Bill and Ted Most Triumphant Return #1

Bill & Ted #1

by Brian Lynch

Bill and Ted must now fulfill their destiny to become the inspiration for galactic harmony, but at what cost! In an adventure of epic proportions, one change to the future will set the Wyld Stallyns on atime-travellingodysseyof music, villainy, history, and excellence! From Brian Lynch (" After the Fall"; screenwriter of"Minions") and Jerry Gaylord ("Fanboys vs. Zombies"), experienceBill and Ted's most triumphant return! Also featuring short stories from Ryan North ("Unbeatable""Squirrel Girl"), Kurtis Wiebe ("Rat Queens"), Christopher Hastings ("The Adventures of Dr. McNinja"), Ian McGinty ("Bravest Warriors"), and many more!"

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Humor

Comic

First published February 17, 2016

About the author

Brian Michael Lynch is an American film and comic book writer.

Reviews

[Sean Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a non-non-non-non-non heinous way to pass an hour? I might suggest that you undertake an anatomically impossible (for most people) act, but that wouldn’t take more than 90 seconds (zing!), so you’d still need to fill the next 58.5 minutes with something. To do that, look no further than Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return.

Point of note: I just barely squeaked into being born in the 70s (through no doing of my own, I might add, parental procreational cycles being beyond the control of pre-embryonic me), but I’m a child of the 80s through and through. And, as a loyal and devoted 80s-phile (better than being a necrophile, right?), I have a fierce love for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure for a number of reasons: genius high concept, hilarious execution, winning performances, Dave Beethoven, the introduction of the insult “medieval dickweed” into the global lexicon…what’s not to love? More than any of those things, however, I love that it’s completely unironic. Bill S. Preston, Esquire, and Ted “Theodore” Logan are completely unself-aware, incapable of dissembling, and unfathomably moronic, which makes them the sweetest doofuses (doofi?) to ever grace the silver screen. The 90s begat a slew of Bill & Ted protégées, from Wayne & Garth to Beavis & Butthead, but all of those subsequent buddy slacker duos displayed varying degrees of ironic detachment and ennui. (One could argue that Bill & Ted themselves share DNA with other diptacular duos that preceded them—Bob and Doug Mackenzie come foremost to mind—but there’s a freshness to Bill & Ted’s pop-culture conversant, well-meaning goofiness that makes them feel like their own branch of that evolutionary tree.)

Unlike those who came after, however, Bill & Ted were entirely genuine, and it’s their inherent sweetness that makes the turned-up-to-11 surfer speak they spout seem charming instead of tiresome, and that same sweetness that keeps us rooting for our heroes no matter how weird things get. (Then again, maybe I just enjoyed Alex Winter’s midriff-baring shirt and delightful abs.) (Note: I did not particularly enjoy Alex Winter’s midriff-baring shirt and delightful abs. Not a wardrobe choice I would have made. Unless maybe I have an important meeting at work. Then I might rock that look.)

When I saw this book on the rack at a bookstore, I naturally approached it with all due skepticism, but flipping through just a few pages showed me that my understandable trepidation was misguided. Brian Lynch manages to pull off the tough trick of paying homage and being true to the source material while making the characters his own in a time-traveling tale that feels like a mashup between the first and second movies and the first season of the Bill & Ted cartoon that aired in 1990. The tale finds our heroes traveling forward in time to stop the machinations of the nefarious Chuck DeNomolos (whom you may recall from Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey) from killing their future selves. Needless to say, that set up allows for the inclusion of a bevy of characters and references from the movies (“STATION!”), and, at times, the plot feels secondary to working in those cameos and allowing Bill & Ted ample space to interact—an approach that works because it’s so well executed (the art, which is a bit on the cartoony side, suits the story nicely).

I like to call the perpetual loop of a creative property being released, achieving success, fading away, and then cycling back to popularity in multiple mediums as its original fans achieve an age at which they want to both regain a piece of their childhood and share favorites form the past with their own children “Derivative Reformation Into Various Eclectic Layouts” (or DRIVEL). Most DRIVEL is, well, drivel, but this book is worthy DRIVEL.

It’s possible that I’m just getting softer as I get older (insert jokes here, peanut gallery), but perhaps more than I ever have before, I appreciate the idea of a story that doesn’t feel the need to conceal any hint of genuine feeling in the archest of ironical tones, one that aspires to be nothing more than the honest and simple tale of a couple of good-hearted dunderheads who save the world with music after gallivanting through time in a jacked up phone booth. And, it’s hard to suggest a better guiding principle in life than “be excellent to each other.”

I’m off now to go be excellent to at least one person today—and then to party on, because everything’s changed…there’s computers…

SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do we really need more Bill and Ted 25 years later? If your answer is "Yes", then you'll enjoy this series. Lynch does an admirable job of extending the spirit of the movies and serving us a capable plot.

Received a free copy from Boom and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thanks to NetGalley, as usual. They continue to advocate for books, and I’m happy to support them (and by extension, up and coming authors!) But that in no way impacts my reviews.

So, Boom Comics. Yeah. They’ve certainly found their “Sweet Spot” of late, and I could not be more thrilled! I’ve enjoyed all their “Retro Pop Culture” adaptations, with an especially soft spot for both “Big Trouble in Little China”, and “Back to the Future”.

To their credit, Boom hires writers who “Get” these properties, and they cater to the core audience, while at the same time trying to revitalize the franchises for a new generation. With “Big Trouble” and “Back to the Future”, it seems easier than it would be for “Bill and Ted.” Both BTTF and Big Trouble have some genre tropes and staple concepts to latch onto. With Bill and Ted, the movies were very much a send-up of pop-culture of the 80’s, and are very definitely rooted in that time period.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised by this collection! True, it certainly didn’t add anything new or mind-bending to the franchise, but (as I mentioned) the author and artist just “Get It”. This title really captures the spirit and feel of the movies, while still doing justice to our lovable muppets, and it’s nice to get a comic update/adaptation that still retains a little of its innocence in the process.

Final verdict? A solidly entertaining 3.5 stars. And I will certainly read more if this title returns!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in the 90's, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and its sequel Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey was a big part of my early teen years, and; along with Wayne's World; had a fairly big role to play in my worldview (and my most-excellent non-heinous usage of English, dudes).

Who wouldn't love a story about two lovable, good-natured doofuses traveling time to learn important lessons, so that one day (when they're all grown up) they can achieve their greatness, and bring harmony and joy to the world.

B&TEA taught a generation to "be excellent to each other" and showed historical figures like Abe Lincoln not as staid, boring figures of legend but as human, flawed, doofy and funny. The cast sold the story with their genuine joy and enthusiasm, and the quirky stories were silly fun with a message: believe in yourself, and don't be afraid to ask others with more skill and experience for help: a most excellent society is built on connections .

I'm happy to report that the comic book versions of Bill S. Preston (esquire) and Theodore "Ted" Logan are true to form, picking up right where Bogus Journey left off.  Having righteously won the battle of the bands, the dudes are faced with the most odious pressure to follow up with a second song.

Intimidated, they decide cheat a little by traveling to the future to listen to the by-now-a-classic tune. Of course, the course of truly excellent dudes never did run way smooth, and the Wild Stallyns soon find themselves on yet another wild ride through time.

The art is an early-90's-hued joy to behold, capturing the aesthetic perfectly. It really does feel like a bodacious vacation in 1990, and I had a sudden hankering to wear daisies and listen to Dee-Lite.

Yes (way), the story is silly, but that's kind of the point, and the writing manages to keep it on the clever side of silly. If you loved the movies, and you approach the comic with the same mindset, you'll find Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return completely upbeat and optimistic and just plain fun! Party on!



Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Read more reviews like this at my blog!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far superior to the original run of comics from the 90's. A tighter story with an actual antagonist (although one recycled from the 2nd film) makes for a better experience. Rufus gets short shrift again, thinking to much about the actual time travel will hurt the brain, and the collection of shorts at the end is more filler than anything, but all together a good read.

Addendum - Maybe the above review was influenced by liquor or rose colored glasses. I accidentally reread this 7 years later and it wasn't good enough to spark a single memory that maybe I'd encountered it before. Never a good sign.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill and Ted fans will likely enjoy this a great deal. Non-Bill and Ted fans will probably find this inane if not outright annoying. I have nothing but sympathy for the latter group. Yours is a world, I can only imagine, so humorless that De Nomolos himself would be proud.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I didn't know this one existed. I stumbled upon it while looking for another comic. Nostalgia made me decide to pick it up. I don't whether the much talked about third movie will ever see the light of day but given that this follows on straight after the second film was very intriguing to me.

Sadly I don't think Bill and Ted are best suited in a written format. Where other movies etc have been done well as a comic B&T became repetitive rather quickly. The zany and wacky situations that are fun to see on screen didn't fully work for me, the use of "Bogus" "Most heinous" and such like (quintessential to the characters) became tiresome to read and the plot went along too long.

There was some good moments but that's all they were, moments. After the main story there were little mini episodes that showed things like how Missy met Bill's dad. Again good moments but not enough to consider this a good comic.

I wish I'd got this from the library. It's not one I'll be keeping as I have no plans to revisit it. Definitely an example of nostalgia helping to make a decision that I otherwise wouldn't have gone for.

Live and learn I guess

Party on Dudes.

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

I was interested to revisit the adventures of Bill and Ted. We are inserted right after the second movie finishes and get caught up in hijinks.

I was getting rather bored towards the end and couldn't wait for it to finish. The story was alright, the art was decent, but I feel it works better in movie format.

Disappointed. :-( Let's see if the third movie happens and would this comic be cannon?

[Dione Basseri · Rating 3 out of 5]

EDIT: OH. So one thing that did PISS me off here was an off-hand remark that Bill and Ted end up inspiring the British to create a character who travels time in a phone booth. And I just...no. Bill and Ted: 1989. Doctor Who: 1963. Get off.



So, going into this, you need to recognize it for what it is: the continuation of a cult classic, with a few modern sensibilities, though not an entirely modern feel. While the artwork certainly feels modern, the stories themselves seem like they were sitting on some executive's desk for ages, waiting for another movie, before finally being released to the comic artist.

The over-arching story of this is the combination of Bill and ted trying to write their second smash hit, and their attempts to redeem the villain De Nolmos. It's got a certain "Back to the Future" feel, as you would expect from an 80s story about time travel. Lots of "got to go back and fix it" happening here.

Bill and Ted are still not the most...advanced of thinkers, though. While the comic avoids lechery on anyone's part (rather nice, actually), the few women that appear in the story feel like set pieces. Some will object that there is one story entirely about Bill and Ted's wives, but seriously? The plot is that the girls find their destiny in keeping their husband's safe from the more subtle, political villainies, thus further wrapping up their stories with Bill and Ted's, rather than giving the women their own importance.

So, while I didn't find myself hating this comic, I wasn't really that impressed. I don't see myself thinking to recommend it o its own, but certainly it could come up in a conversation about the original movies.

But, really, when are those ever going to come up again?

[Zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return is a comic book that I feel like I have waited my whole life for, despite the fact that my liking of the Bill & Ted franchise has only been for about 20 years of my life. Yes, that might be a good majority of it as of this writing, but semantics people.

There is really not a lot I can say about the story of this comic - immediately following the events of Bogus Journey, and thus wiping the previous comics from canon - that won't somehow spoil what happens. I can say there is a lot of time travel, a lot of seeing how Bill and Ted effect the people around them, and a lot of excellent adventures.

As Alex Winters puts it in the foreword: there is no suckage. This is a most triumphant return of two characters who are likely the nicest characters I've ever come across. I am one of the many waiting on the third movie and I really hope it doesn't become prey to retro-cynicism and stays idealistic because it's such an important part of the films. The comic knows that as well: Bill and Ted's message of "be excellent to each other" is clear within the stories told, and their rise to fame being based around that simple idea is one that makes me smile.

This is most non-bogus, fellow lovers of reading. I sincerely suggest picking up a copy and checking it out for yourself. Also, completely sincerely, from the bottom of my heart:

Be Excellent to Each Other... and Party On, Dudes!

[Piper Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book. My honest review follows.

Dude!

This comic takes place like a Bill and Ted movie3. Taking place pretty much right after the end of the second film. I really liked it!

The writers did a great job of translating our beloved dudes to comic form. Not only did they look great, but they really felt the like the same characters. I could hear the dialogue in Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves' voice. They were still very silly, but sweet and goodhearted. Not always the easiest feat! There are plenty of favorite characters ( Rufus, Death, Station etc) and plenty of new characters to keep it familiar, but not a retread

Another thing I liked was the lovely little foreword from Alex Winter, who I wish we heard from more. As well as the small collection of mini comics. They were a lot of fun.

I definitely recommend it especially to Bill and Ted fans, and cravers of 80's nostalgia. for a younger audience I would rexommend watching the 2 films first.

Be excellent to each other.

[Cale · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Read as Single Issues)

There's something about Bill & Ted that didn't translate to comics quite right. I think it's that their use of unnecessarily long words interrupts the flow on paper where it didn't on screen. That's the only thing that really seems off here; as Bill & Ted are trying to come up with a second song, which makes them try to change the future, which of course leads to multiple time periods, alternate dimensions, and ultimately a face off with their killer De Nomolos (it's been a long time since I watched the second movie, so I had completely forgotten this plot point, but it's the crux of this volume). There's a fair bit of action, lots of goofy dialog and odd but effective thinking, and some funny moments. There's not a lot of historical character cameos, and Death doesn't really show up until the last couple issues, which means Bill & Ted carry the series on their own shoulders, and that does get a little tired by the end. But overall it's light-hearted fun, with art that is perhaps a bit too busy but still effective. Some of the short stories that are included actually stand up better than the main plot (although I may just be saying that because I think Erica Henderson gets a cameo in Ryan North's Nigerian E-mail scam one, which is probably the best of the bunch).
If you're missing Bill & Ted, this might not hit the spot entirely, but it will serve as a reminder of what it is about the characters that made their movies last.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return' by Brian Lynch is the sequel we didn't think we'd get. I'm not sure some of us wanted one either.

Starting with a pretty decent interview by Alex Winter, the story then starts with all kinds of chaos. Bill and Ted are living the dream with little Bill and Ted and the princesses, but their future isn't as secure as they thought it was. While they look for lyrics to their second hit, they find someone who is not a fan of Bill and Ted.

The movies are fun because you have airheads Bill and Ted, but you also have the historical figures that showed up along the way. What this story is, is just the airhead parts. Death shows up as a supporting character and some of the other historical folks make cameos. Instead, it's a story of these characters trying to fix their timeline. It's fine for what it is, but I was hoping for a better story.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from BOOM! Studios and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Lindsey Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return, the time-traveling, air-guitar-strumming duo from the classic 80s films pick right back up where they left off. This time, they try to befriend De Nomolos during a visit to the future, but instead they've messed up their own future most heinously. The comic does a very good job of keeping the characters and humor from the original movies alive, while continuing the storyline with an original plot. There are also little shorts at the end, featuring plots such as a scam email and Missy invoking the ghost of Einstein to pass an exam. If you're looking for a totally non-non-non bogus way to spend your time, this graphic novel is it.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.

[AquaMoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

🤘🏻Station!🤘🏻

This was published in 2016. And reading it now, in 2024, a few years after viewing the Official third (and final) movie where the actual Cannon story was continued/concluded, was most unusual. But since we're talking a story about time travel here, a topic where alternate timelines are entirely possible, I'll let it go and treat it like fan fiction. Also, whose to say this storyline didn't happen in an alternate version of Bill & Ted 3? It was cute... Still, I'm glad the third movie didn't go the route of this comic. It was far too similar to the storyline of Back to the Future 2.

There's a joke in here about seven forbidden words one must never speak in the alternate future. It's a line spoken by Rufus... The older readers will totally get this reference while it will slide over the heads of the kiddos. Kind of like when a somewhat naughty joke is included in an animated movie. I commend the authors for this. Thank you!

As for More Cowbell...

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I opened this book and saw the phone directory-style credits pages, I felt like the writer and art team working on this comic had "got it". And they have: the characters and their dialogue feel right, the story is both fun and consistent in terms of what we'd expect from a Bill and Ted adventure. And it's laugh-out-loud funny.

This book also includes 6 "B-sides", shorter tales that are fun and which show off varying art styles.

Thankfully, the title is accurate. It is indeed a most triumphant return for everyone's favourite pair of air-guitaring music obsessives.

Excellent!

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fun dive into what's makes Bill and Ted special to their fans. Set immediately after the events of the first film we see the duo under pressure to write a new song and find a way to support their most excellent families. They go to the future for inspiration and end up trying to help their greatest enemy. It's tangent city afterwards as the guys race through several possible futures, trying to fix their own

[Preston Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare when something like this works, a comic book series detailing future (or past) adventures of Bill and Ted? Normally, that sounds like a mess, but this series only added to the awesome characters that were established in the first two movies. It also reminds me of the Back to the Future comics which added a lot to a already great franchise. I understand the uneasiness, but this is a great book worth of the (Air Guitar Riff) "Excellent!" Bill and Ted.

[Terry Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some clever concepts collapse under the weight of some quite frankly ugly art and hard to follow storytelling. Bill and Ted remain the two lovable dudes from the films, but unlike the movies this six part story is rarely funny and when placed next to Evan Dorkin’s always amusing stories for Marvel featuring the same cast of characters, this collection pales in comparison.

[Joel Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picks up where the movies leave off. If you read this using the voices of Bill and Ted in your head, it's quite enjoyable. The backup stories, save for one, are not nearly so 'excellent' as the feature tale.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most non-heinous. \m/

[Paxton Holley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I little disappointed.

[Rohan Loos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Triumphant!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the absolute perfect spirit, hilarious and adorable.

[Shaun McAlister · Rating 4 out of 5]

A world of my childhood

A very nice return to the universe of Bill & Ted that formed such a large part of my childhood

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most triumphant sequel to the movies

[Clara · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's actually kind of an accomplishment for a comic book to feel this slow.

[Gina Zappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Bill & Ted, what, am I gonna not like it?! Absurd.

[Tabby Shiflett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for Bill and Ted fans and movie cult followers. This graphic novel keeps with the mood and idea of the movie and the text and storylines do as well. Yes, it's cheesy, but so was the original stories in the original formats. There's one main story, then a few extra short ones at the end (with different artists for each, it appears).

Net Galley Feedback

[Mike Jozic · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Bill and Ted and I was really hoping for something special here but, unfortunately, this return to comics was a bit less than triumphant. The story is kind of a throw-away and, honestly, not that worthy of the characters or the films. Also, six issues was way too long to drag this thing out and it feels more like a protracted episode from the animated series than anything else. A season two episode, mind you, not one from the surprisingly charming season one.

The art was also way too cartoony for the material and I found it to be a huge detractor to the story and overall experience.

The Most Triumphant Return was a pleasant enough diversion and exists as a curiosity more than anything else in my mind. Many of the creative teams working on the back-up stories would have been more suited to handling the chores on the main book but we got what we got instead.

Such is life.

I am looking forwars to reading the second volume, Bill and Ted Go To Hell, as it is a different creative team and from what I can tell of their short story with the princesses in this first volume, there's hope for a true return worthy of the great ones.

Be excellent to each other!