Muppet Comic Mondays: On the Road #3

The Muppet Show Comic Book

On the Road #3

Comic Book Review

James Gannon - So it comes to this. The Muppet’s grand road tour comes to an end as the theater gets rebuilt in about 2-3 months or so (comic book time). On the Road #3 actually isn’t, as you’ll see shortly. 

The story starts with a large, mysterious crate gets delivered to the Muppet Theater (in a Pops cold opening worthy of the show). That box winds up greeting the gang as soon as they get back, roughly in the 5^th page in.  In other words, On the Road 3 takes place in the theater. Anyway, the box is addressed to Fozzie, and everyone is dying to crack it open to find out what’s inside. Rizzo especially, he’s the one that starts it.  And you can expect the same great sketches we’ve seen in issues past - Pigs in Space, Veterinarian’s Hospital, at the Dance – breaking up the action.

There are two major highlights in this issue to point out. Gonzo decides not to return to the theater by the Muppet bus, but rather a marathon of his own crazy, stunt obsessed design. Hosted by Louis Kazagger to boot. I’ve always liked the idea of taking the action out of the theater in issues that take place there, ever since Miss Piggy’s Story. And of course, if you miss Gonzo’s wacky stunts, then you’ll be very happy with his role in the issue. The second highlight is a Muppet Labs sketch focusing on the Schroedinger’s Cat theorem (basically if you put something in a box unobserved, it creates two possibilities that can exist inside). Rather than demonstrating one of their new gizmos that doesn’t work properly, we have Dr. Honeydew ponder this quantum theory that goes no less awry. I find that a complete step up from the original Muppet Show sketch, taking everything to the next level. Makes you wish the show actually had sketches like that.

Not that this isn’t another great issue, but somehow it feels that they arrived back at the studio too soon. The story arc is only 3 issues long (as opposed to the normal 4 issues) due to the fact that it was just easier to publish 3 issues and the Pigs in Space issue 0 in one graphic novel. Otherwise, they’d have to omit issue zero completely from the reprint, get through an amazing amount of complicated red tape to get a special 5 issue novel in, or have and uneven flow of 3 parts of one arc, and one part of another. Even considering that, it seems that everyone should have got to the theater at the end of this issue, or the start of the next arc. It really seemed to do the Muppets good to go on tour, giving each issue a different feel from the usual series. And I especially liked (as I said last time) the non-traditional rebus and alphabet type comics about Fozzie going solo. I really hope we can see that change of pace in future arcs.

Muppet Comic Mondays: On the Road #2

As you recall last week, there were no new comics to review. Well, this week there were two we could choose from: The Muppet Show Comic Book: On the Road #2 and Muppet King Arthur #1. Well, we have both of those reviews done, but since we've already reviewed one On the Road issue, we figured we'd just carry on with that trend. Click here to read our review of On the Road #1.

The Muppet Show Comic Book #2
On the Road - Part 2: "His Wackiness Clint Wacky"

James Gannon - The Muppet Show on the Road #2… as I like to call it part of the reason I gave Boom 9 bucks in one day (I also recommend the Italian Paperinik reprints in their Walt Disney Comics and Stories line). Having a less than successful  first show (they made an almost immeasurable net profit) , the Muppet Road Show bus pulls into Little Statwald. A town so small, it consists of only 2 families… and I bet you can guess who. With Fozzie leaving to take his comedy act solo, Kermit hires a hack comedian named Clint Wacky (who repeats “Just waiting till Hollywood calls” like a broken record, and bears a striking resemblance to Lew Zeland, by the way). Not to mention his comedy writers Stadler and Waltorf, who supply him with material stolen from only the finest Christmas Crackers. Of course, his material plays well with the Little Statwaldians, but his combination of jokes worse than Fozzie’s and unsettling insult humor don’t sit well with Kermit.

He deals with the matter as civil as possible, but when Clint and his writers reject unauthorized, unsolicited work from Scooter, the entire gang sees the menacing ego behind the horrible jokes. Now they have to make him leave on his own accord, which he stubbornly won’t.

Now, as this takes place in the context of the show while they’re on the road, I feel it’s necessary to mention the Loretta Lynn episode of The Muppet Show. So there, I mentioned it. A lot of the skits have to adapt to makeshift scenery. As last issue’s “Vet’s Hospital” turned into a traveling medicine show, Pigs in Space somehow went through a time warp, and all their technology reverts back to the 1800’s. We even have a clever spin on the talking houses (now trailers) and Robin and the Woodland Gerbils camp troop demonstrating how to make a camp fire (Hey, apparently Robin belongs to 2 fictitious Boy Scouts type groups). And with that action going on stage, there’s a nice character piece on Scooter in this issue. Roger appears to really like writing for him, giving him the same depth that he had back in the Muppet Show.

Of course, mush like last issue, we close with Fozzie’s unsuccessful attempts to get back to his stand up roots. And done in the same avant-garde style as the last one. While his solo misadventure last issue turned into an alphabetical exercise in his failure, this issue becomes a one word (or is that picture) rebus with a clever ending. Surely, this is Roger’s style of humor, dating back to the first (and only) Disney Adventures Muppet comic. While I like to see how he adapts to the Muppet Show, I really like to see how the Muppet Show adapts to him.

Over all, it feels like Clint is an experiment in a guest star, which is the next four part arc. I really hope they all get this out of control when they get their appearances in, because it works just perfectly here. He almost seems like what would happen if one of the guest stars on the show simply hated being there for anything other than a bump in their acting resume. And, as I just stated, I’m loving the small avant-garde strips at the end. I wish that this arc wasn’t truncated to fit Pigs in Space issue 0 into a graphic novel. I’d love to see another solo Fozzie adventure.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Muppet Comic Mondays: The Day Without Comics

Well, unfortunately, there are no new comics to review this week since both The Muppet Show Comic Book: On the Road #2 and Muppet King Arthur don't come out until this Wednesday (February 10, 2010). Thankfully, there is some comic-related news worth reporting!

Our good friends at ToughPigs have an exclusive look at the first five pages of both King Arthur and On the Road #2. We finally get to see Dave Alvarez's take on the Muppets in King Arthur and it's hard not to absolutely love it. Be on the look-out for a cameo from a Henson creature one wouldn't normally expect to see!

Archaia Comics has also officially announced and debuted cover art for their Fraggle Rock comic book, in stores this April. Confirmed Fraggle Rock Comic Book contributors include Adrianne Ambrose, Heidi Arnhold, Jeffrey Brown, Ross Cambell, Katie Cook, Joanna Estep, Jake Forbes, Sam Humphries, Neil Kleid, Chris Lie, Jeremy Love, Grace Randolph, Jeff Stokley and Heather White.

It's great to see that friend of the blog Grace Randolph is getting involved with the Fraggle Rock comics, along with artist Katie Cook, whose work has been featured on ToughPigs in the past. 

Look out next week for our review of either On the Road #2 or Muppet King Arthur #1 (or both, we haven't really decided yet) (because I know you all care so much).

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Muppet Comic Mondays: On the Road #1

The Muppet Show Comic Book #1

On the Road - Part 1: "Watch That Tiger"

Ryan Dosier - Roger Langridge returns his pen to his always-incredible work on "The Muppet Show Comic Book" this month with its second new installment since becoming an ongoing series (meaning, basically, that the numbering of the book won't reset after four issues).

In the new series, "On the Road," the Muppets are taking their show on a cross-country tour after the theater was accidentally demolished at the conclusion of "The Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson" arc. (Sorry for the spoiler.) Once again, Langridge proves that he knows the Muppets as well as anyone.

PLOT
The story opens just as Langridge's first Muppet Show comic did, with a report by the Muppet Newsman. It has little to do with the rest of the plot of the book, but it's hilarious.

We soon find Miss Piggy lamenting to Kermit about her fear of this "show on tour" being a back-step in her career. Kermit assures her that everything will be fine and above all, they'll have fun with it! No sooner does Kermit reassure Piggy then he goes to purchase new caravans for them to perform in. The retailer of these fine caravans tells Kermit not to open any of the wardrobes because a tiger may be lurking in them.

If that wasn't enough trouble, Fozzie tells Kermit that he's taking his act on the road too--but a different road than Kermit and company. The bear desires to stand on his own for once, which is an odd character turn for Fozzie, but it works.

The show soon gets off to a... well, a start. With a rollicking rendition of The Muppet Show theme song (with slightly altered lyrics), the show is officially off to its new road-show start.

But, of course, The Muppet Show wouldn't be The Muppet Show without chaos backstage. Rizzo is taking bets from everyone from Sam the Eagle to Swedish Chef as they wager a guess as to which caravan houses the tiger. Meanwhile, Kermit is incessantly hounded for a payment by the owner of the land where the Muppets are performing. If that wasn't enough, Statler and Waldorf's incredibly familiar cousins are attending the show.

Sketches include Veterinarian's Medical Compound, A Message From Sam the Eagle, Country Cooking with The Swedish Chef, "Whispering" performed by The Acoustic Mayhem with Sweetums and Robin, and a closing number by Miss Piggy.

Can the Muppets truly put on a road show with financial difficulties, dwindling spirits, and a missing comedian? Well... you're asking the wrong guy. I haven't read the next installment yet!

TONE
Roger Langridge has captured the tone of the Muppets as well as (if not better than) anyone who has written for them in at least a decade. Not only does his writing house Muppety wit and charm, but his artwork has never been better. The Muppets are near-perfect in Langridge's hands.

WRITING
It's amazing to me that even though they're on the road, the Muppets have never seemed more Muppety. Langridge reminds us all that sometimes you have to change the formula up a little bit to keep it fresh, that's just what happens here. The road show format allows the Muppets to be wackier and zanier than ever--and Langridge captures it brilliantly.

All of the characters are written well in this issue, but some of the most outstanding characters include Sam the Eagle, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Rizzo, and Gonzo. Kudos, Roger! You've captured them perfectly.

ART
This may be the best-drawn issue of the book yet. All of the Muppets look as good as they're written and it seems like Langridge has finally settled into his groove of drawing these characters. From facial expressions to full-body shots, Langridge has an exceptional way of harnessing the Muppet spirit on paper.

CONCLUSION

This issue is one of my favorite of The Muppet Show Comic Book so far. Everything just comes together perfectly to make a fantastic read. Chickens make pyramids, Sam Eagle preaches about the threats of gambling (while gambling himself), and a tiger mauls The Great Gonzo. This proves once again that Roger Langridge is the epitome of fantastic Muppet comic book work.

CAST
Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo the Great, Scooter, Rowlf the Dog, Dr. Teeth, Floyd Pepper, Janice, Zoot, Animal, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Sweetums, Robin the Frog, Sam the Eagle, Rizzo the Rat, The Swedish Chef, The Newsman, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Mister "Bags" O'Gravy, Lew Zealand, Statler and Waldorf's cousins, Thog, the Mutations, Gloat, Boppity, Mr. Weazell, Chickens, Rats, Monsters, a Sheep, and more!