The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets

Meet the Muppets is the first arc in The Muppet Show Comic Book title published by BOOM! Studios based on the television series The Muppet Show. The series is written and illustrated by Roger Langridge.
Each issue dedicates one issue to each of the main characters -- issue #1 is "Kermit's Story," which is followed by "Fozzie's Story," "Gonzo's Story," and "Miss Piggy's Story." Each of these issues stands alone and explores the titular character's most elemental trait -- Kermit's nostalgia for the swamp, Fozzie's trials and tribulations as a comedian, Gonzo's nature, and Miss Piggy's love (and jealousy) of her frog.
"Kermit's Story" was published on March 25, 2009 and sold out on its first day of release; it went back for a second printing.Comic Book Resources "Muppet Show #1 sell out, second printings planned" March 25, 2009
A trade paperback collecting the four issues was published in August, 2009. The paperback includes extra Muppet Show material by Langridge originally created for the Disney Adventures magazine.
The series was reprinted by Marvel Comics, starting in July 2011.
==Issue #1: Kermit's Story==
When Kermit receives a mysterious letter and starts strumming an old tune on his banjo, Robin realizes that his uncle misses the swamp. With their beloved leader down in the dumps, the whole Muppet gang does its best to try to improve Kermit's spirit.
Gonzo tries flattery, "breaking thirty years of precedent"; Fozzie tries the "old hat routine," which usually has the three-year-olds in stitches; Piggy jumps out of a cake, dressed as a lily pad; and Scooter, hoping that being in front of an audience will snap Kermit out of his funk, schedules a Koozebane sketch that ends up being disastrously interrupted by would-be guest stars the Zimmer Twins.
But in the end, it's Robin's insistence that his uncle play through to the end of "The Pond Where I Was Born" on his banjo that finally helps Kermit realize that even though the theatre is his home now, the pond "will always be a part of me. Wherever I should roam."
Other sketches featured in the issue include a "Muppet News Flash," a new musical number ("Bang, Boom, Splat and Pow"), a cooking segment with the Swedish Chef, and "Pigs in Space."
:Release Date: March 25, 2009
:Characters: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Robin the Frog, the Newsman, Statler and Waldorf, the Medium, Pops, Floyd Pepper, Four Little Hop-Toads, Rowlf the Dog, the Zimmer Twins, Male Koozebanian Creature, Female Koozebanian Creature, the Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, Beauregard, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Zoot
:Background Characters: Dr. Teeth, Animal, Janice, Rizzo the Rat, Sweetums, Camilla, Uncle Deadly, Mildred Huxtetter, Nigel, J. P. Grosse, George the Janitor, Lew Zealand, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Crazy Harry, Green Frackle, Koozebanian Phoob, Happy Yellow Creature, Snowth (cover only), Whatnots, Muppet Monsters
Image:Muppet Show 1b.jpg|cover B(Roger Langridge)
Image:Muppet_meltdown.jpg|Meltdown Comics variant(Dave Álvarez)(Limited to 500)
Image:Muppetshow01-MidtownComicsVariant.jpg|Midtown Comics variant(Amy Mebberson)(Limited to 500)
Image:Muppetshow01-UltimateComicsVariant.jpg|Ultimate Comics variant(Limited to 500)
Image:Ultimate-sketch.jpg|Ultimate Comics "sketch" variant(Deron Bennett)(Limited to 500)
Image:JetpackComics-sketch.jpg|Jetpack Comics "sketch" variant(Roger Langridge)(Limited to 500)
Image:Emerald_city_con.jpg|Emerald City Con "green holofoil" variant(Roger Langridge)(Limited to 500)
Image:Muppetshow01-2nd.printing.jpg|2nd printingApril 2009(Roger Langridge)
Image:File_18_147.jpg|"Green holofoil" variant(Roger Langridge)(Limited to 500)
==Issue #2: Fozzie's Story==
When the Cheese Manufacturers' Convention sours on Fozzie Bear's comedy act, he tries to reinvent himself by looking to the past for inspiration. Unfortunately, his Shakespearean homage ends in tragedy, his music hall routine lands him in "Veterinarian's Hospital" when Miss Piggy finds out that Kermit has canceled her "Suffragette, Crepe Suzette" number for it, and a slapstick performance conceived by Gonzo leaves him with nothing but pie on his face.
But when Rowlf suggests during a last-ditch Beatnik sketch that Fozzie just be himself, the bear actually succeeds, bringing even Statler and Waldorf to tears of laughter (and dashing the hopes of a Humorous Cheese cooked up by Dr. Bunsen Honeydew in a "Muppet Labs" sketch earlier in the show).
Other sketches featured in the issue include a musical number ("In My Merry Oldsmobile"), "The Ubiquitous Quilp," and "Pigs in Space."
: Release Date: April 29, 2009
:Characters: Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Scooter, Rowlf, Statler and Waldorf, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Janice, Johnnie Steele and Lucille, Humorous Cheese, the Ubiquitous Quilp, Alligator, Rats, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Julius Strangepork
:Background Characters: Thog, Pepe the King Prawn, Camilla, Lew Zealand, Crazy Harry, Sam the Eagle, the Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth, Floyd, Zoot, Animal, Green Frackle, Sweetums, Mildred Huxtetter, the Cheese Manufacturers' Convention, Pigs, Whatnots, Muppet Monsters
Image:Muppet_Show_2b.jpg|cover B(Roger Langridge)
Image:MuppetShowComicBookIss2UltimateVariant.jpg|Ultimate Comics variant(Amy Mebberson)
==Issue #3: Gonzo's Story==
Osbert J. Smedley, the theater's insurance agent, comes to the theater for some routine questioning. A busy Kermit has Scooter answer Smedley's questions. Mr. Smedley needs to know what species everybody in the theater is, but Scooter's not sure what Gonzo is.
Scooter asks Gonzo what he is, but Gonzo states that he's never really thought about it before. Scooter asks around, and nobody else is sure. Eventually, Rizzo comes to the conclusion that Gonzo is a "Gonzo". Scooter gives Smedley the answer, but then after realizing who Gonzo is, he realizes that having Gonzo in the theater would raise the premium up to five thousand percent.
Gonzo assures a nervous Smedley that his act is risk-free, and offers to let Smedley test out his act, which would involve Smedley getting inside a cannon. A frightened Smedley then claims that there was an error and that the insurance company owes the theater thirty-two cents, and rushes off just before the big finale, which ends up sending Gonzo to the hospital.
At the hospital, Scooter begs Gonzo to tell him what he is. Gonzo's reply: "I'm an artist."
Sketches include "Chicken Lake" with Gonzo and the chickens, "Bear on Patrol", "Gumshoe McGurk, Private Eye" with Gonzo in the title role, "Pigs in Space", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Rat" with Gonzo, Rizzo, and the rats, and "Extravagonzo!," the finale with Gonzo being fired from a cannon.
:Release Date: June 3, 2009
:Characters: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Rizzo the Rat, Camilla the Chicken, Statler and Waldorf, Osbert J. Smedley, Sam the Eagle, Marsupial, The Masked Phantom and her nephew, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, The Swedish Chef, Animal, Floyd Pepper, Beaker, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Space Bug, Chickens, Rats
:Background characters: Thog, Green Frackle, Blue Frackle, Sweetums, Robin the Frog, Crazy Harry, Dr. Teeth, Janice, Zoot, Lew Zealand, Uncle Deadly, Police Chief Bruin, Mildred Huxtetter, Beautiful Day Monster (cover only), Clifford (cover only), Pigs, Muppet Monsters
Image:Muppet Show 3b.jpg|cover B(Roger Langridge)
Image:Tmscomic3-ultimatevariant.jpg|Ultimate Comics variant(Dave Álvarez)(Limited to 500)
Image:Alvarez03heroescon.jpg|Heroes Con variant(Dave Álvarez)(Limited to 500)
Image:Muppet Show 3a.jpg|cover A solicitationwith Ernie and Bert above Gonzo's right shoulder (Roger Langridge)
==Issue #4: Miss Piggy's Story==
The guest star is Madame Rhonda, a psychic. She gives fortunes to various Muppets backstage. When she reads Miss Piggy's fortune, she tells her that she'll lose something valuable and green, referring to her money (as she takes the purse when Piggy isn't looking), but she thinks Madam Rhonda is talking about Kermit. Miss Piggy soon gets jealous when she sees Kermit talking to the other female Muppets. Meanwhile, Kermit, who doesn't believe in Madame Rhonda's fortune telling, eventually lets Fozzie and Gonzo talk him into getting his fortune told.
Later, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Madame Rhonda end up in jail, while a police officer explains what happened to his boss. As shown in flashback form, Miss Piggy sees Madame Rhonda reading Kermit's palm and karate chops them both. Miss Piggy then finds out that Madame Rhonda had taken her purse. Madame Rhonda admits to her psychic powers being a scam, and Kermit decides not to press charges on Miss Piggy for karate chopping him. Since the theater is only a short distance away, he decides to walk back with Miss Piggy, but then they remember that Miss Piggy is supposed to be in the closing number. They rush back to the theater just in time for Miss Piggy to sing the final line.
Sketches include a message from Sam the Eagle, "Veterinarian's Hospital," The Talking Houses, Muppet Labs, and "Pigs in Space."
:Release Date: July 1, 2009
:Characters: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Rowlf the Dog, Statler, Waldorf, Sam the Eagle, Madame Rhonda, Janice, Floyd Pepper, Rizzo the Rat, Animal, Link Hogthrob, Annie Sue, Lew Zealand, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, Sweetums, Talking Houses, Beauregard, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Officer Hogg, Pigs
:Background characters: Crazy Harry, Hugga Wugga, Happy Yellow Creature, Mahna Mahna, The Snowths, a sasquatch, George the Janitor, Andy and Randy Pig, Gladys, Mildred Huxtetter, Mean Mama, Camilla, Whatnots, Muppet Monsters, Elephant, Uncle Deadly (wanted poster only), Zoot (cover only)
Image:Muppetshowcomicbook4b.jpg|cover B(Roger Langridge)
Image:Tms4-mebberson.jpg|Ultimate Comics variant(Amy Mebberson)
==Comic-Con Preview Book==
To promote the title, a special preview comic featuring some unreleased material from the Muppet comics Langridge produced for Disney Adventures magazine was released at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con.Muppet Comics: A Chat with the Writer/Artist The preview included "Muppet Labs," "Pigs in Space," and "At the Dance" sketches.
In the plot, the show is about to start and Kermit thinks the guest star hasn't shown up yet, when Kermit hears a knock at the door. When he opens the door, he finds a baby. At the same time, The Rodent Doo-Wop All-Stars quit when Sweetums takes over doing the opening number, a parody of "My Favorite Things". Kermit has trouble taking care of the baby, who won't take his milk, and eventually swings around backstage on a rope.
Eventually, the "baby" reveals that he's not really a baby, but the scheduled guest star, Babyface Magee, Midget Acrobat. He hadn't mentioned that he was really the guest star because he'd been hit on the head and left ga-ga, regaining consciousness only minutes ago. One of the rats figures it was Sweetums, in an attempt to take Babyface Magee's spot. Sure enough, Sweetums is found on-stage singing during the closing number, a parody of the James Blunt song "You're Beautiful." Sweetums reveals that his mommy is in the audience, and he wanted to surprise her. Kermit tries to think of a way to give Sweetums something to do that doesn't involve singing, and soon hires him to throw bricks at hecklers.
:Release Date: July 2008
:Characters: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, Statler and Waldorf, Sweetums, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beaker, The Rodent Doo-Wop All-Stars, Babyface Magee, Sweetums' Mommy, Mildred Huxtetter, Zoot, Janice, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Julius Strangepork, Whatnots, Pigs, Muppet Monsters, Bird Dancers, Bert
:Background Characters: Rowlf the Dog, Rats, Chickens
==Trade Paperback==
On August 26, 2009, BOOM released a soft-cover trade paperback collection of the four issue run. The binder and interior label it as, The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets.
The "A" and "B" covers are included, albeit without "The Muppet Show Comic Book" title logo, Boom! logo, pricing, issue numbers, and bar code, but the variants by other artists are omitted. The back of the book reprints material created by Langridge for Disney Adventures. Thirteen of the fifteen original pages are included; a two-page Pigs in Space story from the Comic-Con preview is missing.
At 6"x9", the book is smaller than the individual issues (which are 65/8"x101/8"). The second page of the Pigs in Space story from issue #3 "Gonzo's Story" is printed in inferior quality to the rest of the pages in the book.
Additionally, the "At the Dance" page from the preview comic (called "The Muppet Ballroom" here) replaces Bert with Dr. Teeth. The preview comic is shown with additional pages, including an act by Gonzo and a Veterinarian's Hospital comic.
In 2011, Marvel Comics reprinted the collection in a larger format (newsstand magazine size) with four variant covers.
Image:Muppetshowcomic-tradepaperback.jpg|Trade paperback cover, 2009
Image:Meet_the_muppets_-_hardcover.jpg|Trade hardback cover, 2010
Image:Tmsmarvelkermit.jpg|Marvel reprint, 2011
Image:Tmsmarvelpiggy.jpg|Marvel reprint, 2011
Image:Tmsmarvelanimal.jpg|Marvel reprint, 2011
Image:Tmsmarvelgroup.jpg|Marvel reprint, 2011
==Translations==
Image:DieMuppetShow-Band01-Applaus,Applaus,Applaaauuus!.jpg|Die Muppet ShowBand 1: Applaus, Applaus, Applaaauuus!EGMONT, Ehapa Comic CollectionReleased April 8, 2011ISBN 978-3-7704-3467-1
Image:DieMuppetShow-Gratis-ComicTag2011.jpg|Die Muppet ShowGratis Comic Tag 2011(Free Comic Book Day 2011)EGMONT, Ehapa Comic CollectionReleased May 14, 2011
==See also==
==Sources==
==External links==
* BOOM! Kids - Official site
;Interviews
* Newsarama interview with Paul Morrissey
* ToughPigs interview with Paul Morrissey
* ToughPigs interview with Roger Langridge
* ToughPigs interview with Roger Langridge for issue #1
* ToughPigs interview with Roger Langridge for issue #2
* ToughPigs interview with Roger Langridge for issue #3
* Comic Book Resources interview with Roger Langridge
;Previews
* 11-page preview of #1
* 8-page preview of #2
* 8-page preview of #3
* 7-page preview of #4
;Reviews
* Newsarama reviews #1
* Comic Book Resources reviews #1
* Read About Comics reviews #1
* Eye On Comics reviews #1
* IGN reviews #2
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Muppet Comics
Category:BOOM! Studios