Sanchez has gone off the grid, and various universes want him brought in. Who’s going to track down an amoral scientist who has enough cutting-edge technology to stay one step ahead of his foes, and utter disregard for the chaos he shows? His own grandson!
Yes, this is a Rick and Morty story where Morty is hunting Rick, and having spent enough time around him, Morty knows exactly how Rick thinks…and uses that same line of thinking to travel to the “bleeding edge of reality.” From the very beginning to a surprise twist at the end, Morty is acting differently. He strolls into the bleeding edge, wrapped in a Clint Eastwood-style cloak and carrying a laser gun. He fights off the “Ball Fondlers”, a group of characters meant to be a parody of ’80s-style action heroes like the A-Team or The Expendables. He seems perfectly willing to sell out Rick, despite working alongside him on previous adventures. It’s a far cry from what fans have come to expect from Rick and Morty…but that’s the point.
Rick and Morty: The End #1 reunites the creative team of Daniel Kibblesmith and Jarrett Williams, who previously collaborated on Rick and Morty vs. the Universe. As a result, this feels halfway between a first issue and the second half of a story the duo is working on, yet still contains all the things people love about Rick and Morty. Morty is still the stammering, self-conscious teenager who’s continuing to find a spine, especially with what’s at stake for him. We get more jabs at storytelling devices, particularly in the form of Recapricorn, a self-proclaimed “lore whore” who derives pleasure from absorbing information about stories (and is clearly meant to poke fun at the types of fans who get obsessed over power levels and continuity in comics).
Oni Press
Two things help set apart Kibblesmith and Williams’ work on Rick and Morty: The End from Rick and Morty vs. the Universe. The first is the action – this is a more intense comic, with Williams drawing Morty nearly getting bisected by a chainsaw, a moment that’s only topped by Morty’s fight against the Ball Fondlers, which takes up two pages and is full of bloody, brutal action. It’s only topped by the last page, which brings back some fan-favorite Rick and Morty characters.
The second thing concerns Rick’s whereabouts, and it’s probably the last place that anyone would expect. It’s also an excellent way for Kibblesmith to keep readers hooked. Why did Rick pick this reality to hide out in? What happens when Morty eventually finds him? That’s a recipe for the kind of chaos Rick and Morty thrives on, and hopefully the rest of the series keeps up this momentum.
Rick and Morty: The End #1 lives up to its name, featuring twists and turns that set up a potential endgame. Time will tell if this really is the end of Rick and Morty, but it looks like it’s going out on a high note.
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