Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Rick and Morty season 6 episodes 1-4
Although Rick and Morty season 6 has featured a handful of jokes about the MCU, the show has been doing something rather clever beyond simple references. At this point, pop culture references and gags are to be expected from a series like Rick and Morty, and this includes jokes about Marvel. However, the new season of the show has begun a trend that takes these jokes even further.
The Avengers: Endgame right before he's saved by Captain Marvel. However, Morty also calls Rick out for pretending not to know who Iron Man is, explicitly naming "that Avengers guy" and questioning who that particular MCU joke was ultimately for.
The fourth episode of Guardians of the Galaxy's Rocket Raccoon — not Chewbacca, as Morty wrongly clarifies. Indirectly referencing the MCU in this way is smarter than the direct approach, which would ultimately feel basic at this point in the series.
Why Rick & Morty's MCU Reference Trick Works Better Than Actual References
Referencing the MCU indirectly works for Rick and Morty whether the allusion is known or not. If someone is familiar with MCU movies and their characters, the joke is funny because Rick and Morty are intentionally getting the names of very famous characters wrong and/or pretending not to know who they are. The joke is still humorous to viewers who are less aware of the franchise because the references are made in a way where someone who has only seen the MCU from the outside will still get it. This actually makes the gag feel more relatable overall. Of course, this method would work with any big piece of pop culture, yet it truly shines with something as massive as Marvel.
Directly referencing something like the MCU now would seem outdated considering the plethora of TV and movie references Rick and Morty has become known for over the years. The series can instead reference the franchise indirectly as much as they want without it feeling jarring. It also means they can insult the characters at a safe distance if they so choose, making the references much more clever than they would be otherwise.