The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet The Muppets

The Muppet Show #1

by Roger Langridge

They're back! THE MUPPET SHOW as written and drawn by the incomparable Roger Langridge! Packed full of madcap skits and gags, The Muppet Show Comic Book is certain to please old and new fans alike! If you have a favorite Muppet, chances are it's featured in this show-stopping collection!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics, Middle Grade, Fiction, Comics Manga

112 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2009

About the author

Roger Langridge has been producing comics for over twenty years. Most recently, he has attracted critical attention for his work on the Harvey Award-winning Muppet Show Comic Book (Boom! Studios) and Thor: The Mighty Avenger (Marvel Comics); other works of note include Marvel's Fin Fang Four, Fantagraphics' Zoot! and Art d'Ecco (in collaboration with his brother Andrew), and the NCS, Ignatz, Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated comic book Fred the Clown. He currently lives in London with his wife Sylvie, their two children and a box of his own hair.

Reviews

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to explain cartoonist Roger Langridge's exact accomplishments on this book without sounding like one's over-praising what he's done here. Essentially, this is just the original Muppet Show, represented as a comic book (four individual comic books, actually, collected into this trade paperback). What's so remarkable is that the Muppet Show was, of course, a television show, and thus shouldn't really be transferable to the comics medium, but Langridge manages it, essentially be putting on a one-man version of the show, in which he constructs the sets and puppets himself, writes all the material, and then performs all of the characters himself, using only paper and ink. The end result is completely true to the show, completely true to the comics medium and, somehow, completely true to Langridge's own particular style. Even if one doesn't appreciate the source material, this is still a work to be held up and admired from a craft perspective.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can get past the fact that the Muppet characters don't look right (this is something that is probably easier for frequent comic readers to do than myself), this comic is entertaining, creative, and quite true to the Henson characters I already know and love. The variety show element of the Muppet Show seems perfectly suited to the pacing and visual format of the comic book, and Langridge does a nice job of incorporating the skits from the show (Pigs in Space, Veterinarians Hospital, etc) with his own story lines regarding each of the comic's main characters (Kermit, Piggy, Gonzo, and Fozzie). If nothing else, I felt that he might have been a bit more creative in coming up with his own material. While the specific plot lines devoted to each character were not re-hashes of those on the Muppet Show, they picked up similar themes (Piggy's jealousy, Fozzie's unfunniness, Gonzo's ambiguous species). I think future installments might benefit from more new stories.

[Jeff Lanter · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of the Muppet Show and Graphic Novels, I thought I'd take a chance on this new series and I'm so glad I did. The writer does an excellent job of capturing the unique humor of The Muppet Show. I would argue that the humor is slightly more adult than the Muppet Show used to be (not in content, it just takes a certain age to get some of the jokes), but that doesn't really bother me. The only thing that is a little off putting is seeing Fozzie give the occasional toothy grin or a few other slight reminders that this is a comic and the Muppets are not puppets like I'm used to. That is very minor though and if you like the show at all, you really should give this series a chance. It is cheap online and represents good value for money. Mostly importantly, you'll be reminded of a great show that puts most contemporary kid's and adult's entertainment to shame.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's everything you loved about the Muppet Show...except in a comic book. If you read it out loud and do the voices, it's just like doing the show...you will need to do this for the Swedish Chef or it's not as funny. My favorite segment in this one is the four frogs that eat the exploding beans.

There are four distinct stories.
1. Kermit seems distant and the Muppets try to cheer him up.
2. Fozzie has issues finding good material for a cheese convention
3. No one knows what species Gonzo is.
4. A fortune teller tells Miss Piggy that she will lose something green.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw it, I knew I had to read as I am a huge Muppet Show fan. It was well done and captured the crazy zaniness that is the show, though some of the drawings of the characters seemed a bit off (I guess that's the transferring them from puppets to print though, loses something in translation). I loved that the author added Veterinarian's Hospital and Pigs in Space sketches from the show, as they are my favorites with the funniest and most random gags. All in all, a good beginning to what I'm hoping is a comic/graphic novel series.

[Peyton · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is only one word to describe this book: delightful.

Langridge captures the warmhearted zaniness of the Muppets as only a fan could. Each voice is pitch-perfect, each action is right on target. I despise the character design (too angle-y and impressionistic), but the writing more than makes up for it. My biggest fear as I started the comic was that it wouldn't be funny, but it's just as hilarious as an episode of the TV show. As a lifelong Muppet fan, I give this book my wholehearted approval.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's good, but I don't think it captures the feel of the show as much as other folks who have reviewed it think. I'm not sure it's possible to capture the spontaneity and quick wit of the original in written form: there's something about voices and muppet expressions and sounds and music that make the Muppet Show more than just a bunch of stories and sketches. I respect Langridge's dedication to the material, but it's not quite there for me.

[Jake Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd read the first issue way back when and loved it, but for some reason, never picked up the trade until now. Langridge's take on the Muppets is absolutely perfect -- as others have said, a masterclass on how to do licensed adaptations. It's not only funny in all the right ways, but it has as much heart as the best episodes of the show. Truly wonderful stuff.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, but then I used to watch the actual show. I could hear many of the voices in my mind. However, I took one star, because anyone who has not seen the TV show might find the book chaotic. Overall great art and great storylines. I agree with previous comments. It is quite an accomplishment to transfer that show to book.

[Christiane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very funny and well-drawn. I didn't watch The Muppet Show as a kid so I can't tell how faithful it is to the TV show but it's a kids comic and most kids won't know the show either--- it's good even if you don't know the characters!

[Dave-O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty writing and the inclusion of 'skits' as in the actual Muppet Show break the individual stories up in an unusual and wholly fun way.

Written for adults -particularly those of us that grew up with the original show- but of course it is great for all ages!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this was just like watching an episode of The Muppet Show. Funny, irreverent, completely ridiculous, and I could hear the character voices perfectly in my mind when I read the text. The art was a bit shaky at times, but characters were still easily identifiable.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing comic book adaptation of The Muppet Show. The jokes are fairly standard Muppet fare; but lack the repeated comic genius of the original show. That being said, I laughed several times and enjoyed the book.

[Duane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable read for anyone who fondly remembers the Muppet Show. The illustrations are very good and the humor reminds me of what you'd seen on the show. It's a nice book to introduce young readers to the genre.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really impressed with this series so far - I didn't expect a lot, but the muppets work well in comic-sketch form. Art is pretty top notch, also.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the TV shows I have thouroughly enjoyed, made into a movie made into a comic! What more could you ask for!!!

[Jamil · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is pretty great, funny stuff. really displays the strength of the muppet character designs, even without jim hanson's hands.

[James Howald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever wondered what Gonzo actually is? If Statler and Waldorf ever actually laughed at a Fozzie joke? Need a healthy dose of Pigs in Space? Then this is the book for you!!!

[meliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a great adaptation of The Muppet Show to the comic book format. They really jump off the page - as a big fan of the Muppets, it was pretty impressive.

[Castiron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done! It really does read like Muppet Show episodes set in comic book form.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the Muppets, but they just don't translate well to a comic book format. Maybe it's just that I'm not a big comic book/graphic novel fan.

[Garrett Zecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Langridge’s take on the cultural iconography of the Muppets in the form of collected comics in hardback graphic novel form is a lot of fun. This review covers both of the books that I read with my two-year-old at bedtime. The Muppet Show collection tells the story of each of the main Muppets in a variety of separate tales, while also bringing in the original sidetracks of the dance scenes, the houses, veterinarian hospital, and pics in space. Peg Leg WIlson is a bit different as it is a linear story divided into the issues I presume they originally appeared in. Both were beautifully and hilariously illustrated and a great deal of fun to read. Langridge is a sharp and witty illustrator who captures the exciting whimsy, confusion, attention-deficitness of the opening number, and everything that follows in a typical episode. While there are many in-joke winks for die-hard fans such as myself to recognize and laugh at, my two-year-old was just as engaged in the piece (in fact more than the television show if that is possible) as a new fan. A perfect bedtime read that kept us both happy, I really enjoyed these books. One side note: at the back of The Muppet Show, Langridge has a separate section in a separate style that he produced for Disney Comics, and I really enjoyed the style that he drew the characters in that version. I am wondering if it wouldn’t be cool for someone to make an anthology of different artists taking on the Muppets telling different canonical side stories – I love comics anthologies like that. Regardless, these are well worth the read and a lot of fun for old and new fans alike.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel is in essence a Muppet Show rendition in comic form. The main characters are presented in sketches that are absurd yet maintain the quirkiness of those unforgettable personalities. The two old men hecklers in the balcony pop up on a regular basis to give their caustic comments on what they have just seen.
The Muppets are in the wild, aboard a spacecraft, in a science lab, under insurance audit and dancing in a ballroom. The longest running story is where an insurance agent is trying to determine for the formal records what kind of creature Gonzo is. It is not an easy task, for how do you define the undefinable.
Truly unique characters in the history of entertainment, the Muppets are some of the best characters ever created. Each one is a work of genius, and there are so many.

[Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barely a 3 this doesn’t translate to this medium at all

[Kole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captures the tone and spirit of The Muppet Show and The Muppets incredibly well. Recommended for fans of the show.

[Dylan Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cried so hard

[heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good and pretty entertaining, much more adult than I expected! I'm referring to the stories and underlying themes here, not any explicit adult contents - we're talking about the Muppets after all :)

Love the poems and the rhymes. Love the puns - please read every single line, even the fine print. You might miss out on some because there's so many puns going on. Love the sometimes existential questions posed by some characters, especially Kermit, the thoughtful one of the bunch.

Definitely adding this to my list of comics to follow.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like watching "The Muppet Show" but reading the episodes in a comic-book format. In this case, each episode focuses on an issue of one of the main Muppets: Kermit's longing for home wherever that is, Fozzie trying to find his humor niche, everyone wondering what Gonzo is. Includes the show's famous skits such as Pigs in Space and Veterinarian's Hospital, plus the cranky Statler and Waldorf. And always there is some wacky drama unfolding backstage. Much fun for Muppet fans.

[John Pero · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Muppets were apart of my childhood, I've seen all the movies, I've watched The Muppet Show, you can tell I'm a huge fan. I remember when I was back in elementary school, I heard that a Muppet comic book was coming out, I was excited. So I read it, and it was one of the funniest books I have ever read. If you're a huge fan of the Muppets (like me), you MUST read this! Jim Henson would be proud.

[Cortney Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger Langridge completely understands how to translate the unique comedy of the Muppets. Everything you loved about the series and all the characters are so perfect that sometimes I forgot I wasn't watching the show itself. Even the format is intact, with the skits sandwiched between peeks backstage. I desperately want to read more in this series!!