Muppet Comic Mondays: Muppet Snow White #4

Muppet Snow White #4

Written by Jesse Blaze Snider with Patrick Storck

Illustrated by Shelli Paroline

James Gannon - When we last left Muppet Snow White, after two failed attempts to become the Fairest in a five-mile-radius, Miss Piggy gladly leaps onto the prospect of the poisoned apple. This gambit backfires, as Spamella purposely tries to eat it, knowing the story well enough that it would get her the Prince. Considering that Kermit was cast in that role, Piggy wasn’t going to take it lightly. And, as Rizzo convinces them to end the story the Disney way (with a kiss instead of an accidental Heimlich), Piggy seizes the Prince and takes her back to her Castle base.  All the while, Gonzo and Rizzo are stymied for narration as even they can’t tell what happens next.  And the weirdest is yet to come.

This issue opens up with Pepe taking advantage of the situation, working a kissing booth at a buck a try. It seems that he knows all too well that none of them will really wake her up, but he makes a tidy profit in the process.  Let’s just say that some rare Muppets Tonight, and The Muppet Show characters and a character that may or may not be from Futurama are eagerly waiting. Rizzo convinces him to get out of it, but not before Pepe convinces Rizzo to get in on it. Meanwhile, the seven dwarves, and several other characters they met on the way that you probably forgot were there the whole time, stand outside the castle door as Piggy tries to forcibly marry Kermit. Of course, for her to be married, she needs to be divorced to the unseen king, who wasn’t even cast yet. There’s even a possible reference to The Muppets Take Manhattan when the wedding starts, Kermit asking about the legitimacy of the priest. Not wanting any distractions to FINALLY get the frog into her life, Piggy sicks Big Mean Carl the Dwarf Eater and his band of Muppet monsters on everyone that stands in her way. And…uh… the situation deteriorates from there.

Now, this issue is a very fast read due to a LOT of large splash action panels, and it almost seems like they were pressed for an ending. One of the covers was even swapped out due to a complete change of plot, which makes you wonder if there was another ending planned that was either too long, or not as funny and crazy as the one they had here (the latter is what I choose to believe). Let’s just say, there was a dragon on that cover, and there ain’t no dragon in this issue. Plus, there was a dragon battle last series, it would have been a little redundant. It is indeed abrupt, but so totally zany, I don’t think you’d really mind. Besides, what more could really happen at that point? The Disney version had the Dwarfs chase the Queen to a dangerous series of cliffs (leading to the long tradition of Disney villains falling to their deaths clean and off screen).

This has definitely been my favorite of the Muppet Classics so far. As I’ve said in the previous three reviews, it’s like what would have happened if The Muppet Christmas Carol was off the wall zany as the Muppets were intended, and free from having to play second or third to celebrity human stars. It’s a wackier and funnier foray into Snow White than the Muppet Babies version, with Piggy’s Wicked Queen being far more maniacal. The worst part is, it’s very much in Piggy’s character, a very deep glimpse into her darkness.
The writing (odd ending included) is nothing short of Muppet mania at its finest, and Shelli Paroline’s artwork has come quite a way since her Pigs in Space one shot. Like most artists, I hope they keep her around for another Muppet Classics series or when Roger goes on artistic break in the main comic series. And Pepe hasn’t been done better than in this series. His appearances in Robin Hood and Peter Pan seemed lacking, and King Arthur got him right, but he wasn’t used all that much. He’s been portrayed as a greedy, conniving businessman. Was he even ACTING while he was a greedy, conniving businessman? Uh... lessee… Gonzo and Rizzo are at their Christmas Carol best as the narrators… uh… seems Kermit has a smaller role in this series, letting the other characters shine… uh… that’s about it. Great series, check it out. At least buy the graphic novel version. Though, I highly recommend not even waiting for it to hit graphic novel.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Muppet Comic Mondays: Two New Comic Previews

Yesterday our good friends at ToughPigs posted five page previews for both The Muppet Show Comic Book #9 and Muppet Snow White #4. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the five page previews and pick up your own copy of each comic at your local comic book store when they're released this Wednesday, August 25th.

The Muppet Show Comic Book #9 Preview - Written and Illustrated by Roger Langridge

Muppet Snow White #4 Preview - Written by Jesse Blaze Snider with Patrick Storck, Illustrated by Shelli Paroline

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

News Update: August 20, 2010

NEWS UPDATE: August 20, 2010

BOOM! Studios confirmed yesterday that the latest series in the Muppet Classics line of comic books, Muppet Sherlock Holmes, will be released on September 15th. Muppet Sherlock Holmes is being written by Patrick Storck (Muppet Snow White, Muppet King Arthur) and illustrated by friend of the blog Amy Mebberson (Muppet Peter Pan, Family Reunion). With folks like that working on this book, it's bound to be epic! Don't believe me? Then check out Newsarama's preview pages and interview with Patrick Storck and see for yourself!

There are also rumors circulating that The Muppet Show Comic Book #9 and Muppet Snow White #4 will be released next Wednesday, August 25th. If these rumors are indeed true, look for our good friends at ToughPigs to have a five-page preview of both issues before Wednesday!

Speaking of those burly swine, remember a few weeks ago when ToughPigs and The MuppetCast hosted a Muppet fan meet-up event, The Muppet Vault? Well, as it turns out, ToughPigs' own Ryan and Joe have turned The Muppet Vault into a monthly event. That's right, every month in NYC, there will be a new opportunity for Muppet fans to view Muppet rarities on screen! This month's event, The Muppet Vault: Fairy Tales, is being held on September 12 at 2:00pm, once again at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY and only costs $5.00. Be sure to check out ToughPigs' official post for more info and visit the official Muppet Vault Facebook page for even more fun!

In Muppet Mindset news, remember that the last day to submit birthday wishes for The Muppet Mindset's one year anniversary is on Tuesday, August 24th. If you want to join us in celebrating our one year anniversary, submit answers to these three questions (or one, or two)...

What was your favorite memory of The Muppet Mindset's first year?

What would you like to see from The Muppet Mindset in its second year?

What is your birthday wish for The Muppet Mindset?

...to Ryan Dosier at ryguy102390@gmail.com. Your answers will be posted right here on The Muppet Mindset on Wednesday, August 25th to add to our celebration of one whole year of talking about doll wiggling! We really hope for your contribution--because without you, the fans, we would be nowhere, so it only seems right that you celebrate with us!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Muppet Comic Mondays: Muppet Snow White #3

Muppet Snow White #3 

Comic Book Review

James Gannon - After reading Muppt Snow White #3, it has come to my attention that Disney really SHOULD have let writer Jesse Blaze Snider give this series its original title of “Snow White and the Electric Mayhem.” The band's combined role as the 7 dwarves (or dwarfs, which is oddly acceptable) has totally taken over the show. Of course, all the characters equally try to steal the spotlight from each other. That’s the Muppets all over! It can also be argued in the Disney version that the Dwarfs (Dwarves) were the best part--especially Grumpy and Dopey. But let’s not get into that.

Pepe’s management of the Seven Dwarfs (or Dwarves) led them into a very explosive gig in a nightclub. And since Crazy Harry--a spy for Queen Piggy--is the pyrotechnics guy, that’s quite literal. The second failure in trying to kill Snow White to become the fairest of them all. The original Snow White story did feature the queen trying to kill Snow White three times. Fairy Tales ALWAYS have to have the three. That is to say, the comic got the deadly ribbon/lace part right. This version swaps out the sale of a poison comb to said explosion. Good call. Of course, Piggy knows her fairy tales. She still has to come a third time and sell her the poison apple. There’s a twist, though… Snow White ALSO knows the story, and wants to eat it all the more, causing Piggy to fight over it. And we all know how the story goes (though not all that well, as Gonzo later points out). She eats it, Prince Kermit has to save her. But as we all know the Muppets, all Hades breaks loose, and the only thing you can count on is mayhem (and I’m not referring to the band).

Again, this issue manages to get Gonzo’s struggle to tell the story the classical way, while Rizzo tells it the more famous Disney way. And, as before, Disney references are a-plenty. The Mayhem even manage to spin their own versions of songs from that movie. There is such an amazing amount of coloring effects in this issue, from the club concert at the beginning to a scene with Beaker repeatedly getting electrocuted (I hope that sounds as ambiguous as it can… of course, 90% of the time you know he’s gonna get zapped). And there’s some nice references to 1960’s and 70’s music posters in the opening splash page, featuring characters who will appear in the issue. One of them though, is Lew Zealand (accidentally misspelled as Lew Zeland by the artist) and he doesn’t actually appear in the issue. Of course I figure… E-gad, do I have to say it? Ugh… of course, that could always be a Red Herring. But you’ll see a LOT of cameos in this one, as always.  One of those characters even mentions this was the only way she could get into the comic.

As I said, this issue ends in such an unexpected (but almost predictable in the character’s personality) way that we can only imagine what happens in issue 4. I’m sitting on the edge of my seat right now!

We apologize for the lack of pictures in the article this week. Due to ComicCon this weekend, BOOM! Studios was unable to send preview pages to our good friends ToughPigs, where we get the pictures for our articles. We hope to be able to update the article with pictures soon! Thank you for your understanding.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier 

Muppet Comic Mondays: Muppet Snow White #2

Muppet Snow White #2 
Comic Book Review

James Gannon - You know... these things are a lot easier to review when you've read the whole series.  Doing it issue by issue, there are some details that would get overlooked otherwise.  So without any sort of  witty or clever opening, here's Muppet Snow White 2.

Considering this is a Disney license based on a story that Disney made famous as the first in their long line of animated features, references to that version are ubiquitous. Show of hands, who here has ever bothered to read the ACTUAL Snow White? It's pretty long, contrived and a bit disturbing (for starters, Snow White is 12). Anyway, we have the established 7 Dwarfs performed by the Electric Mayhem and their manager, Scooter. And of course, they have the Disney names attached. Dr. Teeth is Doc, Janice is Happy, Floyd is Grumpy, Animal is Sneezey, Zoot is Sleepy, Lips is Bashful, and Scooter is Dopey, mainly because he hasn't got them a good gig in 25 years. Of course, these are their stage names, and they do refer to each other, accidentally, by their actual names.

The gang comes home and finds their place has been completely cleaned up, with Snow White, Spamella Hamderson, sleeping in their bed. After an introductory scene later (harking back to their introductory scene in The Muppet Movie), they decide to keep Spamella on as a housemaid, and kick Scooter out of the band under Pepe's suggestion. There's a LOT of in-jokery here. I especially liked how the good Doctor mentioned that Lips never had enough face time to develop a personality.

Lest we forget, there's also the wicked queen to contend with. Still bitter that she's not the fairest in the land (which, as I always said in any version of Snow White, the queen shouldn't even be in the running after trying to kill Snow White in the first place), and presumably Spamella will wind up getting Kermit in the end, she hires two fan-favorites as assassins: Uncle Deadly and Crazy Harry. That's something the Disney version neglected to do, any actual plot-line that didn't involve the Dwarfs from the moment she ran away to the moment she ate the apple.

Speaking of the Dwarfs, since they're one short, they have to hold a casting audition for the next member.   Now, if you REALLY want to be surprised and didn't see the cover for the third issue yet, don't read the rest of this paragraph. But I might as well come clean and tell you it's Rowlf. I guess the original plan (at least according to the interview with the writer) was to have a rare character from The Jim Henson Hour as the 7th Dwarf, but I'm guessing some higher up twisted the writer's arm to get him another way. I'm not disappointed, and neither should you be, but I was kinda hoping Digit would get some page time in one of these things. The magic of these comics, though, is that you can have extended scenes featuring characters performed by the same puppeteer and it feels totally natural. it really is a shame that ol' Brown Ears and the Gold Tooth never got any conversation time together until now.

There really isn't much else I can keep ambiguous after saying that, but Harry and Deadly manage to stick around, there's a GREAT scene with Bobo, and it closes with a hilarious tirade about the poison apple from the Muppet you'd expect tirades from. This review doesn't do it justice. And Gonzo and Rizzo's interplay throughout the issue is as good as or even better than in those two classic retelling movies that their roles are clearly inspired by. Like I said last time, it's like they took the BEST stuff from Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island and condensed them into this comic.

Oh, and even though this is a Muppet blog, I'd lose all cartoon comic credibility if I didn't highly suggest checking out BOOM!'s Darkwing Duck series after you get this issue. The art is by Muppet King Arthur's James Silvani. If you love the Masked Mallard as much as I do, you're gonna love the amazing job they're doing with that title also.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

Muppet Comic Mondays: Muppet Snow White #1

This week we officially add a new member to our highly unpaid "staff." You know him, you love him, he writes all of the comic book reviews since I can't seem to get one on time if I tried, ladies and gentlemen, Mister James Gannon. Yes, James will now officially be named the Muppet Comic Guru and will provide us with Muppet Comic Mondays articles consistently from now on. Thanks to James for all of his great work and I'm excited to work with you as an official "staff" member! Now enough blabbing, here's the review!

Muppet Snow White #1

Written by Jesse Blaze Snider with Patrick Storck

Illustrated by Shelli Paroline

James Gannon - The Muppet Classics comics keep getting better with every series. The fourth installment, Muppet Snow White, seems to be my favorite of the bunch so far, giving stiff competition to Muppet King Arthur and Muppet Peter Pan. The Muppets are no stranger to this tale. After all, they did perform the story in that episode of Muppet Babies. And Animal was hitting on a park employee dressed like her in The Muppets at Walt Disney World.

Gonzo and Rizzo, in a role harking back to The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island, portray the Grim Brothers. They narrate the tale and comment (and even interact) on the action as only they could. Rizzo even comments on the fact that the real Grim Brothers didn’t even write the tale, and only took credit for it (piquing his interests in making money). Later in the issue, Gonzo tries fruitlessly to tell Rizzo that certain scenes are only in the popular movie edition of the story, which is also the subject of satire here. I’ve always felt the Gonzo/Rizzo parings were the best parts of those two movies, and this series seems to get only the best possible aspects of them: the Muppets messing around the story as loosely as possible. And no human stars that turn them into second string characters either. The Wicked Queen is, once again, Miss Piggy. Unlike the Muppet Babies story, she takes the role on purpose, and she heaps abuse on her nervously apologetic magic mirror (a role that’s aptly cast as Fozzie Bear). Little does she know who wound up getting the leading role (and her frog).

That’s right, it’s Muppets Tonight’s Spamella Hamderson. Even the narrators are shocked that the Snow White beauty is bleached blond. Blame her agent, Pepe the King Prawn, in his best comics appearance yet. Much like the last bunch of Muppet Movies, he steals EVERY scene he’s in, haggling and bargaining and having his say in the story. He even gets the idea to merchandise his wacky sidekick role, a truly backhanded compliment towards Disney. Of course, Piggy can’t stand the fact that such a terrible actress, only hired because of her looks (which Pepe apparently enjoys) is going to wind up with Prince Kermit (who seems semi-reluctant in his role), making it all the more personal (and almost reminiscent of the Muppet Babies episode, only deeper and funnier). And as we all know the story, we all know what’s coming. Oh! And Bobo’s here too, so you know it’s gonna be fun.

But you can’t have Snow White without Dwarfs. And who are these dwarfs? The Electric Mayhem, of course. Not only do we get the five iconic members, but the band also includes Lips. While Lips isn’t the most prolific member, he is a fan favorite, and appeared with the band in the last season of The Muppet Show and for a while after. Their introduction so far is just the cleverest spoof of the iconic Dwarf song I’ve ever heard (or in this case, read). The seventh member (so far) is Scooter, their band manager who has them play in diamond mines. You know he’s not going to stay their long. In fact, the working title was to be Snow White and the Electric Mayhem, but was changed to be more consistent with the rest of the Muppet Classics line.

As with every one of the sub-series, we have a new writer and a different artist. Shelli Paroline, who did the artwork for Pigs in Space (The Muppet Show Comic Book #0), seems to make her cartoony style to the next level, giving it an even smoother feel than before, and even perfecting Muppet likenesses since the last time. Those eyelid glasses of Dr. Teeth have confounded Muppet artists in the past, but even she makes it work in her style. As for the writing, Jessie Blaze Snider (with Patrick Storck) nails each Muppet's character.  Even taking on the tough task of writing for Spamella (which, frankly, even the Muppets Tonight writers had trouble with). The end result is absolutely wonderful. If you liked The Muppet Christmas Carol or Muppet Treasure Island, you’ll love that it’s the same tone, but MUPPETS ONLY.

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier

News Update: May 21, 2010

NEWS UPDATE: May 21, 2010

• Exciting news out of The Muppets Studio this week, as it was confirmed by Nicholas Stoller on more than one occasion that The Muppets and the Muppeteers and presumably most people who will be involved, had a table read for The Greatest Muppet Movie of All Time. This is extremely exciting news, as it basically nails the fact that this movie is indeed getting made. The following sources have varying information about the table read and the upcoming filming:
• Collider.com confirms the filming will start this this September
• Chud.com was the first to break the news thanks to an interview with Nicholas Stoller
• ComingSoon.net said that James Bobin knows who Uncle Deadly is
• Our good friends at ToughPigs discuss what exactly this means for the movie
• The Muppets appeared on LOST Slapdown again this week, this time auditioning for the role of the Smoke Monster on the series.
• Hi-def video from The Muppets Studio
• Region-free YouTube video available for viewing outside the US

• Muppet Snow White #1 came out this Wednesday from BOOM! Studios. Our good friends at ToughPigs have a preview and a review. It's a super-awesome comic already (what else did you expect from BOOM!) and you can expect The Muppet Mindset's review on Monday!
• Finally, Muppet Wiki now has its own Facebook page! Become a fan (or Like it, or whatever) and get all the goodness of Muppet Wiki while you procrastinate!

The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier