This week, Boom! Studios introduced their firsts in the Boom! kids line. Boom! pulled no punches with having their first installments being based on the uber-loved properties from Pixar and Jim Henson Productions. As a dad (and kid at heart), neither blew me away, but both were reasonably strong.
The Incredibles #1 (of 4) (Boom! – Waid / Takara)
America’s favorite family of superheroes finally returns, courtesy of legendary scribe Mark Waid (Kingdom Come, The Flash)! The Incredibles face terrifying new villains…and friendly new neighbors, all while Mr. Incredible hides a troubling secret from his costumed clan. Four connecting cover variants by acclaimed artist Michael Avon Oeming!
In the same way that a book loses something when it’s re-written into a movie. Well, I guess the same can be said for a movie being re-written into a comic. All of the characters are there. All of the adventure is there. All of the sharp but familiar interactions are there. All of the components are there… it’s just that the Incredibles are missing some of their charm (at least for the adults) when reading them frame by frame rather than being animated.
It has nothing to do with the creators (both Mark Waid and Marcio Takara are getting the job done), it just might the wrong medium for this property. Not to say it isn’t bad. In fact, as a kids comic, this is great. Very Family-friendly – it is exactly what you want in your kid’s hands. It’s just, I know enough fanboys that
would rank The Incredibles in their top list of movies that will be sad to find out that this “kids book” really is designed for the kids 🙂 So, if you are looking to pick something up for someone under 10 at your local comic shop, This would be your book of choice!
Issue Grade: A-
The Muppet Show Comic Book #1(of 4) (Boom! – Langridge)
The incomparable Roger Langridge (Fred The Clown) brings his absurdist humor to The Muppet Show stage! Longing for the swamp, Kermit forlornly plucks his banjo, while Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo and the entire gang tries to jolly him out of his funk. Packed full of madcap skits and gags, The Muppet Show is sure to please old and new fans alike.
Not unlike the previous book, the hilarious cacophony that was the Muppet Show may not make the transition to the stationary printed page without losing something. Roger Langridge’s writing fits the goofy Muppets cast to a tee. The puns, one-liners and the “play on word” gags are still funny the second time you read them. The only slight negative with the book is Langridge’s stylized art, it feels like someone’s interpretation of what Kermit and crew look like, rather than the real thing.
This book is targeted for the pre-teen and younger and the only way your kids will not enjoy this is if they have no context for Jim Henson’s cast (and then shame on you as a parent :))
Issue grade: B+
