Furiosa's Incredibly Disturbing Rictus Scene Is Even More Pivotal Than You Realize (& Shows George Miller's Genius)

Summary Furiosa's escape and return are linked to Rictus' actions.

The comic addresses the unexplored plot thread of Furiosa's escape and lack of consequences.

Rictus' aggression and hypocrisy contribute to the downfall of Immortan Joe's regime.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has been a hit at the box office for its high-energy action and pitch-perfect casting. However, not all fans might know that some of its themes were set up almost ten years ago. Immortan Joe and his son Rictus treat the women, and Furiosa, like things, underestimating their brilliance and their defiance – and it ultimately leads to their downfall.

Mad Max Fury Road: Furiosa #1 – story by George MIller, written by Nico Lathouris –clarifies a plot thread that the recent movie left hanging: how Furiosa could escape being one of Joe’s wives, and why no one searched for her.

A disturbing scene in Furiosa shows Immortan Joe’s son Rictus attempting to assault the future Imperator when she’s still a child, brand new to Joe’s harem. Rictus’ interest in her allowed Furiosa to escape, but his aggression much later on is what brings her back to the wives just before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road.

Related Furiosa Star Issues Statement Reminding People The Movie Is “Fiction” After Angry DMs Rictus Erectus actor Nathan Jones issues a statement on social media reminding people that Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga isn’t real life after angry DMs.

The Same Villain That Helped Furiosa Escape Is the Reason She Came Back

Mad Max Fury Road: Furiosa #1; Story By George MIller; Written By Nico Lathouris & Mark Sexton; Art By Sexton, Szymon Kudranski, & Tristan Jones; Color By Mike Spicer; Lettering By Clem Robbins

Close

Rictus is a pivotal villain in both Mad Max Fury Road and Furiosa. His telegraphed interest in Furiosa from the first time he saw her allowed the young girl to develop an escape plan.

In Mad Max Fury Road: Furiosa #1, the story begins just a little before the events of the Fury Road film. During a routine and humiliating medical exam, Immortan Joe's son Rictus gets very aggressive, grabbing one of his father's wives. Joe realizes he'll need someone to guard the women, as even though Rictus backs down, he promises that no one will stop him. Not trusting any other men, not even his War Boys, with his things, he summons Furiosa. So many years later, she returns to the harem, this time as a guard.

In this sense, Rictus is a pivotal villain in both Mad Max Fury Road and Furiosa. His telegraphed interest in Furiosa from the first time he saw her allowed the young girl to develop an escape plan. In the comic, his aggression is what convinces Immortan Joe that his women need a female guard. Both times, the men treat women and girls like things, but Immortan Joe’s problem isn’t his son’s misogyny; it’s that the women are his things. It clearly shows the villain's hypocrisy: Immortan Joe wants strong sons, but he’s not setting them up to rule; they’re also his things.

One of the unaddressed plot threads in Furiosa is that after Furiosa escapes the harem, there don't seem to be any consequences or a search for her. This scene from the comic provides an answer.

This Comic Fixes Furiosa's Plot Hole

One of the unaddressed plot threads in Furiosa is that after Furiosa escapes the harem, there don't seem to be any consequences or a search for her. This scene from the comic provides an answer, though disturbing: Furiosa might not have been the first girl Rictus wanted. Given his penchant for violence, he may have tried to take other wives and killed them. Since their humanity was denied, these women and girls might have been considered acceptable losses. This comic shows that the Citadel was always setting itself up for a fall, and that Furiosa brought about a change that was a long time coming.

Mad Max Fury Road: Furiosa #1 is available now from Vertigo Comics.