Comic Review: Rick and Morty Presents: Mr. Meeseeks #1

Umm… Did this unassuming little comic book just define the meaning of life?

Overview:

As Summer quickly gets over the work she has put into making a pot of chili, she summons a Mr. Meeseeks in charge of stirring the pot until complete.  Meeseeks are a strange creature who are brought into the world via machine to complete one task, at which point they will vanish.  Summer acknowledges the fact that Meeseeks have no purpose in life, which makes this one ponder its existence.  As he contemplates he accidentally triggers the Meeseeks Box.  Unfortunately, this Meeseeks must help the other find meaning in life before the chili is complete and the inaugural Meeseeks vanishes.

In his attempt to help the Meeseeks find purpose another Meeseeks is created to watch over the chili so the first two may seek life’s answers.  Exploring different aspects that make life worth living, the two Meeseeks try helping an underprivileged man, try to enjoy the simple pleasures, and even find love via Roy, the virtual life simulator.  Though none of these things manages to answer their problem, Meeseeks is able to spout off enough wisdom in time for them all to move on.

Our Take:

Prepare for a book packed full of existential philosophy.  As much as it can be expected from the titular characters, it is also unexpected how profound things get in these pages.  The actual goal of the book and one Meeseeks entire purpose is to find the meaning of life within a couple hour time slot.  Needless to say, there is a lot in here involving love, happiness, and the afterlife.  The Meeseeks take Rick and Morty comic books to a whole other plane with minimal humour in place of in-depth theoretical discussion.

The concept of Meeseeks is a brilliant one to begin with.  The idea that these living beings would be brought into our world to fulfil meaningless tasks and then vanish into nothingness carries a lot of weight.  These beings are given one purpose, know what it is, and will do anything to accomplish it.  So, how do they interpret other living creatures?  And, this one-shot comic issue manages to cover all of that and more.

Honestly, I could sit here and read these two Meeseeks have their philosophical debates forever.  The writers James Asmus and Jim Festante offer an unbridled fair look at life, and it’s meanings.  Hitting out of nowhere, this issue gives you much to think about.  So, prepare yourself to be taken deep into your soul and beliefs while reading this book.

Also, worth mentioning is some of the best Rick and Morty comic art that we have seen thus far.  Artist C.J. Cannon takes the simplified characters and the Rick and Morty universe and gives us some details and perspectives that we have never seen.  Aligned with usual colourist for these titles, Crank!, this probably the sharpest comic seen out of the franchise yet.

This is a book to make you think.  Absolutely out of left field when you pick up a Rick and Morty comic book, but for all of the right reasons.  It is these types of ideas and topics that help to separate the franchise from other adult animated sitcoms.  There are so many great quotes that I needed to screenshot a couple of them to share later.  It would be nearly impossible to add anything else to the issue, though it could have used some more lighthearted humour to break the heavy discussions.  Regardless, everything about this book is worth reading as soon as you have a nice quiet and safe space to ponder life’s mysteries.  I feel like I say this in nearly every Rick and Morty comic book review, but you should really be reading everything they produce.

Score

9/10

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