Few animated series experience the trajectory that Rick and Morty has, let alone this quickly. The subversive and brilliant science fiction satire has grown into a much bigger vehicle that’s able to seamlessly deconstruct every genre of storytelling as well as unpack heavy character development in surprising ways. Rick and Morty has built a gigantic multiverse that’s full of hundreds of characters that have turned into goldmines of comedy and story.
Rick and Morty also isn’t afraid to embrace a more depressing and raw angle that forces its characters to face difficult truths. All of these ideas come together in a season three episode, “Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender,” that introduces a memorable entourage of characters that have left audiences with many questions.
10 They’re A Parody Of Multiple Superhero Teams
Superhero adaptations have become the new normal and Rick and Morty brings forward the Vindicators as their resident team of superpowered heroes to insult. Due to their name and designs, it’s easy to see the similarities between the Vindicators and the Avengers or the Guardians of the Galaxy.
The Vindicators’ logo even intentionally references the Avengers’ insignia. However, the Vindicators are a much deeper parody and there are also connections between the group and the X-Men, the Justice League, the Fantastic Four, and the Teen Titans. It’s quite an elaborate pastiche.
9 They’re About To Get Their Own Web Series Spin-Off
A recent new Adult Swim initiative is to release a number of online-only animated spin-offs to some of their most popular series. Rick and Morty’s The Vindicators will receive ten episodes and further explore the dynamics of the superhero team.
However, it’s unclear if these stories will be set in the past with the established Vindicators, or if it will depict new recruits that have stepped in to help Supernova and Noob-Noob. These characters are about to become a whole lot more popular and may even return in Rick and Morty as a result.
8 Earth May Not Be On Their Radar
Rick and Morty’s scope is much bigger than most series. The show doesn’t just visit outer space and other planets, but visits to separate universes become par for the course. This means that the Vindicators’ duties include covering quite a bit of ground. Rick makes an offhand reference about Earth to Supernova and she’s left confounded by it.
The Vindicators have to patrol so much territory that it’s possible that they’ve totally overlooked Earth because of its terrestrial problems. It also explains why no one on Earth previously brings up this team as a way to resolve conflicts.
7 They’re The First Line Of Defense Against Evil
The Vindicators get a lot of praise thrown their way and Morty makes it definitely come across as if their reputations precede themselves. However, it’s also not unlikely to imagine there being multiple teams of superheroes and the Vindicators ranking somewhere in the middle.
Morty explains that the Vindicators are literally the universe’s “first line of defense against evil.” This is quite the honor and means that whenever something is amiss, the responsibility first falls upon the Vindicators before others are called for help.
6 Their Leader Was Vance Maximus
A good leader can be the difference between a successful team and a disastrous one. Groups like the Avengers rotate through different leaders depending on the situation at hand. It’s unclear if the Vindicators have rotated through multiple heads, although it’s likely, but it’s established that Vance Maximus was the Vindicators’ leader for a lengthy tenure.
Vance Maximus comes across as a cocky combination of Tony Stark and Peter Quill, but it’s his cowardice that leads to his untimely end. It’s likely that Supernova has since become the new de facto leader of the Vindicators after Maximus’ death.
5 They’ve Recruited Rick & Morty As Temporary Members
Rick and Morty is such an interesting show because of the implication that just as many misadventures have happened off-camera. “Vindicators 3” cleverly plays with this premise and revolves around the superhero team recruiting Rick and Morty for the second time, only for them to learn that they were left out of the last adventure.
It’s quite the honor for these two to be included as temporary Vindicators and it’s truly a testament to Rick’s genius and his abilities as a scientist. In many ways, their constant adventures make them more competent superheroes than any of the permanent Vindicator members.
4 Their Archnemesis Is Worldender
A good villain is paramount to any superhero story and often the problem with any superhero team-up effort is that it’s hard to develop a villain that still seems intimidating against a collective of legends. The Vindicators have Worldender to contend with, a villain that definitely has shades of enemies like Thanos or Apocalypse, who returns after a previous defeat.
Another major antagonist for the team is Doom-Nomitron, an Ultron and Doctor Doom-esque antagonist that they overcome, but at a cost. Curiously, the most dangerous threat that the Vindicators come in contact with is a heavily inebriated Rick Sanchez.
3 Rick Sanchez Is Responsible For Most Of Their Deaths
Some cultural references are just evergreen and it’s hard to go wrong with an unexpected Saw parody. The Vindicators find themselves trapped in a series of death games that ultimately illustrate that the team is full of frauds who don’t deserve the praise that’s heaped upon them.
These murderous tests lead to the deaths of Alan Rails, Crocubot, Million Ants, Lady Katana, Calypso, Diablo Verde, and Vindicator leader, Vance Maximus. In the end, it’s revealed that Rick is actually the one responsible for these challenges and they’re meant to settle an old grudge he has with the super team.
2 There Were Going To Be More Members On The Team, Like Quiver
The Vindicators have a pretty bloated team that’s almost too big, but it turns out that there are even more members that didn’t make the final cut.
The most prominent example is a Hawkeye-esque archer known as Arrowgirl or Quiver, but other considered members include Dr. Reach, who has elasticity abilities, as well as a knitting grandma and incongruent conjoined twin characters. It’s understandable why not all of these ideas make the cut, but it’s possible that they could turn up in the upcoming spin-off.
1 Supernova & Noob-Noob Are The Only Surviving Members
It’s not uncommon for Rick and Morty to conclude with massive devastation and for characters to be in a considerably worse place than where they started. Rick’s drunken revenge on the Vindicators concludes with only two members left alive, Supernova and former intern and janitor, Noob-Noob.
It’s interesting to imagine the new dynamic that will form in the group with these two now at the helm. It’s safe to assume that their sense of justice will push them to keep the Vindicators alive as an organization, but perhaps the next chapter in their story directly addresses these new responsibilities.
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