WARNING: The following contains spoilers for "The Rickoning" from Oni Press' Rick and Morty #56, by Kyle Starks, Marc Ellerby, Sarah Stern and Crank!, on sale now.
As fun as the Rick and Morty animated series is, there's only so much ground it can cover. Therefore, since 2015 Oni Press has waded into the further adventures of the genius scientist and his goofy grandson, with the comic book proving just as outlandish as the cartoon.
The 56th issue places a new spin on an old concept, the Council of Ricks -- with a new cabal that has far more sinister intentions than the iteration depicted on the popular Adult Swim series.
The Council of Ricks was based on order, with six Ricks leading the way. The spokesman for the Council was Riq IV, with the other members being Rick Prime, Quantum Rick, Maximums Rickimus, Zeta Alpha Rick and Ricktiminus Sancheziminius. Rick C-137 (aka the cartoon's main Rick) refused a spot, and so the Council branded him an enemy. He didn't like how they used Mortys as slaves and accessories to control their Ricks, and he plotted to take them down because he couldn't trust them.
The Council was introduced in Season 1's "Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind," with Rick's hatred for them and their Rick soldiers culminating in a mass assassination in Season 3. That occurred in "The Rickshank Rickdemption," in which Rick C-137 slaughtered them all, making it clear he should be the only godlike Rick roaming the cosmos. Now, a new Council has arisen, and there's a lot more trouble on the horizon.
When alien raconteur Peacock Jones runs his mouth at a space cantina, a hooded figure offers him advice on how to obtain his life's goal of killing Rick Sanchez: He needs to begin by taking the main Morty out the equation. And so, Peacock heads to Earth. However, Morty C-137 is off with his new Hollaluog suit -- one that melds science and magic -- going on missions and succeeding with ease. He loves his new power, but after he and Rick obtain the perfect formula for cola and knock off a bunch of other missions, Morty feels the job has become too easy. He decides he no longer wants the suit, as there's no fun and challenge, but Rick berates him for spitting on such a perfect weapon. He calls Morty dumb and the kid angrily goes to get the Megaseeds from the TV series, which will make him smarter than Rick. It's then and there Peacock tracks him down, and holds him at gunpoint to begin the scheme to take down Rick once and for all.
As this happens, the hooded figure is seen back in his lair, unmasking to reveal a bald Rick. Five other Ricks pull their hoods down, and they're basking in the plan to murder their counterpart, as they believe this will save the Multiverse. What's interesting is the series' Council had six Ricks, and so too does this one, except this group calls itself the Illumiricki, a clear play on the Illuminati. The cabal even has Ricks as servants, further drawing similarities to the galactic council's cop Ricks and slave Mortys.
It remains to be seen why the council members want Rick C-137 dead, but they're using Peacock as the patsy. They better bring their A-game, though, because we know that, whether it's against his own clones or Ricks from alternate realities, Rick C-137 is as resourceful and unforgiving as they come.
Rick and Morty #57 goes on sale Dec. 18.