There’s a wonderful moment here, where being a Muppet comic really allows Randolph to do something neat, and she turns a battle scene into a segment for the Muppet sports’ show. It’s just a lovely way to do a comedic battle scene.

As a last issue, it’s really successful. My only problem is the lack of Piggy in the final few pages, which seems awkward. It’s practically like she’s a non-character after the whole issue is this frantically paced conclusion, all set off by her.

So much happens in the comic–Peter Pan growing up, he and Captain Hook befriending each other, Gonzo doing his thing (Randolph alternates between the Peter Pan stuff and the Muppet stuff really well, emphasizing the Muppet stuff for the most part here), the big fight scene. It’s packed. And it all moves really, really fast.

It’s a good comic and a great close.

And now things are back on track. Randolph says, in a promotional interview where the letters page should be, Janice is one of her favorites to write and it really shows here. Janice sort of becomes the main character in this issue, opening it (but not closing it), and all of her stuff, whether funny or narratively important, works really well. It’s just a good issue, with a lot more content than the second.

However, there’s one moment–Rizzo hurting Piggy as Tinkerbell–I didn’t really get. He’s able to hurt her with insults, so there’s no action violence, but it’s still torture in a kids comic. Kind of off-putting, especially since the cliffhanger has her appearing to be dead.

Mebberson has this great way of drawing Kermit like he’s still a puppet (the hand motions affecting his expression) and it’s fantastic this issue.

Everything works really well here.

While solid, this second issue isn’t as strong as the first. Some of that weakness has to do with the content. Here we get introduced to Gonzo as Captain Hook. There are some very funny lines–especially with Rizzo the Rat as Gonzo’s first mate–but there’s definitely something off. Kermit (as Peter Pan) is barely in the issue. Even when he visually dominates, there’s something behind him going on to reduce his import. The focus is off here. It doesn’t wander so much as it’s misaligned.

I get why it’s difficult–the pacing of a Peter Pan adaptation requires a lot of separate introductions, but it’s a four issue limited series. Hook’s introduction is a first act kind of thing, but the limited series medium doesn’t really allow enough room. So Randolph’s hands are a little tied.

It’s still funny, especially Piggy.

Oh, and I hate the digital backgrounds.

Reading Muppet Peter Pan, I’m confused why Boom! didn’t open with this series, at least as far as their themed Muppet comics go. I also want to mention I had a chance to get an Amy Mebberson sketch cover at C2E2 and did not because I hadn’t read Peter Pan yet and now greatly regret it. Mebberson’s art nearly makes the book. It’s outstanding (she seems to spend time making sure Piggy is pretty), nicely straddling making the Muppets cute and kid friendly while still turning in good artwork.

But Randolph’s writing, her use of adult humor–I mean, Sam the Eagle’s jingoistic narration works beautifully, as does Piggy’s bent-out-of-shape Tinkerbell–makes the comic a lot more fun than it probably should be.

It’s a brisk, but involving read. I like how it doesn’t rush us to Neverland yet, instead concentrating on just being a solid narrative.