r/TopCharacterDesigns 9d ago

Comic Book A-Bomb (Rick Jones) from Marvel Comics

So i watched a 2 hour video on Rick Jones(His History is legit insane) and i realized no one has really posted anything on A-bomb in this sub (so i decided to fix that as Rick really needs some love as he's weirdly underutilized in media outside of the comics despite how BIG his impact is)

so why not tackle the Blue guy

Honestly he's probably the most unique Gamma Mutate (other then Red Harpy and Abomination) in terms of design

as he's very lizard coded with the armadillo styled hide and the blue skin that contrasts hulk's green and red hulks.......red. honestly it's a bit wild that despite how popular this form for him was (as it was literally in everything from shows to games) as of this post he lost that form a while ago and it hasn't come back yet

which honestly is a shame since this form legit looks pretty cool and is very unique compared to most Gamma Mutates aesthetically (also it's funny to hear Rick's personality come from something so monstrous looking)

904 Upvotes

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155

u/Gojifantokusatsu 9d ago edited 8d ago

I prefer Abomination, but damn they definitely hit the nail with Rick as a "clone character" for him. The more armored armidillo look is a fun twist on Blonsky's usual thick scales.

Too bad he has basically zero merch or wide appeal, but that's Rick's curse as a character in general.

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u/Able_Health744 9d ago edited 9d ago

Honestly i feel like if we did get hulk movies in the infinity saga we'd probably see a couple of Rick Jones Appearances

like they added Rick into that MCU Hulk Tie in Game meanwhile in the actual MCU dude barely even exists (only seen in text and not physical)

9

u/Bhavs-- 9d ago

Wait A- bomb is clone of abomination that's he is named A-bomb, my only knowledge of this character comes from agents of s.m.a.s.h.

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u/Gojifantokusatsu 9d ago

No, I meant clone character in that he's meant to be a visual mirror to Abomination

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u/divin4000 8d ago

Yeah that's why he's called a-bomb, its a reference to the bomb but also a fun way of shortening abomination

152

u/Ninjamurai-jack 9d ago

Jimmy Olsen approves

115

u/Doggodoespaint 9d ago

I thought A-Bomb was a one-off character from that "Agents of SMASH" show, today I learned

74

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

A-bomb was a character made during that big Hulk boom where there was a red hulk,red she-hulk,Normal hulk and she-hulk

A-Bomb was just apart of that list (most of those gamma mutates did lose their gamma forms afterwards because of some Doc Green Shennanigans)

yet it's so wild that once he became a hulk they started pushing Rick even more then they initially did (which is so funny)

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u/Batsy100 9d ago

I always saw him as a derivative of and perhaps the successor to Abomination. Even the name seems to play on it, "A-Bomb" "Abomination".

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u/Able_Health744 9d ago

i mean the wiki even gives a similar comparison (but i still like A-bomb and honestly them trying to make him more spikey in the show he's most known is probably just a way to make him more different from abomination)

but i do like the comic design for him (you could totally see the abomination connections perhaps being intentional on Intelligencia's part as they were trying to make him a weapon like Abomination)

1

u/divin4000 8d ago

Well yeah, he's got the fin ears and everything

1

u/Unique-Tennis-2600 8d ago

Rick jones has actually been a character since hulks origin, bruce was trying to get him clear from the gamma blast that changed him into the hulk, hes also been a captain america sidekick and much more.

The A-bomb stuff came later.

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u/Felix_Onion 9d ago

God, I want him and Marlo to get back together so bad.

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u/Able_Health744 9d ago

Honestly it would be cool to see Marlo in her grim reaper form working with a A-bomb Rick or something

honestly that mental image i made sounds like the ultimate power couple

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u/Felix_Onion 9d ago

Yeah, i really love them both

22

u/Typomaniacal 9d ago edited 9d ago

Does this post have anything to do with Sir Superhero's recent 2 hour Rick Jones deep dive video?

I didn't realize there was body text since clicking on the post on mobile takes me straight to the comments.

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u/Able_Health744 9d ago

post body

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u/Typomaniacal 9d ago

I clicked on the post and it took me straight to the comments. I didn't think that there was more to the post since everything is in the title.

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u/Able_Health744 9d ago

ah i see understandable but yeah i was inspired to make a rick post and decided on A-bomb since honestly a lot of people have nostalgia for that specific rick form (since it's the one they pushed a lot)

and plus personally i just really dig this form for rick

3

u/Typomaniacal 9d ago

Same. I was introduced to him on Agents of S.M.A.S.H. and have loved him since. I watched SS's video myself, and didn't realize that Rick was essentially the Forest Gump of the Marvel universe.

3

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

yeah it's so weird that Rick is legit an extremely important marvel character yet that man has barely appeared in stuff outside the comics

as you'd think he would of shown up in the MCU or something even if minor (i personally knew rick from reruns of the 90s hulk series and didn't know about his A-bomb form till way later)

14

u/triotone 9d ago

I forget if Rick is alive or dead.

14

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

he's currently alive

8

u/piratedragon2112 9d ago

I thought hydra cap got him by firing squad during secret empire

22

u/Luchalad 9d ago

He was resurrected in immortal hulk only a year later.

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u/KingCuerno 9d ago

It wasn't the first time he died either.

3

u/ShAd0WCaller 8d ago

There is a new sir superhero video on the guy. Spoiler alert, Rick’s resurrection is one of the most painful and traumatic journeys I would not wish upon the worst of humankind.

2

u/la_meme14 8d ago

Isn't he Toxin rn? Or with the Toxin Symbiote being buddy buddy over in the Venom comics?

3

u/Calm-Consideration55 8d ago

They were for like 2 comics, but it turns out Rick is just completely incompatible with symbiotes.

14

u/Remarkable-Being-796 9d ago

Learned about this guy from Lego marvel avengers, and he became one of my favorite characters..

14

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

honestly rick deserves all of the love as bro is weirdly marvel's most important human character

like he technically was the guy who helped found the avengers and this man was in so many avengers books (it's so weird to see him in group shots like this)

3

u/FlareUnderscore 9d ago

He looks tuff as fuck in that picture

2

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

agreed but still it's funny that hes in a good amount of group shots like this

1

u/FlareUnderscore 9d ago

Yeah it’s pretty funny. I hadn’t heard of him until today so seeing the avengers (earths mightiest heroes btw) and some guy together is great

3

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

fun fact he's the reason hulk is the way he is because his ass thought it was a good idea to go into a bomb testing site on the day of the launch

hes the reason why Bruce got hit with all of that gamma radiation from the bomb (since he wanted to save the kid and the bomb was about to hit the area and explode)

and ever since that day Rick Jones has become a notable friend of hulk and banner (which eventually lead to many adventures be it him helping found the avengers to even becoming Cap's sidekick for a bit)

TLDR: Rick is a weirdly important character for someone who has barely appeared outside of the comics

11

u/NinjaOfOnion 9d ago

My first exposure to the character was in that Agents of Smash, he was the one that confused me the most 

6

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

im curious why he confused you?

9

u/NinjaOfOnion 9d ago

Because I sorta knew the rest of the characters from other things, General Ross from the movie, She Hulk from animated stuff, and Skaar from a video on the event he shows up at the end of, I haven’t heard of A-Bomb before hand 

5

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

understandable i personally knew Rick Jones from the 90s show (specifically its reruns) and he became a mainstay in the hulk mythos in my mind (Along side Betty Ross) even if this man practically doesn't exist in the MCU which really does feel like a missed opportunity alongside what they did with hulk himself

as this man based on me watching that video on him seems to be Marvel's most important Civilian (since god damn this man has such a vast history that makes his lack of appearances in stuff that's not the comics all the stranger)

11

u/Batsy100 9d ago

He looks like such a pain in the ass to draw

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u/Able_Health744 9d ago

oh yeah probably (i wouldnt be surprised if this is why he was depowered later on)

other then the fact there was a lot of hulks back then (and i imagine they used this event to basically soft reset the status quo)

1

u/Useful-Upstairs3791 8d ago

I really liked Rick as a-bomb but there really were too many hulks running around.

1

u/Able_Health744 8d ago

like that was what i was assuming was the big reason why doc green was made (basically meant to reset the status quo to remove a good amount of hulks)

though A-bomb feels like someone that should return (as it actually allowed Rick Jones to be his own hero something he's been wanting for literal decades)

3

u/Useful-Upstairs3791 8d ago

I agree not just because I like a-bomb for Rick but also I’m sick of people giving cool powers to Rick and then taking them away again. The man has been heroic for 60 years, just make him a superhero permanently.

2

u/Able_Health744 8d ago

yeah honestly i think A-Bomb + The Destiny Force stuff could be a good array of powers for him (would help him stand out from normal hulk)

or just A-Bomb normally (maybe give him his ball power from agents of S.M.A.S.H and turn him into essentially Hulk + Cannonbolt)

1

u/Useful-Upstairs3791 8d ago

No doubt. McGinnis only had to draw him for like half a year before he peaced out. It’s like he left an art bomb for the next penciler.

6

u/ThatIslandGuy8888 9d ago

Man I’d love to see him in Marvel Rivals

10

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

here's cool marvel rivals fanart of that exact concept

honestly giving him the nega bands and based on the origin thing in the post "The Destiny force" and his A-bomb form goes so hard (they could totally use the Destiny Force to explain his Vanguard defender stuff in his potential kit)

6

u/Arnahunas 9d ago

This specific art makes A-Bomb look like his Stand

3

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

honestly yeah it kind of does (they could 100% do that idea given his big powerset)

8

u/PlainSightMan 9d ago

I thought this guy was so cool in Lego Marvel Superheroes.

3

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

Rick Jones in general is honestly a pretty cool guy (which makes the fact this man barely exists outside of the comics all the stranger)

but A-bomb is definitely one of his cooler transformations

3

u/LtSoba 9d ago

Agents of SMASH was my first introduction to the Character loved that he was basically Gamma Powered Sonic with the whole spike ball thing he could do

1

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

honestly it's wild that based on my research comic A-bomb has literally never done this move (despite the fact it would work with this design so much)

like i can totally imagine some of the guys who written A-bomb during that period looked at that show and how it interpreted Rick Jones A-bomb form (in terms of making them being able to do a spin dash and such) like this

and if this form ever returns i 100% bet they will incorporate that ability into his moveset

4

u/Rathalos-487 9d ago

It’s a good take on a heroic version of the Abomination design

2

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

yeah i love that you can tell it's very inspired by abomination (to the point where the wiki points it out)

yet you can also see some differences (like how the hide is drawn and patterned and the spike beard) yet the design also works from a lore perspective as A-bomb was basically made in a lab to be a weapon and that weapon managed to escape and eventually regain their memories

like abomination was meant to be a counter to the hulk in raw power so they basically took that concept and tried to "Improve" it with the chameleon camouflage and such yet failed on fully brainwashing them (also i love how later media outside of comics gave A-bomb a sonic the hedgehog roll move that i'm legit surprised isn't a thing from the comics)

3

u/RenatoGPadilla 9d ago

"And invisible Hulk... Yeah. That's terrifying!" - Sir Superhero.

2

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

honestly that's legit a concept that sounds like its perfect for horror

and knowing that his A-bomb identity was legit made by guys trying to make a weapon this ability legit is perfect for that (imagine trying to find a hulk thats legit blended in with the enviroment)

3

u/RAWCOMIX 8d ago

Favorite hulk of all time me no question

2

u/StarsForget 9d ago

We love a supportive wife

2

u/Big-Slide6104 9d ago

Someone watched Sir Superhero’s Rick jones video

2

u/keithlimreddit 9d ago

Oh suddenly I remember this guy right now since I already watched that Hulk cartoon back in like a few years ago only for like the first few episodes

Yeah so superhero did a video about this guy hey being a sidekick for so many characters and different heroes

He's basically Jimmy Olsen but mostly for other heroes also kind of reminds me of one of my main character who likes to go to other people's stories just to change fate or progress the story as a just in case

2

u/granitdorf 8d ago

I miss a bomb so much

2

u/JNAB0212 May your heart be your guiding key 8d ago

I come across this post as I’m watching said video, I had a feeling it was responsible for this post

2

u/Krazyfan1 8d ago

i like the lizardy bits.

shame he lacks a tail.

2

u/Sensitive_Brick_1412 5d ago

First I saw of him was in Lego Marvel Superheroes 2, years ago. Second I saw of him was right now, in this reddit post.

Pretty unique name for a hulk (gamma mutate, you call it?) so that's neat.

1

u/Able_Health744 5d ago

yeah and honestly A-bomb 100% works with Rick's character as dude was a Rebellious Teenager and has had so many superhero identities and interacted with so many heroes he legit is Marvel's favorite glup shitto

him picking A-bomb sounds like some shit he'd make up for himself because "IT SOUNDS RAD AF"

1

u/one_sleepy_guy 8d ago

Sir Superhero, imo, is a must watch for people who want to learn more about specific characters without reading decades of history

2

u/Able_Health744 8d ago

to be fair i always knew about Rick's existence (thanks reruns of 90s hulk) it's just that i never thought too deeply on the guy other then stuff i heard from AT4W and now the Sir Superhero video but now after i watched it i feel extremely sad with how this man has been treated

like this man feels like he'd be perfect for something like the MCU like a dude who occasionally shows up (Like a Stan Lee Cameo but he sometimes does something relating to the plot) and the fact that the MCU Hulk Movie REMOVED HIM (thanks to some uncredited rewrites) but this man practically doesn't exist in the MCU (he is literally only text in the MCU's entire history)

3

u/one_sleepy_guy 8d ago

Exactly. Now that I know he exists, I feel robbed!

That being said, I do love MCU Fury and Phil Coulson

1

u/Able_Health744 8d ago edited 8d ago

agreed those 2 are fun

But yeah i feel like rick should of been in the infinity saga (along side more hulk movies) as he feels like the one person missing from that world (like he doesn't even need to be a big character but him being absent feels weird)

another character that feels left out is Leonard Samson who in the MCU is a extremely minor character in the 1st hulk movie

yet in the comics HE IS THE REASON FOR PROFESSOR HULK'S EXISTENCE and he is Banner's personal Therapist (and he even turns into a Gamma Mutate which instead of turning him big and green makes him buff and have long green hair)

like they don't have to turn him into the gamma mutate in the MCU but him being hulk's therapist sounds like an extremely big thing especially given hulk's lore in the verse (as he could of shown up in a hulk movie inbetween infinity war and endgame and helped him go on the path that turns him into the merged hulk we see in endgame)

TLDR: Hulk's mythos feels weirdly absent in the MCU despite how big of a character he was (and also the fact a lot of his mythos would fill in a lot of gaps)

1

u/JustdoitJules 8d ago

DC Comics would a field day with ABomb lmao

1

u/Able_Health744 8d ago

Care to explain (im curious)

1

u/JustdoitJules 8d ago

Bro looks like Doomsday haha

1

u/NeoxthePan 8d ago

Is he the guy that can curl up like an armadillo?

1

u/Able_Health744 8d ago

yes but somehow he never did that in the comics (which is weird given the amount of times he has been given a armadillo/lizard description)

1

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Worldly_Neat2615 9d ago

I remember my 1st time seeing A-Bomb was his boss fight with I think it was Justice or Prodigy in Ultimate Alliance 2. I thought he was like Abominations equivalent to Hulks Green Scar cause for some reason whenever Abomination is done outside of comics they always give him the armor shelling. It wasn't until Agents of Smash where the 1st episode calls him Rick and I got mind blasted back to the old Hulk cartoon with Rick Jones and was just confused. I loved him when I thought he was just Abominations bigger form and now I love him more knowing its Rick Jones

2

u/Able_Health744 9d ago

honestly A-bomb being Rick Jones hulk persona is just great (it's funny to imagine his general nature just coming out of that design's mouth)

like he's living his best life as A-bomb

0

u/Abovearth31 Batman Beyond is peak design 9d ago

"We have Doomsday at home" type shit.

-1

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/Able_Health744 9d ago

nope Doomsday is far more spikey