This year, Tough Pigs was out and about at the King of Cons – San Diego Comic Con – for the first time. And amongst the Trekkies and Brown Coats, we uncovered some great Muppet-related news. Here are our scoops from SDCC 2012.
1. Everyone involved with Sesame Street comic books is as excited as we are! Ape Entertainment is working closely with Sesame Workshop on the scripts and the first arc, which will center on “Imagination,” has been approved. Scripts and artwork are still in the initial stages but everything’s looking like a sunny day!
2. We’ve gotten word that many great artists, as well as an editor or two, from past Muppet comic projects are lined up for the Sesame Street books and we’ll give you exclusive word when they’re confirmed.
3. In other Sesame news, Super Grover 2.0 sure knows how to draw a crowd! Eric Jacobson stopped by the Hasbro booth for pictures with fans and he brought along with everybody’s favorite superhero, the monster who is faster than lightning, stronger than steel, smarter than a speeding bullet … and he is cute, too, as these pictures clearly show.
4. Looking ahead to next December, Hallmark showcased their holiday ornaments for 2013 and there was a certain banjo-playing amphibian amongst them. The prototype I saw didn’t have any sound or music, but that may change by next year.
5. As you’ve probably heard by now, Archaia Entertainment’s Tale of Sand had a great night at the Eisner Awards, taking home 3 well-deserved awards. Ramón K. Pérez won two, for Best Graphic Album-New and Best Penciler/Inker or Penciler/Inker Team, and Eric Skillman won for Best Publication Design. Pérez said what an honor it was to bring this story to life and how that it was equal parts hard work and fun. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, I cannot recommend this book enough.
6. Archaia is looking forward to next year as well, with work already started on the Tale of Sand Scriptbook, which will reprint Jim Henson’s entire Tale of Sand screenplay and will include notes from editor Stephen Christy and extra art from Ramón Pérez that will explain how Archaia went about adapting it into a graphic novel. It is expected to be out in early 2013.
7. Archaia is also working on a second volume of their Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths to continue the stories of the world of the Mystics and the Skeksis, as well as a Labyrinth graphic novel exploring Jareth the Goblin King’s origins in 2013. Better pick now which comic book shop will be getting your funny book money next year.
8. And while a third volume of Fraggle Rock has yet to be decided upon, every single artist and writer I talked to who had worked on the first two volumes expressed interest in revisiting that world. So keep your belubeous crossed!
9. Shelli Paroline, the artist behind Muppet Snow White and The Muppet Show Comic Book: Pigs in Space who is now doing great work with KaBOOM! Studios’ Adventure Time comics, is very eager to work on more Muppet comics, and may be taking that desire into her own hands with short, unlicensed web comics soon. We’ll have more details on that as Shelli develops it.
10. Also with KaBOOM! Eisner Award-winner for Best Publication for Kids for his book Snarked!, Roger Langridge sadly confirmed that Marvel has yet to contact him about future Muppet Show comic books. But he’s still drawing a mean Kermit for attendees who ask.
11. And finally, while not necessarily new news, Karen Prell still loves Fraggles and is still cool as hell. She sat with Archaia and greeted fans of all ages, regaling them with stories of yore. Thanks again, Karen!
Tough Pigs had a great time at San Diego Comic Con and I want to send a special thank you to everyone who took the time to talk to me. We look forward to all the future endeavors Muppet fans are sure to enjoy!
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by Matt Wilkie
