You’ve seen them. Even if you haven't stepped foot inside a San Diego Comic-Con or a local Dragon Con, you’ve seen the lab coats. You’ve seen the spiky blue wigs and the drooping green drool painted carefully (or sloppily) onto a chin. Rick and Morty cosplay is a phenomenon that should have died out years ago, yet it remains a staple of the subculture. It’s weird. It’s messy. It’s surprisingly deep.
Why does it work?
Honestly, it’s the accessibility. Most people start because they have a blue t-shirt and can find a white coat at a thrift store. But once you’re in, the rabbit hole gets deep. Real deep. We’re talking about a show that literally features an infinite multiverse, which is a gold mine for anyone who likes to sew, craft, or just act like a total jerk for a few hours in character.
The Low Barrier to Entry vs. The High-End Craft
Most people think a Rick Sanchez costume is just a cheap wig and a flask. That’s the "Entry Level Rick." It’s the gateway drug. You see these guys everywhere. They’re usually 22, slightly dehydrated, and shouting "Wubba Lubba Dub-Dub" at passersby. It’s fun, but it’s just the surface.
Then you have the professionals.
I’m talking about the builders who spend six months on a screen-accurate Portal Gun. They aren't just buying plastic toys from a big-box retailer. They’re using 3D printing, Arduino boards for lighting effects, and custom-mixed resins to get that perfect "radioactive green" glow. Take a look at the work of seasoned prop makers like Volpin Props or the community over at The RPF (The Replica Prop Forum). They dissect every frame of the show to figure out the exact proportions of a tool that only appeared for three seconds in a background shot.
The contrast is wild. You’ll see a guy in a cardboard box "Purge Suit" standing right next to a hyper-realistic, silicone-masked Rick that looks like he crawled out of a nightmare. Both are equally valid. That’s the beauty of this specific community. It’s one of the few fandoms where "low effort" is often a deliberate stylistic choice that fits the show’s chaotic energy.
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Getting the Look Right (Without Looking Like a Mess)
If you’re actually going to do this, don’t skip the small stuff. The "Rick Drool" is a point of contention. Some people use face paint. Others swear by clear lip gloss mixed with a tiny bit of green food coloring to give it that "wet" look. It’s gross. It’s perfect.
For Morty, the challenge is actually looking like a teenager when you’re probably a grown adult. It’s all about the posture. The "Morty Slouch" is a physical requirement. If you’re standing up straight with confidence, you aren't Morty; you’re just a guy in a yellow shirt.
The Multiverse Loophole
The brilliance of the show’s writing gives cosplayers a "get out of jail free" card. In the Season 1 episode "Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind," we see the Council of Ricks. This changed everything for the hobby. Suddenly, you didn't have to be the Rick. You could be Cowboy Rick, Fish Rick, or even a Rick that is just a sentient piece of shrimp.
This is where the creativity explodes.
You’ll see groups at conventions doing "The Vindicators" or obscure background aliens from the Blips and Chitz arcade. Because the show is so visually dense, a cosplayer can pick a character that appeared for thirty seconds—like Mr. Stealy or Ants-In-My-Eyes Johnson—and if they do it well, they’ll be the hit of the floor. It’s a way to show off how much of a "true fan" you are without saying a word.
Gender-Bending and "Morticia"
The community has also embraced gender-swapped versions of the duo. "Rita and Morticia" are incredibly common. This isn't just a gimmick; it’s a reflection of the show’s infinite reality logic. If there’s a universe where everyone is a chair, there’s definitely a universe where Rick is a grandmother with a drinking problem and a portal gun. It allows for a level of inclusivity that some older, more rigid fandoms struggle with.
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Dealing with the "Cringe" Factor
We have to talk about it. The Rick and Morty fandom has a reputation. You remember the Szechuan Sauce incident of 2017. It was a dark time. For a while, wearing a Rick and Morty cosplay felt like wearing a sign that said "I am going to be difficult in this McDonald's."
But the cosplay scene has largely moved past that. Most of the people you meet in costume these days are making fun of the "toxic fan" trope. They’re self-aware. They know the character they’re playing is a terrible person. The best cosplayers play Rick as the tragic, lonely old man he actually is, rather than the "cool genius" that some younger fans mistake him for.
Nuance matters here.
When you're at a con, the interaction between a Rick and a Morty is a performance. It’s improvisational theater. I’ve seen Ricks literally drag their "Mortys" through the halls by the back of their shirts, and the Mortys just keep stuttering and looking panicked. It’s hilarious. It’s art. It’s a way to engage with the themes of the show—existential dread, the absurdity of life, the weirdness of family—through a lens of humor and polyester fabric.
Technical Tips for the Aspiring Sanchez
If you're serious about your Rick and Morty cosplay, you need to think about the hair. That blue, spiky hair is the hardest part to get right.
- Don't buy the "Official" licensed wigs. They’re usually flat, shiny, and look like a dead bird.
- Go for a lace-front wig. You can style it yourself using heavy-duty hairspray (like Got2b Glued) and a hairdryer.
- The Spikes. Rick's hair isn't just messy; it has a specific, cartoonish silhouette. You need to build a structure. Some people use EVA foam cones inside the wig to keep the spikes from sagging over the course of an eight-hour convention day.
For the lab coat, don’t get a costume one. Go to a medical supply store and buy a real one. It hangs differently. It has real weight. You can stain it, tear it, and "weather" it to look like you've actually been traveling through dimensions. A pristine lab coat looks fake. A lab coat with scorch marks and mystery stains? That’s authentic.
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Why it Persists in 2026
We’re well into the mid-2020s and the show is still going. Despite behind-the-scenes changes and the natural aging of any TV series, the character designs are just too iconic to disappear. They’ve joined the ranks of the Joker, Stormtroopers, and Pikachu. They are silhouettes that everyone recognizes instantly.
The gear is portable, too. You can pack a Morty costume in a backpack. You don't need a van to haul a giant set of armor. In a world where travel is getting more expensive and convention floors are getting more crowded, the "human-sized" costume is king.
Actionable Steps for Your First (or Next) Build
If you’re looking to jump in, here is how you actually do it without looking like a low-rent amateur:
- Master the Portal Gun: Don't just carry a plastic toy. If you can't build one, look for high-quality 3D prints on Etsy. Sand them down. Paint them with metallic finishes. Add a green LED. It’s the centerpiece of the look.
- Fabric Choice: For Morty, find a heavy cotton yellow tee. The flimsy ones look cheap under flash photography. For Rick, go for a light blue "turtleneck" or a high-collar tee—standard crew necks often look "off" compared to the animation.
- The Unibrow: Don't just draw a line with a Sharpie. Use a prosthetic or a piece of crepe hair. The "connected brow" is Rick's most defining facial feature besides the drool. Making it look 3D adds a level of "pro" quality that sets you apart.
- Group Up: The show is about relationships (as toxic as they are). A solo Rick is fine, but a Rick with a Morty, a Summer, or a Jerry is a story. If you can find a friend to play Birdperson or Squanchy, you will be the most photographed group at the event.
Cosplaying from this show isn't about being perfect. It’s about being loud, being a little bit gross, and embracing the absolute chaos of the multiverse. Whether you're a "Pickle Rick" in a foam suit or a "Council of Ricks" member in a tailored suit, you're part of a massive, weird family that isn't going anywhere.
Invest in some spirit gum for that unibrow. Get a flask that actually holds water (stay hydrated, seriously). And for the love of everything, don't actually act like a Rick to the convention staff. They’re dealing with enough.