Review: Rick and Morty Ongoing #12 (2023)

In the final issue of Rick’s effort to drink a Space Shake, we get to run through the highlights of the lives of Morty and Noelle as they grow old together. They go to the same university, survive so, so many pandemics, have a family, say goodbye to Fungal Zombie Jerry, and do all the things that happy people do over the course of a lifetime. Even though so many years have passed, the couple still makes time to observe the Grey Planet via a telescope at the Lookatorium -most recently, it seems like Goldenfold’s mathtopia has basically become the ruling class, leading Morty to sone New Years Eve musings as to whether or not Rick is still alive. To ring in the New Year, Morty makes an effort to connect more with his most difficult grandchild, Itchy, who would rather spend that time emotionally torturing her lab rats than she would emotionally bonding with her grandfather.

Into this lovely little life crash lands Mecha Spider Rick, fresh from space. The years have been good to the cybernetic patriarch – his spirits are high, his perspective is broadened, and he wants Morty, and by association Itchy, to come on one more adventure with him. He’s determined to get that Space Shake, and the only thing standing in his way this time is a room full of every single enemy he’s ever had. Mr. Nimbus is there, as is Gazorpazorp, Zeus, Snowball, Mr. Needful, and Dr. Wong, just to name a few. An epic battle ensues – Morty gets caught in an Atlantean crystal, Rick grows an arm out of his eye, and Itchy proves her value in a true Donnybrook. Rick waxes philosophic on the nature of story itself, and invites Itchy to carry on with the narrative after the comic ends. It’s a trippy end to a great space yarn.

Our Take

Fast forwarding through a life is a classic Rick and Morty move, and it always gives the creative team a chance to flesh out a different version of what the future could be. Firer and company’s interpretation of one such future is a charmingly bleak one. Morty’s job seems to have been working in an Ortolan factory of some sort. Ortolan, of course, is one of the most highly coveted birds in all of French cuisine – the tiny creature is prepared in a most decadent fashion, served whole, and consumed under a napkin as to avoid the judgement of God. A world where Ortolan is common I would be a dark place indeed. Old Morty has recently lost his Ortolan job because he made the bird’s asses too fat to fit under the shame napkins, but Noelle is still able to find work blowing up factories, so they’re going to be just fine.

Also lending a lot of gravity to this issue is Mecha Spider Rick – he’s just an all-around great version of Rick! He’s super upbeat, kind, and wise, and it just so happens that he has to defeat all his enemies at once. Facing an enemy of any kind in a story often represents the nature of adversity or the importance of rising to a challenge. Having to defeat every enemy, big or small, shows us how  unimportant the specifics of the challenge are. This story is manipulating logic to put the whole host of Rick’s adversaries into one room – it’s absurd, and impossible, and it works to remind us that narrative is a mere construct. Also Mecha Spider Rick’s method of clinging onto Morty’s body to get around is just straight up adorable! Mecha Spider Rick for his own comic and Saturday morning cartoon, please!

It’s a bit of an understatement to say that the conclusion of the Space Shake Saga takes us to some unexpected places. Alex Firer’s wide-ranging story has been a really delightful read all the way throughout its run, but this final instalment goes above and beyond in delivering a satisfying ending, not just of this story, but of the whole year. Rick has returned to Earth after spending a lifetime waging war on the Grey Planet. When he finally opens his mind wide enough to truly perceive the reality he exists in, he is able to understand that this version of himself only exists within this comic book. The entire Space Shake Saga has been giving off some serious Grant Morrison vibes, but a character realizing they exist within a comic is the most Morrison of Morrison moves.

Rick tells Itchy that “the Spake Shake Saga is coming to an end, and a story like this ending means it was time to tie up some loose ends… it took me aeons before I gazed past the fourth wall. And I learned the most important lesson there – as this issue ended and new ones began, the pages might end, but the story never does. It goes on forever… it’s a world of confusing sights and visions, and it’s up to people like us to give it meaning.” It’s a beautiful sentiment that really sums up the nature of the creative process. This story exists, a crystal in time that captures the attention like a brand new Christmas present, eventually to be laid aside in favour of other, shinier gifts. But that doesn’t mean it ceases to be. The Spake Shake Saga was a great entry into the Oni Press branch of the Morty-verse – it displayed a love not just of Rick and Morty, but of comics throughout the ages. Any time Firer et al are at the helm of an R&M comic, it’s worth checking out.

2024 is sure to be a year full of new comics, featuring our favourite multi-generational adventure science duo and the cast of characters that surround them – Will Mr. Meeseeks PI ever find that remote? What is Maximum Crescendo? We shall see!