Back To The Future #1
Stories by Bob Gale
Scripts by Bob Gale & John Barber (first story), Dan Schoening (second story)
Art by Brent Schoonover (first story), Dan Schoening (second story)
Inks by David Witt (first story)
Colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick (first story), Luis Antonio Delgado (second story)
Letters by Shawn Lee (second story)
Cover by Dan Schoening, Jordie Bellaire, Amy Mebberson, and many more!
IDW Publishing
Release Date: October 21, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

Great Scott! Could it be? Is it really October 21, 2015? Why, yes. Yes, it is! And to commemorate Back To The Future Day, IDW Publishing has released Back To The Future #1! Based on one of the greatest film trilogies of the twentieth century, this comic book brings us two stories that delve into the days prior to the first film. Everything you ever wanted to know is right here in this comic!*

Like I said, this issue, the first of four in this miniseries, consists of two unique stories. One explores the first meeting of Marty McFly and Doctor Emmett Brown. In the second tale, we see how Emmett becomes part of one of the most significant scientific programs of the twentieth century.

The Muppet Show Comic Book #5
Written by: Roger Langridge
Artist: Amy Mebberson
Colors: Eric Cobain
Letterer: Deron Bennett
Covers by Roger Langridge
BOOM! Studios
Price: $2.99
Releases date: May 5, 2010

In the latest issue of The Muppet Show Comic Book, Statler and Waldorf are still playing a game of cosmic chess involving the Muppets. They arranged for Skeeter to show up and get a job there, and now they’re introducing Miss Piggy’s nephews, Randy and Andy Pig. Statler and Waldorf’s main goal seems to be manipulating events in order to create chaos, and these two are the perfect candidates. Randy and Andy are not very bright, clumsy, and cause constant trouble for the other Muppets.

Will the Muppets be able to deal with Randy and Andy’s “help” for an entire week? Read it and find out.

By Seaberry

The Muppet Show Comic Book #4
Written by Roger Langridge
Art by Amy Mebberson
Colors by Eric Cobain
Letters by Deron Bennett
BOOM! Studios
Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 7, 2010

I remembered reading collections of Muppets comic strips as a kid, and this Muppet Show Comic Book series is very much in the vein of those past comics.

The story begins with Statler and Waldorf, the hecklers from the balcony, playing a game of chess with pieces resembling the Muppets. They talk of introducing a new character into the equation. Actually, it’s more of a new/old character. This character was on the Muppet Babies series, but to my knowledge had never appeared as a grownup until now. I don’t want to give away the name of the character, but it was interesting. It was very fun to see this character as an adult Muppet, and it was also cool to see a bridge between the Muppet Babies cartoon and the comics. I had always thought of the cartoon and the Muppet Show as existing in the same universe, and this issue verified that.

Monsters Inc. Laughing Factory
Written by Paul Benjamin
Art by Amy Mebberson
BOOM! Studios
Trade Paperback; Price: $9.99
Release date: March 3, 2010

The interesting thing about creating comic books based on Pixar‘s string of successful animated films is that you can further explore the universes those characters live in. One of Pixar’s early successes was Monsters Inc., owing largely to its breakthrough animation and great voice acting work from Billy Crystal and John Goodman.

BOOM! KIDS, now having the contract on all Pixar materials, has produced a volume of comics from the Monsters Inc. universe, following Sullivan and Mike Wazowski (I always thought it was hilarious that monsters would have such boring names) on their continuing adventures in Monstropolis.

At first I didn’t expect much out of Monsters Inc. in comic book form. A fan of the original film, I couldn’t see how much further they possibly could have carried the story. In the end, it turns out I was right not to expect much. While the dialogue still carries much of the humour and charm that made the original script so endearing, it is apparent that Paul Benjamin was hard pressed to come up with new ways to use the characters.