Writer : Brian Lynch
Artist: Franco Urru
Publisher: IDW
Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 20th
Any Whedon fan that has been to their local geek emporium over the last few months will probably have seen that Puppet Angel from the episode Smile Time has now been joined by the wonder that is Puppet Spike. Well, you’ve got the toy (Excuse me, collectable) - now read the comic.
We’ll start with the covers. Multiple covers have always been a love/hate thing for a lot of people, but these actually seem to be bordering on worthwhile, as each one seems almost guaranteed to bring in readers. Cover 1 has Spike in Japan with a giant sword, being attacked by hordes of Puppet Ninja. Yes. Cover two is an establishing shot of Puppet Spike. If one or the other doesn’t win you over, then the rest of this review isn’t going to – which also means that mentioning that the title of this chapter is “Once More With Felt” isn’t going to work either.
So, it’s been a while, how is the mockney loudmouth? Same as always, pretty much. Fighting monsters and chatting up the ladies. Then he gets a visit from an old friend with some bad news. Smile Time, the TV show with the evil puppets that Angel managed to put down has resurfaced – in Japan. A threatening demon and an exploding apartment later and they’re on their way to Japan for a confrontation with the Smile Time folks – and so many Puppet Ninja that you’ll start looking for Puppet Daredevil or Puppet Wolverine.
This is the return of the Lynch/Urru team who previously gave us the Spike: Asylum miniseries, and going on this issue they definitely need to carry on after this story is over. Lynch’s love of the characters is evident on every page, as is his love of puppets and bad jokes. (I direct your attention again to the title of the chapter).
Urru’s art continues in the same vein as the previous story, and he once again manages to walk the thin line of the licensed comic artist, drawing a character that is recognisably Spike without drawing James Marsters. The colouring however is still not the best, and it seems to detract from the linework a little.
Spike. Puppets. Ninja. Bad Jokes (I haven’t even mentioned the best one yet). It’s fun, go buy it.
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Russell Hillman was born in London but now lives in Coventry. His hobbies include precious little. He doesn’t get out much, but thinks reading a lot of comics makes up for it. He’s wrong.