Comic Review: Rick and Morty Presents Pickle Rick #1

Rick and Morty Presents: Pickle Rick #1

Oni Press

Writer: Delilah S. Dawson

Artist: CJ Cannon

I’m a big fan of the Rick and Morty comic book series. A lot of the times, it’s better than the show. They can do a lot more, and carry on longer stories than the show. This comic could’ve done a lot with Pickle Rick. They didn’t, but they could’ve.

Rick and Morty Presents: Pickle Rick #1 is largely just telling the same story from the episode of the show. The family is going to therapy, and to avoid it, Rick turns himself into a pickle. They go without him, and he ends up fighting people in a nondescript office building.

I don’t like being negative, and I try to find a positive in things I don’t like. There are a few things I did like in this issue, but mostly I didn’t like it. Rather than do anything brand new, they retread the same ground and hit most of the same beats from the show. It feels like a lot of “hey remember this thing from the show? It’s here now too!”. There are some changes to the story but, again, it’s all the same beats from the show. There’s even a couple of “commercials” (like from the “interdimensional cable” episodes, remember?). But they’re not funny. The family in therapy is largely overshadowed by Beth and her father issue (like the show) and ignores Summer and Morty’s problems. They had new problems, and while not the most original, could’ve been funny if they were explored.

I like the art in this issue. So it’s got that going for it, which is nice. CJ Cannon did the art for the regular Rick and Morty series for a large part of it. He knows his way around these characters and does a good job with them. It’s not quite the shows look, but it’s enjoyable on its own for sure. Besides the art, I did laugh at a few jokes. Particularly the line “This s**t is bananas. B-a-n-a-n-a-death.” It caught me off guard and gave me a solid chuckle.

Have you ever been to a Wal-Mart in a different city from your own? The layout is different, but ultimately you’re going to find the same products inside. That’s what this issue feels like. There are some slight changes, but everything ends up the same. The art is good, though, and there are some funny jokes to be found. But ultimately, this issue isn’t anything new and ends up being boring.