Evil Morty

Did You Know?

• In August 2022, Evil Morty was added as a playable character to the beta release of the crossover fighting game MultiVersus as a series of alternate character skins for Morty Smith.
• The cliffhanger ending of the Oni Press Rick and Morty comic series arc Rick Revenge Squad alludes to a potential future alliance between an alternate version of Evil Morty and several other characters.

Development

Dan Harmon described Evil Morty's storyline in The Ricklantis Mixup as an attempt to craft a timeless political thriller akin to Robert Redford in The Candidate. In September 2021, Harmon stated that the character's plan in Rickmurai Jack was about bringing the relationship between Rick C-137 and Morty Prime to its limit, explaining that Rick's behavior inspired the evil in Evil Morty's nature, and showcasing Morty's empathy and neediness. In June 2023, Harmon explained that the breadths of time between appearances were intended to let characters evolve through small touches, with at least one episode per season evoking the big story to reward continued viewership. Discussing the team-up against Rick Prime in Unmortricken, Harmon likened it to The Wire, where different flavors of bad guy emerge and audiences enjoy watching favorite drug dealers oppose a merciless sociopath, giving viewers a chance to learn more about Evil Morty's psychology as he takes on a more prominent role. In February 2024, showrunner Scott Marder confirmed the character would return in future seasons, stating that the creatives have plans and grand designs with him.

Biography

In Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind, Eyepatch Morty is introduced alongside Evil Rick, tranquilizing a Morty while Evil Rick kills another Rick. He later silently imprisons captured Mortys, using their brainwaves to conceal himself from the Citadel. In the closing scene, he removes his eyepatch and crushes the transmitter, revealing he controlled Evil Rick. Following the Citadel's decimation, a Candidate Morty represents the Morty Party in a presidential election. After giving an inspiring speech, he becomes front-runner, fires his campaign manager, and survives an assassination attempt. Elected President Morty, he executes those who oppose him. Secret documents confirm Eyepatch Morty and President Morty are the same person.

Other versions

The comic book limited series Pocket Like You Stole It explores the origin of a separate Evil Morty from Dimension C-594, formerly Plain Ol' Morty, who became sick of Ricks due to exploitation and mass cloning in the Pocket Mortys death game. In Never Ricking Morty, a possible future shows Evil Morty commanding armies of Ricks, Mr. Meeseeks, Gazorpazorp species, Morty Smith Jr., and a Palpatine-dressed Mr. Poopybutthole, with Morty equipped with a robotic arm and trident. In the anime short Rick and Morty vs. Genocider, an alternate President Morty sends a Morty to Japan to track Rick C-137, later revealed to have controlled both The Genocider and Citadel forces. In Rick + Morty in the Eternal Nightmare Machine, an alternate Evil Morty sits on a throne in a simulation, declaring himself God of this Infinite Hell before vanishing when punched.

Reception

The character has received an overall positive reception. The theme song For the Damaged Coda by Blonde Redhead gained renewed exposure and spawned memes. Vulture praised the blissed-out sexy indie music and the initially adorable, non-threatening appearance of President Morty in The Ricklantis Mixup, expressing interest in fan theories. Screen Rant praised the character as one of the most compelling villains the series could offer, despite brief and cryptic appearances, complimenting his manipulative traits. Flickering Myth called him a big fan favorite and the show's most enigmatic character. Paste noted the sobering aspect of Evil Morty's return as the realization that he is not so different from the Patrick Bate-Morty from Rest and Ricklaxation, embodying ruthless, confident, and smart traits. The Mary Sue praised the initial concept as a generator of theories, wisely held back for maximum punch, and described his reintroduction as a perfect way to force issues of Morty's instability, concluding that Justin Roiland sells the gravitas and magnetism of Eyepatch Morty well.