Krombopulos Michael

Last updated
Krombopulos Michael
Rick and Morty character
First appearance"Mortynight Run" (2015)
Created by Dominic Polcino
David Phillips
Designed byJames McDermott [1]
Voiced by Andy Daly [2]
In-universe information
Full nameMichael
NicknameKrombopulos Michael
K. Michael
Species Gromflomite
GenderMale
Occupation Assassin
Spouse Amy (wife)
OriginKrombopulos [3]
Catchphrase "Oh boy! Here I go killing again!"

Krombopulos Michael, or simply Michael, is a recurring fictional character in the Rick and Morty franchise, voiced by Andy Daly. Created by Dominic Polcino and David Phillips for the animated series, Michael is a Gromflomite assassin opposed to the Galactic Federation who often purchases weaponry from Rick Sanchez. Introduced in "Mortynight Run", the character returned in several spin-off comic book series published by Oni Press, exploring his origin story and relationship with his wife Krombopulos Amy.

Contents

Known for his charming personality and upfront love of murder, the character has received a positive critical reception, [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] with merchandise being made of him, and him further featuring as a playable character in the role-playing video game Pocket Mortys and the tactical shooter game Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege .

Development

The character of Krombopulos Michael was created by Dominic Polcino and David Phillips for the Rick and Morty first season episode "Mortynight Run", and designed by James McDermott. [1] Considered a breakout character for his characterisation and catchphrase ("Oh boy! Here I go killing again!"), he was written to return to the franchise in the Oni Press comic book storyline "The Life and Death of Krombopulos Michael", setting up his wife Amy's role in Rick Revenge Squad , as well as in the spin-off Rick and Morty Presents as a protagonist, the latter of which reveals him to bisexual. [9] In 2017's The Art of Rick and Morty, Michael is revealed to be an "upper class" Gromflomite who, like, Rick and his compatriots, is a rebel against the Galactic Federation. [10] In 2022, he was added as a playable character to the video game Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege . [11]

Fictional character biography

Animated series

In "Mortynight Run", Krombopulos Michael is introduced as Rick Sanchez's "best customer", a hitman who buys an anti-matter handgun from him for use in an upcoming assassination of his. While meeting Rick at a garage to purchase the gun, Michael introduces himself to Rick's grandson Morty, giving him a business card (listing his contact information, social media accounts, and "#KMichaelKills"), who expresses disapproval at Michael's open love of killing and general lack of morals. Later after breaking into the facility used to hold his target, a gaseous being, kissing a photo of his wife beforehand for luck, he is accidentally crushed to death by Morty, who crashes Rick's ship into him after stealing it, before completing his mission for him. [12]

Comic book series

In "The Life and Death of Krombopulos Michael", the origin story of Michael is explored, from his earliest missions with the Galactic Federation (gaining the nickname "Krombopulos" from his home), to him eventually becoming a freelance assassin, meeting Rick, whose experience with romancing Unity inspires Michael to pursue romance himself, eventually meeting his future wife, Amy, the story continuing up until the moment of his death in "Mortynight Run". [13] Following Michael's death, on being told Rick was responsible, Amy swears revenge on him in Michael's name, before returning to do so in Rick Revenge Squad as part of the titular squad. [14]

In the spin-off Rick and Morty Presents: Krombopulos Michael , another perspective of Michael's life is explored, during the events of "The Life and Death of Krombopulos Michael", displaying how his capacity for violence and connection with Rick greatly came to unnerve the latter over time. [15]

Video games

In the role-playing video game Pocket Mortys , Krombopulos Michael is featured as a character skin. In the virtual reality game Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality , Michael makes a cameo appearance via a message left by him to Rick (read by Clone Morty), while in 2022, Michael was added as a playable character to the online tactical shooter game Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege . [11]

Merchandise

Numerous pieces of merchandise based on Krombopulos Michael have been produced, with Beeline Creative creating themed Geeki Tiki of Michael, [16] and a Funko Pop for the character released in 2017, [17] a themed Mystery Mini releasing 2018. [18]

Reception

The character has received a universally positive reception, being considered a breakout character and spawning numerous internet memes. [19] Paste Magazine lauded "the enthusiastic politeness you'd expect" in Andy Daly's performance, [4] The Boar complimenting it for "sell[ing] the giddy enthusiasm of killing [as] the kind of fun monster we can trust Rick and Morty to deliver", [5] and Inverse calling him "one of the most charming and memorable [in] the show’s history", with "Daly bring[ing] an undeniable charm to [the] character", [6] marking him as the franchise's third-best character. [20]

Bleeding Cool praised the character's comic book depiction as having "a well-rounded personality despite his singular interest [who one would feel] genuine pity for", noting the "earnest, charming, and sometimes overbearing" nature of a character "far more charming and sympathetic than one might predict [from] the trail of bodies he leaves behind", [7] with AIPT Comics finding the development of his friendship with Rick as "heartwarming", praising the writing for how "we commiserate with Krombopulos [Michael] even though he’s a psychotic weirdo [and] feel for the guy when he’s depressed and [then] actually root for him when he finds joy in murdering". [8]

References

  1. 1 2 Jayson, Jay (November 9, 2017). "Rick and Morty: "Mortynight Run" Concept Art". ComicBook.com .
  2. ↑ "Krombopulos Michael Voices (Rick and Morty)". Behind the Voice Actors. August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  3. ↑ Plante, Corey (January 31, 2018). "'Rick and Morty' Reveals the Badass Origin Story for Fan-Favorite Character". Inverse .
  4. 1 2 Jackson, Gita (August 4, 2015). "Rick and Morty: "Mortynight Run" (2.02)". Paste Magazine .
  5. 1 2 Goodall, Reece (August 3, 2015). "Rick and Morty – 'Mortynight Run'". The Boar .
  6. 1 2 Plante, Corey (July 24, 2018). "The 9 Greatest 'Rick and Morty' Guest Stars of All Time". Inverse .
  7. 1 2 Davison, Joshua (June 19, 2018). "Advance Review: Rick and Morty Presents #2 Krombopulos Michael – Far More Endearing than Expected". Bleeding Cool .
  8. 1 2 Brooke, David (June 18, 2018). "Rick and Morty Presents: Krombopulos Michael #1 Review". AIPT Comics.
  9. ↑ CBR Staff (April 11, 2019). "Rick and Morty: 8 Ways The Comics Change Krombopulos Michael's Story". Comic Book Resources .
  10. ↑ James Siciliano ( w ). The Art of Rick and Morty ,vol. .1(September 12, 2017). Milwaukie, Oregon : Dark Horse Comics .
  11. 1 2 Rainbow Six Siege – Official Rick and Morty Bundle #2 Trailer. IGN . January 21, 2022 – via YouTube.
  12. ↑ Handlen, Zack (August 2, 2015). "Rick and Morty: "Mortynight Run"". The A.V. Club .
  13. ↑ Davis, Angela (February 17, 2022). "Rick and Morty's Darkest Villain is Krombopulos Michael (Not Evil Morty)". Screen Rant .
  14. ↑ Davison, Joshua (September 1, 2018). "Rick and Morty #41 Review: Enter the Rick Revenge Squad". Bleeding Cool .
  15. ↑ Cranswick, Amie (June 20, 2018). "Preview of Rick and Morty Presents: Krombopulos Michael #1". Flickering Myth.
  16. ↑ Creative "Krombopulos Michael – Beeline Creative, Inc". April 30, 2019.{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  17. ↑ Kurland, Daniel (October 19, 2020). "10 Best Rick & Morty Action Figures To Collect". Comic Book Resources .
  18. ↑ Konrad, Jeremy (January 22, 2018). "Rick and Morty Fans: Save Your Schmeckles For These New Funko Products". Bleeding Cool .
  19. ↑ Brei, Elizabeth (September 8, 2020). "Here I Go Again: 10 Hilarious Krombopulos Michael Rick & Morty Memes". Comic Book Resources .
  20. ↑ Plante, Corey (October 21, 2016). "We Ranked the 8 Best 'Rick and Morty' Minor Characters, Dawg". Inverse .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.