Muppet Comic Mondays: Muppet Mash #4

The Muppet Show Comic Book #11

Muppet Mash Part Four: The Curse of Beaker

Written and Illustrated by Roger Langridge

James Gannon - As the werewolf bays to the blood red full moon, and the vampires get set for Daylight Standard Time (earlier hour for them to skulk around, you know), our "Muppet Mash" journey comes to a close with Part Four: The Curse of Beaker.

This time, some weird science is going down at the Muppet Theater, care of one Bunsen Honeydew. Which wouldn’t be too much of a bother on anyone else, but the theater suffers blown fuses and power outages from his latest project. For once, Bunsen actually feels that the work load is overstressing Beaker. Something it apparently took years of explosions and sharpened bananas to do. So, Bunsen decides it’s time for a more robotic assistant. 

After multiple failures with bad artificial computer brains, Bunsen realizes the only way the robot won’t malfunction is if he puts Beakers brain in the robot instead. Of course, Beaker has to make do with putting a Poob named Hugh in his brain’s place (justified only because it says “meep”). And that’s not all... Gonzo has a mishap with his Morris dancing while being shot out of a cannon that leaves him a little hunchbacked, and Miss Piggy gets a shocking new hair style when fidgeting with the fuse box. Add chickens with pitchforks and you get... well, you should know by now.

I’ve seen stories before that focused on Fozzie, Scooter, Kermit, Piggy, and even the band, but this time Bunsen and Beaker get a turn in the spotlight. I don’t even think they managed to get an actual episode of The Muppet Show to become their character piece.  Bunsen is quite mad, but in a logical sense, and deep down, you can tell he does care about Beaker (funny way of showing it trying to remove his brain).

The one thing you won’t find in this issue is "Link Hogthrob, Monster Smasher." Which is a shame, since it was a nice variation on Pigs in Space. A much more subject matter appropriate Vet’s Hospital takes its place, but all the rest of the skits have significance to the plot. Plus, after the Vet’s Hospital skit, Piggy was holed up in her room for a good portion of the issue, refusing to go on--similar to last issue’s Howlin’ Jack story line. 

The Muppet Mash story arc really doesn’t connect outside of being a series of themed issues, though there was a Poob in the Calistoga Cleo arc. I don’t know exactly what a Poob is, if we’re ever going to see them again and how they’ve managed to live without them for so many years. It didn’t really need any major story connecting force (like On the Road, The Treasure of Pegleg Wilson, or Family Reunion had), but it wouldn’t have hurt it too much either if there was some small gag that unified everything.  But it's still a frightfully good read nonetheless.

 

As a whole, this has been a good theme based arc, even though two of the monsters were misunderstandings (one was actually founded, but that’s just Kermit and Scooter’s secret). And it really seemed that two of the issues experimented with guest stars more akin to the actual human guest stars on The Muppet Show. There were other guests before, but they felt like the weird Muppets that just happen to be in one episode and never again (like Angus McGonagle the Gargling Argyle Gargoyle). So, until November’s start of the "Four Seasons" story arc, goodnight out there, WHATEVER you are!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Muppet Comic Mondays: Muppet Mash #3

The Muppet Show Comic Book #10

Muppet Mash Part Three: Monster Munch

Written and Illustrated by Roger Langridge

James Gannon - Muppet Mash features a perfectly-timed Halloween friendly story arc with the last issue to be released in October. But would you believe that the September issue, Issue #3, is the one that actually takes place on Halloween?

For this very special occasion, Kermit has booked the famous (and quite old) Howlin’ Jack Talbot. This legendary blues/rock musician wrote the Halloween favorite, "Monster Munch" (which, as you can expect is a fairly obvious parody of "Monster Mash," performed later this issue). While last issue’s guest star was a favorite of the old coots in the balcony, this guest is a personal inspiration for the house band. Dr. Teeth and the rest of the Electric Mayhem welcome the chance to perform with their idol--except something very strange happens every time they do.  Howlin’ Jack mumbles “not again” and runs off, only to have a giant wolf (which bears an uncanny yet unconnected resemblance to Rowlf) run up on stage in his place, ruining the number even further. 

The old adage that one should never meet their hero holds true, as the Electric Mayhem get frustrated at his repetitive disappearance. Animal still likes him, and nibbles on a large bone he finds in Howlin’ Jack’s dressing room. Of course, two and two are finally put together, begging the question, is Howlin’ Jack’s mysterious secret that he really is a werewolf? All of which leads to a stunning climax, featuring a great performance by Animal and a very twisty-turny double twist of an ending. Oh, and there’s a clever little gag throughout. Silver bullets are the way to defeat a werewolf, and who better to dole it out but the Lonesome Stranger (couldn’t get the rights to the real one, I suppose).

The show opens up with perhaps the maddest version of Little Red Riding Hood a human being from this planet could tell, substituting a perfectly Muppety giant chicken instead of a wolf (and that's the sane part).  Bunsen tests a hair growth formula on Beaker, and Link Hogthrob: Monster Smasher takes on a giant monster attacking the city--a giant puppy. All of these sketches tie into the Werewolf theme to be sure. And it’s nice to see the story line center on the Electric Mayhem once again, after having a very important subplot in the Treasure of Peg leg Wilson arc. The addition of a guest star that’s more like an actual Muppet Show guest makes the thing really feel more like the show. I know Roger was pushing for a guest star related arc, and he managed to pull it off here anyway. And let’s not forget the off kilter musical numbers that deteriorate and just keep going. This is a very wild issue, even without a wolf running around.

One last thing... I can safely say that a major part of not having two variant covers came out of necessity. The cover is actually altered from an unused Mummy themed piece, swapping Howlin’ Jack and the Wolf for the Pharaohs of last issue, making me think that was supposed to be that issue’s variant. As we’ve seen with Family Reunion, some of the covers were supposed to be for different stories (said Guest Star Arc) and were done so far in advance that they had to actually be incorporated into the story somehow. A lot of these stories and concepts did change at last moment (the case with Snow White #4), and to actually have two different covers that don’t match the story (unless the story is changed to match the covers) wouldn’t be cost effective and tricky to work around. At least that’s what I’m getting.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Muppet Comic Mondays: Muppet Mash #2

Congratulations to James Gannon, one of the best comic book reviewers around and our go-to guy for Muppet Comic Mondays, for being quoted on the back of the Fraggle Rock Comic Book #1 trade paperback collection!! It is a huge honor for The Muppet Mindset as a whole and, I assume, for James as well. Congratulations my friend. No one deserves it more!

The Muppet Show Comic Book #9

Muppet Mash #2

Written and Illustrated by Roger Langridge

James Gannon - After that whole messy fiasco of thinking Gonzo was a vampire, now Kermit and the gang have to deal with the next monsters in Muppet Mash, Mummies. And it promises to be even more fun than that Brendan Frasier movie. I’m talking of course about George of the Jungle (see… I made a Brendan Frasier Universal Studios Mummy movie reference… you know who you are). Well, the issue itself doesn’t so much focus on The Mummy, but rather an entire Egyptian theme.

Kermit has booked the legendary Calistoga Cleo and the Pharaohs (no relation to Sam the Sham) to be on the show. Of course, they can just barely afford her after intense haggling with her manager, Mrs. Kippel.  Little does the Frog in Chief know, he is about to really make the day of his two harshest critics, who in an amazing coincidence were just talking about her in the cold opening. In fact, they were so excited by the announcement of their favorite old time Vaudeville act, they even apologize to Fozzie for heckling his act.  Cleo also has a way with the older men, as her opening number will tell you. Yessir… not only do Statler and Waldorf love her act, but they have deeply amorous feelings for her too. This, of course, causes friction between the two of them, leading up to a rotten tomatoes duel, throwing them at the first time at each other.  Fozzie must’ve loved that. What they don’t mention is that Waldorf is a married man. But I’m sure Waldorf would say “Hey, I won’t mention it if you won’t.” Of course, their deep crush on Cleo fizzles out when they learn her ghoulish secret.

Meanwhile, we have a very brief subplot involving Miss Piggy’s vanity. The negative human characteristic that is, not the furniture with a mirror of the same name. Cleo manages to get Piggy to think about her own mortality, worrying over age lines which may or may not exist on her. And of course, Piggy manages to over-react as only Piggy can. Of course, us Muppet fans know she gets a face lift every so often. After all, they carve or cast a new one out of foam all the time.

Now, I have to admit, this is a very good issue, really great character vehicle for Statler and Waldorf, but it isn’t really all that monstery, except for the fact we get another Link Hogthrob Monster Smasher sketch and the fact that one of the characters becomes a Mummy himself. Though, not in the way you’d expect. Above that, Calistoga Cleo has a distinctive look to her. While Roger manages to give a unique spin on certain characters, making them look a little more human (Statler, Waldorf, and the Chef are pretty prime examples), they still have a Muppet flavor to them. Even with special guest characters like Clint Wacky and Creepy McBoo, Cleo looks very human here. It goes without saying, this was clearly a story salvaged from the scrapped “Guest Stars” arc. She even manages to be in two numbers and later to have a backstage conversation with the Muppets, giving it a true Muppet Show guest star feel. It doesn’t even seem to have been altered all that much, especially compared to the fourth installment of Family Reunion, where unused Sherlock Holmes guest star elements were used (which seemed to come out of necessity to recycle an otherwise unused cover).

Speaking of covers, this issue only had one. I’m sure that there’s some economic reasons that started to be the downfall of multiple collectible covers that took effect, awkwardly, the second issue into an arc. While I never bothered getting both covers myself of any BOOM! publications (not even out of choice, in most cases when only one issue remained in the store), I’ll still miss having that option.  

Oh, and apparently I took a quick gander through the newly released Fraggle Rock hard bound comic collection.  Apparently one of my reviews seen here was used as a blurb. I’d probably be flattered, but somehow I feel that they’re desperate for some reviews and there weren’t enough people reading them. And as far as the Fraggle series is concerned, I think a LOT more people should be reading them--and these BOOM! published Muppet ones.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Muppet Comic Mondays: Muppet Mash #1

The Muppet Show Comic Book #8 

Muppet Mash 

Part 1: Chickens of the Night 

Written and Illustrated by Roger Langridge

James Gannon - Another story arc, the fifth one, dawns on The Muppet Show Comic Book: Muppet Mash, a four part saga which will probably hit its finale just before Halloween, as long as the releases go as planned... Which probably explains why we had two issues last month.

Gonzo returns to the theater after a vacation trip to Transylvania, and starts acting strange. He’s wearing a cape, he refuses to go out into the sunlight, he has a weird desire to drink Tomato Juice (kid friendly… meh), shivers at the sight of a garlic steak, and the chickens are wondering around in a dazed state. Add to the fact that Scooter has talked Kermit into a monster themed show because of the popularity of vampire movies.  Yes!They do mention that specifically. I miss the days when vampires were on cereal boxes and had 1970’s cartoon sitcoms where they had Bubble Gum rock bands… you know, back when they had some real dignity!   

It’s not too long before the rest of the crew gets suspicious of his odd behavior.  Kermit is heard to remark, “When he acts strange, you’re never sure if something’s wrong, or if it’s Gonzo being Gonzo.” While Kermit isn’t one to jump to conclusions (weirdness surrounds the frog, after all), the rest of the gang (Sam the Eagle and Miss Piggy especially) believe that Gonzo has become a vampire. This isn’t the first time Gonzo has been associated with vampirism. He did take on the role of Gonzula a couple times on Muppet Babies and he was one of the bosses in the "Muppet Monster Adventure" video game, becoming Noseferatu.

When it comes to the regular features, you always can expect certain rotating Muppet Show segments, so I like to point out some of the outstanding and creative original sketches or alterations to classic skits. The opening act is a very strange, yet fitting, tribute to Ernest Thayer… “Casey IS a Bat,” the story of two garbage men fighting a large, vampirish bat who attacks them on their graveyard shift. All, of course written to the rhythm and scheme of the original poem. And, for a change, Link, Piggy, and Strangepork are NOT Pigs in Space, but rather a gang of monster hunters in “Link Hogthrob: Monster Smaher.” There, Link proves just as effective at tracking down ghouls and goblins as he is at being a Captain. Yep. That bad.

This issue also marks the return of Roger Langridge as a writer/artist. It’s great that we can have guest artists from time to time as a change of pace, but we can’t take the pace for granted, either. There seems to be more sketches than the previous saga, and less of a major overall plot. I gotta say, this is a great issue, but I wish they held the Gonzo is a vampire story as a recurring plot point in the entire Muppet Mash arc, instead of wrapping it up at the end of the issue. But it seems that this arc is going to be more episodic, continuing on a single theme (i.e., Meet the Muppets) than a full on interconnected storyline (Treasure of Peg Leg Wilson).  Not that there’s anything superior or inferior about either. Mummys are on the cover of the next issue, so you know that’s gonna be an interesting story. Plus, teenyboppers didn’t ruin mummys yet. I sure hope they don’t.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier