Invincible Has A Secret Rick & Morty Cameo

Amazon’s Invincible has a secret cameo from another adult animated series: Rick and Morty. Invincible, episode 6, “You Look Kinda Dead,” opens with a scene set at a nearby college where a drunk, wealthy jock harasses three female students. In an unexpected twist, the male student is abducted, and when he regains consciousness, he discovers — to his horror — that his body is being mutilated as part of a misguided scientific pursuit. No doubt many viewers watching the episode found the jock’s voice familiar — that’s because he was played by Justin Roiland, one of the co-creators of Rick and Morty.

The jock in Invincible episode 6 plays a small but significant part, making it only fitting that the actor who plays him has such a recognizable voice. Amazon cast talented actors for their Invincible adaptation, which includes iconic industry figures like Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, and Sandra Oh. Others are familiar from their voice-acting roles: both Jason Mantzoukas and Andrew Rannells, who play Rex-Splode and William Clockwell respectively, are playing roles in Invincible similar to their Big Mouth characters.

A similar case can be made for Roiland’s Invincible character — a slovenly drunk jerk whose impulsiveness gets him in trouble — and his most iconic roles, the leads in Rick and Morty. Roiland voices both the mad scientist Rick Sanchez, and his often-pathetic grandson, Morty Smith. Like Rick often is, the unnamed college student in Invincible is drunk and disorderly. Like Morty, the young man finds himself victim to a mad genius’ unethical experiments.

The jock in Invincible — whose name is never revealed — meets with a horrific end in the episode. D.A. Sinclair, voiced by Ezra Miller (another excellent cameo), is a fellow student who abducts classmates under the guise of “improving humanity”; he transforms these students, against their will, into dangerously powerful cyborgs. The versatile Roiland voices the jock in a manner similar to Rick Sanchez, but (fittingly) more youthful-sounding; the casting creates an interesting intertextual nod to Rick and Morty, playfully hinting at the sci-fi nature of the animated series as well as its (in)famously dark nature.

Roiland has voiced other characters as well; in addition to portraying several recurring and one-off characters in Rick and Morty, Roiland also voices the main character Korvo from his other current series, Solar Opposites. Like Rick, Korvo is a genius, at time short-sighted, and generally disdainful of those around him. Having Roiland voice the jock in Invincible is a fun Easter egg for fans familiar with his past works — not just because he’s recognizable, but because the part he plays in Amazon’s series is such an inversion of his other characters.

About The Author

Sarah Bea Milner
(333 Articles Published)

See also  10 Netflix’s Locke & Key Episodes Ranked (According To IMDb)

Sarah Milner is the Weekend Lead Editor for Screen Rant’s Film/Television features (SR Originals) division. She is a writer, editor, and folk musician. She often watches movies — sometimes she reviews them too.

A graduate of Trent University, Sarah’s MA thesis examines Frankenstein adaptations and their relationship with popular culture. She has a fierce love of all things “spooky,” and a deep appreciation for classic cinema.

More From Sarah Bea Milner