Sidekicks have been a mainstay in super hero comics. In the 1960s, I can remember watching the TV series Batman with Adam West as the title character and Burt Ward as Dick Grayson/Robin. Robin is without a doubt the most recognizable teen sidekick. To DC, sidekicks in super hero stories was good business. It brought in the young readers who could see themselves as the sidekick. Often the sidekick was a teen with no particular superpower that the super hero trained. Sometimes the sidekick was an adult.
On the other hand, Stan Lee hated the idea of teenage sidekick or encouraging adults with no powers to hang around with super heroes. To prove his point, he would often kill off a sidekick as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, Marvel Comics did have some memorable sidekicks, not the least of which was Rick Jones. Rick who? Yes, if you get your knowledge of characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this is an understandable reaction.
Rick Jones survived Stan Lee’s disdain for sidekicks
The revered Marvel Comics visionary was famous for killing off former teenage sidekicks. Jim Hammond, the original Human
Torch, fought side-by-side with his kid sidekick Toro, who could also burst into flames. But, alas, Stan Lee killed him the first chance he got in Sub-Mariner Vol. 1 #14. Lee’s next victim was Bucky Barnes, the teen sidekick to Captain America throughout the 1940s in Timely Comics. Bucky was ultimately killed off in 1964 in Avengers #4 in a flashback sequence from Captain America’s memory. Bucky died when he failed to deactivate a bomb in time, while Cap was frozen in time.
Lee’s reasoning was simple. “I always figured if I were a superhero,” Lee said in a 2005 interview with Evan Jacobs of Movieweb.com, “there’s no way on God’s earth that I’m gonna pal around with some teenager.” Lee said his publishers insisted that he include teens in his stories, because they wanted to draw this age group as customers. Lee obliged, but made his teens the heroes. He created Johnny Storm, the fiery teen brother to Susan Storm of the Fantastic Four. Then he created his most famous teen super hero of all – Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man.
Rick Jones was different. He was a teen that was not killed off, but went on to be a supporting character in hundreds of Marvel issues, appearing with multiple super heroes.
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The character was created in 1962
Readers were first introduced to Rick Jones in Hulk #1 (May 1962) as a rebellious orphaned teen who accepts a dare to 
drive into dangerous area of a bomb testing site in New Mexico. There Dr Robert Bruce Banner is about to test his gamma bomb. When Banner sees the reckless teen, he rushes out into the testing site to protect the boy, pushing him out of harms way. While Rick is saved, Dr. Banner absorbs the radiation from the blast that turns him into the Hulk. Rick is present when the first change occurs, thus becoming the Hulk’s lone confidant of his true identity.
Feeling guilty that he is the cause of Banner’s condition, Rick decides to be the Hulk’s/Banner’s protector. He becomes his only friend as he is involved in several adventures. At one point as a result of some experimentation, Rick actually can control the Hulk through verbal commands as long as they are in the same proximity. He helps Banner build a lab and a steel containment in a cave, with the hopes that the Hulk can stay secure and not go on a destructive rampage. Even though the Hulk verbally abuses the boy, Rick stays by his side with the knowledge that Banner just can’t help himself when he becomes the monster. The time came, though, when Rick had to keep his distance due to the Hulk’s unpredictability.
Later, he formed the Teen Brigade, a group of kids that were ham radio operators. The first Teen Brigade were indirectly responsible for bringing the first team of Avengers together. They had originally planned to bring the Fantastic Four together to battle the Hulk, but the Norse god of mischief Loki tampered with their radio signal. Their altered transmission brought together Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp and Thor to form the Avengers. The Hulk joined the team to defeat Loki, when it was discovered that he was the real culprit.
Rick hung around with some famous super heroes
You may remember from an earlier post, that the Hulk quickly left the Avengers. As the Hulk, he was very paranoid of the other team members and thought they were really out to get him. This paranoia even led him to believe that Rick was really against him, even though Rick was always looking out for the Hulk’s well-being and Banner’s identity. Eventually Rick realizes he needs to keep his distance.
At this time, Rick became an honorary Avenger, alerting them to Hulk’s presence when they were searching for the monster. After becoming close with the recently revived Captain America, Rick is overcome with guilt for deserting Banner/Hulk. After all, Banner did save Rick’s life. So he sets out to try to find him.
When Rick’s life is in danger from the rampaging Hulk, he is rescued by Captain America. It’s at this time, that Jones
becomes Cap’s sidekick! He briefly took on the name of Bucky and even wore his uniform. This was all against Cap’s better judgment; eventually he felt guilty about putting Rick in harm’s way and distanced himself from the relationship. His brief time as Bucky gave Rick training in martial arts and gave him the ability to survive around superheroes.
Rick decides he has had enough of Cap’s ego and leaves the Avengers. At this time, he teams up with the Kree Captain Marvel. (No, MCU fans. This is not Carol Danvers. This is the Kree Marv-Vell). The teen is drawn to the Nega-Bands, which when 
struck together cause him and Mar-Vell to switch places. The two are together for several years, braving many adventures and coming in to contact with various superheroes – Avengers, Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and many others. During his association with Captain Marvel, Rick single handedly stops the Kree and Skrull long enough to bring an end to their conflict. Some time after Mar-Vell’s death by cancer, Rick teams up with the Kree’s son, Genis-Vell and becomes his mentor.
The enduring Jones was reunited with the Hulk in other stories. At one point, he is exposed to gamma rays that turn him into a green Hulk-like monster by night (The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #325 Marvel Comics.)
Rick’s story line is a long one and takes many turns. This one Marvel character appeared in 1,390 issues of comics! In one story line, Rick himself is transformed into a creature that called himself A-Bomb (Hulk, Vol. 2 #2, April 2008). In the Captain Marvel story line, he takes time to pursue a career as a rock and roll singer. He had many brushes with death, actually dying in one issue.
Has Rick Jones appeared in the MCU?
If you have watched all the Marvel movies since 2008, you may be wondering if you missed this sidekick in any of the films. Well, if you blinked, you might have missed the only brief references to Rick Jones in the MCU. In the opening credits of The Incredible Hulk (2008) starring Ed Norton as Banner/Hulk, the name Rick Jones is shown as a known associate of the Hulk. 
His name shows up again in The Avengers (2012) in a computer dossier that mentions Banner saving his life. Since 2012, there hasn’t been a single reference to this very important character that seems to be the glue that holds many stories together.
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Yes, Rick Jones is a very important sidekick forgotten by the MCU
Trying to condense the importance of someone like Rick Jones to one article is a daunting task. My main goal was to show his legacy in Marvel comics and point out his glaring absence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Will we ever see Rick in a movie? Time will tell. The MCU is taking many twists and turns and introducing new stories. Perhaps the time will come, when Rick Jones will be written back in where he belongs.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Rick. There is so much that I wasn’t able to conclude. What are your memories from the comics? As always, leave your comments and questions below. I would love to hear from you!
Thanks for a great read. I must admit that I have never heard of Rick Jones before. I’m not an avid follower of marvel comics, yet I thought I knew at least a bit more than the average person. Especially with the amount of comics that I read through that period.
I didn’t even realize that Stan Lee was so anti the teen sidekick. As you said the one sidekick that I did know was “Robin” and I’m sitting here scratching my head trying to think of someone else. I guess you can’t call supergirl or (I think) super dog , a sidekick. Lol.
I have to ask, did you research all this or was this stuff you grew up with? Whichever, your research or recall skills are admirable. With the “history “ of Rick Jones ( thanks to you, I now know) it would be pretty sad not to see him in a film at some stage. Maybe the “ superhero “ could get killed off, he inherits the skill set and moves on. It would seem somewhat appropriate.
Great Read
Thanks
Stephen
Steve, I am glad you enjoyed the read! This mostly research with some memory of comics that I have read recently. There are many ways that Rick could fit in with any super hero story in the movies. Your idea sounds pretty good. After all, Rick Jones has experienced super powers in his lifetime.
There are many sidekicks, especially in DC Comics. Jimmy Olsen is considered a sidekick to Superman. Wally West was sidekick to Flash and later took on the Flash title. There are many more sidekicks throughout comic history.
Thank you for such an interesting article Scott, I too remember the Batman and Robin television program from the ’60 and 1970s and ’80s syndication. Your article was a blast from the past!
I also appreciate the discussion about the different philosophies employed by different comic writers when it cam to the teen sidekick. I haven’t read enough Marvel or Stan Lee to have any experience with the actual plot lines but find it very interesting that he would kill those sidekicks off as quickly as possible. Makes me wonder why he ever envisioned to put them in the story in the first place.
I had no idea that Rick Jones was even associated with the Hulk. Did his story carry deeper into the MCU than other sidekicks?
HI Joseph, I’m glad that you enjoyed the article. The characters that I mentioned that were killed off were not created by Stan Lee. They were characters from before Marvel became Marvel as we know it today. Then it was known as Timely Comics. Captain America was created during WW 2. Check it this article and this one.
Rick’s story developed many branches over the decades as he interacted with several super heroes and villains, and even gained (and lost) powers of his own. He is a very intriguing guy.
Rick Jones was a consistent appearance in the Marvel Comics. It was great to relive the information of his appearance over the years.
And, he did he die in one of the series – I am searching for more information on this series. I hope to be proven wrong.
I remember Rick Jones as the organizer of the first Avengers – which caught up so much stem later on.
A great entertaining piece of article here.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Rohit
In Secret Empire #1, Jones is executed in a firing squad by Captain American, who had been reprogrammed by Red Skull’s clone. He is buried, but then in the Immoral Hulk series, he is brought back as Subject B. Through all this story line, he wound up with new powers and abilities.
I’m glad you enjoyed my article on Rick Jones! Please check out some of my other content and leave a comment!
Scott
Wow, I had no idea Rick Jones played such a crucial role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! It’s amazing to think about how much of an impact this ‘forgotten sidekick’ had on some of our favorite superheroes. Especially his role in the formation of Hulk. Thanks for shedding light on this overlooked character!
Thank you for reading and making a comment on my article. Please check out my other content at superherocollectors.com. I think you will find some more interesting character back stories!
Thank you for this important information!
I guess next time I watch any of marvel movies especially the 2008 Incredible Hulk, I’m going to keep an eye out for any Rick Jones hints here and there! I can’t believe I wasn’t aware of this character beforehand even though I have watched many times the marvel movies and would say I am a fan though not to that level just yet. Going to look up this character since to does seem to have played an important part in marvel to have just suddenly disappeared.
Thanks again and have a great day!
Thank you for reading! Besides the one hint that I referenced in the Hulk movie, you won’t find any other hints as to the existence of Rick Jones in the movies. He really was an important character throughout decades of Marvel history; yet, he is nowhere to be found in the MCU.
The use of sidekicks in superhero comics has been a common theme for many decades. While sidekicks like Robin have been popular with young readers, some writers like Stan Lee of Marvel Comics were against the idea of teenagers and unpowered adults hanging around with superheroes. However, there were some memorable sidekicks from Marvel, such as Rick Jones, who was different in that he was not killed off like many other sidekicks. Jones first appeared in Hulk #1 in 1962 as a rebellious orphaned teenager who becomes the Hulk’s lone confidant of his true identity after being saved by Dr. Bruce Banner. He then becomes Banner’s protector and eventually helps to form the Teen Brigade, which indirectly brought the first team of Avengers together. Rick Jones has appeared in many Marvel comics, often as a supporting character, and even became an honorary Avenger before briefly becoming Captain America’s sidekick. Overall, sidekicks like Rick Jones have added depth to the superhero narrative and made it more relatable to readers.
I am familiar with Rick Jones and his role in the Marvel universe. And I appreciate that this post sheds light on a character who is often overlooked in the MCU. Rick Jones has played a significant role in several storylines in the comics, and it is interesting to consider how his character could have been further developed in the films. Additionally, you provide a helpful overview of Rick Jones’ backstory and his relationships with various superheroes, making it a great resource for those who may not be familiar with the character. Thanks so much for that.
I am happy that you enjoyed the article. Thank you for leaving a comment. I invite you to stop by and read some of my other superhero content!
Thanks for your super informative post on who is Rick Jones. What a history, 1390 appearances in comics!
There are perhaps many side kicks in comics, like Rick Jones that are ambiguous to say the least. However, not many would have the same longevity as Rick I would imagine.
Batman’s sidekick, Robin, was perhaps the penultimate sidekick that also had some superpower’s and was elevated to something more than just a human in casual clothes. It’s fascinating to read the history of such characters and their transformation by the editors of Marvel.
Thanks for bringing this sidekick to life for us.
Thank you for stopping by. Be sure to check my website for other super hero content!
Hello, loved reading through your post about Rick Jones, a forgotten MCU’s sidekick! I learned so much about what are sidekicks in comics. Very interesting ! I do feel bad for him! 😉 i liked how he protected Hulk no matter what! I love Hulk!!! I used to watch the series when growing up in the 80’s… don’t remember Rick though… I’ll watching out for him now! Thanks for sharing !!
The Bill Bixby Hulk series lasted for several years, but they never mentioned Rick Jones. Also, the TV and movie versions of the Hulk never show the accident that created the Hulk the same as the comics. I did love the TV series though. My most memorable episode was when Banner got married. His wife was helping him find a cure, but she tragically was killed in the episode. It was very sad.
Be sure to watch for more great content here. I’ll be writing more about Rick Jones. I’m sure I will have a post about the Hulk or Thor soon.
Thank you for a fascinating read. I must confess that I had never heard of Rick Jones. I’m not a huge fan of Marvel comics, but I believed I understood a little more than the average person. Especially considering how many comics I read at that time period. Rick Jones was a regular character in Marvel Comics. It was fascinating to experience the details of his appearance over the years. Thank you so much for your fantastic information. I will surely pass this forward.
I’m glad you enjoyed it even though you are not a fan of Marvel. Please let your friends know about my site. I will be adding more fun content as my site grows.
I have to say that Rick really has no sense of existence in Marvel movies.
To be honest I didn’t know this character before reading this article.
This is also understandable, the movie always can’t shoot every wonderful part.
Even if everyone has no impression of early Marvel now, with the introduction of this article, Rick will never be forgotten.
My favorite in Marvel is Ant-Man, I like to immerse myself in the quantum world~
For the Marvel series, I am limited to the movie part, thanks to the author for letting us know more about the history of Marvel.
Thank you for stopping by and I’m glad you enjoyed learning about Rick Jones. I will no doubt write more about him. I hope you come and see my superhero site again.
If you like Ant-Man and the quantum realm movie, you might enjoy my article about Kang the Conqueror here.
It’s interesting to observe how DC and Marvel have opposing ideas on sidekicks in superhero comics, as shown in this article.
It’s remarkable to watch how Rick Jones’ character progressed from being the Hulk’s sole confidante to being an honorary Avenger and even briefly playing Bucky, Captain America’s sidekick. The interaction between superheroes and sidekicks has been a long-standing tradition in comic book writing, and Rick Jones’ story illustrates the lasting attraction of sidekick characters in superhero stories.
Do you believe Stan Lee’s dislike for young sidekicks in superhero comics has influenced the portrayal of sidekicks in Marvel Comics, particularly with characters like Rick Jones, who survived Lee’s disdain for sidekicks?
Thanks for stopping in and leaving your comments. Stan Lee’s thoughts have definitely influenced the portrayal of sidekicks in Marvel comics. I have been reading some Captain America during the period when he had Rick Jones at his side. Cap was riddled with guilt through the entire time until he pushed Rick away. But rather than killing off Rick, Lee put him with other heroes and moved him throughout the comics timeline.
I hope you get a chance to read some of my other content on Marvel comics.
This takes me back to my childhood; I used to sit for hours reading my comics.
Your main goal was to show his legacy in Marvel comics and highlight his glaring absence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I have to say you did it justice.
You cover everything one needs to know about Marvel comics.
I used to watch the IncredibleHulk on TV when I was a child when I had my daughter we used to watch it together.
Thanks for Sharing
Elke
Thank you for leaving a comment. I think another goal that I have is to take folks back to their childhood and bring back the old memories. I’m a grandfather, and I really enjoy reading the old stories. I hope you come back and take time to read some more of my superhero content.
Wow! I enjoyed reading your post. It reminds me of all the stories about Rick Jones. When I was younger I used to read comics a lot. As I got older I had no time to follow these stories, but now I feel so happy because by reading your post I realised that all those great stories came back to my mind. Thanks for sharing this great post.
HI Liam, I am glad you enjoyed the post. I hope you come back more often. It’s really okay as an adult to take time for some fun.
I am defintely going to be subscribing to your site. I am a huge comic book fan. Probably not as big as some but I love comic book. Question, what are your thoughts on Red Hood? I am Looking forward to an article on him from you in the future. Great content.
KD
I am happy that you like my site and that you are interested in the comics! I hope you come back and read some more of my superhero content. Red Hood hasn’t hit my radar yet. My interest is mostly in Marvel comics, as you can tell from my posts, but I may take an occasional excursion into DC waters. For instance, I do want to write about Captain Marvel in the future. As you may know, there was a Marvel/DC conflict a long time ago over that name. Shazam was originally called Captain Marvel. So, I will definitely need to write about some DC history. I will take a look at Red Hood, too.