It's not just Loki that explores the concept of variants. Upcoming movies for Doctor Strange, Spider-Man and the Flash all seem to want a piece of the multiverse pie. Now that variants are all the rage, it's worth taking a look at the Adult Swim show that executes this concept best: Rick and Morty.
In Rick and Morty, there exists The Citadel of Ricks, where Ricks and Mortys across parallel dimensions come together to form a living, breathing society. Infinite, often bizarre versions of the title characters co-exist in this nexus of advanced civilization. Now that Season 5 has premiered, we'll be taking a look at some of the best Mortys the multiverse has to offer so far.
7. Big Morty
Big Morty runs the show down at The Creepy Morty, a seedy watering hole where Mortys looking for a good time come to watch other Mortys dance. Big Morty sports a '70s pornstache, calls people "Bubbala" and has a pair of muscular Mortys flanked at his side. Cop Morty tells his rookie partner, "Think of him as a 'drug lord' and us as 'cops on his payroll.'" After Cop Rick refuses to take a bribe, a gunfight ensues. The police duo turns on him, and Cop Morty says, "Not so big now, are ya?" Big Morty answers perfectly, "I never was! It was figurative!"
6. Hammerhead Morty
In Rick and Morty, it doesn't always take dialogue or story relevance to make a lasting impact. This precept holds true for Hammerhead Morty whose head -- as his name gives away -- is an actual hammer. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. When C-137 Morty gives a rousing pep talk, Hammerhead Morty declares, "I'm more than just a hammer!" Hammerhead Morty longs for more. His plight is relatable for anyone who has been pigeonholed or written off. He is later wielded as a weapon before being killed.
5. Cop Morty
Cop Morty is a crooked police officer in the mold of Denzel Washington's character in Training Day. He is a jaded, self-hating Morty beyond salvation, often calling his own kind "yellow-shirts." Cop Morty mentors an idealistic rookie Rick, flipping the usual power dynamic at play. He patrols the dark underbelly of Morty Town, surveying the streets through the cold, cynical eyes of a grizzled veteran. Cop Morty is on the take, regularly resorting to violent means to deal with "Rickless animals" as he sees fit. Caught in a stalemate, Cop Rick urges Cop Morty not to kill Big Morty. Embodying Mr. White at the end of Reservoir Dogs, Cop Morty just can't do it.
4. Lawyer Morty
It's not even accurate to call this charming little scamp a lawyer. He just dresses like one. When Morty is arrested by the Council of Ricks, he protests that his trial is a sham, as his lawyer is a Morty. The Council agrees, "It's not fair, you have no rights, and he's not a lawyer. We just keep him here because he's fun. Look at him go." Lawyer Morty dances a little jig and tosses his papers in the air. This jolly fellow is too precious for the Citadel, simply wanting to share his pog collection with the world.
3. The One True Morty
The Good Morty foretold that one day The One True Morty would return and bring salvation. In "Close Rick-Counters of the Rick Kind," a group of enslaved Mortys pray that The One True Morty will liberate them and cease their co-dependence on Ricks. Morty from Dimension C-137 arrives and fulfills the prophecy by freeing the bedraggled Mortys and overthrowing Evil Rick.
2. Slick, Lizard, Glasses and Left-Handed Morty
This foursome is featured in a coming-of-age story that evokes Stand by Me, the Rob Reiner film based on the Stephen King novella. Each of these Mortys is coming to terms with his own sense of identity as they engage in misadventures and hijinks. In a day, the friend group will be disbanded to their new Ricks. But before then, their last hoorah is to search for the mythical wishing portal. The four boys form an inseparable bond and find their place in this new Morty-friendly president's regime.
1. Evil Morty
Morty has a symbiotic relationship with his grandfather. Yes, he's a useful travel companion at times, but more than that, Morty's "stupid brain waves" camouflage Rick's genius ones, making him nigh invisible. Because of this, Mortys are thought of as disposable. "Mortys have no chance against defeating a Rick" was the commonly understood way of thinking -- that is, until Evil Morty. He doesn't stutter. He never says, "Aw, geez." This is a different breed of Morty.
This eyepatch-wearing yellow-shirt managed to rise above his station and single-handedly overthrow the entire Council of Ricks through sheer cunning alone. Masquerading as an idealistic politician, this Morty manipulated and deceived the whole Citadel into becoming elected president. His Palpatine-like rise to power quickly veered into fascism, murdering any Rick standing in his way. The haunting sounds of "For The Damaged Coda" play out as it's revealed that the new president is the Rick serial-killer from the first season, setting up a final confrontation with Evil Morty as Rick and Morty's endgame showdown.
Honorable Mentions
Cronenberg Morty for being the first time audiences saw Rick abandon a universe for screwing things up. Tall Morty, aka Slow Rick, for trying his best to graduate from the Academy. Cowboy Dancer Morty for strutting all his stuff and assuring everyone that his toy guns are just props.
Rick and Morty stars the voices of Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammar and Sarah Chalke. Season 5 airs every Sunday at 11/10 p.m. ET/PT on Adult Swim.