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Why is Rick Jones a non-entity in the MCU?

KtotheRoc

KtotheRoc

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 27, 2017
56,728
The MCU has touched a lot of characters, including side characters, in some way, shape or form.

But there's one glaring omission in this department.

Rick Jones.

Occasional sidekick to the Hulk, Captain America, Captain Marvel (to a few Captain Marvels, actually), and more. Occasionally becomes a super hero too. He's basically the Jimmy Olsen to the Marvel Universe (or "Snapper Carr" if you're so inclined). And his MCU credits are appearing on a list of the Hulk's associates in Incredible Hulk and a name on a dossier in Avengers. He's a complete non-entity in the MCU.

The point of characters like Rick is to humanize the world of superheroes. To help tie the universe together. And his being a non-entity has made the MCU seem lesser than it should feel.
 
PlanetSmasher

PlanetSmasher

The Abominable Showman
Member
Oct 25, 2017
116,182
Probably because Hulk doesn't get any standalone movies, and Rick really primarily exists to be a humanizing sidekick for the Hulk, just like Doc Samson. Bruce has already gone through most of the necessary character growth that Rick would've helped with, so there's no real room for him. Same with Samson.
 
Volimar

Volimar

volunteer forum janitor
Member
Oct 25, 2017
38,819
We're better off. Every team up he was part of aside from Hulk felt forced. MCU would probably make him a joke character anyway. The guy is a super power guinea pig.

Also, please no Destiny Force.
 
Dust

Dust

C H A O S
Member
Oct 25, 2017
32,489
629407d826f7101328d880dddd8c4205.jpg
This dude?
Do you seriously care?
 
jph139

jph139

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
14,419
They kind of gutted the supporting casts all three of his main allies - the Hulk hasn't had a solo movie since Norton and the pre-Carol Marvels are mostly non-entities. Cap is prominent, obviously, but he only got one true modern day solo movie, and Falcon was obviously the priority if you're giving him a sidekick.

In general, civilian allies are no longer a thing for characters beyond Spider-Man and occasionally Batman. People with costumes and codenames are far more marketable. I was super surprised to see Christine come back in MOM for that exact reason.
 
Glio

Glio

Member
Oct 27, 2017
24,591
Spain
Really the only place where it would be kind of logical for him to show up is in She-Hulk since the Hulk is also there.
 
Watchtower

Watchtower

Member
Oct 27, 2017
11,701
Rick Jones is a dweeb that Marvel hasn't known what to do with since the 70s. Immortal Hulk is probably the one time that he hasn't come off like a complete afterthought.

Yeah the Hulk corner has been severely underutilized but there's really no reason to ever use him even then. Like Amadeus Cho does everything he did better and I say that as someone that's not exactly a fan of Brawn.
 

Deleted member 13798

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
12,374
Besides what people have mentioned with the movie rights thing, I don't know that the MCU really needs a audience surrogate. They've done a good job at steadily ramping it up overtime and the variety of super powered or otherwise superhero characters act as the surrogates.

The MCU films in general have severely stripped down the supporting cast of a lot of the characters, but the ones kept it has elevated to really good places. I consider that are net positive.
 
GreenMamba

GreenMamba

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,351
Rick Jones is a character the comics have had no idea what to do with for like five damn decades. He's only relevant in the comics because of continuity inertia.

EDIT: Shit I remember reading the old Avengers comics from the sixties and it was already apparent they had no idea what to do with him.
 
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Freezasaurus

Freezasaurus

Member
Oct 25, 2017
57,062
I only remember him as "that other gamma guy" whenever they need an extra body running around with Hulk, Red Hulk and whoever else.
 
gsab1

gsab1

The Fallen
Oct 28, 2017
207
Even in silver age Captain America he was pushed aside for Falcon, and Falcon is better. He's a tertiary Captain America supporting character and for Hulk he's more prominent but because of the distribution rights Hulk has been secondary.
 
Slayven

Slayven

Never read a comic in his life
Moderator
Oct 25, 2017
93,426
I see him in a Disney+ show investigating weird shit that flys below the radar of superheroes
 
OP
OP
KtotheRoc

KtotheRoc

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 27, 2017
56,728
Remember the time Rick and his superhero friends ended up watching a porn starring Rick's fiancée?

wedding-hulk417.jpg


And people don't want this guy in the MCU?
 
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