The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1: The Muppets And Marvel Heroes Give The THIRD Greatest Gift Ever

The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1

The issue is setup like the original Muppet Show with a main story and shorter vignettes that are callbacks to some of the classic skits from the show. While having these shorter stories are not placed as breaks in the main story, having done something similar would have been a nice touch, but would probably have broken the flow of the main story ( although the show that is put in in the Mojoverse does use this format).

All of the stories that comprise this issue respects both The Muppets and the characters of the Marvel Universe, while at the same time giving the Marvel characters an opportunity to take a break from the grittier tones that they have in the regular titles without in most cases being to over the top in the silliness.

The Greatest Show (Not) on Earth

Creative Team

• Writer: Chip Zdarsky
• Artist: Pete Woods
• Colorist: Pete Woods
• Letterer: Joe Caramagna

The Greatest Show (Not) In Earth is the main story of this epic crossover and acts much like the Muppet Show which uses the variaty show format interspersed with shorter skits featuring specific members of the cast.

Zdarsky and crew do a stellar job of first establishing the tone for the issue with The Muppets doing what they do best, putting on thier show, until Rowlf is kidnapped and taken to the Mojoverse.

The story is crafted in such a manner that the two groups meeting is not overly forced. It is also nice to see Zdarsky get to write Howard The Duck again and use him as the perfect go-between when The Muppets arrive in the Marvel Universe. While there are minor hiccups along the way, much can be forgiven since the overall idea is a fun read.

Zdarsky captures the voice of The Muppets cast, while Woods does a solid job of translating Kermit and company to the comic panel (with some minor nitpicking on certain designs) but overall a success, which in the past has been done to varying degrees of success.

The interactions between The Muppets and various heroes is funny especially Miss Piggy and Emma Frost, Fozzy and Spider-Man, and Gonzo and Deadpool, who are character analogs in many ways.

Zdarsky also does a great job of sneaking a serious moment and realization from Tony Stark by the end of the story.

• Writing Score: 9
• Storyline Score: 9
• Art Score: 9
• Color Score: 9

Pigs of the Galaxy

Creative Team

• Writer: MacKenzie Cadenhead
• Artist: David Baldeón
• Colorist: Yen Nitro
• Letterer: Joe Caramagna

This short story begins with the classic Pigs In Space skit and throws Rocket and Groot into the mix. Cadenhead captures the tone of the Pigs In Space shtick to a tee and then turns up the humor with Rocket and Groot, giving Miss Piggy a chance to shine.

Baldeón knocks the art is stellar, as it is difficult to draw anamorphic pigs without things looking really weird, given the cast of three characters. Nitro’s colors pop and add to the overall presentation. Baldeón also does a solid job with Rocket and Groot, opting for a Skottie Young style without trying to just duplicate it.

The overall story feels a bit short, but is to be expected as it plays on the Muppet Show skit.

• Writing Score: 9
• Storyline Score: 8
• Art Score: 9
• Color Score: 9

Just What the Chef Ordered

Creative Team

• Story: Paul Carmichael and Ashley Allen
• Writer: Ashley Allen
• Artist: Paco Medina
• Colorist: Yen Nitro
• Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Writing the lighter side of Doctor Strange and Clea is not an easy task, even without having to incorporate The Swedish Chef into the mix(ture) but Allen handles these ingredients very well.

Medina and Yen also excel in bringing the Multiversal and magical  elements to the story, in this less-than serious story.

• Writing Score: 9
• Storyline Score: 8
• Art Score: 9
• Color Score: 9

A Terrible Invention

Creative Team

• Writer: Kyle Starks
• Artist: Mike Henderson
• Colorist: Yen Nitro
• Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Bunson and Beaker invite Hank Pym and Bruce Banner to the lab for some very interesting experiments based on Marvel Universe science.  Pym and Banner provide some fun commentary as Muppet Labs combines Pym particles with Gamma Radiation

Starks captures Honeydew and Beaker perfectly and makes it feel like the on-screen chemistry between the two Muppets. The synergy between Hendeson Nitro, and Caramanga is evident and brings the story to another level.

• Writing Score: 9
• Storyline Score: 9
• Art Score: 9
• Color Score: 9

Bad Man

Creative Team

• Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
• Artist: Áthila Fabbio
• Colorist: Michael Atiyeh
• Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Writing a wordless story to the page is not always that easy, but Johnson and Fabbio pull it off in a great story featuring The Best There Is, Wolverine, running into The Electric Mayhem. As expected hilarity ensues as Logan plays the straight man to Animal, Doctor Teeth, and the rest of the crew.

• Writing Score: 9
• Storyline Score: 9
• Art Score: 9
• Color Score: 9

Muppets Assemble!

Creative Team

• Writer: Adam F. Goldberg
• Artist: E. J. Su
• Colorist: E. J. Su
• Letterer: Joe Caramagna

The final installment gives some of the B and C-List Muppets the spotlight as they audition for The Avengers. Goldberg leaves readers wanting more more panels as the rest of the ensemble await thier turn to audition.

• Writing Score: 9
• Storyline Score: 9
• Art Score: 9
• Color Score: 9

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Editor Mark Paniccia contributes a fun afterword, summing up the issue and the two properties…and the tease that there might be more to come down the road.