Disney greenlights "The Muppet Show" comics

[Oscarfan]

On the front cover, am I the only one who thinks Kermit's gaping mouth makes him look like a sea bass?

 

[Drtooth]

What I want to know is, why hasn't anyone tracked down all the great cartoonists who worked on the Muppet comic bits in Muppet Magazine? Bruce McNally, for example, was a GREAT cartoonist. The work he did on E.C. The Extra Celestial in Muppet Magazine, and equally well written by Mad Magazine scribe Dick Debartolo (who coincidentally wrote the Sesame Street parody drawn by Jack Davis for Mad in the early 70's) was brilliant. Syndicated cartoonist Daryl Cagle, who drew the Rocky parody for Muppet Magazine, was sheer genius, http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/f/fe/Comic_wocky01a.jpg and possibly the best Muppet cartoonist this side of Michael K. Frith. So why not use these guys? Seriously, it's not that hard to find worthy talent to bring the Muppets to the comics page.

Finally, someone else remembers those ones and has actual proof they existed. I remember loving the artwork and story line of "Chore Games."

All I can say for the eleventy billionth time is that this comic is begging to be an anthology series... again, my best aside is the Mirage Turtle Soup comics that published various different short TMNT stories by different artists, letting their unique styles flow through the source material... we had Mark Martin in one story writing parody versions of the characters, then on another page, you'd see someone writing a more serious story... even people who wrote extremely serious, thought provoking issues of TMNT got silly with a shorter section.

And that's what Muppet comics needs... they need the funky style of Langridge on one page, and some other person in a cartoony style on another, and maybe some realistic, beautiful art on another....

 

[uppitymuppity]

This comic isn't even out yet and everyone's panning it. In Hollywood we have this old saying: You have to see the movie first before you can critique it.

I think that Langridge's style is infinitely more interesting than the Daryl Cagle example given above.

 

[frogboy4]

This comic isn't even out yet and everyone's panning it. In Hollywood we have this old saying: You have to see the movie first before you can critique it.

I think that Langridge's style is infinitely more interesting than the Daryl Cagle example given above.

If Gonzo evolves into actually resembling the character I can overlook the rest. Some of the designs were initially shocking, but I do like Langridge's art and style. I just think more of an effort needs to be made in respecting the source material and the lifelong fans. I approve of giving an artist creative freedom, but not a complete blank check. I'm still miffed the 4-fingered Gonzo wasn't corrected on the cover of the first issue. The artist was made aware and still kept it in so I'm still on the fence.

I am looking forward to the comic and really do want Langridge's style to work for the Muppets. I'll give my take when it comes out. The Tough Pigs interview is very encouraging!

So, I am supporting this decision and the artist and intend to enjoy the first issue unless something inside prevents that.

 

[uppitymuppity]

I like my Gonzo with 3 fingers too!

 

[Fozzie Bear]

In Hollywood we have this old saying: You have to see the movie first before you can critique it.

Not always. I knew "The Spirit" was going to be a stinker as soon as Frank Miller was attached to it. The Spirit isn't a genre comic book he should have had, and I called it before hand.

I've refused to go see it since I could tell it wasn't in the heart of what Will Eisner was doing, and a couple who are friends of mine, one a fan of Will Eisner and the other of Darwyn Cooke's relaunch (I like both versions), came out of the theater wondering 'what the heck.'

If it isn't in the heart of things, no matter how good the visuals, it's lost on the fans.

However, I'm sketchy about the art of the comics and still have it on my pull list. I'm excited about it regardless and hope that, after I've read it, I'll see that we have something great and new to collect.

This is a big deal! We've not had anything like this other than Muppet Babies comics in the 80's and a few special series comics from Marvel.

Don't kill it just yet, gang. Go ahead and buy the first issue. if you don't like it, don't get the second; but, give it a chance. Boom Studios has great prices on their comic books and the publication quality is first rate--very worth it.

You know, I wasn't one who likes manga, but still bought the Tokyo Pop Labyrinth and Dark Crystal and I loved the stories in both, although I am definitely not a fan of the Labyrinth artwork--but, it's not a style that's in what I normally like art-wise. I cannot pass judgement on it unbiased.

With that said, I'll shut up now.

 

[Drtooth]

I agree. I see what both sides are saying, but here's the one thing we haven't really seen much of yet...

The writing.

The only Muppet comic that was published was a no dialogue narrative piece at the end of Disney Adventures. I think the At the Dance strip was leaked, and I think the humor is approximately what the original was (though, At the Dance isn't really something that would work well in comic form, and I kinda like how he handled it)

 

[uppitymuppity]

It makes me so happy to see that someone else knows Frank Miller's work is bad. I met him one night in Hollywood and he's just a big 'ol drunken mess. There's no genius there and all of his movies annoy me.

That being said a lot of things come out that we aren't sure about or think are going to be bad and then they hit and there's much love for the project. "Don't judge a book by its cover" comes to mind. I'm hoping this is one of those cases.

 

[lowercasegods]

Finally, someone else remembers those ones and has actual proof they existed. I remember loving the artwork and story line of "Chore Games."

All I can say for the eleventy billionth time is that this comic is begging to be an anthology series... again, my best aside is the Mirage Turtle Soup comics that published various different short TMNT stories by different artists, letting their unique styles flow through the source material... we had Mark Martin in one story writing parody versions of the characters, then on another page, you'd see someone writing a more serious story... even people who wrote extremely serious, thought provoking issues of TMNT got silly with a shorter section.

And that's what Muppet comics needs... they need the funky style of Langridge on one page, and some other person in a cartoony style on another, and maybe some realistic, beautiful art on another....

I can't agree more! Anthology series...give some artists who can draw on model a chance! Matter of fact, David Petersen, creator of the comic book Mouseguard, has hinted that he's working on a Muppet project, so fingers crossed that he's contributing to this series. He has a great Beatrix Potter meets Alan Lee kind of style which would be gorgeous with the Muppets.

To Uppitymuppity--I can appreciate that no two people will necessarily like the same cartoonist's style. And like I said, I do like Langridge's non-Muppet art very much (his Fred the Clown is hilarious). All I can say in defense of Daryl Cagle, however, is that he made a nice career for himself drawing Muppet related projects in the 80's, so the Hensons obviously approved of him (You can find him on Facebook and he has his own site--he's a very friendly guy and very open about his experiences as a Muppet cartoonist).

To Fozzie Bear, I totally agree. Miller wasn't the right choice for the Spirit--at least that became became painfully obvious from the trailers which turned Eisner's creation into Sin City II. And you used it as a very effective connection to what we're seeing with Langridge's art.

I don't feel like I or any other critic of Langridge's art is judging a book by it's cover. I'm judging it by the interior art and writing that we're seeing. And seriously, if you can't judge a comic by it's interior, than what's left to judge it by?

 

[uppitymuppity]

I happen to like this artwork and think it is edgier and darker than we've seen the Muppets drawn. I think Jim Henson would approve and love it as he always wanted the Muppets to be adult and edgy.

Right now people are judging it by its cover and we haven't even seen the final product.

PS. Perhaps Bunsen conducted an experiment and Gonzo grew another finger? I'm willing to think outside the box and keep my mind open to this. A lot of folks are already banging nails into the coffin. I see something different and wonderful to the provided covers.

I think you are bias.