''Rick and Morty – A Tale of Two Jerries'' is a graphic novel, written by Kyle Starks and illustrated by CJ Cannon that was released in three parts throughout 2016 and 2017 by Oni Press, as the fifth volume of the comic series based on the television series of the same name by

Justin Roiland Mark Justin Roiland (born February 21, 1980) is an American voice actor, animator, writer, producer, and director. He is best known as the co-creator of Adult Swim's ''Rick and Morty'' and its subsequent Rick and Morty (franchise), franchise. H ...

and Dan Harmon. Part 1, ''Jerry-Go-Round'', was released on December 28, 2016, Part 2, ''That Thing You Doofus'', was released on January 25, 2017, and Part 3, ''Pacific Rick'', was released on February 22, 2017. The first ''Rick and Morty'' comic series arc following Rick Sanchez C-137 and Morty Smith Prime, following the deaths of Rick and Morty C-132 in '' Head-Space'' (the first story arc written by Starks after the departure of Zac Gorman), ''A Tale of Two Jerries'' (colloquially known as the "Doofus Jerry" arc) is set after the 2014 first season episode "

Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind "Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind" is the tenth and penultimate episode of the first season of the American science fiction comedy television series ''Rick and Morty''. Directed by Stephen Sandoval and written by Ryan Ridley, the episode aired ...

", and before the events of the 2015 second season episode " Mortynight Run". Published with the one-shots ''Morty Shines'' and ''Tiny Rick'' (with the backup story ''Superior Posterior''), respectively illustrated by Marc Ellerby and Starks himself, it is followed by the story arc '' The Rick Identity''. The series is notable for introducing Doofus Jerry, a "viable antagonist" later referenced in the 2017 third season episode "

The Ricklantis Mixup "The Ricklantis Mixup" (also known as "Tales from the Citadel") is the seventh episode of the third season of '' Rick and Morty'', and the twenty-eighth episode of the series overall. It premiered on Adult Swim on September 10, 2017. It was writt ...

", receiving a positive critical reception and later becoming an

internet meme An Internet meme, commonly known simply as a meme ( ), is an idea, behavior, style, or image that is spread via the Internet, often through social media platforms. What is considered a meme may vary across different communities on the Internet ...

Premise

Part One: ''Jerry-Go-Round''

Jerry Jerry may refer to: Animals * Jerry (Grand National winner), racehorse, winner of the 1840 Grand National * Jerry (St Leger winner), racehorse, winner of 1824 St Leger Stakes Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Jerry'' (film), a 2006 Indian fil ...

is real tired of being treated like he's worthless, ya know? He works really hard for this family! He deserves a break! So he goes to see his best bud Doofus Rick for some fondue and merry-go-round times. However, their perfect day is interrupted by… Doofus Jerry?! And this guy seems like real bad news, man…

Part Two: ''That Thing You Doofus''

Doofus Jerry is the REAL PIECE OF WORK, MAN. And, somehow, Rick's

Achilles' heel An Achilles' heel (or Achilles heel) is a weakness in spite of overall strength, which can lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, idiomatic references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to ...

. He can't figure out how to beat the dude! Well, if ONE Rick can't solve your Jerry Problems maybe all of them can? Can The Council of Ricks stop Doofus Jerry's before everyone becomes––oh god, no––conquered by a Jerry? The title is a reference to the 1996 comedy film '' That Thing You Do!''.

Part Three: ''Pacific Rick''

When

is master of the world, how is Rick to survive? By building a GIANT FRICKIN' ROBOT, THAT'S HOW! The Smith family takes on Doofus Jerry in a battle to end all battles. Come for the sweet punching action, stay for the existential ennui. The title and plot is a reference to the 2013 science fiction

kaiju is a Japanese media genre that focuses on stories involving giant monsters. The word ''kaiju'' can also refer to the giant monsters themselves, which are usually depicted attacking major cities and battling either the military or other monster ...

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

Pacific Rim The Pacific Rim comprises the lands around the rim of the Pacific Ocean. The ''Pacific Basin'' includes the Pacific Rim and the islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Rim roughly overlaps with the geologic Pacific Ring of Fire. List of co ...

''.

One-shots

''Morty Shines''

In this special

one-shot One shot may refer to: Film and television * One-shot film, a feature film shot in one long take with no edits, or manufactured to look like so * ''One Shot'' (2005 film), a Sri Lankan action film directed by Ranjan Ramanayake * ''One Shot'' (2 ...

and tribute fo '' Event Horizon'', Rick,

Morty Morty or Mortie is a masculine given name which may refer to: People * Morty Buckles (born 1971 or 1972), African-American former race car driver * Mortimer Morty Corb (1917–1996), American jazz double-bassist * Mortimer Mortie Dutra (1899-198 ...

, and

Summer Summer is the hottest of the four temperate seasons, occurring after spring and before autumn. At or centred on the summer solstice, the earliest sunrise and latest sunset occurs, daylight hours are longest and dark hours are shortest, wit ...

find themselves aboard the space-ship '' Mr. Mistoffelees'', designed by a younger Rick before its disappearance 35 years earlier, into

Hell In religion and folklore, hell is a location in the afterlife in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, most often through torture, as eternal punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hell ...

. But could the ship be HAUNTED? Yeah, I mean, it probably is.

''Tiny Rick''

In this special one-shot and direct sequel to " Big Trouble in Little Sanchez", by the title of which the fifth volume as a whole is occasionally marketed,

meets an old friend with a tiny secret: TINY RICK! Meanwhile, in the backup story ''Superior Posterior'',

explores an alternate reality in which he had sacrificed himself to save an alien planet.

Development

In February 2017, Oni Press Managing Editor Ari Yarwood recalled the writing of ''A Tale of Two Jerries'' as one of his most "favorite ndbeautiful moments of creativity and humor this book", attributing the "wonderful secret" of the creation of a "hyper-competent, super-evil dude" in Doofus Jerry to being "because Kyle tarkswas emailing me about a Doofus Rick idea, and accidentally mixed it up and wrote Doofus Jerry instead, d then those three amazing "A Tale of Two Jerries" issues got written." Series writer Kyle Starks further expanded to agree that Doofus Jerry could be considered "the ultimate villain of the ''Rick and Morty'' universe", indicating interest in having the character return after their apparent death at the conclusion of the arc, with " the Borg feel nglike a great comparison right there with (''Rick and Morty'' alien scientist)

Zeep The ZEEP (Zero Energy Experimental Pile) reactor was a nuclear reactor built at the Chalk River Laboratories near Chalk River, Ontario, Canada (which superseded the Montreal Laboratory for nuclear research in Canada). ZEEP first went critical at ...

in terms of viable antagonists, sort of rk mirror being held up. Also, like, who's worse than Jerry? It's the opposite of Jerry. Doofus Jerry is a super capable, super ambitious, super smart, SUPER evil that's all going to cause big, big problems."

Reception

Collected editions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rick and Morty - A Tale of Two Jerries 2016 graphic novels 2017 graphic novels Two Jerries, A Tale of Oni Press titles Prequel comics Sequel comics