The Muppet Show (comics)

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The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show Comic Book.jpg
Cover to The Muppet Show #1.
Art by Roger Langridge.
Publication information
Publisher Boom! Studios (2009–11)
Disney Publishing / Marvel Comics (2011–present)
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication dateMarch 2009
No. of issues10
Main character(s) The Muppets
Creative team
Written by Roger Langridge
Artist(s) Roger Langridge
Penciller(s) JIM HENSON
Letterer(s) Deron Bennett
Colorist(s) Digikore Studios
Editor(s) Paul Morrissey
Collected editions
Meet the Muppets ISBN   1-60886-527-4

The Muppet Show is a comic book series based on the variety television series of the same title created by Jim Henson and featuring The Muppets. The series was written and drawn by Roger Langridge and published by Boom! Kids, an imprint of Boom! Studios. [1] In 2011, the Boom! license with Disney Publishing Worldwide expired. Disney's own comic book publishing subsidiary, Marvel Comics, renamed the series Muppets and published four issues in 2012. [2]

Contents

Issues

Roger Langridge originally made a special preview for the comic which was originally to be used in the Disney Adventures magazine, which was cancelled in November 2007.

The first two-story arcs are renumbered from One, this was changed after the second story arc.

Meet the Muppets (4 issues)

The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson (4 issues)

After "Peg-Leg Wilson", The Muppet Show comic book continued as an ongoing series, and started with a new #0.

Ongoing series

Pigs in Space: The Movie (1 issue)

On the Road (3 issues)

  • Issue #1: Watch That Tiger - With the Muppet Theater in disarray after the events of "The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson", the Muppet gang decides to take their show on the road while the Muppet Theater is being rebuilt. Is the world ready for traveling Muppet minstrels? "The Muppet Roadshow" makes its first stop in Little Gideon, Ohio. Miss Piggy is afraid that the show won't work without a theater, and Kermit the Frog is worried that he won't make enough money to pay Mister Weazell (who owns the land they're performing on). To make matters worse, Fozzie decides to take his act solo and a tiger has escaped. Can the Muppet Roadshow gain an audience...and more importantly, a profit? Other sketches include a patent-medicine style version of "Veterinarian's Hospital", "Country Cooking with The Swedish Chef", a performance of "Whispering" by Sweetums and Robin the Frog backed by The Acoustic Mayhem, a "Muppet News Flash", a rendition of "The Muppet Show Theme", and a brief backup called "Alphabear" featuring Fozzie's solo act.
  • Issue #2: His Wackiness, Clint Wacky! - The Muppets hire Clint Wacky as a temporary replacement for Fozzie, and the Muppets also pick up Clint Wacky's writers Mr. Stadler and Mr. Waltorf. They perform at Little Statwald, home to only two families (Statler and Waldorf's families). Clint Wacky tells insulting jokes which the audience likes, but Kermit and Scooter decide they don't want the show to be known for insulting the audience. Scooter offers to write new material for Mr. Wacky, but Clint turns it down, stating that he gets compensation if his material gets rewritten or if he gets fired, but since it's okay for Clint Wacky to quit at any time, the Muppets try to find a way to get him to leave. Eventually, Rizzo the Rat tricks Clint into thinking that Hollywood finally wants him, and Clint rushes away. However, this means that the show is without a closing comedian. Since Scooter had written plenty of comedy material, he goes on-stage. At first he has no luck, but then Dr. Teeth tells him to lose the script and improvise, and Scooter ends up succeeding with the audience. Other sketches include "The Woodland Gerbils", "Pigs in Space", "The Talking Caravans", and Fozzie Bear in "Garbage".
  • Issue #3: Box Clever - The Muppets finally return to the Muppet Theater and put on their first show at the newly-rebuilt Muppet Theater. A package addressed to Fozzie (who hasn't gotten back yet) arrives as well. The various Muppets want to know what's in the package, but Kermit suggests that they wait until Fozzie comes back. Eventually, it's decided to put the package in the basement, but everybody (including Kermit) sneaks down to try to open it. Eventually, they decide to open the package. It turns out that Fozzie was in the package (he had enough money to mail himself, but mistakenly addressed it to himself) and Fozzie joins the Muppets for the closing number. Statler and Waldorf are excited about Fozzie's return so they can throw stuff at him. Meanwhile, Gonzo decides to raise money for charity by traveling in a number of ways (covered by Louis Kazagger) including running, moving bathtub, and cannon. He makes it back to the Muppet Theater during the closing number. Gonzo had planned on giving the money to the "Chessington Wasp Society". But due to a scandal, Gonzo changes his mind. Fozzie suggests giving the money to a charity for retired gentlemen theater patrons. Other sketches include "Muppet Labs", "Veterinarian's Hospital", "Pigs in Space", and "At the Dance".

Family Reunion (4 issues)

Muppet Mash

The Four Seasons

Spin-off titles

Muppet Robin Hood (4 issues)

An adaption of Robin Hood with Kermit the Frog starring as Robin of Loxley as he and his Merry Men takes on Prince John (played by Johnny Fiama), the Sheriff of Nottingham (played by Sam Eagle) and the wicked Gonzo of Gisbourne (played by Gonzo).

Cast

Cameo appearances by Nigel (the one from Muppets Tonight , issue #2), Wayne and Wanda (issue #2), Bean Bunny (issue #3), the Snowths (issue #3), Lubbock Lou (issue #3), Gramps (issue #3), Zeke (issue #3), Beauregard (issue #4), Spamela Hamderson (issue #4), Fleet Scribbler (issue #4), and Andy and Randy Pig (issue #4)

Muppet Peter Pan (4 issues)

An adaption of Peter Pan with Kermit the Frog in the title role, Miss Piggy as Piggytink, Janice, Scooter, and Bean Bunny as the Darling children, and Gonzo as Captain Gonzo.

Cast

Muppet King Arthur (4 issues)

An adaption of King Arthur with Kermit the Frog in the title role.

Cast

Cameo appearances by Delbert the La Choy Dragon (on a shield), a Skeksis from The Dark Crystal , Lew Zealand, Zoot, Floyd Pepper, Dr. Teeth, Slim Wilson, Statler and Waldorf, Pigs, Penguins, Rizzo the Rat, Seymour the Elephant, Foo-Foo, Sweetums, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Clueless Morgan, Catgut the Cat from The Muppet Musicians of Bremen , Leroy the Donkey from The Muppet Musicians of Bremen , T.R. the Rooster from The Muppet Musicians of Bremen , Rover Joe the Dog from The Muppet Musicians of Bremen , Mahna Mahna, the Snowths, Beauregard, Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Gaffer the Cat, Sir Cumnavigate, Reporter, Sir Mount, Crickets, Geri and the Atrics, Baskerville the Hound, Sir Render, Susan Boil, Swedish Chef, Sal Minella, Bobo the Bear, Hilda, Mildred Huxtetter, Angel Marie, Doglion, Camels, Camel Lot Owner, Tin Man, a Dragon, Scooter, Pepe the King Prawn, Professor Phineas A. Plot, Angus McGonagle, Lips, Quongo the Gorilla, Thog, Kangaroo, Marvin Suggs, Louis Kazagger, Crazy Harry, Uncle Deadly, Bobby Benson, Koozebanian Phoob, Mean Mama, Lou, Gladys, Jim, Pops, Whatnots, Frackles, Cows, and Horses.

Muppet Snow White (4 issues)

An adaptation of Snow White with Spamela Hamderson as the title character.

Cast

Cameo appearances by Foo-Foo, Beauregard, Sam Eagle, Uncle Deadly, Crazy Harry, Dead Tom from Muppet Treasure Island , Headless Bill from Muppet Treasure Island , Marvin Suggs, Angus McGonagle, Bobby Benson, Johnny Fiama, Wayne and Wanda, Mahna Mahna, The Snowths, Sal Minella, Bad Polly, Clueless Morgan, Mad Monty, Annie Sue, Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Thog, Doglion, Timmy Monster, The Mutations, Behemoth, Beautiful Day Monster, Blue Frackle, Green Frackle, Big V, Gorgon Heap, Luncheon Counter Monster, and the Dragon from Sleeping Beauty .

There were also brief glimpses of Ace Yu from Dog City , Bugsy Them from Dog City , Clifford, Mean Mama, Beard from The Jim Henson Hour , Slim Wilson, the Yoda Muppet from It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie , Ernst Stavros Grouper (mention only), Howard Tubman, Rhonda the Raccoon from Jim Henson's Animal Show , Morton the Beaver from Jim Henson's Animal Show , Carter, Baskerville the Hound, Angel Marie, and Banana Nose Maldonado.

Muppet Sherlock Holmes (4 issues)

An adaption of Sherlock Holmes with Gonzo as the title character, Fozzie Bear as Dr. Watson, Kermit the Frog as Inspector Lestrade, and Miss Piggy in various female leads.

Cast

Cameo appearances by Animal, Floyd Pepper, Mahna Mahna, and Scooter and Skeeter.

Reception

Dan Crown of IGN gave the first issue an 8.2 out of ten, saying "The idea of using a sketch comedy show as a vehicle for various and unique comic strips is borderline inspired. This book isn't just funny, in some ways it's revolutionary." [8]

Eye on Comics gave the first issue a 9/10. [9]

See also

References