The Muppet Show Comic Book: Meet the Muppets

The Muppet Show Comic Book is a title published by BOOM! Studios based on the television series The Muppet Show. The series is written and illustrated by Roger Langridge.

Each issue takes the form of a printed Muppet Show episode, complete with sketches, musical numbers and backstage chaos. The first four issues focus on the main characters -- issue #1 is "Kermit's Story", followed by "Fozzie's Story", "Gonzo's Story" and "Miss Piggy's Story".

Langridge says that the comic will run beyond the initial four parts: "As far as my work schedule is concerned, The Muppet Show Comic is an ongoing monthly series, but BOOM! Studios want to re-start the numbering every four issues for marketing reasons. So the next four-issue story arc is called "The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson", in which rumours of a hidden treasure inside the theater lead to, one hopes, hilarious complications -- all this as a background subplot to the usual songs, sketches and so forth. Nothing radically different to the initial four issues, except the subplot element is a bit stronger. And that will lead us into the next four-issue arc, which is a logical progression from this one, I hope."

Issue #1 was published on March 25, 2009, and sold out on its first day of release. BOOM! has announced it will go back to press with a second printing. Issue #2 will be published on April 29th.

In addition to the Muppet Show comics, BOOM! Studios is also publishing Muppet adaptations of classic stories, beginning with Muppet Robin Hood, also being released on April 29th.

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. The preview included "Muppet Labs," "Pigs in Space," and "At the Dance" sketches in addition to a Muppet Show-themed plot about Sweetums' desire to perform for his mommy.
 * 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, a Baby, Sweetums' Mommy, Mildred Huxtetter, Zoot, Janice, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Strangepork, Whatnots, Pigs, Muppet Monsters, Bird Dancers, Bert


 * Background Characters: Rowlf the Dog, Rats, Chickens

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 lilypad; 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 is Robin's insistence that his uncle play through to the end of "The Pond Where I Was Born" that finally helps Kermit realize that even though the theater is his home now, the pond will "always be a part of [him]. Wherever [he] 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 29, 2009 (initial printing); April 2009 (2nd printing)


 * Langridge also provides another variant cover for Heroes Con.


 * 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 (colored pink/purple instead), Snowth (cover only), Whatnots, Muppet Monsters

Issue #2: Fozzie's Story

 * Fozzie Bear teams up with Gonzo for a comedy act.
 * Release Date: April 29, 2009

Issue #3: Gonzo's Story

 * Gonzo's dangerous stunts come under the scrutiny of the theater's insurance agent.
 * Release Date: May 27, 2009

Issue #4: Miss Piggy's Story

 * Miss Piggy's diva ego takes the stage.
 * Release Date: June 24, 2009