Review by Frank Plowright

Volume Six delivers some creative surprises with only the first two of the longer stories featuring the dream team of Kyle Starks writing and CJ Cannon art. That being the case, it’s good to report that one of them ranks among the best of Starks’ run.

Earth is about to be invaded by a race of savage racist aliens who’re also socially awkward, so perhaps Jerry isn’t the best person for the US President to have handle the situation. It’s gag-packed hilarity from the opening announcement through the switch to the Smith household arguments about cutting the lawn to the full page memorial on the final page. It matches the best of the TV show. The second is a little more obvious, although Starks avoids the farcical route that seems on the agenda as Morty for once actually has two dates to the dance.

Starks then draws the next story (sample spread left), and as in Volume Five the art dropping from excellent to passable diminishes a funny script, here tackling mediocre TV. Because the targets are sometimes too obvious it’s shooting fish in a barrel in places, but when Starks hits the spot he’s on target, and there’s a great Morty moment to fool some aliens.

Sean Vanaman is primarily known for his writing contributions to games, but his collaboration with Olly Moss falls flat, Cannon’s excellent art notwithstanding. The premise of being able to discover who could turn out to be a Hitler is intriguing enough, but there’s just not the density of laughs packed into the TV shows or a Sparks script. There’s a good ending joke, though.

It’s a real change of pace for the final story, which isn’t far short of proper drama as we follow Beth during an upheaval during a working day. It’s an awkward compromise. It would be decent drama if not for the need to force a few jokes in, and there aren’t enough jokes to hit that comedic sweet spot. Kudos for the bleak ending, though. Artist Benjamin Dewey is new to the series, and combines attractive cartooning with watercolours for a very individual look.

As is the case with all the paperbacks, the accompanying shorts are also found in the hardback Book Three, but missing from the thicker second Compendium. Starks takes over the writing for these, although Marc Ellerby remains on the art. All four are good, but the standout is the Rick’s solution to Morty wondering about love, an imaginative gem requiring an individual mind.

This is a patchier collection than some before, but still very readable, and that opening story is magnificent.