Comic Review: Rick and Morty: Worlds Apart #4

 

 

Overview:

Rick and Fascist Teddy Rick awaken from their ten-million-year imprisonment to discover their pocket universe has become a utopia without them. Now, their creations want revenge for the fact that Rick intended to destroy their home millennia ago. Hopefully, two Rick’s working together are better than one if either of them hopes to get back to their respective universes intact.

Meanwhile, Morty’s other grandfather, Leonard, has survived the trials of Mouth Mountain. The all-powerful dragon beads have been bestowed to Morty. But Lady Finndom and the Dragon Drainers have no intention of stopping in their quest to swallow the souls of every Slut Dragon. Thankfully, Leonard’s own unorthodox relationships may offer a solution for this warring world.

 

Our Take:

Over the first few issues, Rick and Morty: Worlds Apart has established itself as one of the best miniseries spin-offs of the franchise in some time. The utilization of known characters intermixed in a pair of new plots has pleased fans old and new alike. More satisfying is that this four-part series manages to pack the pages full of exciting concepts and actions. So much so that it is surprising that the creators managed to wrap it all up in this final issue.

The biggest obstacle this issue needed to face was not about concluding the two epic storylines but how they would bring them back together to make one cohesive plot.

The first issue put the two titular characters in very unique circumstances. Morty was set in finding a way to help Balthrowmaw and the Slut Dragons from their ultimate distraction. While the always selfish Rick was quick to avoid getting his hands dirty and opted to take a vacation. His time away was quickly met with its own problems, but they were a universe away from his grandson’s adventure.

The tying factor for both of these tales came in the form of Morty’s other grandfather, Leonard. Morty’s arc with his relative was clear; his atypical marital situation is awkward and difficult to understand. While Rick’s interactions with Leonard have much more complex issues. For one, how they respect Jerry. But we also discover through this title that Rick is concerned if Leonard thinks that he is a good influence on their mutual grandchildren.

The underline familial relationships managed to tie this whole miniseries together. Morty needed to spend the one-on-one time with his other grandfather to discover his value. While Rick needed to come to terms with his emotions in his own way. So, while their adventures were literally world’s apart, the goal for both was the same. They each needed to overcome their apprehension with Leonard.

The wars with dragons, soul swallowers, fascist teddy bears, and pocket universes were all built around a solid emotional tale. The epic adventures kept us entertained but were nothing more than vessels for a story much more grounded. It helps to separate this miniseries from many of the other Rick and Morty comic books available. It found and mended a hole from the original series that may never be touched upon. And the focus was on telling this story in a universe of science fiction and fantasy instead of shoehorning it in.

If more comic adaptations of televised sitcoms put this amount of thought and effort into them, they wouldn’t be disappearing at the rate they have been these past few years. Worlds Apart managed to pick out some highlights from the franchise while adding some great insights and new directions. These books help to accentuate the franchise instead of just cherry-picking a theme and style.

This was a pretty impressive little four-book series. Especially when you consider the material they are working with and the audience they are aiming for. But I would happily read a hundred book series with this much thought and effort.