In the third issue of Muppet King Arthur, our kingly frog leader is growing bored with ignoring the plights of his people, so he takes his buddies on a vacation to find the Holy Grail.  Along the way, they run into (you guessed it!) more familiar Muppets, including a Doctor, a Gofer, and a King.  Meanwhile, Piggy/Morgana Le Fay finds a reason to be evil, and (as always) Robin feels completely overlooked (perhaps a rousing chorus of “Just One Person” is in order?).

The humor in this issue, brought to us by writers Paul Benjamin and Patrick Storck, stays just as consistent as their first.  In particular, I enjoyed how they’ve been doling out the running gags, which are funny but not overused.  The characters are so well-written and familiar, it almost feels like they’re copying dialog from The Muppet Show.  My favorite bit of the issue is a “Knock-Knock” joke well-executed by Fozzie Bear.  Yeah, you heard me right.  Fozzie and a funny knock-knock joke.  If that’s not worth your $2.99, I don’t know what is.

Since the main cast was nailed down last issue, each character has their own little chance to shine.  Aside from Kermit and Piggy, Fozzie gets the most screen time, and a lot of genuinely funny bits (even when he’s only seen in the background).  Even Bunsen and Link remind us why they were chosen for King Arthur’s elite squad.  I’m hoping that next issue we’ll see more of characters like Gonzo and Rowlf, who had great introductions but are mostly seen in group settings in this issue.

James Silvani’s art also remains high in quality.  Though we were spoiled last issue, in which he was allowed to draw audiences filled with new Muppet characters.  Instead, since our heroes are on the road for most of the story, we don’t get nearly as many in-jokes and surprise cameos.  While I still believe that some of his character designs are a little bit too simple, they lend themselves to a greater degree of expression, so it doesn’t look strange when Fozzie has an embarrassed look on his face, or when Miss Piggy seethes with unfurled rage.  His style has a good mix of cartoony playfulness while staying loyal to the essence of each character.

In the end, Muppet King Arthur is good old fashioned fun.  And that’s all we ask from both a Muppet story and a comic book.

Click here to avoid recycling Monty Python jokes on the ToughPigs forum!

by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com

But for now, perhaps you’ll settle for a preview of the covers and first five pages!  Remember, give the images a click or two to see them get all big and stuff!

Muppet King Arthur #3 will be in stores on Wednesday, March 17!

Click here to ignore your kingly duties and go on a wild goose chase on the ToughPigs forum!

by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com

Dog City is lots of fun, with its film noir world populated by Muppet dogs making every terrible canine pun imaginable, and a funny performance by Jim Henson as the villain, Bugsy Them.  It’ll be great to see it in DVD quality, so we fans won’t have to rely on our old, third-generation tape-traded copies anymore.  And hey, look at that cover — It looks like Rowlf’s role in the show is intact, despite the fact that he’s now owned by Disney!  I’m sure there’s no chance we’ll also get the MuppeTelevision segments with Kermit and company, but there’s no need to howl about that.

Look for Dog City: The Movie at your corner DVD shop on June 8th!

Click here to talk about Yu and Them on the Tough Pigs forum!

by Ryan Roe – Ryan@ToughPigs.com

And while we were talking shop, we figured we might as well stick around and talk about the latest Muppet news.  That’s right, you get bonus Joe and Ryan chitchat!  It doesn’t get any better than that!  At least, not without marshmallows.

And don’t forget to vote for your favorite Muppets!  Click here to view the polls, and head back every 12 hours to keep voting all week!

Click here to be like two peas in a podcast on the ToughPigs forum!

by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com

That’s why we’ve joined forces with the MuppetCast’s Steve Swanson to launch the Muppet Madness Tournament, a first-of-its-kind smorgasbord of Muppet fanaticism that takes the structure of that boring old basketball thingy and makes it much cooler by pitting Muppet against Muppet in a fight to the finish. Here, take a look at the tournament bracket for Round 1 (and click to make it bigger):

There are four quadrants in the tournament bracket, representing different sets of Muppet characters, and the tournament begins with 16 matchups in Round 1.  Head over to MuppetCast.com/tournament to vote for your favorite character in each matchup.  After each week of voting, the losers will be eliminated and the winners will move on to the next round, until we finally end up with one winner, one super-champion among Muppets.  In other words, it’s a lot like a tournament.  Oh, and probably Kermit will win.

Each week you can hear Tough Pigs’ Joe Hennes and myself discuss the winners and losers with Steve Swanson on the MuppetCast, (this week’s show can be found by clicking here) and we’ll make predictions about the coming matchups, and then we’ll be really embarrassed when our predictions are wrong.  The tournament runs until April 5, with voting for Week 1 officially opening on March 16… but here’s a little secret: You can actually vote right now!

The tournament is set up so you can vote every 12 hours, so if you really want to, you can set an alarm and vote for Uncle Traveling Matt fourteen times in the first week. Or, if you feel guilty choosing Elmo over Telly, you can vote for both of them.

Tell your friends!  Tell your enemies!  And head on over to MuppetCast.com/tournament to place your votes today!

Click here to go mad on the Tough Pigs forum!

by Ryan Roe – Ryan@ToughPigs.com

Remember this abomination? This Big Bird doll made by Knickerbocker won the last Ugly Muppet Toy Pageant (a Tough Pigs tradition), and boy did he deserve it.  He’s enjoyed his reign of repulsive glory, but it’s about time to crown a new Really, Really, Really Ugly Toy… and I need your help!

Send me photos of ugly Muppet toys! You can send your entries to Ryan@ToughPigs.com, and you can send as many entries as you got. They can be old toys, they can be new toys.  They can be from Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, whatever. Just keep in mind this rule: Toys that are ugly because they’ve been beaten, abused, or manhandled don’t count. Only toys that were ugly straight outta the toy store.

The deadline is Wednesday, March 31. On April Fool’s Day, I’ll post all the entries, and you’ll judge their ugliness and send in your votes and your color commentary.  And then we’ll name the new winner, and then we’ll all shudder with disgust.

Don’t delay!  Send me your ugly toys today!

Click here to prepare yourself for the horrors to come on the Tough Pigs forum!

by Ryan Roe – Ryan@ToughPigs.com

If you’re a dedicated reader of ToughPigs, you might recognize the name Katie Cook.  We first discovered her Fraggle Rock fan art on her website, and now she gets to draw Fraggles for a living!  We should all be so lucky!  Though we’ve got plenty of luck, since we’ve got a Fraggle fan like Katie working on one of our favorite properties.  Let’s see what she has to say on the subject…

ToughPigs: How did you first become a Muppet fan? And what form does your fandom take today?

Katie Cook: I’ve been a Muppet fan for as long as i can remember! I’ve always been obsessed with them…. I started watching the Muppet Show in syndication when i was really young, that, combined with Sesame Street and Fraggles meant I was hooked for life.

Today, my fandom brings new levels to the term “nerd”. I study the Muppets (from the art of building them to the writing!) and I take a lot of artistic inspiration from them. I love popping in anything Henson to help inspire me for the day! I also collect anything and everything Henson as well as build my own puppets!

TP: What is it about Fraggle Rock that lends itself to your artistic style?

KC: I think there’s a softness (cuteness?) to my work that really works with the Fraggle universe… at least, I HOPE it works with the Fraggle universe…

TP: What sort of research have you done to prepare for the Fraggle Rock comic book?

KC: I’ve gone back into my DVD boxed set and rewatched every episode. it was torture

TP: Who are your favorite characters? Least favorite?

KC: I love Junior Gorg. he’s so adorable, I really just want to give him a big hug. I also love Mokey, as I related to her the most growing up (and, as an adult now… I try and keep that same laid-back attitude that she has!)

Least favorite? Can you have a least favorite Henson character?

TP: Which characters have been the most difficult to write for? To illustrate?

KC: I think that they can all be difficult to write for. All the characters have such great, unique personalities that you don’t want to lose that.

And i don’t really consider any of them difficult to draw… it’s the most fun drawing I’ve had in a LONG time!

TP: Do you have a dream Muppet or Fraggle project that you’d like to work on? (Aside from the one you’re currently doing, of course.)

KC: I have a couple ideas for a Muppet comic mini-series that I’d love to draw and write eventually. they’re some of the funniest things I’ve ever come up with and I’d love to share them with the comic world! I’d also revel in the chance for more Fraggle comic goodness and I’d LOVE to do some kids’ book illustrations based on Fraggles… like the ones I had as a kid!

TP: You are both writing and illustrating your Fraggle Rock comic story. Is this your first writing commission? How did you prepare for it?

KC: It is the first professional writing gig I’ve really ever had. I’ve written things before, but those have always been personal projects. It was really fun to write for something that I love so much… and because I love it and know the universe so well, writing came easy!

TP: What has the response to your work from Archaia Comics and The Jim Henson Company been like?

KC: Archaia has been wonderful… working with Tim Beetle has been great! And I think they’re putting just as much love into this property as Henson itself, which, as a fan, is really exciting to be a part of. And the response has been great. Trust me, you can’t even imagine how exciting it is for me to have “notes back from Henson” about my work!

TP: Who would win in a fight between the Fraggles and the Ewoks? Between the Gorgs and Wampas? Between the World’s Oldest Fraggle and Yoda?

KC: Well, Ewoks are vicious little buggers who would eat every Fraggle in sight, Wampas are terrifying beasts who will tear out your entrails… (I can envision Junior cowering in a snowy corner with his rake held over his head for protection as a Wampa bears down on him) and Yoda is a Jedi. I love all the Fraggle characters, but I’m not going to lie to myself and say they’d win in any kind of fight

TP: Can you give us a tease for what to expect from your Fraggle Rock comic?

KC: It’s a fun little story that I really think is true to the characters. There’s also a very nerdy little bonus thrown in the corner of one of the panels… and a Star Wars reference.

TP: What is coming up next from Katie Cook?

KC: Anything and everything. Check out my site/blog to learn all about it! www.katiecandraw.com

TP: Lastly, do you have a message you’d like to pass along to the fans?

KC: I’m amazed that I’m being allowed to play in a world that I’ve loved since childhood and used to only HOPE that one day I could be even a small part of it. So, in the words of the man himself, “My hope is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here”. I can only hope that whatever brief touches i leave on the Fraggle ‘verse leave it a little more adorable than it was before. (Which will be hard, as it’s already so awesome.)

Many thanks to Katie Cook for joining us on this Q&A!

And thank you for joining us on My Week with Fraggle Rock Comics!  Keep on heading back to ToughPigs.com for all the latest in Fraggle news!

Click here to sample a Doozer stick on the ToughPigs forum!

by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com

Jeffrey Brown doesn’t need the Fraggle Rock comic book to gain fame; he’s already well-known in the world of indie comics.  He’s written and illustrated comics like “Clumsy”, “Bighead”, and “Incredible Change-Bots”.  Now he’s bringing his unique style to the Fraggles, and we’ve got a few questions for him regarding how he’s planning on going about that.

ToughPigs: What are the roots of your Muppet/Fraggle fandom? What form does your fandom take today?

Jeffrey Brown: I grew up watching “The Muppets,” and from that fell into watching “Fraggle Rock.” Now I have a three-year-old son, and they’ve finally started releasing the show on DVD, so I’m able to watch it again with him. It’s much better than a lot of the children’s television being made today.

TP: What is it about Fraggle Rock that lends itself to your artistic style?

JB: I think my sense of humor fits in well with “Fraggle Rock.” Like “The Muppets” and other Henson properties, there’s always been a focus on humor in “Fraggle Rock.” It’s a very honest, imperfect humor and I feel like that’s something I try to put in my other work.

TP: What sort of research have you done to prepare for writing and illustrating your Fraggle Rock story?

JB: Just watching the show a lot, and Googling images, as well as looking at the official Fraggle Rock style guide. Mostly watching the show, though. I usually listen to music or watch video while I’m drawing, so naturally I’ve been watching all of those episodes while working on my story.

TP: Who are your favorite characters? Least favorite?

JB: The Doozers, especially Cotterpin, were always my favorite. I would’ve been happy if there had been an all-Doozer spinoff show. Boober is my favorite Fraggle, and I don’t know who I’d say is my least favorite… Mokey, maybe? Sorry, Mokey.

TP: Which characters have been the most difficult to write for? To illustrate?

JB: My story is pretty short, focusing mainly on Red, so it’s been fairly easy on me writing-wise. In terms of drawing, Gobo has been the hardest to get a handle on.

TP: With few exceptions (The Simpsons, The Escapist), most of your comic works are original creations. What sort of challenges have you found when writing new stories for existing characters?

JB: The biggest challenge is working within the expectations and baggage those characters come with, having them be true to what people know but also keeping them fresh or new. It’s also an adjustment to work with editors, but at the same time that can end up being a helpful thing.

TP: Which would you rather be: a Doozer or a Gorg?

JB: Definitely a Doozer.

TP: What has the response to your work from Archaia Comics and The Jim Henson Company been like?

JB: It’s been good. There’s definitely a bit of pressure to live up to a franchise like “Fraggle Rock,” but they’ve both been very supportive and positive toward me.

TP: Can you give us a tease for what to expect from your Fraggle Rock comic?

JB: You can expect a Cotterpin cameo and some Red Fraggle running around the cave… that’s the most I can say without spoiling it, I think.

TP: Lastly, do you have a message you’d like to pass along to the fans?

JB: Better not, all I can think of right now is the “Fraggle Rock” theme song…

Many thanks to Jeffrey Brown for joining us for this Q&A!  And head back here tomorrow for one final (for now!) Fraggle Rock comic book Q&A!

Click here to illustrate your cares away on the ToughPigs forum!

by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com

It was nice while it lasted, but according to the official website, you can no longer volunteer a day of your time to receive a free day at a Disney theme park.  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feel free to volunteer on your own time, but would it really be worth it without great Muppet content to back it up?  I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Click here to Give a Day and Get Nothing in Return on the ToughPigs forum!

by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com

Mr. Joe LeFavi used to be the Director of Publishing and Development at the Jim Henson Company, which sounds like a pretty groovy gig.  These days, he’s the Consulting Editor of the upcoming Fraggle Rock comics at Archaia Studios, which sounds equally groovy.  And today Mr. LeFavi has agreed to groove with us, as he joins Tough Pigs for a Q&A about his work on the Fraggle comics.

ToughPigs: Perhaps an obvious question: What exactly does a consulting editor do?

Joe LeFavi: The consulting editor is usually the most charismatic and physically attractive editor on the book. Aside from that, we’re usually specialists brought onto a project for our expertise on the topics being discussed in the book. In this case, I am Archaia’s “in-house Henson geek,” whose familiarity and obsessive, uber-fandom concerning all things Jim Henson provides considerable support throughout the creative process.

TP: Do you have any input into the choices for writers and artists for the series? How are they chosen?

JL: Yes, indeed! I’ve been aggressively attempting to help package these books with the best writers and illustrators, and I’m proud to say that some of our brightest talent resulted from my scheming and selfless pleading.

In regards to the process, all of the editors involved are tasked with pinpointing writers and illustrators with a style and aesthetic tone that complement Fraggle Rock. We didn’t want these stories to merely look like Fraggle Rock. We wanted them to feel like Fraggle Rock, and that meant embarking on a tireless search for creators who truly love and understand the franchise. There was essentially a big sign on Archaia’s front door: FANS ONLY. NO POSERS ALLOWED.

TP: You previously worked as the Director of Publishing and Development at the Jim Henson Company. How did you get that position? What did your responsibilities include?

JL: As Director of Publishing and Development at Henson, I was primarily their Editorial Director on all their books, comic books, and manga… which means that I spent most of my day reading. I edited every script, reviewed every panel and ensured that anything with the Henson logo on the spine was worthy and respectful of the brand. I also developed their original properties, shopped their proposals, and facilitated key relationships with creators and publishers alike – including Henson’s deal with Archaia. Oh, and I also served on select projects in Film, TV and New Media, primarily the ones that I brought into the company. …I didn’t sleep much, just in case you were wondering.

How did I get that job? More scheming and selfless pleading essentially. Just kidding. Sort of. In truth, I had worked at Henson for years as their Story Editor in Film and TV before earning that gig. I was essentially their in-house geek, specializing in science fiction, fantasy, YA literature, comic books, manga and video games – basically, any “fanboy” genre that intimidates most normal people with active social lives. Fortunately, I introduced enough great content and creators that Henson began to trust my story instincts. Plus, after so many years speed-reading all the latest and greatest works in publishing, I was making friends with some of the best editors and creators in the biz. So when Henson needed someone to build their new publishing division, they turned to me. And the rest is history…

TP: How did your Henson job prepare you for your responsibilities as Consulting Editor for the Fraggle Rock comics?

JL: Since I was their in-house editor on all their books, comic books and manga, I definitely gained a clear and intimate understanding of the editorial process. No one can truly understand the manic pace and utter thrill of monthly comics until they experience it. My adventures with Archaia and Boom! on their Henson licenses are some of my favorite and proudest moments.

I must admit that being at Henson also allowed me to meet some incredibly talented writers and illustrators – including some of my heroes. Hence, when it came time to dip creators into the Fraggle Rock talent pool, it was absolutely amazing to approach them again and say, “Hey, wanna work with me?”

TP: How familiar were you with Fraggle Rock going into this project? Do you have a favorite character? Favorite episode?

JL: I am one of the hugest Fraggle Rock fans that you’ll ever meet. I have watched all four seasons of Fraggle Rock a number of times… and that was before I even worked at Henson! I was literally one of those lucky schmucks who got to work for one of their heroes. Go figure.

My favorite character is most certainly Boober, though Wembley runs a close second at times. I tend to root for the oddball in the group, and Boober’s pessimism and manic obsession with the worst-case scenario always tickled me.

My favorite episode is, by far, the final episode “Change of Address.” The episode is written as a heartfelt farewell to the audience, and the subtext throughout that entire story is heart-wrenching and almost overwhelmingly inspiring. They celebrate the purpose of Fraggle Rock in such a simple and poignant way, while so earnestly conveying that final message that everything in life (including you) is magical… if you choose to look at it that way. The episode resonates with me, right down to the bone, and (to this day) I can’t watch it without crying. And I have no problem saying that.

TP: What do you see as the challenges — or advantages — of adapting a puppet-based TV show to comics?

JL: To be honest, there haven’t been many challenges in adapting a puppet-based TV show to comics. Fraggles, Doozers and Gorgs are creatures and creatures belong in comics. Sure, artists are challenged to breathe more life into their bodies and physiques… but no more than you would an alien detective or ninja walrus. So if you can find the right artist who loves Fraggles enough to see them as creators more than merely puppets, the imagination easily compensates and poof… you’ve got a fuzzy, litte Fraggle dancing his cares away. Easy as that.

TP: Will we see any stories that take place outside the usual boundaries of the show — like in Outer Space beyond Doc’s workshop, or in the Gorg’s world outside their front yard?

JL: There was this one story where Gobo enters into Outer Space, and he finds himself in post-apocalyptic America where civilization has devolved into a wild frontier, and Uncle Matt has risen as America’s first postman, delivering his own postcards to Gobo as he fights for democracy and justice. But then we realized that Kevin Costner already told that story in “The Postman”, so we decided to avoid any further heartbreak and simply keep Fraggle Rock in Fraggle Rock.

TP: What kind of input does the Henson Company have into the content of the comic? Has anyone involved with the original show consulted on the comic?

JL: Henson is not one of those licensors to say, “Yeah, do whatever you want. Just send us the check.” Heavens no. Henson is a vital part of the creative process, and approves every script, cover, page and panel for every comic. They are just as committed in crafting a book that Fraggle fans young and old will embrace.

TP: Is there a general set of rules for including obscure characters, locations, and mythologies from the Fraggle Rock universe in the comics? Is it difficult to include these types of references for the fans while avoiding alienating readers who are new to the franchise?

JL: As much as we’d love to mighty-morph these books into a fanboy’s dream – cover-to-cover with all the obscure, deliciously awesome references only the truest Fraggle fans would know – we can’t. New readers should be able to step into Fraggle Rock for the first time and feel at home. That’s why we chose the anthology format. Our main stories will welcome fans into Fraggle Rock with accessible, entertaining tales that feel just like the TV show. Then new and old fans alike can enjoy the shorter, back-up tales… which take some risks and feature many familiar faces die-hard fans have been dying to see. It’s quite a dynamic format and it’s been a key factor in making these books fun for everyone.

TP: Finally, do you have a message you’d like to pass along to the fans?

JL: Quite simply, thank you. The Henson legacy, and Fraggle Rock in particular, are incredibly dear to me, and without your ceaseless support and committed fandom, none of this would’ve been possible. And since these books are quickly becoming some of my fondest memories, I can only express my sincere gratitude for continuing to believe in us, and allowing us to prove that, even after all these years, you truly cannot leave the magic.

And one last thing, if I may be so bold. The bigwigs in the entertainment industry believe that messages of hope, optimism and idealism are antiquated notions that modern audiences don’t want to hear anymore. So if you read and enjoy our books, write about it. Email, chat, blog and Twitter about it. In short, prove them wrong. It might be my naïve idealism talking, but if we can do that, we might just do a little good in this world.

Many thanks to Joe LeFavi for joining us for this Q&A!  And don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more Q&As with the Fraggle Rock comic book creators!

Click here to root for the oddball on the ToughPigs forum!

by Ryan Roe – Ryan@ToughPigs.com