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{{Short description|Marvel Comics fictional character}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox comics character<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|character_name = Rick Jones
|image          = Rick Jones (comics).jpg
|converted      = y
|caption        = Rick Jones as depicted in ''Captain Marvel'' (vol. 4) #19 (July 2001). Art by [[Aaron Lopresti]].
|full name      = Richard Milhouse Jones
|species        = Human mutate
|publisher      = [[Marvel Comics]]
|debut          = '''As Rick Jones:'''<br />''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' #1<br />(May 1962)<br />'''As A-Bomb:'''<br /> ''Hulk'' (vol. 2) #2<br />(February 2008)<br />'''As Whisperer:'''<br />''Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha'' #1<br />(March 2016)
|creators       = [[Stan Lee]] (writer)<br />[[Jack Kirby]] (artist)
|alliances      = [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]<br />[[Young Avengers]]<br />[[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]]<br />[[Loners (comics)|Loners]]
|aliases        = Whisperer<br />A-Bomb<br />[[Bucky (Marvel Comics)|Bucky]]<br />[[Hulk]]<ref name="Incredible Hulk #325">''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #325 (November 1986)</ref><br />Subject B<ref>''Immortal Hulk'' #5 (November 2018)</ref> <br /> [[Abomination (character)|Abomination]]<ref>''Immortal Hulk'' #18 (July 2019)</ref> <br /> [[Sleeper (Marvel Comics)|Sleeper Agent]]<ref>''All-New Venom'' #4</ref>
|supports       = [[Hulk]]<br />[[Captain America]]<br />[[Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)]]<br />[[Rom the Space Knight|Rom]]<br />[[Genis-Vell|Captain Marvel (Genis-Vell)]]
|powers         = *Expertise in acrobatics, unarmed combat, and hacking 
*Skilled guitarist, harmonica player, and songwriter
*Quick learning speed
'''As A-Bomb:'''
*Superhuman strength and durability
*Camouflage 
}}
'''Richard Milhouse''' "'''Rick'''" '''Jones''' is a character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character has been depicted as a [[sidekick]] and friend to the [[Hulk]], [[Captain America]], [[Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)|Mar-Vell / Captain Marvel]], [[Rom the Space Knight]], and [[Genis-Vell|<!-- don't delink -->Genis-Vell / Captain Marvel]].

The character has been an active participant in many significant Marvel storylines, including the [[Kree–Skrull War]] and the [[Destiny War]]. Rick has acquired superpowers on numerous occasions: he was briefly transformed into a version of the Hulk in a 1986 story arc and became '''A-Bomb''', a gamma mutate resembling a blue version of the [[Abomination (character)|Abomination]], after being experimented on by the [[Intelligencia (comics)|Intelligencia]] in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|Hulk]]'' (vol. 2). Rick later becomes a [[Hacktivism|hacktivist]] after Doc Green, an alternate persona of Bruce Banner, removes his powers.<ref name=":2" />

Rick Jones has been adapted into various media outside comics, primarily in association with the Hulk. [[Luke Perry]] voiced Rick in the animated series ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1996 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (1996), which adapted his time as Hulk in the comics. [[Seth Green]] voiced Rick as A-Bomb in the animated series ''[[Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.]]'' (2013), where he is depicted as a member of the eponymous team. Green reprised the role in the ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' episode "Return to the Spider-Verse" (2016), voicing a version of Rick from the [[Marvel Noir]] universe.

==Publication history==
{{Expand section|date=March 2015}}
Rick Jones first appeared in ''[[Hulk]]'' #1 (May 1962), and was created by [[Stan Lee]] and [[Jack Kirby]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=200}}</ref> His A-Bomb identity first appeared in ''Hulk'' (vol. 2) #2 (February 2008), and was created by writer [[Jeph Loeb]] and artist [[Ed McGuinness]].

==Fictional character biography==
Rick Jones was born in Scarsdale, Arizona. He lost his parents at a young age and grew up in an orphanage. Later, he accepted a dare to drive out to a [[Nuclear weapons testing|testing ground]] in [[New Mexico]] as the [[Radiological warfare|gamma bomb]] designed by Bruce Banner was being tested. Banner pushed Rick into a protective trench, saving his life, but absorbing the [[gamma ray]]s that transform Banner into the [[Hulk]]. Rick thus became the sole confidant of the Hulk's identity.<ref>''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' #1 (May 1962)</ref>

=== Early days with the Hulk and the Avengers ===
Rick's guilt over causing the incident (and lack of any other place to go) led him to stay close to Banner and the Hulk. In one story, he even gained mental control over Hulk. Eventually, the dangerous unpredictability of Hulk forced Rick to keep his distance.

Later, Rick formed the [[Teen Brigade]], a loose network of teenagers with [[amateur radio|ham radios]] throughout the United States. The first Brigade played a role in the origin of the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] when the Norse god [[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]] tampered with the Brigade's radio transmission. Originally, the Brigade intended to bring the [[Fantastic Four]] together to battle the Hulk, but instead brought [[Iron Man]], [[Hank Pym|Ant-Man]], [[Wasp (character)|Wasp]], and [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] together to form the Avengers.<ref>''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #1 (September 1963)</ref>

After the Hulk's departure from the team, Rick became an honorary Avenger. He alerted the team to the Hulk's presence when they began searching for him.<ref>''The Avengers'' #3 (January 1964)</ref><ref>''The Avengers'' #4 (March 1964)</ref> He became close to the recently revived [[Captain America]] although his guilt led him to leave the Avengers and seek out Banner and Hulk on his own.<ref>''The Avengers'' #17 (June 1965)</ref><ref>''[[Tales to Astonish]]'' #69 (July 1965)</ref>

Captain America rescued Rick from one of Hulk's rampages, and after that Rick became Captain America's sidekick, briefly taking the title and uniform of [[Bucky Barnes]], Captain America's long-dead junior partner. This was on Jones' own insistence, over Captain America's guilty objections, noting that others have also lost partners and that it was time to move on. Rick's brief time as Bucky gave him the training to survive around superheroes.<ref>''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' #110–116 (February-August 1969)</ref>

When Rick believed Hulk to be dead (although Hulk had actually been sent to the future), he revealed the truth of Banner's condition to [[Glenn Talbot]], thus inadvertently making Banner a wanted fugitive by the military.<ref>''Tales to Astonish'' #77 (March 1966)</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=92}}</ref>

===Captain Mar-Vell===
After being neglected by Captain America, Rick became fed up with the Captain's ego. After talking with [[Edwin Jarvis]], Rick decided to leave the Avengers for good. Rick joined with the [[Kree]] [[Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)|Mar-Vell]] when he finds himself drawn to the mystical Nega-Bands. Donning the Bands, he is immediately linked to Captain Marvel. Once joined, one of the two remains in a protective bubble in the [[Negative Zone]]. After either the person not in the Negative Zone strikes the Nega-Bands together or a certain amount of time passes, the two switch places.<ref>''[[Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)|Captain Marvel]]'' #17 (October 1969)</ref> Rick and Mar-Vell go on various adventures encountering many different heroes, such as the Hulk,<ref>''Captain Marvel'' #20-21 (June-August 1970)</ref> [[Namor]],<ref>''[[Sub-Mariner]]'' #30 (October 1970)</ref> and Captain America.<ref>''The Avengers'' #72 (January 1970)</ref>

Rick and Mar-Vell play a critical part in the [[Kree–Skrull War]]. Rick is freed from the Negative Zone through a portal in the Fantastic Four headquarters. Mar-Vell is released from the Negative Zone while Rick is still in the regular world without the use of the Nega-Bands. The bond between the two is broken. At the height of the conflict, the [[Supreme Intelligence]] briefly unleashes the Destiny Force from within Rick. Rick uses his newfound ability to summon images of various [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] heroes. While at full power, Rick single-handedly stops both the [[Kree]] and [[Skrull]] fleets long enough to put an end to the conflict. Injuries that Rick sustains lead Mar-Vell to willingly bond with Rick to save his life.<ref>''The Avengers'' #89–97 (June 1971-March 1972)</ref> Shortly after this, the Captain Marvel series was re-launched and it is revealed that Rick could not contain Mar-Vell's energy. He was then bombarded with photonic energy, which saved him and enabled him to contain Mar-Vell safely. A consequence of this was that Mar-Vell gained the ability to absorb energy in addition to the Nega-Band energies to boost his strength and could fly using photonic energy.<ref>''Captain Marvel'' #22 (September 1972)</ref>

Rick and Mar-Vell serve as a duo for several years while Rick pursues his musical career and love life. Eventually, the two are again freed from their bond while aiding the Avengers against the [[Super-Adaptoid]]. Rick then parts company with Mar-Vell.<ref>''Captain Marvel'' #50–51 (May-July 1977)</ref> Rick begins to spend his time with the Hulk again and briefly forms a new Teen Brigade,<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #251 (September 1980)</ref> after which Rick finds himself again teamed with Mar-Vell,<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #245 (March 1980)</ref> though not merged with him as they deal with [[Thanos]]. Sometime after, Mar-Vell dies from cancer that he developed after the villain [[Nitro (character)|Nitro]] exposed him to [[nerve gas]].<ref>''Captain Marvel'' #34 (September 1974)</ref><ref>''[[The Death of Captain Marvel]]'' (January 1982)</ref>

===Venturing with Rom===
After Mar-Vell's death, Rick began to team with the Hulk again.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #267 (January 1982)</ref> Guilt over causing Banner to be hit with the gamma rays made Rick decide to expose himself to gamma rays in an attempt to become another Hulk-like being that could stop the Hulk.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #269-270 (March-April 1982)</ref> However this plan backfired and Rick was dying of gamma poisoning until Banner cured him.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' #275-276 (September-October 1982)</ref> However, this too led to the consequence of Rick developing a form of [[Tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues|blood cancer]].<ref>''[[Rom the Space Knight|Rom]]'' #56 (July 1984)</ref>

Rick was going to undergo a massive blood transfusion to treat this ailment when the hospital was attacked by monsters created by the [[Dire Wraith]]s. Rick was saved by the Spaceknight [[Rom the Space Knight|Rom]] and began to team with Rom despite the fact that Rick was slowly dying.<ref>''Rom'' #57 (August 1984)</ref> Following the defeat of the Wraiths, Rom banished them to Limbo and then bade farewell to Rick and Earth.<ref>''Rom'' #70 (September 1985)</ref> Shortly after Rom left, Rick met the alien [[Beyonder]] during the "[[Secret Wars II]]" storyline where Beyonder cured his cancer.<ref>''Rom'' #72 (November 1985)</ref>

===Reunion with the Hulk===
Shortly after the encounter with the Beyonder, Rick once again teamed with the Hulk.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #319 (May 1986)</ref> This time, the Hulk had been split into two beings, Banner and Hulk,<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #315 (January 1986)</ref> but the experiment was a failure and both were dying.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #320-323 (June-September 1986)</ref> [[Thunderbolt Ross]] tried to stop the process of remerging the two, and Rick intervened only to be dumped into the chemical nutrient bath that was fusing Banner and the Hulk again, transforming into a Hulk-like creature.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #324 (October 1986)</ref><ref name="Incredible Hulk #325"/>

With the [[Vision (Marvel Comics)|Vision]]'s help, Banner and the Hulk are reunited, but, both are weak and still dying. As a result of a nutrient bath developed by [[Doc Samson]], Banner/Hulk is reverted from Green Hulk into the [[Grey Hulk]]. During this time, Rick as Hulk battled the Grey Hulk, [[Zzzax]], the [[Hulkbusters]], and the [[Outcasts (Marvel Comics mutates)|Outcasts]]. The Grey Hulk is manipulated by Samuel Sterns, along with Banner, into siphoning the radiation from Rick into Sterns. Sterns is then turned back into the [[Leader (character)|Leader]] and Rick is cured of his Hulk transformations.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #326–329 (December 1986-March 1987)</ref><ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #332 (June 1987)</ref>

Rick stays with Banner, the Grey Hulk, [[Betty Ross]], and [[Clay Quartermain]] for several months as they travel the country looking for a government supply of [[Radiological warfare|gamma bombs]]. The group splits after the Hulk's apparent death at the Leader's hands.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #341-346 (March-August 1988)</ref> Rick's psionic potential is later released by [[Moondragon]] against [[Homo mermanus|Atlantean]] invaders.<ref>''The Avengers'' Annual #18 (October 1989)</ref>

Rick authors the book "Sidekick", an autobiography of his time with super-heroes. While on a book tour, he meets [[Marlo Chandler]] without realizing that she had only recently broken up with the Hulk (then acting as a thug in [[Las Vegas]] under the alias Mr. Fixit). Rick is kidnapped by a Skrull vessel and the Hulk aids in Rick's rescue.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #374–376 (October-November 1990)</ref> This starts another period with Rick and the Hulk, this time with Marlo and Betty.

===Encounters with death===
Rick came in touch with death in several ways during this time with the Hulk. First, Rick dies at the hands of Thanos, along with half of the universe, when Thanos uses the [[The Infinity Gauntlet|Infinity Gauntlet]] to impress [[Death (Marvel Comics)|Death]].<ref>''[[The Infinity Gauntlet]]'' #1 (July 1991)</ref> Rick and the others are brought back in ensuing events.<ref>''The Infinity Gauntlet'' #6 (December 1991)</ref>

Rick assisted the Hulk many times during his tenure with the [[Pantheon (Marvel Comics)|Pantheon]].<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #386–390 (October 1991-February 1992)</ref> During this time, he guns down an insane killer, but is still wracked with remorse. Over time he bonds with [[Wolfsbane (character)|Wolfsbane]] of [[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]], who also killed another insane murderer during the same debacle;<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #392 (April 1992)</ref> he even ends up inviting her to his wedding.<ref name="autogenerated5">''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #418 (June 1994)</ref>

Another major encounter with death occurs when Jackie Shorr (who is revealed to be a demented [[serial killer]]) comes into his life and claims to be his mother.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #396 (August 1992)</ref> This claim has not been proven, but she insists that those she killed and left mummified in her basement were substitutes for Rick, and that he is her real son. Shorr is discovered to be insane, but not until after she kills Marlo by stabbing her with a kitchen knife.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #398 (October 1992)</ref> A horrified Rick refuses [[Mister Fantastic|Reed Richards]]'s offer to carry out a DNA test, saying that he does not want to know, especially if she is truly his mother.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #399 (November 1992)</ref>

Rick attempts to bring Marlo back using a [[resurrection]] device known as the "[[deus ex machina]]" that the Leader developed, but the Hulk, believing that the Leader's efforts are part of a bigger villainous plan, destroys the equipment partway through the process.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #400 (December 1992)</ref> Marlo is left in a [[Catatonia|catatonic]] state.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #401 (January 1993)</ref> Rick's care eventually helps Marlo return to full health despite the intervention of many other well-meaning friends and family, including Marlo's brothers and Captain America.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #406 (June 1993)</ref>

Shortly after Marlo is revived, the two become engaged and quickly marry.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #409 (September 1993)</ref> Neither of them realizes, however, that a portion of Death remains ''in'' Marlo. This piece of Death attracted many strange visitors to the wedding, including [[Mephisto (Marvel Comics)|Mephisto]] and [[Death (Marvel Comics)|Death]] herself.<ref name=autogenerated5/>

The married couple soon finds success in a popular talk show, ''Keeping Up with the Joneses'',<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #439 (March 1996)</ref> but it is cut short when Rick is crippled by a Banner-less Hulk,<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #457 (October 1997)</ref> who made a deal to work for [[Apocalypse (character)|Apocalypse]] and become his [[Horsemen of Apocalypse|Horseman]] "War" if he removed the shrapnel from the Hulk's brain.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #456 (September 1997)</ref> The injury confines Rick to a wheelchair and the debilitation strains his relationship with Marlo.<ref name="autogenerated6">''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #467 (August 1998)</ref> The strain increases following Betty Ross' death, with the couple splitting shortly thereafter.<ref name=autogenerated6/>

Rick joins Banner again after he returns to Earth and merges with the separated Hulk.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #468 (September 1998)</ref> His health problems force him to be brought by the Avengers to the now-captive [[Supreme Intelligence]] for aid, which marks the beginning of the [[Avengers Forever|Destiny War]], as [[Kang the Conqueror]]'s rejection of his apparent destiny to become Immortus results in Rick's access to the Destiny Force being used to draw in a team of seven Avengers from different points in time to act as his protectors. Over the course of these events, Rick's injury is healed when he channels the Destiny Force into himself,<ref>''[[Avengers Forever]]'' #3 (February 1999)</ref> and after the battle with the Time Keepers, he is joined with [[Genis-Vell]] (the new Captain Marvel and son of Mar-Vell), due to a temporal paradox involving the future Genis-Vell linking with Rick to save his life.<ref>''Avengers Forever'' #11 (October 1999)</ref><ref>''Avengers Forever'' #12 (December 1999)</ref>

===Captain Marvel (Genis-Vell)===
Rick's bond with Genis works in about the same way as his bond with Mar-Vell. The biggest difference is that the two switch in and out of the [[Microverse]] rather than the [[Negative Zone]]. Genis-Vell's unique birth and accelerated aging makes him the opposite of Rick: full of power but without experience. They compensate for each other's weaknesses with Rick taking on the role of mentor. He helps Genis learn to control his [[Omniscience|cosmic awareness]] and accept his role as a [[superhero]]. As Rick's confidence grows, he also attempts to rekindle his romance with Marlo.

It was not until this point that Marlo's connection with Death is finally revealed. Thanos aids in separating the two, but Rick is prematurely aged and loses an arm in the process. He is later yanked back in time to the Destiny War, where he aids his younger self in the conflict leading to his bond with Genis.

Marlo tries to aid the elderly Rick the way he had helped her when she was catatonic. Rick's pride, however, just causes more problems. The [[Supreme Intelligence]] attempts and fails to restore Rick to his normal condition, but he is spontaneously restored to his normal age and health shortly thereafter. Rick believes this was divine aid, while Genis believes it was a delayed reaction to the Supreme Intelligence's procedure.

For a while, Rick and Genis are yanked back and forth through time. Rick encounters two older versions of himself: one an aging collector surviving under the rule of the [[Maestro (character)|Maestro]]; the other a super-villain named Thanatos. The super-villain Rick was in the process of creating the "ultimate Rick Jones". He is stopped by the elder Rick's ability to wield Thor's hammer [[Mjolnir (comics)|Mjolnir]], Rick having been judged worthy for things the present Rick had yet to do and things that Thanatos would never achieve.

Rick and Marlo again split when Marlo becomes romantically involved with [[Moondragon]]. Shortly after, Genis goes insane when his cosmic awareness reaches its peak. Rick's attempts to continue as Genis' guide are fairly unsuccessful. Genis becomes a callous, homicidal maniac believing himself a god. Rick's friend even destroys the universe just to rebuild it with Rick and Genis as sole survivors.

In the rebuilt reality, Genis again loses his mind. Rick develops an ability to mentally attack Genis through their psychic bond (although the pain is reciprocal). For a time, Genis uses this same link to control Rick. He goes as far as 'convincing' Rick to kill himself on a whim. Genis brings Rick right back to life just as easily.

In part due to Rick's influence, Genis' madness calms to a point where he maintains a degree of sanity, albeit with some unpredictability. He creates a recording studio for Rick that allows for fame and fortune at the sake of Internet-based sales of a song written for Marlo. The same song also acts as a catalyst for the two to reunite, with Marlo ending her relationship with Moondragon.

At the end of the series, it is revealed that Rick has a "[[fourth wall|comic awareness]]" that the ''Captain Marvel'' comic series is ending. He pushes for several loose ends to be resolved: Rick and Genis are separated again and Rick is reunited with Marlo.

===''Runaways''===
Rick was revealed to be the mysterious benefactor of [[Loners (comics)|Excelsior]].<ref name="Runaways Vol 4.: True Believers">{{cite book|last1=Vaughan|first1=Brian K.|title=Runaways Vol 4.: True Believers|date=2008|publisher=Panini|location=Tunbridge Wells|isbn=978-1-905239-83-2}}</ref> The group is composed of former teenage superheroes dedicated to reforming other super-powered kids from following down the same path. Their first targets are the [[Runaways (comics)|Runaways]] patrolling Los Angeles in the wake of the supervillain power vacuum since the defeat of the Runaways' evil parents, the [[Pride (comics)|Pride]], who once controlled the city.<ref name="Runaways Vol 4.: True Believers" /> Rick tells Excelsior that he wanted the Runaways back in foster care because he did not want them to go through the same experiences he went through.<ref name="Runaways Vol 4.: True Believers" />

Rick served as one of the [[pallbearers]] at the memorial service for Captain America following his [[Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America|death]].<ref>''What If? Fallen Son'' one-shot (February 2009)</ref>

===''World War Hulk''===
Rick re-connects with the Hulk during the ''[[World War Hulk]]'' mini-series. He seeks out the Hulk and attempts to talk him down, telling his friend that, while he recognized that the [[Illuminati (comics)|Illuminati]] had been out of line in their decision to exile him to [[Sakaar]] and their apparent involvement with the deaths of thousands of innocent people on that planet, including the Hulk's wife [[Caiera]], his quest for vengeance was not him, using Hulk's willingness to protect innocent people caught in the fight between him and a [[Zom]]-possessed [[Doctor Strange]] as proof that the Hulk was still a hero rather than a man blindly seeking vengeance. After the Hulk's climactic battle with the [[Sentry (Robert Reynolds)|Sentry]] resulted in him reverting to Bruce Banner, [[Miek]] stabs Rick to provoke Banner into turning back into the Hulk. Rick is seen being loaded into an ambulance.<ref>''[[World War Hulk]]'' #1–5 (August 2007-January 2008)</ref>

===Becoming A-Bomb===
[[File:A-Bomb (Marvel Comics).jpg|thumb|upright|Rick Jones as A-Bomb, from ''Hulk'' (vol. 2) #2 (April 2008). Art by [[Ed McGuinness]].]]
In the aftermath of ''[[World War Hulk]]'', the [[Intelligencia (comics)|Intelligencia]] use [[Abomination (character)|Abomination]]'s DNA to transform Rick Jones into a Hulk-like creature called A-Bomb.<ref>''Hulk'' (vol. 2) #1 (March 2008)</ref><ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' #600 (September 2009)</ref><ref>''Fall of the Hulks: Red Hulk'' #3 (May 2010)</ref><ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' #635 (October 2011)</ref> He initially possesses a low level of intelligence similar to the Hulk, but later gains the ability to retain his human consciousness.<ref name=":0">''Hulk'' (vol. 2) #13 (October 2009)</ref> In ''Hulk'' (vol. 3), Rick loses his powers after being given a cure by Doc Green, a new personality of Bruce Banner who believes gamma-powered superhumans to be a threat to humanity.<ref name="autogenerated8">''Hulk'' (vol. 3) #6-8 (September-November 2014)</ref>

===Working as Whisperer===
As a side effect of losing his Hulk abilities, Rick briefly gains the ability to learn any task at lightning speed. During the "[[Avengers: Standoff!]]" storyline, he uses this ability to become a [[Hacktivism|hacktivist]] known as the '''Whisperer''' and secretly aids the new [[Falcon (comics)|Captain America]]. Rick uncovers a plot by [[Maria Hill]] called Project [[Kobik]], which uses shattered [[Cosmic Cube]] remains to create a new cube.<ref name=":2">''Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha'' one-shot (May 2016)</ref> [[Phil Coulson]]'s group learns about Pleasant Hill and Rick's involvement. [[Deathlok#Henry Hayes|Deathlok]], [[Daisy Johnson]], and [[Jemma Simmons]] investigate Rick's house and discovered a hidden escape route. They follow Rick through the [[Morlocks (comics)|Morlock]] tunnels and apprehend him. During an interrogation at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Battlecarrier, the New Avengers arrive to retrieve Rick from S.H.I.E.L.D.<ref>''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' #3 (May 2016)</ref> [[The Pentagon]] retaliates by unleashing the [[American Kaiju]] on the New Avengers.<ref>''[[New Avengers]]'' (vol. 4) #8 (May 2016)</ref> In the aftermath, Steve Rogers offers Rick the chance to join S.H.I.E.L.D. as part of his reparations for his hacktivism.<ref>''Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega'' one-shot (June 2016)</ref>

In the ''[[Secret Empire (2017 comic)|Secret Empire]]'' storyline (2017), Rick entrusts [[Patriot (comics)|Rayshaun Lucas]] with data to prove the innocence of [[Captain America]], who the [[Red Skull]] brainwashed into becoming a member of [[Hydra (comics)|Hydra]]. Captain America later executes Rick by [[firing squad]].<ref>''[[Secret Empire (2017 comic)|Secret Empire]]'' #1 (July 2017)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=September 1, 2017 |title=Between the Panels: Why Marvel's Secret Empire Failed |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/09/01/between-the-panels-why-marvels-secret-empire-failed |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Immortal Hulk===
In ''[[The Immortal Hulk (comic book)|The Immortal Hulk]]'' (2019), Charlene McGowan and several other scientists retrieve Rick's corpse and revive him as an Abomination-like creature called Subject B.<ref name=":1">''[[The Immortal Hulk (comic book)|The Immortal Hulk]]'' #15-23 (May-November 2019)</ref><ref>''The Immortal Hulk'' #33-36 (May-October 2020)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zachary |first=Brandon |date=2020-03-31 |title=The Immortal Hulk's Oldest Ally Is Secretly His Greatest Enemy |url=https://www.cbr.com/immortal-hulk-rick-jones-leader/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]] |language=en}}</ref> Rick is later cut in half by McGowan and his remains fuse with the gamma mutate Del Frye. [[Shaman (comics)|Shaman]] determines that the two cannot be separated, but [[Absorbing Man]] does so using the Cathexis Ray, a weapon that drains gamma energy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Bryce |date=2021-05-02 |title=Captain America's Post-Bucky Sidekick Just Became a Tragic Hulk Monster |url=https://screenrant.com/immortal-hulk-rick-jones-gamma-captain-america-sidekick/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaber |first=Nabeel |date=June 4, 2021 |title=Immortal Hulk Gives Captain America a Heartbreaking Reunion |url=https://www.cbr.com/immortal-hulk-captain-america-rick-jones-monster/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodge |first=John |date=August 26, 2021 |title=Immortal Hulk's Gamma Flight Just Gave a Classic Marvel Hero a Breakthrough |url=https://www.cbr.com/immortal-hulk-gamma-flight-rick-jones-communication/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Corley |first=Shaun |date=October 17, 2021 |title=The Hulk's Original Sidekick Finally Returns To Marvel |url=https://screenrant.com/hulk-sidekick-rick-jones-returns-gamma-flight/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodge |first=John |date=October 18, 2021 |title=How Gamma Flight Solved One of Immortal Hulk's Scariest Loose Ends |url=https://www.cbr.com/gamma-flight-rick-jones-del-frye-separation/ |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

===All-New Venom===
In ''[[Venom (comic book)|All-New Venom]]'' (2025), Rick becomes the host of the [[Sleeper (Marvel Comics)|Sleeper]] symbiote and assumes the alias of '''Sleeper Agent'''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dudas-Larmondin |first=Austin |date=March 12, 2025 |title=They Got Us: Marvel's New Venom Is Not the Hero Everybody Bet On |url=https://screenrant.com/new-venom-not-rick-jones-sleeper/ |access-date=March 12, 2025 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en}}</ref> Later in the series, he bonds with the [[Toxin (character)|Toxin]] symbiote to save it from death.<ref>''All-New Venom'' #10 (November 2025)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Isaiah |date=September 4, 2025 |title=All-New Venom #10: We Can Still Be Friends, Right? |url=https://comic-watch.com/comic-book-reviews/all-new-venom-10-we-can-still-be-friends-right |access-date=November 1, 2025 |website=Comic Watch |language=en-US |quote=Meanwhile, Venom's ragtag group of allies, symbiotes and hosts alike, catch the breaths in an abandoned factory after a chaotic prison break. Rick Jones reluctantly bonds with the Toxin symbiote to save it from near-death.}}</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
Rick Jones is an athletic man who previously had no powers. He received special training in combat and gymnastics by Captain America, making him a highly skilled martial artist. Rick is also a self-taught folk/[[Rock and roll|rock 'n' roll]] singer, guitarist, and harmonica player.

One time, Rick wielded the Destiny Force: a powerful ability utilized during the Kree–Skrull War storyline.<ref>''Avengers Forever'' #1 (December 1998)</ref> Focusing this power allowed him to perform amazing feats, such as summoning various members of the Avengers from past, present and future. However, the Destiny Force's effects are generally random unless another controlling influence such as [[Libra (Marvel Comics)|Libra]] is assisting him.<ref>''Avengers Forever'' #2 (January 1999)</ref>

Rick's latent psionic potential had been once unleashed by the Supreme Intelligence, but he is unable to utilize it at will.<ref>''The Avengers'' #89 (June 1971)</ref> He could shift [[dimension]]al positions with [[Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)|Mar-Vell]], and later [[Genis-Vell]] for a time.

As A-Bomb, Rick Jones possesses abilities similar to the Abomination, including superhuman strength and durability. Due to being spliced with [[cuttlefish]] and [[chameleon]] DNA, he possesses the additional ability to become invisible via camouflage.<ref name=":0" /><ref>''Incredible Hulk'' #617 (February 2011)</ref> After losing his powers to Doc Green, Rick temporarily gains the ability to learn information rapidly, making him an expert hacker.<ref name=":2" />

As Subject B, Rick possesses [[superhuman strength]], enhanced durability, [[Regeneration (biology)|regeneration]], and the ability to generate acid.<ref name=":1" />

== Reception ==

=== Accolades ===

* In 2015, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' ranked Rick Jones 18th in their "Let's rank every Avenger ever" list.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Franich |first1=Darren |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Let's rank every Avenger ever |url=https://ew.com/article/2015/04/29/lets-rank-every-avenger-ever/ |access-date=December 29, 2022 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}</ref>
* In 2021, [[Comic Book Resources]] (CBR) ranked Rick Jones 1st in their "10 Strongest Marvel Sidekicks" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allan |first=Scoot |date=2021-11-19 |title=10 Strongest Marvel Sidekicks, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/strongest-marvel-sidekicks-ranked/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 2021, CBR ranked Rick Jones 8th in their "10 Smartest Marvel Sidekicks" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raguparan |first=RaguVarman |date=2021-11-12 |title=10 Smartest Marvel Sidekicks, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-comics-smart-sharp-sidekicks/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 2022, ''[[Collider (website)|Collider]]'' included Rick Jones in their "10 Strongest Superhero Sidekicks in Marvel Comics" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grimaldi |first=John |date=2022-09-04 |title=10 Strongest Superhero Sidekicks in Marvel Comics |url=https://collider.com/10-strongest-sidekicks-in-marvel-comics/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=Collider |language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 2022, ''[[Newsarama]]'' ranked Rick Jones 8th in their "Best Superhero Sidekicks of All Time" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Marston |first1=George |last2=Arrant |first2=Chris |date=2022-06-20 |title=The best superhero sidekicks of all time |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/best-superhero-sidekicks/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Other versions==
===Marvel 2099===
'''Thanatos''', an alternate universe variant of Rick Jones, appears in ''[[Spider-Man 2099]]'',<ref>''[[Spider-Man 2099]]'' #11-12 (September - October 1993)</ref> although his identity is not revealed until a later appearance in ''[[Genis-Vell|Captain Marvel]]''.<ref>''[[Genis-Vell|Captain Marvel]]'' (vol. 4) #27–30 (March–May 2002)</ref>

===''The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect''===
An alternate universe variant of Rick Jones from Earth-9200 appears in ''The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect''. This version is a member of a resistance against the [[Maestro (character)|Maestro]].<ref>''The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect'' #1-2 (December 1992-February 1993)</ref><ref>''Captain Marvel'' (vol. 4) #30 (May 2002)</ref>

===''The Last Avengers Story''===
An alternate universe variant of Rick Jones from Earth-9511 appears in ''[[The Last Avengers Story]]''.<ref>''The Last Avengers Story'' #1-2 (November 1995)</ref>

===Ultimate Marvel===
An alternate universe variant of Rick Jones from Earth-1610 appears in the [[Ultimate Marvel]] imprint. This version is a superhero who was given powers by the [[Watcher (comics)#Ultimate Marvel|Watchers]] and is also known as '''[[Nova Corps|Nova]]''' and '''Captain Marvel'''.<ref>''[[Ultimate Origins]]'' #5 (October 2008)</ref><ref>''Hunger'' #3 (December 2013)</ref><ref>''[[Ultimate FF]]'' #4 (September 2014)</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
[[File:Rick Jones (The Incredible Hulk (1996 TV series character).png|thumb|upright|Rick Jones as depicted in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1996 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (1996)]]
* Rick Jones appears in ''[[The Marvel Super Heroes]]'', voiced by [[Paul Soles]].{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
* Rick Jones appears in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1982 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (1982), voiced by [[Michael Horton (actor)|Michael Horton]].{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
* Rick Jones appears in the ''[[Fantastic Four (1994 TV series)|Fantastic Four]]'' episode "Nightmare in Green", voiced by Benny Grant.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
* Rick Jones appears in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1996 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (1996), voiced by [[Luke Perry]].<ref name="BTVA">{{cite web |title=Rick Jones Voices (Hulk) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Hulk/Rick-Jones/ |access-date=November 26, 2023 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} 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 credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
* Rick Jones appears in the ''[[Iron Man: Armored Adventures]]'' episode "Uncontrollable", voiced by [[Andrew Francis]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
* Rick Jones / A-Bomb appears in ''[[Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.]]'', voiced by [[Seth Green]].<ref name="BTVA" /><ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=A-Bomb Voices (Hulk) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Hulk/A-Bomb/ |access-date=August 14, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} 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 credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldman |first=Eric |date=April 17, 2012 |title=Eliza Dushku Will S.M.A.S.H. as She-Hulk |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/122/1223159p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421033522/http://tv.ign.com/articles/122/1223159p1.html |archive-date=April 21, 2012 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref>Sands, Rich (July 2, 2012). "First Look". ''[[TV Guide]]''. Page 8.</ref> This version is a founding member of the eponymous team who was mutated by exposure to gamma radiation and possesses the additional ability to transform into a spherical [[wrecking ball]]-like form.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stewart |first=Jade |date=November 21, 2019 |title=Meet the Different Hulks from Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/tv-shows/different-hulk-agents-of-smash-disney-plus |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=Marvel.com}}</ref>
** Additionally, a possible future version of Rick appears in the episode "Enter, the Maestro", also voiced by Seth Green.<ref name="btva" />
* Rick Jones / A-Bomb makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' episode "Contest of Champions".<ref name="btva" />
** Additionally, a [[Marvel Noir]]-inspired alternate universe variant of Rick who is a member of [[Joe Fixit]]'s gang appears in the episode "Return to the Spider-Verse", voiced by Seth Green.<ref name="BTVA" />

===Film===
* Rick Jones was originally intended to appear in ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]'' (2003),<ref>{{Cite news |author=Van Buskirk |first=Dayna |title=Feature Article: The Lost "Hulk" – David Hayter's Draft |url=http://screenwriting.ugo.com/film/incrediblehulkbyhayter.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015052834/http://screenwriting.ugo.com/film/incrediblehulkbyhayter.php |archive-date=October 15, 2008 |access-date=December 3, 2007 |publisher=UGO}}</ref> but was replaced by Harper (portrayed by [[Kevin Rankin (actor)|Kevin Rankin]]), Bruce Banner's colleague.<ref>Grazier, Kevin R (2015), "[https://books.google.com/books?id=u9VECgAAQBAJ&q=kevin+rankin Hollyweird Science: From Quantum Quirks to the Multiverse p159]," [[Springer Science+Business Media]]. Retrieved November 7, 2017</ref>
* Rick Jones was originally planned to appear in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (2008), but was written out by [[Edward Norton]].<ref name="June2008Empire">{{Cite news| first = Nick |last=de Semlyen | title = Fight Club <!-- yes, they were joking--> | work = [[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]] |date = June 2008| pages = 66–72}}</ref>

===Video games===
* Rick Jones appears in ''[[The Incredible Hulk (2008 video game)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' film tie-in game, voiced by Jon Curry.<ref name="BTVA" />
* Rick Jones / A-Bomb appears as an NPC in ''[[Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |title=Touring the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 Universe |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/101/1018503p13.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912121713/http://comics.ign.com/articles/101/1018503p13.html |archive-date=September 12, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2011 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=}}</ref> voiced by [[Fred Tatasciore]].{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
* Rick Jones / A-Bomb appears as a playable [[downloadable content|DLC]] character in ''[[Lego Marvel Super Heroes]]'', voiced by [[Will Friedle]] and [[Steve Blum]] respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Chris |last2=Aufmann |first2=Chase |last3=Spidahl |first3=Cody |date=2013-01-08 |title=Characters - ''LEGO Marvel Super Heroes'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/lego-marvel-super-heroes/Characters |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>
* Rick Jones / A-Bomb appears as a playable character in ''[[Marvel Avengers Alliance]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morse |first=Ben |date=October 1, 2015 |title=Go Inside Avengers Alliance: PvP 24 |url=http://marvel.com/news/video_games/25199/go_inside_avengers_alliance_pvp_24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004044310/http://marvel.com/news/video_games/25199/go_inside_avengers_alliance_pvp_24 |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |access-date=January 13, 2022 |website=marvel.com}}</ref>
* Rick Jones / A-Bomb appears as a playable character in ''[[Lego Marvel's Avengers]]'', voiced by [[Robbie Daymond]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.otakuusamagazine.com/robbie-daymond-talks-sailor-moon-and-more/|title=Robbie Daymond Talks Sailor Moon and More|date=November 4, 2015|website=Otaku USA Magazine}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
* Rick Jones / A-Bomb appears as a playable character in ''[[Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.videogamesblogger.com/2017/11/12/how-to-unlock-all-lego-marvel-superheroes-2-characters.htm | title=How to Unlock All Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 Characters | date=November 12, 2017 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* [[marveldatabase:Richard_Jones_(Earth-616)|Rick Jones]] at the Marvel Comics wiki

* [http://marvel.com/universe/Jones%2C_Rick Rick Jones] at Marvel.com

{{Hulk}}
{{Captain America characters}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Rick}}
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