The Marvel Cinematic Universe has adapted hundreds of Marvel characters, but there are still a few glaring absences. One such example is a character who has been the sidekick of the Hulk, Captain America and Captain Marvel at different points, Rick Jones. So, let's look at how a character who has touched nearly every corner of the Marvel Universe has yet to find his way into the world's biggest franchise.

As Stan Lee and Jack Kirby built out the Marvel Universe in the early 1960s, Rick Jones was one of their first additions, with the character debuting in 1962's The Incredible Hulk #1. In that issue, when Jones decided to park in a gamma bomb testing site, Bruce Banner had to run out to knock him out of the radius of the bomb's explosion, which left Banner caught in the blast. Jones stayed with Banner to help navigate his new monstrous existence, and when Hulk helped co-found the Avengers, Rick supported the whole team and helped Captain America navigate his Bucky-less modern day. Years later, he even became the gamma-powered superhero A-Bomb after the Red Hulk shot the original Abomination, Emil Blonsky. But while the central status of Jones' character has been consistent in the comics and on television, it has yet to make its way to the MCU.

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The Incredible Hulk Rick Jones

Some may remember that Rick Jones' name was shown on a list of Bruce Banner's associates in the opening credits of The Incredible Hulk and that his name pops up again in The Avengers in a computer dossier that mentions Banner saving his life, just like in the comics. However, since 2012, there hasn't been a single reference to the established character.

One reason why the MCU may have decided to remove Jones from Hulk's origin is that The Incredible Hulk was a complicated place to introduce him. Indeed, the legal rights issue revolving around the Hulk has hurt his cast in the MCU. Since the MCU began, Universal has held distribution rights to any theatrically released solo Hulk movie, making him a supporting character in the universe's larger story and forcing his supporting cast into the background.

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However, another explanation for Jones' absence might be that the MCU hasn't had much interest in using sidekicks. After all, Rick's status as "Marvel's only sidekick" stems from Stan Lee's uneasiness about having young kids tag along with superheroes. Lee thought it was strange to introduce them to the Marvel Universe, and the MCU has followed his lead by changing superhero/sidekick relationships into equal partnerships, mentorships and life-long friendships, such as Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers.

Fortunately for Jones, times are changing. With the MCU's move to TV, the powers that be appear more willing to adapt superhero/sidekick relationships, especially after introducing several Young Avengers, including Kate Bishop's Hawkeye. She-Hulk premiering on Disney+ this year also suggests has found a way to make the Hulk and his supporting cast more prominent in the MCU. And with his best friend still in the universe and a new emphasis on youth, it could be the perfect time to bring Rick Jones into the fold.

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