The Muppet Show (comics)

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Statler: A Muppet Show comic book! Oh no, they're back to corrupt a whole new medium. Waldorf: Why's it called a medium? Statler: 'Cause it's rarely well done! Hoho! —The first issue

The Muppet Show, published by Boom Kids, is, well, Exactly What It Says on the Tin: a Comic Book Adaptation of The Muppet Show. It was launched in November, 2009. It is written and (usually) drawn by Roger Langridge, who had originally wanted to draw Muppet Show comics for Disney Adventures after Disney bought the franchise. Disney Adventures got cancelled before they could run any of Langridge's material (with the exception of a one-page short starring Fozzie Bear in their final issue), but the people at BOOM! Studios hired him to do a Muppet Show comic book as part of their new Disney-based imprint of kids' comics.

Unfortunately, as of 2011, the comic is now on hiatus due to Disney's acquisition of Marvel Comics.

Tropes used in The Muppet Show (comics) include:

• Brick Joke: One in at least every book.
• Calvin Ball: The events in Family Reunion are all planned out by a pair of celestial beings resembling Statler and Waldorf as part of some weird chess game they're playing.
• Chickification: You know how the Five-Man Band page describes The Lancer as lead guitar and The Chick as tambourine? Well, Janice has gone from one to the other.
  • In some episodes, like "Family Reunion, part 3", she has her guitar again.
• Con Crew: One issue of einvents Veterinarian's Hospital as Veterinarian's Medicine Show. Snake Oil Salesman Dr. Bob gives a spoonful of Medicinal Compound to the Shill Julius Strangepork ("My old friend ... who I've never seen before in my life!"). Strangepork disappears offstage, and is replaced by Link Hogthrob in the same suit.
• Crowd Song: This happens near the end of every issue, usually signifying the end of the main plot point of that issue. Yes, they sing in a comic book, why do you ask?
  • "On The Road Part One: Watch That Tiger" features a glorious parody of the opening theme, reworked to allow for the fact they're performing in a field. "It's time to hitch the wagons/It's time to pick a site..."
• Deadpan Snarker: Kermit

Very good, nice job everybody! Lose the wanton violence and we might just make it!

• Depending on the Artist: Writer Roger Langridge usually does the art, but sometimes he hands it over to Amy Mebberson, who has a severe case of Uncanny Valley. Your Mileage May Vary on whether it works.
  • It's been suggested that Langridge draws the characters, and Mebberson draws the puppets.
• Gem-Encrusted: At one point Miss Piggy puts on so much jewelry, when she falls over she can't get back up.
• Heroic BSOD: Kermit gets this when he finds out the tree he was born in was torn down.
• Inexplicably Identical Individuals: Since it wouldn't be The Muppet Show without them, versions of Statler and Waldorf keep showing up even when the show goes on tour. And then there's the aforementioned celestial beings...
• Jekyll and Hyde: Played with in #8 and 10 of the ongoing. In #8, the Muppets begin to think that Gonzo is a Vampire, but it turns out to be one big misunderstanding, sorted out during a Crowd Song, no less. In #10, the guest star that night is living legend Howlin' Jack Talbot, much to the delight of house band The Electric Mayhem. Unfortunately, whenever Howlin' Jack gets up to sing, he soon rushes off-stage, and a Big Friendly Dog soon rushes onstage. The Muppets soon put two and two together and make "Werewolf", and ask The Lonesome Stranger if they could borrow his silver bullets. Again, it's one big misunderstanding, as it turns out that the dog is Jack's (his name is Wuffles and he's a Peruvian wolfhound), and the reason he kept rushing backstage was he kept forgetting his lines, because he's getting on in years. Everyone gets together for a rendition of The Monster Munch and have a good laugh at the idea of Howlin' Jack being a werewolf. And then Kermit and Scooter see two big dogs running away from the theatre, under a full moon... They decide not to mention it to the others, because as Kermit points out: "After all, a man's earned the right to forget to mention a few minor details when he's a living legend."
• Leaning on the Fourth Wall: It's The Muppets. What did you expect?
• Mirror Routine: Kermit and his impersonator Kismet.

Kismet (to the reader): "You know, I always wanted to do that."

• Mythology Gag: Adult Skeeter wears green and white striped stockings, similar to the green and white striped socks that Nanny wore.
  • In #1 of the first miniseries, janitor Beauregarde meets George, the janitor from the first season
• Poor Communication Leads To Hilarity Ensuing: In #7 of the ongoing, Fozzie reveals that he hasn't told his mother that he's a comedian, but the Blatant Lies that he's The Watson to an in-universe Sherlock Holmes Expy. Now his mother's coming to visit, and she's bringing one of Fozzie's old childhood girl friends, who's single... Luckily, Skeeter's more than happy to help out, quickly making things worse. Fortunately, it all gets resolved; Ma Bear's not happy that her son lied to her, but is happy that he's doing what he loves. It doesn't hurt that the childhood friend is quite the looker... for a bear. Sadly Skeeter has to finish her archaeology degree. Or does she? In a letter she claims she's been on all kind of wild adventures working for a Government Agency of Fiction. Fozzie bemoans the fact that she didn't learn her lesson from his foolishness and the others sadly agree. At the very end of the comic it turns out her letter was one big Cassandra Truth, and she's keeping back all the weird stuff...
• Retcon: Remember when Gonzo was revealed to be an alien? Yeah, that never happened.
  • He's an artist.
• Shout-Out:
  • Several mentions of the actress Lola Vavoom, from Jasper Fforde novels.
  • In the one-off Pigs In Space: The Movie special that preceded the series, the patrons of Cafe Fred include Muppet versions of Bender and Joel, Tom Servo, and Crow T. Robot.
• Statler and Waldorf: It wouldn't be The Muppet Show without them. They have even gotten A Day in the Limelight for one issue (see below).
• Ten Paces and Turn: Mercilessly spoofed in #9 when Statler and Waldorf fight over the newest guest star; firstly, they're doing it with rotten tomatoes. Secondly, the woman doesn't want either of them, Pops is the happy winner. Thirdly, the guest star is older than she looks. A lot older.
• Uncanny Family Resemblance: Beauregard and his cousin Mo.
• Writing Around Trademarks: Skeeter is always "Scooter's Sister," never "Skeeter," except on the last two pages of issue #7.