March 2009

Story and art by Roger Landridge

I heart the Muppets.  I mean,  I really heart the Muppets.  Sesame Street debuted the year I was born, and The Muppet Show aired 7 years later, so they were basically my pop culture buddies throughout most of my formative years.  The combination of the unparalleled character design, the corny-as-hell jokes, the self-deprication, the bewilderment at the world around them, and the sheer purity and innocence of these felt creations spoke directly to my core. And still do.  I’m man enough to admit I shed a few tears when I heard about Jim Henson’s death.  Even though I’d never met him, I felt like I’d lost a friend. Many friends, actually.

But the characters soldiered on through several different later TV series, specials, and feature films, with mixed success.  We shall not discuss the special with Scooter and Sam the Eagle dressed in leather at a rave.  I’m not joking.

So here come BOOM! Studios and this Roger Landridge person to tread on seriously hallowed territory by creating this mini series, set back in the traditional variety show format where we first met Miss Piggy and Gonzo.   So how is it?

Pretty damn good.

This is a new episode of The Muppet Show on paper.  It’s got Statler and Waldorf heckling, a Muppet News Flash, explosions, the Swedish Chef, musical numbers, classic sketches, “celebrity” guest stars, and even a through-line story behind the scenes.  It’s actually funny.  And corny.  And ultimately, even poignant.

The only gripe I have is with the art.  Yeah, it’s a kid’s book, but the characters all seem a little…not right.  You’re constantly aware throughout that even though the characters’ voices are spot-on, the designs are someone else’s interpretation of how they look.  And it’s a little strange to see them gesturing with arms and fingers, and even….elbows.  Whoah.  But these are just the admittedly nitpicky ramblings of a rabid fan.  And Mr. Landridge is both writing and drawing the thing, so I’ll cut him some slack.

If you love the Muppets, and want a nice, fuzzy trip down memory lane, you can’t beat this comic.

“EAT COMIC!!! EAT COMIC!!! RAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!”

Animal, no!!

Story- Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway
Art- Jerry Ordway

Boy, Geoff Johns likes to get his hands deep and dirty in the sandboxes, doesn’t he?  Between introducing new colored Lanterns, and freeing the city of Kandor, the guy sure doesn’t balk at playing with the core mythologies of the DC pantheon.

In this issue, some of the senior members of the JSA, along with the newly returned Atom Smasher,  accompany the recently de-Shazamed Billy Batson back to the Rock of Eternity to face off against Black Adam, Isis, and, as teased last issue, a corrupted other member of the Marvel family.  You know, the one who also apparently has an evil hair stylist.

As someone without the cash flow, time, or John Nash-level mental capacity to be a DC completist, I appreciated the quick origin of Captain Marvel presented here, which gives all you need to know about Black Adam and his connection to Billy and his family.  Odd that we had to wait until part two of the arc, but I had faith that Johns would get us up to speed at some point.

Pretty standard beat-em up fare here, until we get to a mysterious mist that swallows up Jay Garrick, and this is where the mythology tweaking comes in, as it seems to lead to, let’s just say, someplace new. And lo, I am intrigued.

Of even more note, however, is the “Origins and Omens” back-up story here, by Matthew Sturges and Fernando Pasarin, which falls more into the “Omens” category.  Much like an earlier JSA issue teased upcoming stories with some excerpted panels,  a renegade Oan narrates a future of worse things to come for the legacy team, hinting at even more of a rift forming in the ranks.  With Bill Willingham taking over the reins of the title soon, I think we’re gonna get a lot of awesome coming down in this corner of the DCU.