Muppet Comic Mondays: The Muppet Show Comic Book #4

The Muppet Show Comic Book Issue 4 of 4:
Miss Piggy’s Story

Ryan Dosier - Roger Langridge returns to The Muppet Show once again for the end of the first four-part story arc, Miss Piggy’s Story (released June 2009).

PLOT
Following in the footsteps of Issues 1-3, Miss Piggy’s Story follows the familiar format of a backstage story taking place around the wacky Muppet acts onstage. This issue is notable because the ending takes place outside the theater—more on that later.

Opening with a hilarious dialogue between Kermit and Scooter trying to book a guest star on the show, Miss Piggy’s story hits the ground running. It’s here that we find out that Madame Rhonda, a psychic act, is the guest star for tonight’s show (much to Kermit’s chagrin). Madame Rhonda woos the majority of the Muppets with her enchanting ways—but some (such as Kermit and Floyd) think her Gemini for fortune is a load of Taurus.

Miss Piggy, under advisement from Janice, is one to fall for Madame Rhonda’s psychic clout. Madame Rhonda reads Piggy’s fortune and predicts that she will lose “something precious… and green.” Naturellement, Piggy thinks that Kermit will be lost to her. What starts out as tears from Piggy (unsurprisingly) turns into stair-rail splitting anger as she watches Kermit associate with every female member of the Muppet cast (seriously, Langridge dug deep to include some of these characters).

All of the acts that Langridge highlights in this issue are classic—taken right from the old Muppet Show format. Sam the Eagle delivers a speech on morality, Dr. Bob puns away in Veterinarian’s Hospital, the Talking Houses return, Beaker catches fire in Muppet Labs, and the word propinquitous is used in Pigs in Space.

It all ends with a lot of bandages, holding hands, and… That’s jazz. …If you read the comic, you’ll understand. But Langridge ties it all up perfectly here, Piggy gets to gloat, and Kermit gets a kiss. All is right with the Muppet world.

TONE
The tone of Miss Piggy’s Story is, honestly, the most Muppety of all four issues. Everything about it is witty and clever and wacky. Rarely seen characters appear in the background while everyone’s favorite get front-billing. Langridge puts near perfection on the page here, garnering a 5 out of 5 from this reviewer.

WRITING
The writing in this issue is what really stands out. From character conversations (Fozzie and Scooter, Janice and Floyd, Rizzo and Gonzo, Link and Annie Sue, etc.) to Talking Houses and Vet’s Hospital, everything feels like something each character would—or already has—said.

What’s really impressive here is Langridge’s characterization of Piggy. In recent years, the writing for Piggy has been hit or miss. She’s either tried too hard to the point of being pathetic (Muppets From Space) or she’s been one note in her obsessive love for Kermit that is never returned by the Frog (recent interviews). Here, however, Piggy is the perfect balance of sweet, innocent, and, of course, hot-tempered. But the thing that impressed this Muppet fan the most about the Frog/Pig dynamic here… is that Kermit returns the love. He holds Miss Piggy’s hand and even suggests that they take a moonlit walk back to the theater. It’s the Kermit we all know and love—shy and cute around Miss Piggy, not abrasive and snarky. (Something I think that has been returning to all Muppet productions—not just the comic book page. See Letters to Santa if you don’t believe me.)

ART
Everything here is drawn beautifully. Langridge knows what he’s doing by now, and no one can deny that. He has a beautiful handle on each and every main character. Sam Eagle is especially awesome in this issue—as are Bunsen and Beaker.

But, once again, Miss Piggy is the one who shines in this department. She’s beautiful here. From her batting eyelashes to her flowing blonde hair with a slight curl—everything about Langridge’s Miss Piggy is perfect. She’s even got the slight plump to her that makes her Miss Piggy. She’s slightly large, very in charge, and not at all letharg…ic.

CONCLUSION
Everything about this issue is great. It’s an awesome way to close the first story arc and Langridge really saved his best stuff for the grand finale. One has to assume that Miss Piggy was a driving force in that decision. Anything less than the best and we all know what sort of pain would’ve found its way to Langridge. No need to worry, though, because Langridge closes his first four-issue story arc with brilliant perfection.

Order your own issue of The Muppet Show Comic Book Issue 4 of 4: Miss Piggy’s Story today—or be karate chopped! Or buy the first trade paperback, The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets, containing Issues 1-4.

Langridge returns to The Muppet Show stage with another four issue- arc: The Muppet Show Comic Book: The Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson, which focuses on buried treasure hidden in the theater somewhere—and most of the Muppets go bonkers trying to find the X that marks the spot.

CAST
The Muppets featured in this issue include: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Statler, Waldorf, Sam Eagle, Mahna Mahna, Snowths, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Strangepork, Sweetums, Crazy harry, Hugga Wugga Creatures, Rowlf, Madame Rhonda, Janice, George the Janitor, Floyd Pepper, Rizzo, Andy and Randy Pig, Gladys the Cafeteria Lady, Annie Sue Pig, Mildred, Lew Zealand, Animal, Bunsen, Beaker, Talking Houses, Big Mama, Beauregard, Zoot, a Sasquatch, an Elephant, Uncle Deadly, Pigs, Chickens, Rats, Monsters, and many other Muppets.


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