Review: Muppet Peter Pan #3

Boom! Kids' Muppet Peter Pan #3 by Grace Randolph and Amy Mebberson flies into comic book stores tomorrow, Wednesday, November 25th, and in a development that should surprise no one, it is a good comic book.

This one picks up right where we left off last issue, with all the characters spread out over Neverswamp. Peter Pan/Kermit introduces John/Scooter and Michael/Bean to the Lost Boys, Captain Gonzo is hunting for Peter, and Wendy/Janice is trying to figure out where the heck she is.

I won't tell you who the Lost Boys are, though you can probably guess by now. I've been wondering how writer Grace Randolph would choose to depict the Indians from the Peter Pan story in this adaptation, and her solution is delightful. The Electric Mayhem shows up as "the Hippen Grovee tribe," who welcome Janice into their fold. If you're a Mayhem fan, you should like this issue... They get the first 10 pages of the story! [Note: A reliable source at Boom! Kids has informed me that artist Amy Mebberson was largely responsible for conceptualizing the Hippen Groovee characters, among her many other creative contributions to the book]


There's some really interesting stuff with the Peter Pan & Wendy dynamic in this issue, with Wendy coming to realize that maybe a boy who never grows up might not be the most responsible person ever.


It's a bit startling to see Kermit and Janice getting mad at each other, but it's surprisingly compelling, and adds another dimension to the storytelling on top of just being a silly spoof. And as you can see, Mebberson's art continues to convey the characters' emotions nicely without ever doing anything so cartoony that they don't look like the puppets. And just look at that beautiful Piggy on cover B up there... zowie.

And then the whole thing ends with a cliffhanger even more urgent than last month's, involving the lovely Piggytink and a really mean pirate rat. To be continued!


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ToughPigsRyan@yahoo.com

Review: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson #4

The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson #4 is due in stores this week, thus concluding the second chapter of Roger Langridge's Muppet epic. Thankfully for everyone involved, Langridge keeps the momentum that he's built up over the previous 7 issues to give us a story that ties up all of our loose ends while still keeping that Muppet Show voice that the kids seem to like.

In this issue, Rizzo and Kismet the Toad and the Seven Dwarfs are racing to see who can find Peg-Leg Wilson's treasure first, no matter how much of the Muppet Theater they have to obliterate. Meanwhile, Animal is still acting like he's one of the Boston elite, Miss Piggy is after Kismet the Toad's blood, and Kermit is left trying to keep the show running (while keeping a roof above their heads). It's a lot to cram into one issue, but Langridge managed it without a hitch. Unfortunately, some mainstays had to take a back seat, like Pigs in Space. Short skits of Vet's Hospital, Muppet Labs, and Gonzo's daredevil act are the only on-stage scenes, as well as one sketch featuring Robin and Sweetums discussing stamp collecting is featured, which is definitely the dud of the issue. But I'm alright with that, because I'm a sucker for some satisfying closure. And closure is what we get with all these strange plotlines that were set up way back in issue #1.

So how does this story compare to the first 4-issue arc of The Muppet Show Comic Book? Well, they're the same size. Is that what you meant? Or did you want to know about the stuff inside? Yeah, I can talk about that stuff. The done-in-ones from the first arc definitely had more in common with The Muppet Show, but the more recent miniseries was much more satisfying. Beyond the fact that it allowed Langridge to tell larger stories, and beyonder the fact that it gave us an additional reason to look forward to the next issue, the beyondest is that Langridge has had the time to hone his artistic style and voice to the point where it doesn't feel like he's copying the Muppets anymore. Instead, he's put himself in the same category as Jerry Juhl, being a real visionary behind The Muppet Show (comic).

The other fantastic thing about the latest issue is how it sets up the next story arc: On the Road. I am absolutely loving the anticipation of getting something Muppety every month (which is only second to the satisfaction of actually having something Muppety in your hands every month). Of course, before the Muppets hit the road, we'll have the Pigs in Space one-shot to look forward to. (See what I mean? Looking forward to stuff is the second-best feeling ever!)

The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson #4 will be at your local comic book store on Wednesday, November 11.
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joe.toughpigs@gmail.com

Review: Muppet Peter Pan #2

Last Wednesday, October 28, saw the release of Muppet Peter Pan #2, another fine Muppet comic book from Boom! Kids, written by Grace Randolph with art by Amy Mebberson. If you haven't already, I recommend shooting yourself out of a cannon pointed at your local comic book store to pick it up.

In issue 1, Peter Pan/Kermit showed up to take the Darling children to his homeland of Neverswamp. This month, we meet Peter's arch-enemy Captain Hook, and his crew of pirates. (I'm not sure his name is really "Captain Hook" in this story... I noticed Janice calling him "Captain Gonzo," but I didn't see anyone actually calling him Hook.) If the Muppets ever did a full-blown movie or TV special adaptation of Peter Pan, I reckon the role of Hook would be played by a human guest star, but Randolph casts Gonzo, who's quite effective. I mean, he's not especially villainous, but he's funny.


The crew of Hook's ship includes a few other folks we know, like these guys:


Meanwhile, Miss Piggy as Piggytink continues to be written as a sympathetic-but-feisty character, just the way we like her.


As you can see, Amy Mebberson's art is lovely, and I just realized that I really like the way she draws the Muppets' eyes. They look just like real Muppet eyes! In particular, there's a brief scene in this issue with some very obscure old characters, and she gets them all exactly right.

As I said in my review of issue 1, I'm not all that familiar with the original Peter Pan story outside of other adaptations, so I don't really know how much plot there is or how quick the pacing is, but Muppet Peter Pan feels like a pretty loose adaptation, and one that takes its time. It's really more concerned with being silly and entertaining than sticking to the source material, and it's a successful strategy.

That doesn't mean nothing happens... In fact, the issue ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, so we'll all have to come back next month. And that's perfectly fine with me.



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ToughPigsRyan@yahoo.com

Double-Shot Review: Muppet Peter Pan #1

Guess how many Muppet comic books are coming out this week? If you said "two," you're absolutely right! If you said "five," you're wrong! If you said "raisin bran!" I'm not even going to dignify that with a response. Anyway, you can read my review of Muppet Peter Pan #1 right here, and then scroll right down or click here to read Joe Hennes's review of The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-leg Wilson #3! Whee!


So, Muppet Robin Hood ended last month, and this Wednesday sees the release of Muppet Peter Pan #1, written by Grace Randolph and drawn by Amy Mebberson. While Robin Hood had its moments, it didn't convince me that two Muppet comics per month are really necessary... I would have been satisfied with continued "adaptation" comics, but I wasn't exactly dancing jigs of excitement in my bathtub in anticipation for each new issue.

But Muppet Peter Pan? Now this is a good Muppet adaptation comic. First of all, there's the art. Amy Mebberson's renditions of the Muppet characters look just like the Muppets, but they're so expressive you can practically hear the tone of the puppeteers' voices. If you've been merely tolerating the cartoony art of The Muppet Show Comic Book and the messy art of Muppet Robin Hood while staring out the window dreaming of a Muppet comic with on-model Muppets, your wait is over. Just check out Sam the Eagle on the first page:


It looks just like Sam! Of course, the writing is important too, and I have no complaints with Grace Randolph's script this issue. I guess I could complain about the fact that Sam here is obsessed with American patriotism, when that was only one aspect of his character on The Muppet Show, but then I would be a Big Fat Complaining Guy. This comic's version of Sam feels like our favorite bald eagle. And all the other characters feel like themselves too, even Bean Bunny, who joins Janice and Scooter as the Darling children who get to meet Peter Pan.

Speaking of which, one of my favorite things about all the Muppet comics is that we get to see obscure and semi-to-completely forgotten characters have a moment in the spotlight. Bean's a funny character who really hasn't gotten to do much in the last, oh... 20 years of Muppet productions.

Kermit is Peter Pan, of course, and Piggy is his fairy sidekick Piggytink. I can't say I'm intimately familiar with the original Peter Pan book (or play? It was a play first, right?) so I don't know how closely the Peter Pan "origin story " in this issue follows what was in the book, but I've never seen any other version of Peter Pan that presented the first meeting of Peter and Tink, so it's cool to see it here.


A question we ask a lot around here whenever there's a new Muppet thing is: "Is Piggy Piggy?" It's been so tricky for recent writers to get her right, but she sounds just like herself here, even if she is a fairy. She gets a little cranky at one point, but she's not just cranky. And she looks purty.

I can't help but compare this thing to Muppet Robin Hood, and here's what I've come up with: Whereas Muppet Robin Hood felt like a retelling of the Robin Hood story with Muppet characters crammed into all the roles, Muppet Peter Pan feels more like the Muppets we know and love putting on a performance of the Peter Pan story. Does that make sense?

So, yeah. Read Muppet Peter Pan and you will believe a frog can fly.

Now scroll down or click this link to read Joe Hennes's review of this week's other Muppet comic book, The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-leg Wilson #3. And click here to fly to the Never-Swamp on the Tough Pigs forum!

ToughPigsRyan@yahoo.com

Double-Shot Review: Muppet Show Comic Book: Peg Leg Wilson #3

Hey, you know what's great? The Muppet Show Comic Book. We're already seven issues in, and it doesn't look like it's going to slow down anytime soon. And that's just fine and dandy with me, because I'll never get tired of Roger Langridge's fast-paced antics or wacky character designs. No wonder so many animated movies draw their inspiration from the Muppets; it works so well for the illustrated Muppets themselves.

The penultimate issue of The Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson arc continues all of those stories that were going on through the last two issues: the rats are digging for buried treasure (along with a sudden infestation of dwarves), Animal wouldn't hurt a flea, and Kismet the Lizard is still causing havok backstage (and no, the coincidence of a "replacement Kermit" in this comic hasn't been lost on us). Add a collection of on-stage acts, and it's starting to feel a little overcrowded in 22 pages. In fact, I'm having trouble remembering which of these stories is supposed to be the main one. But I'm not sweating it, because the calamity of disorganization is just the kind of chaos a Muppet Show comic book demands.

I was tickled to see "Animalopoly": a one-page board game that both entertains and informs the reader about what Animal's been up to lately. Strangely enough, his ups and downs mimic my Uncle Tito's stint in rehab to a T. I tried playing the game and lost. Not because of any unfortunate dice-rolls, but because I was playing a fake board game by myself at 9:00 on a Saturday night.

Of all the subplots, the one I'm having the most trouble connecting with is the one with the titular Peg Leg Wilson. Ol' Peg Leg makes his first appearance in this issue, giving us a full page of backstory. And although it contains some of Langridge's signature silly poetry, I'm left wondering why we should care about this guy (other than the fact that he's filthy rich) or why we're spending a page on him and not, say, Lew Zealand.

Naturally, this issue of The Muppet Show Comic Book is just as great as the rest. Even my gripes aren't all that gripey. And if I had my way, I'd find a way to have Roger Landridge grow an extra pair of arms so he could churn these out twice a month.

Oh, and Miss Piggy is a Cylon.
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joe.toughpigs@gmail.com

Review: Muppet Robin Hood #4

The final issue of Muppet Robin Hood hits the stands this week. (Solicitations say Wednesday, September 9th, but because of Labor Day weekend, stores will most likely have it on Thursday, September 10th. Call your local comic book store to confirm.) This marks the end of BOOM Studios' first "Muppet Fairy Tales" arc, but did it hold up? Will it be the Muppet comic for all other Muppet comic books to aspire to? Probably not, but it wasn't half bad. It might even be half good! I don't know, I haven't read my review of it yet.

Writer Tim Beedle does a competent job at plotting and capturing the Muppets' voices, but he really shines at bringing the craziness of the Muppets' world. I'd love to say more about specifics, but there are several scenes that will definitely work better as a surprise. I will say this: In this issue, you will see the most unexpected recurring Muppet character you can think of (no, it's not Bozark), and you will see a brilliant two-page sequence featuring the Swedish Chef that reminisces something Monty Python might have done.

Unfortunately, it's not all action and whoopie cushions. Beedle is still being weighed down with the task to actually, y'know, tell the story of Robin Hood. There are a few sequences, just like in the other three issues, filled with dialog used to further the plot. But I have faith that Beedle would do a fantastic job at writing an original story with the Muppets. If BOOM ever decides to publish a second Muppet Show comic (please never let Roger Langridge stop writing the TMS comic!), Beedle might prove to have the chops to write a story with that old-school Muppet feel that we all love so much.

Artist Armand Villavert, Jr. is still the weakest link for Muppet Robin Hood (for the sake of not repeating myself, feel free to check out previous reviews for my opinion on Villavert). But BOOM made some fantastic choices for cover artists. Amy Mebberson and David Peterson have drawn some of the most fantastic pieces of Muppet art I've seen, and I'm chomping at the bit to see Mebberson's work on the upcoming Muppet Peter Pan comic. I'm also antsy to see if BOOM can coerce Peterson into taking a break from his Mouse Guard comic to do some interior art for any future Muppet comics.

So the question remains: As a whole, was Muppet Robin Hood any good? If you asked me, I'd say yes, it was a good comic, and enough fun to make it worth your dollars. But if you asked some other members of the ToughPigs forum, they might say that the characterization was too far off and the art was painful to look at, so it wouldn't be worth your time, let alone the money. So let's split the difference: I'm going to recommend buying the inevitable trade collection of Muppet Robin Hood. Assuming it's similar to BOOM's other collections, the trade will most likely be digest-sized and only cost $10. Ten bucks for a fun Muppety romp through Sherwood Forest? Sounds like someone hit the bullseye.Click here to try out for the Merry Men (and Women!) on the ToughPigs forum!

joe.toughpigs@gmail.com

The Muppet Show Comic Book #4 & Peg Leg Wilson: Roger Langridge Q&A

We Muppet fans are pretty lucky. Not only do Muppet comic books continue to show up in our comic book stores, but Roger Langridge keeps on agreeing to do these Q&As with us! Let's see what Roger has to say...

Note: This Q&A was conducted after the release of Peg Leg Wilson #1. Check out our review of issue #1 here, and our review of issue #2 here.

ToughPigs: How does it feel to have your first Muppet Show story arc in the can and another already in stores?

Roger Langridge: Pretty satisfying, I have to admit - there's nothing like finishing a long piece of work.

TP: Do you have a method for creating the cover art?

RL: I usually submit between 4 and 6 sketched roughs to the editor each month, and he'll come back to me with suggestions and tell me which ones he'd like worked up into finished covers. At that point I take my sketch and blow it up nice and big, then I'll trace it and build it up into finished pencils, fleshing out details and fixing anything that looks a bit wobbly. Then I ink it, scan it and send it off to be coloured.

TP: How did you make the decision to stop the designs with the characters in the circles from the first arc? Will the circle covers be making a comeback after the end of Peg Leg Wilson?

RL: I always intended those to be limited to the first arc - my original plan was to change the colour of the curtains each issue so the covers didn't look too similar, but that idea seems to have been lost in the shuffle at some point. I think it's a good idea to move on from that now - I don't want to risk people skipping an issue because they think they've already bought it!

TP: On the ToughPigs forum, we’ve discussed the difficulties in capturing Miss Piggy’s character (she’s often written as too angry, too much of a “diva”, or too quick to turn to violence). We saw a great character arc for her in the 4th issue of The Muppet Show Comic Book. Did you have any trouble writing her?

RL: Well, you're always feeling your way a bit with any character you didn't create. I suppose she was difficult, but no more difficult than any other character. The thing I try to remember about Piggy is that her toughness is a front to conceal a very vulnerable pig beneath. If you can show flashes of that vulnerability it makes her much more rounded, if you'll pardon the expression.

TP: We were happy to see the return of fan favorites Wayne and Wanda, and the Talking Houses. Were you worried that readers might not remember them? Are you keeping a list of other Muppet Show sketches to include in future issues?

RL: I'm not too worried if people don't remember a particular sketch because I try to make them work whether you remember them or not. If you recognise it, that's like a nice little bonus - an Easter Egg for dedicated Muppet-watching - but it shouldn't be essential to know this stuff in order to enjoy the comic. If it is, I'm not doing my job right!

TP: You mentioned in an earlier interview that your close friends’ love of Pigs In Space led to its inclusion into every issue. Now that you’ve gotten feedback on your first arc, are there any other sketches or characters that you’re considering giving more screen time?

RL: Well, it wasn't just close friends! But I'm probably going to ease off on Pigs in Space for a few issues after the Peg-Leg Wilson arc is over, not least because there'll be a Pigs in Space one-shot between that and the arc which follows. So that should keep the Pigs in Space fans happy for a few months.

TP: When you’re designing a new character (for example, “Ninja Rogers”), do you think of them as a puppet first, or is the fact that they might not fit with the overall design of the Muppets not an issue?

RL: I try to make them look at least vaguely plausible as Muppets - or at least cartoon Muppets, as they appear in the comic - but that leaves an awful lot of wiggle room when you consider the enormous variety of shapes and designs the Muppets encompass. I've been almost too conservative sometimes, I think!

TP: How do Kermit’s sunglasses stay on his face if he has no ears or nose?

RL: The magic of comics, I'm afraid. Don't look at the man behind the curtain.

TP: BOOM! has amassed a strong team of cover artists for the Muppet comic books. Have they offered you any opportunities to illustrate a variant cover for any of the other titles?

RL: No, but then I wouldn't have time with doing the Muppet Show book. It's a full-time thing, and then some. If I were cloned I'd love to have a shot.

TP: Have you seen the Muppet Robin Hood comic book? Or any pages from the upcoming Muppet Peter Pan? Did you have any advice to give to the writers or artists of those series?

RL: I've seen the Robin Hood book at a recent convention, although I didn't get time to read it. The Muppet books aren't for sale in the UK, so I don't get much of a chance to look at them. I thought the art was strong from the bits I saw.

TP: We enjoyed the Muppet/Dr. Who sketches you posted on your blog. Is there any chance we’ll see any of those in The Muppet Show Comic Book?

RL: Nothing quite so on-the-nose, because of the fact that Dr Who is owned by the BBC, but I wouldn't be surprised to see an oblique Who reference or two in the Pigs in Space one-shot. I'm still writing that one, so I don't know for sure myself yet!

TP: Speaking of references, do you have any other plans for literary or pop culture references in the comic?

RL: To call them "plans" would be putting it a bit strongly, but I've got an idea for a Hamlet song I'm looking for an excuse to work in sometime.

TP: You also reported on your blog that there will be a Pigs In Space one-shot in between story arcs. Is this the only one-shot planned right now? Can you tell us who will be illustrating it?

RL: It's the only one planned right now - I'm probably going to need another breather at some point, though. I'm not 100% certain if the artist has been selected yet. (UPDATE: Shelli Paroline has been announced as the artist. Congrats, Shelli!)

TP: How was the San Diego Comic Con? Have any interesting stories?

RL: San Diego was great fun. I don't know how interesting the story is, but I ran into the editor who gave me my first comics work in the UK 20-odd years ago, which was great. And I got to meet some of the other Muppet comic creators like Shelli Paroline and Grace Randolph. I was reluctant to go at first but I'm really glad I went.

Many thanks to Roger Langridge for all the obvious reasons!
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joe.toughpigs@gmail.com

Review: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson #2

The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson #2 will hit comic book stores this Wednesday, August 26th. As we've come to expect, writer & artist Roger Langridge has once again written and artisted a very entertaining comic.

Unlike the first four-issue Muppet Show series, Peg-Leg Wilson contains several ongoing stories, so we get a recap on this issue's first page. It's delivered in song by this banjo-picking Muppet, whom the Muppet wiki refers to as "Hillbilly Singer," and his presence here nicely fulfills the obscure character quota for this issue.


So Kermit is still acting suspiciously un-Kermit-like, and in this issue we find out why. What's less clear is which version of Kermit Miss Piggy would prefer.



By the way, who do you think that Muppet girl on the right is supposed to be? I don't recognize her as a puppet ever seen on The Muppet Show.

Then there's Animal, who's also acting strangely... Last month it was revealed that Muppet Labs is behind his personality shift, but this month his Electric Mayhem bandmates try to bring the old Animal back. They miss their old insane, feral, dangerous pal (Who wouldn't?), and they miss his drumming skills even more, so they hire a hypnotist named Creepy McBoo to snap him out of his well-behaved stupor.

Creepy McBoo! If there's one thing Langridge is good at, it's silly names (see also last issue's Ninja Rogers). As for this month's obligatory "Which performer would play which character?" game, I'm hearing Steve Whitmire for this guy. Like, you know that "Girlfriend of the Whirling Dervish" song in the Marty Feldman episode? That's the voice I'm hearing. Which is a very important point in this review, so I'm glad I made that clear.

Elsewhere, we have a musical number that offers a clever variation on "Mahna Mahna" which I will not spoil...


I really like the way Langridge draws Mahna Mahna. He's a crazy-lookin' character to begin with, so he's a good fit for Langridge's style. Other bits include a Bear on Patrol sketch, a Muppet Labs scene, and a page of "Scooter, Boy Detective," which feels like an onstage segment of the show but really carries forward the backstage plots.

Speaking of the backstage plots, this issue seems to devote more space to them than any previous issue. It works well... The onstage and backstage goings-on were often similarly tied together on the Muppet Show TV series. The plot I haven't mentioned yet is the whole "buried treasure" thing, which really doesn't move forward in this issue despite the fact that the whole miniseries is named after it. There's still treasure in the theater, and Rizzo and his rat buddies are still looking for it. It looks like more will happen with that story next issue, though.

I do hope that issue #3 has a few more "onstage" bits that stand independent of the storylines, but as with last month's review, I don't really have any complaints about this issue. I don't think it made me laugh quite as much as Peg-Leg #1, but your mileage may vary. Oh, and here's one other thing I wanted to mention... There's a reference in this issue to "Rainbow Connection" being 30 years old. So if there was any doubt, this comic book definitely takes place right now, and not in the 1970s. I like the idea that the Muppets have been doing this show continuously for the past few decades... or did they stop for a while and then return to it? Either way, it's always fun to see these talented entertainers putting on a show.

Finally: For all you Miss Piggy fans, check out this panel from the issue's closing number:

Hubba hubba!

Click here to talk about this issue and be hypnotized by Creepy McBoo on the Tough Pigs forum!

ToughPigsRyan@yahoo.com

Review: Muppet Robin Hood #3

Muppet Robin Hood, the red headed stepchild of The Muppet Show Comic Book, is half over, with the third issue being released this Wednesday. Thankfully, the comic hasn't headed into train wreck territory, but it continues to pale in comparison to Roger Langridge's comic, which is destined to sit right next to this one on the shelf.

Thankfully, Tim Beedle's script remains strong, keeping most of the Muppets in-character, while letting the Robin Hood story move forward. I say "most" because someone's got to discuss the plot while the wackier characters make funny faces in the background. Johnny Fiama, who was revealed to be Prince John in the second issue, talks and acts like Prince John (with the exception of a stray "cannoli" reference here and there), though the rest of his inner circle, which comprises of Sal, Sam the Eagle, and Gonzo, are allowed to be themselves. Three out of four: that ain't bad!

On the other side of the coin (and on the other side of Sherwood Forest), Robin Hood and his Merry Men are still characterized very well. In this issue, Scooter stands out by delivering a line that's all but ripped from The Muppet Movie script. (In my head, it was even delivered with a good ol' fashioned "Scooter Fist".)

Muppet Robin Hood continues with the Muppet comics' tradition of including as many obscure characters as humanly possible. In this case, they use the Archery Contest as an excuse to toss characters both old and new into the fringe. A few of them came as a real surprise, and I hope we see more in the next issue. I'm holding my breath for Doglion, Bill the Bubble Guy, and the Avocado.

And it's not just the obscure characters who show up. Pepe the King Prawn lives up to his name as King Richard. It seems that he's been busy touring with the Electric Mayhem Crusades. Bunsen and Beaker also appear as, um, scientists. I know, hard to believe. Of the main characters, that leaves just Statler and Waldorf to make an appearance. I'm going to hazard a guess that they'll be on hand to heckle at Robin's hanging. That seems like something they'd do, those sadists.

My biggest gripe about this comic hasn't changed: it's still artist Armand Villavert, Jr., who continues to do an adequate job. His art isn't horrible, as he manages to capture some of the characters spot-on, but he completely drops the ball on others. For example, Gonzo looks like "fan art", and not in a caricaturish kind of way (like Sam, who may not look exactly like the puppet, but the design allows him to show his expressions more blatantly) . His Dr. Teeth in particular is frighteningly awful. But on the other hand, his Pepe looks great, and I'm still loving his Sam and Janice. He also does some great renditions of the one-off characters, whom I'll refrain from naming in the spirit of spoilers. They're easily recognizable, yet not static. But in the long run, Villavert needs to work on his character designs a bit more if he's being considered for any future Muppet comic projects.

I'm keeping with my original recommendation for this comic, which is that I think it's absolutely worth buying, but it might be more readable in its inevitable collected format. And as much as I'm enjoying it, I'm glad there's only one issue left, and then we can look forward to Muppet Peter Pan (and, of course, our overly nitpicky review).
Muppet Robin Hood #3 will be available on Wednesday, August 5 at your local comic book store.

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joe.toughpigs@gmail.com

Return of the Con

The San Diego Comic Con was this past weekend, and although thousands of people were able to attend, I was not one of them. That's some sad news right there. But the good news is that we got a few Muppet-related news tidbits which we'll report as if I was actually the one doing the news gathering. Don't tell the Associated Press!
The Guinness Book of World Records went to Comic Con to award a few world records plaques to things such as Detective Comics for being the Longest Continuously Published Comic Book and The Simpsons for being the Longest Running Animated TV Series. They also awarded Brian Henson with the plaque for Farscape, which has the Most Digital Effects in a TV Series. Good work, Farscape! You look pretty!
Archaia Comics announced that the upcoming Labyrinth and Dark Crystal comics will feature covers by the great Brian Froud, who will also be serving as the Creative Consultant for both titles. That's some great hiring there, Archaia! Now if you can only convince him to do some interior art for the comics, I'd be happy as a baby being tossed in the air by David Bowie.

Archaia also gave us a few more details on the upcoming Fraggle Rock comic book. It will be in anthology format, with both long and short stories. The books will be a bit smaller than a comic book, coming in at just 8"x8". The comics will also contain "new levels of interactivity," which could mean just about anything. Maybe they'll come with instructions on how to grind the pages down and make your own Doozer sticks.
BOOM Studios didn't have much new information about the Muppet comics at their panel, but they did say that they're planning on getting rid of the 4-issue installments of The Muppet Show Comic Book and turning it into an ongoing, which will make it so much easier to keep track of the numbering. And I know you're all very concerned about keeping your Muppet comics organized to an obnoxious degree like myself. The image above is the pencils for the cover of the Pigs In Space one-shot comic, which will be written by Roger Langridge and illustrated by an unidentified artist.
eFX Collectibles had the first signs of their upcoming Muppet Photo Puppets on display, including Rizzo, Reporter Kermit, and a piece of Miss Piggy. Rizzo looks fantastic. I'm tempted to buy him and make him carry my luggage. It's hard to judge that Reporter Kermit, since they made no effort at all to make him look good in that glass case. Muppet News Flash: Nobody wants to buy an ugly Photo Puppet! And the Piggy face looks like they're on the right track, with a chubbier Piggy like we used to see in the Muppet Show days, as opposed to the newer, slimmer Piggy we've gotten used to in recent years. Though I'm staying dubious until we see what her hair and costume will look like, since we all know that the clothes make the pig.
Oh, and these guys were there. Do you think Bunsen is a DC or a Marvel fan? UPDATE: Looks like they did a sketch for the Comic Con masquerade! Enjoy the nerdiness!

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