Originially Published on Youdontreadcomics.com
Adventure Time 22:
Five Short Graybles
Adventure Time has been on the air since 2010. In that time, it has delighted both young children and adults with its whimsical and wonderfully weird visuals and it’s intricate and surprisingly deep lore. At the time of writing, however, the show has been slated to end later in the year. Soon the show may be gone, and many fans will need something to fill the rather large Adventure Time-sized holes in their hearts and time slots. Boom! Studios’ latest book bearing the Adventure Time name has stories written by Jamie Coe, Danielle Chente, Reza Farzmand, Carissa Powell, and Brandon Zuern with some artistic assistance from Matt Frank, Goncalo Lopes and Mike Fiorentino. So, will Boom! Studio’s latest foray into the Land of OOO satisfy readers and fans of the show?
Unlike other Adventure time comics from Boom! Studios, the current run of the comic is without a central plot or theme. This ultimately prevents any sort of character development or detailed storyline from forming. In place of a long form narrative, readers are given a short collection of stories set in the Land of OOO. While some may have an issue with the format, this style feels right for the Adventure Time series and how it’s developed over the years.
The show itself has become more narrative driven; at first having few, if any, recurring antagonists. The show has become, and more plot based; ending on cliffhangers, and using whole seasons to tell a single story. When the show was beginning, the world was new to viewers, so it made sense that we would see something new in each eleven-minute episode. In the same way, when the comic series began, it tried to tell full length stories that extended over the course of several books and branched into multiple volumes. This current run takes a step back and offers a snapshot of the adventures the characters
The stories range in topic from Finn and Jake being whisked away to compete in gladiatorial combat while they sleep; to Billy the hero exploring a dungeon after his retirement; to accidentally inhaling time pepper and having to sneeze their way back to the present. These stories vary in seriousness and actual relevance to the characters and the show at large, but it successfully demonstrates the versatility of the characters. For many of these authors, this is their first foray into the world comic books. Even with varying levels of experience, every story in this book has an understanding about the characters and the world that is extremely competent. Everything done in the comic feels like it was lifted directly from some lost storyboard in the show’s writer’s room.
The art style varies considerably from story to story. Some of the art in the book can be a little jarring, and there is definitely not the same amount of polish throughout. The art in the Billy story in particular is reminiscent of something out of the current iteration of the Masters of the Universe comics. It’s also the story with the largest art team behind it. The differences in art all feel like they are the true essence of Adventure Time. The show can be a silly mess, the show can be extremely deep in its lore, it can at times be extremely bright and colorful, and at times the show can make no sense at all. The art is varied because the show is varied, and it all encapsulates what Adventure Time is perfectly.
When Boom! Studios started doing Adventure Time comics, it was done through long form adventures that took places over the course of several issues and had branching influence into the subsequent volumes. For some, the short story approach may not be the most appealing, but it feels reminiscent of the first few episodes of the television series.
The best addition from this collection might be the Billy story, as it has some of the best art in the book and also how it connects to the cannon of the show. If you’re a casual fan of the series and don’t want to be bogged down with needless continuity, this might be a comic to pick up. If not, it won’t be long before Boom! Studios releases another plot-heavy Adventure Time comic.
It’s a run any casual viewer of the show can pick up and enjoy with little to no essential viewing.
Grade: C+
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