Would you be surprised if I were to tell you that the new issue of The Muppet Show Comic book is highly entertaining? Of course you wouldn’t, because The Muppet Show Comic Book is always entertaining.
Issue 11 concludes the “Muppet Mash” arc, which isn’t really a continuing story but is all thematically monstery. It also continues writer/artist Roger Langridge’s increasing tendency to tie the onstage acts and backstage goings-on together. In fact, pretty much everything that happens onstage in this issue is influenced by what’s happening behind the scenes… and behind those scenes there’s a main plot and two small subplots that all converge in lovely ways. And through it all, there’s a good joke or gag on every page. Basically, Roger Langridge has thing down to a science.
So there’s a problem in the Muppet Theater: The lights keep going out at the most inopportune moments. The power failures are caused by Bunsen Honeydew’s work on his latest scientific project, a robotic version of Beaker called the Beaker Mark 2. As you might expect, some havoc is wreaked before the comic ends. Meanwhile, Piggy’s very proud of her new hairdo and Gonzo is excited about his Morris dancing act. I had to look up Morris dancing to see if it was a real thing (which it is), but all you really need to know is that it’s a folk dance, and that Gonzo’s version involves a cannon and some chickens.
What else is in this issue? There’s a Vet’s Hospital sketch, with a character who shows up again in a musical number, where he’s joined by Sweetums as you’ve never seen him before. I was looking forward to another “Link Hogthrob, Monster Smasher” strip, but there’s not one, nor is there a “Pigs in Space” sketch. There’s so much other stuff going on that I hardly missed it, but is this the first time there’s been an entire issue without a prominent appearance by Link? I guess I can survive a month without him. But I’m glad I don’t have to survive a month without the Muppet Show comic… Next issue begins the “Four Seasons” arc, which should be lots of wintery, springy, summery, and fally fun.
Oh, and by the way, if you don’t have a costume prepared for Halloween yet, may I suggest “Beaker as Frankenstein monster,” as seen on this issue’s cover? Sure, most people won’t have any idea why you’re dressed as Beaker dressed as a monster, but everyone will recognize who you are. Think about it.
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by Ryan Roe – Ryan@ToughPigs.com
