IDW takes on Cartoon Network by Jacob Harman
January 15, 2014 7:03 pm | Leave your thoughts
My generation, those born in the late 80’s and early 90’s, were lucky enough to have a truly unique cartoon experience. I grew up watching the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons, along with He-Man, Transformers, and the other classics from the 80’s. However, I was also fortunate to get to watch the ‘Cartoon Cartoon’ block on Cartoon Network, with shows like Dexter’s Lab, Courage the Cowardly Dog, and Johnny Bravo. Early in 2013, IDW took the reigns of two cherished childhood franchises from the Cartoon Cartoon block; The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack. In late 2013, IDW began publishing ongoing comic series of both franchises. Truth be told, I only got the books because it was cheaper for me to buy them in the package deal at Rhode Island Comic Con than to just buy the exclusive TMNT book. So I decided to give these books a read, and I was very pleased with what I discovered.
Lets start off with the book I thought I wouldn’t care for – The Powerpuff Girls. I was well aware of the show, and the cult following the show still has, but I wasn’t a huge fan. Four issues into the comic, I can now say that I am a proud fan of PPG. The series is written and drawn by Troy Little, colored by Jeremy Colwell, with letters by Neil Uyetake and Little. This book as the same effect as Batman ’66 – you can’t help but read the story in the character’s respective cartoon voices. It is a very bright book with vibrant colors that fit the overall theme. There’s no origin story here. You’re just thrown into the mythos of the PPG. Somehow, it works not having a back story, as you quickly discover the main characters, Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles, are super powered preschoolers, thanks to The Professor!
This is definitely an all ages comic, and there is definitely a market for those types of books. This is the kind of book you could let your child read, or even better, you could read with your child. The comedic violence may be a bit much for some kids, but this is definitely suitable for kids 5 and over, yet still entertaining to adults, especially if you knew the show growing up. The nice part is that it doesn’t talk down to the readers. It’s just a fun story with an ongoing story arc that keeps you waiting for the next issue. I would give this book a taste it; if you’re nostalgic, like many of us are, or you want a book to read with your kids, than this is a good choice.
Now, onto Samurai Jack! I vividly remember watching this show when I was younger, and this comic really reminded me just how awesome this franchise was. Jack, a samurai prince in Feudal Japan, is transported by the demon Aku to the future. Wielding his magic katana, Jack must find a way to go back in time, defeat Aku, and fix history. This is a task more easily said than done. The TV show had 52 episodes, and never finished the story of Jack, and we still don’t’ know if he ever succeeded in his task. Issue one picks up directly where episode 52 ends, so if you know the series, you can continue that story. If not, the general story is outlined over three panels on each comic, much like an intro to a television show.
The book is written by Jim Zub, with art by Andy Suriano. Much like the PPG comic, the artistic style is close to that of the cartoon source material. The biggest difference is that in the show, there was little dialogue, and the comic does add some much needed dialogue scenes. You can tell that the art is heavily influenced by old samurai movies, and it looks gorgeous! This book is also an all ages comic, though it may be better suited for slightly older kids. You don’t see blood, but you see whatever goo robots are filled with. It’s also a fun read as an adult, and I can’t wait to read the next issue. I give this one a tupperware, and if you can find the hard copy, that’s the way to read it.
Both of these books, in hard copy form, have a really nice feel to them, with covers that feel nice and thick, more so than books published by Marvel or DC. To me, that makes it worth picking up a hard copy instead of a digital, plus that helps keep local shops open. PPG is currently on issue four, while Samurai Jack is on issue three.
Tags: cartoon network, IDW, powerpuff girls, samurai jack
Categorised in: Comic Reviews
This post was written by David Griffin
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