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Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Rick and Morty: Maximum Overture! Rick and Morty has never shied away from taking a jab at franchises like Marvel Comics in the form of parodies or even just full-blown insults, and the series seems to be doing the same thing with a major fan-favorite Marvel character: Mephisto. Mephisto was once a pretty niche character in Marvel Comics, but lately, fans have been speculating about Mephisto’s MCU debut with every passing project, which has only made the demonic villain all the more popular. And now, Rick and Morty has found its own ‘Mephisto’.
In Rick and Morty: Maximum Overture by Brockton McKinney and Jarrett Williams, Rick and Morty are battling a villain fans will know from Rick and Morty season 3: Concerto. Concerto wants revenge on Rick for what Rick did to him so many years ago, and Morty unfortunately has to share his grandfather’s fate. However, before this music-themed villain is able to enact his vengeance upon them, Rick and Morty are able to get away by doing something truly unprecedented: summoning a demon.
During this adventure, Rick and Morty had in their possession a small device that resembles a Meeseeks Box, but with a bit more of a demonic flare to it. At the start of the issue, Rick tells Morty never to touch this box, but when Concerto has them on the ropes, Rick flips that order, telling Morty to activate it immediately. Upon doing so, Morty summons a demonic being called the Undevil, who is the Devil of the Undead.
This creature has long, greasy hair, the general aesthetic of ‘the devil’, and a devilish charm, to boot. That, mixed with the fact that he has undead demonic slaves – kind of like ‘Ghost Riders’ – and it’s easy to draw a comparison between the Undevil and Mephisto. Not only that, but such a comparison becomes even easier to make when considering that this wouldn’t be the first time Rick and Morty has created its own version of a Marvel character.
Other Marvel Comics Characters Rick and Morty Has Parodied
Rick and Morty Loves Mocking Marvel Comics with Its Own Original Characters
The Undevil being a potential parody of Mephisto (or, at the very least, a character who bears a striking resemblance to the Marvel demon) is not the first time Rick and Morty has parodied a Marvel Comics character or entity. Another famous parody comes in the form of Mr. Nimbus, who is a not-so-subtle spoof of Marvel’s Namor the Sub-Mariner. There’s also the Citadel of Ricks, which was originally ruled over by the multiversal Council of Ricks. That is another Marvel Comics parody, as it is spoofing the multiversal Council of Reeds.
Then, there are the Marvel Comics parodies that exist beyond the animated series in the realm of comic books. The Undevil is the most recent Marvel parody found in a Rick and Morty comic, but it certainly wasn’t the first. In Rick and Morty Presents: The Vindicators, Rick and Morty are recruited by the Vindicators to battle a villain named Boon, who is on a quest to gather the Infinity Balls, and wield them through his Infinity Glove. The parody isn’t subtle here, as Boon is a clear spoof of Thanos, complete with the Mad Titan’s ‘Infinity Quest’.
Not Only is the Undevil Not the 1st Marvel Parody in Rick & Morty, He’s Not Even the 1st Devil
Rick and Morty season 1, episode 9 “Something Ricked This Way Comes” / Rick and Morty: Go To Hell
While it seems like the Undevil is Rick and Morty’s version of Mephisto (and has joined the ranks of other Marvel parodies), there’s also another thing about him that’s too obvious not to mention: he’s a ‘devil’. This is significant because the Undevil isn’t the first ‘devil’ to appear in the series. The first time Rick and Morty welcomed a version of Satan into its established universe was in the episode “Something Ricked This Way Comes”, where the devil – named Mr. Needful – is giving away cursed items to the community until Rick stops him (in the most ‘Rick-ish’ way possible).
Another instance where Rick and Morty faced-off against the devil was in the comic miniseries: Rick and Morty: Go To Hell. In that story, Rick and Morty go to hell, and they have to conquer torturous tasks to escape. In the end, Rick faces the devil one-on-one, and even kills Satan with his bare hands. Afterward, Rick actually becomes the devil, complete with a plethora of god-tier demonic powers. And now, the Undevil has become the latest Demon Lord to rear its ugly head in Rick and Morty, and based on the track record, it’s doubtful he’ll be the last.
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While it is interesting that the Undevil is not the first (and probably not the last) ‘devil’ to appear in Rick and Morty, it’s easily more fascinating to consider that this character isn’t just another ‘devil’, but the latest Marvel parody. Indeed, it seems as though Rick and Morty just found its own Mephisto, and in doing so, has given Marvel Comics the ultimate tribute.
Rick and Morty: Maximum Overture by Oni Press is available now.
“}]] Rick and Morty introduced its own ‘Mephisto’. Read More