Rick and Morty Get New Magical Upgrades in KINGDOM BALLS First Look (Exclusive)

Summary The latest Rick and Morty comic book miniseries from Oni Press, KINGDOM BALLS, promises the franchise's characteristically wild adventures and absurdity, while also exploring an aspect of Rick Sanchez fans are much less familiar with: his romantic side.

The series is set to give readers insight into Rick's younger days, as he becomes embroiled in a plot involving his "college sweetheart" alongside Marty and Jerry.

The excitement from the creative team behind KINGDOM BALLS – writers Josh Trujillo & Ryan Little, along with artist Jarrett Williams – is at the top of the long list of reasons why Rick and Morty fans should be excited about this latest installment.

Oni Press continues to fire on all cylinders with its line of Rick & Morty comics with the release of the impending KINGDOM BALLS miniseries. Oni has made a dedicated project of delightfully extending the universe of the hit animated series, while sending the franchise's protagonists on some of their wildest and most exciting adventures, and this installment will be no exception.

Screen Rant is pleased to share an exclusive first look at the preview pages for RICK AND MORTY: KINGDOM BALLS #1, the latest cosmic odyssey which finds the trio of Rick, Morty, and Jerry trying to find their way home through the "story realms."

When they find themselves set upon by an "undoubtedly dated and problematic caricature," Rick bestows an upgrade on his companions, in a teaser for what is expected to be an instant classic Rick and Morty plot. Check out the preview pages for KINGDOM BALLS #1 below, in preparation for the issue's release on April 24, 2024.

2:07 Related Rick and Morty Introduces a Wild New Twist on 'Evil Morty' Rick and Morty's 'Evil Morty' is one of its greatest villains, and now, the franchise has given the idea of a Morty 'breaking bad' a bold new twist.

As with all of Oni Press' Rick and Morty stories, this latest miniseries promises to deliver the characteristic mix of irreverent and inane, of outrageous and laugh-out-loud hilarious that have come to define the franchise in the comic book medium.

Oni Press Gives Rick & Morty A Fresh Look In KINGDOM BALLS

A Four-Part Series From Writers Josh Trujilio & Ryan Little

Close

In the preview for KINGDOM BALLS #1, Rick and Morty, along with Jerry, find themselves in "Man vs. Man" – which Rick refers to as "one of the story worlds," setting up another patented metafictional nail-biter of a plot, something fans of the franchise have become accustomed to. "Conflict moves stories forward," Rick exclaims, as they're attacked by a black-and-white drawing of dog wearing what seems to be athletic wear. However, as Rick and Morty has made clear – both on television and in Oni Press' comics – sheer absurdity can also be the core driving factor of a narrative.

From the solicitations and previews so far, KINGDOM BALLS seems set to expertly thread the needle between giving readers what they expect out of a Rick and Morty story, and continuing to push the threshold of just exactly what that is. As with all of Oni Press' Rick and Morty stories, this latest miniseries promises to deliver the characteristic mix of irreverent and inane, of outrageous and laugh-out-loud hilarious that have come to define the franchise in the comic book medium.

According to the synopsis [for the miniseries], Rick's "college sweetheart" will cross paths with the protagonist. How their interaction will go is one of the closely guarded secrets that readers can only wait to discover when KINGDOM BALLS is released.

The Latest Miniseries Will Reveal An Unexpected Side Of Rick

Kingdom Balls – Art By Jarrett Williams

RICK AND MORTY: KINGDOM BALLS #1 (of 4) (2024) Release Date: April 24, 2024 Writers: Josh Trujillo & Ryan Little Artist: Jarrett Williams Cover Artists: Jarrett Williams & Hank Jones Variant Covers: Jarret Williams & Hank Jones; Gina Allnat; Lane Lloyd In RICK AND MORTY: KINGDOM BALLS, Rick receives a distress signal from his college sweetheart, who was kidnapped by a group of interdimensional villains obsessed with collecting the fabled Dream Balls – which contain all the dreams of their dimension. Rick, with Morty and Jerry in tow, sets out to recover the mysterious Dream Balls and harness their power to save his former paramore.

There are a number of reasons for Rick and Morty fans to get excited about KINGDOM BALLS, but one clear indicator of how fun the miniseries is going to be can be taken from the pure enthusiasm its creators have for the project. As co-writer Josh Trujillo said:

RICK AND MORTY: KINGDOM BALLS is a dream project, and the high point of my years writing for the Rick and Morty comics! It's a totally original, legally distinct adventure taking the duo (and Jerry, unfortunately) to realms never before thought possible! I'm so proud of the hard work Jarrett Williams is putting into our humble script; and it means the world to have one of my best friends, the pure-hearted Ryan Little, at my side! Now he's your problem, too! I really hope you guys check it out. It's simple. It's clean. It's a lot of dumb fun!

The excitement of the collaborators bringing this story to life should be evident on the page, something that would be enough to keep readers engaged on its own – but the series synopsis promises even more: a romance for Rick.

"Rick Sanchez. . . in love?!" Oni teased in advance of the first issue's release. According to the synopsis, Rick's "college sweetheart" will cross paths with the protagonist. How their interaction will go is one of the closely guarded secrets that readers can only wait to discover when KINGDOM BALLS is released – however, even more exciting is the idea that fans could learn even more about Rick's past than they previously have. Even just tidbits of context about who Rick used to be should provide fresh insight into who he has become.

By design, Rick is one of the most quixotic characters in contemporary fiction. One of the joys of any long-form ongoing narrative is watching the characters grow and exceed their original conception – Rick Sanchez has been a truly stand-out example of this, as he has become a much more complex character, while at the same time retaining his core cartoon silliness and frantic, propulsive energy. Now, that character will have to reckon with a lost flame, and even runs the risk of having to be something approaching vulnerable in front of Marty and Jerry.

As out-of-the-park, and out-of-this world, as the story of KINGDOM BALLS is set to be, readers can also anticipate top-shelf art from Jarrett Williams, as both of the series' writers emphasized.

Oni Press' Rick & Morty Comics Are Essential Reading For Fans

For A More Immersive Experience

Close

Josh Trujillo's creative partner on KINGDOM BALLS, Ryan Little, further hyped the series, saying:

KINGDOM BALLS is everything I love about stories and JRPGS: insane multiverse worlds, bright characters like Rick and Morty, the iconic Josh Trujillo, mysterious villains whose schemes and continuity only grow more convoluted with each installment... And to top it off, Jarrett Williams bringing it all to life...I believe every world in the multiverse has its Kingdom Balls comic. And this one is by far the best of them.

Delivering the best of all possible Rick and Morty stories is a tall order for any creative team, from any reality, but from the sound of it, the team behind KINGDOM BALLS is confident in their work. This should make readers confident too, as they can expect the series to take the next step toward the franchise's future while also offering an unexpected look into its past.

As out-of-the-park, and out-of-this world, as the story of KINGDOM BALLS is set to be, readers can also anticipate top-shelf art from Jarrett Williams, as both of the series' writers emphasized. Considering the upgraded outfits and weaponry acquired by the characters in the preview pages for issue #1, Williams appears to be bringing a distinct visual style to match the energetic plotline crafted by Josh Trujillo and Ryan Little. According to Williams:

RICK AND MORTY: KINGDOM BALLS is wild! It’s been so refreshing getting to show Rick and Morty (and friends) in new costumes, new weaponry, and visiting new worlds. I love JRPG’s and Kingdom Balls heavily leans into those vibes. Shout-out to Josh Trujillo & Ryan Little for giving me such a fun script to draw! I get to flex a lot with this comic!

With this "flexing" in mind, the previews for KINGDOM BALLS #1 should be considered just the tip of the iceberg.

Anticipation for any Rick and Morty content is always strong, but RICK AND MORTY: KINGDOM BALLS should be a priority for any fan of the franchise. For those who have kept up with the Oni Press line of Rick and Morty comics, it will be another satisfying entry; alternatively, for fans of the TV series looking to check out the comics, it will be an ideal entry-point. The outstanding work Oni Press has done to deliver impactful, impressive Rick and Morty comics has continued to ascend, with this year proving to be just the latest, greatest, peak.