Issue #1 – Issue #2 – Issue #3 – Issue #4
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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