In the spirit of Muppet Treasure Island
and The Muppet Christmas Carol
comes Muppet Robin Hood
, which is the same sort of thing, only in comic book form. Villavert's (ZAPT!
) charmingly simple art makes the book feel like a cross between an indie comic and a children's picture book, and the characters less like drawings of puppets. Beedle's writing is strongest when it takes the story on the lunatic digressions that are a Muppet trademark—for example, the villains attempt to trap the heroes while wearing holy propeller hats, and the real writer at one point is replaced by someone who is obsessed with the Swedish Chef and can only write in Aboriginal Jingulu. A hilarious page and a half of the Swedish Chef saving the day—captioned in incomprehensible symbols—precedes the story's return to normal. Sadly, normal is where the problem comes in. Beedle doesn't have a good grasp on the Muppets as characters. Gonzo is cast as Guy of Gaborone, but aside from a few pratfalls, he's a boring straight-up villain with no resemblance to the personality of Gonzo. Funny but flawed. Ages 9–12. (Nov.)
