The second issue is more of the first, but with more of the primary Muppets. What’s with Gonzo, by the way? It seems like no one can draw Gonzo to really resemble the actual Muppet?

The best thing about this issue are Johnny Fiama and Sal. Johnny’s playing the evil prince and Sal’s there too. Johnny’s prince is almost too addle-brained to be a sinister villain and Sal’s too funny to dislike (unfortunately, the comic cuts before Gonzo gets dunked in a tank–as torture, which he’s thrilled to be enduring since it gives him a chance to escape, Gonzo the Great and all), which means the book doesn’t really have a bad guy.

Unfortunately, it also doesn’t have much of a story. It’s ostensibly Robin Hood, but it’s not a faithful retelling of the legend (another difference from Christmas Carol and Treasure Island). It’s too loose, too scattershot.

I guess they don’t get it. I mean, maybe they do, but maybe not. Muppet Robin Hood reminds me of one of those licensed properties where they have a partial license, like when Dark Horse had The Terminator but not Terminator 2 and so couldn’t refer to it. Muppet Robin Hood plays like an overlong “Muppet Show” skit instead of like one of the themed Muppet movies (A Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island). There’s a lot of intentional anachronisms and they aren’t funny.

Where the comic works is when it’s not trying too hard–miniature golf in Middle Ages–you can practically see the laughter sign lighting up–when the jokes aren’t forced and sort of occur organically.

But it’s a wordy comic for, presumably, a younger audience. There’s lots of exposition (the exposition is solidly amusing) and then lots of dialogue.

Not a bad comic; not good either.