I’ve been in a muppet mood lately. Well, I guess I am always, but more than usual these couple of days. Maybe it’s got something to do with Ryan Dosier’s inspiring blog The Muppet Mindset. Anyway, back in the days, before the digital era, even before the VHS era (in my childhood home anyway), after The Muppet Show stopped airing on TV (early 80s sometime), the only way I could stay in the muppet universe was through drawing muppets (which I did A LOT) and reading muppet comics. In total there were three muppet comic books being released in Sweden, plus a certain world famous newspaper strip.

From Jenny Craven’s and Graham Thompson’s The Comic Muppet Book 1979 (“Full rulle med mupparna” in Sweden). Graham Thompson seems like the ideal muppet illustrator. I always found the muppets a bit scary. And zany of course. Thompson’s art had both these qualities.

From Jocelyn Stevenson’s and Graham Thompson’s Muppets at Sea 1980 (“Mupparna går i däck” in Sweden). I wish I had more of a “wild” drawing style, like Thompson’s. Seems like he’s mostly illustrating jigsaw puzzles these days? Is it the same guy? Does anyone know more about this artist? I’d love to get in touch with him and thank him for his inspiration.

The third comic book The Mild Bunch wasn’t as good as the first two. Don’t know who made it, the art is definitely not Thompson’s. But I wasn’t too picky back then, simply because there was so little to choose from. This panel however is a bit fun for the conscious muppet fan. Do you recognize this group of criminals? Of course you do! They are legendary mupeteers Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson and Dave Goelz! I didn’t have a clue about this back in the days.

Then there was Guy & Brad Gilchrist’s newspaper comic strip, apparently the first comic strip to be syndicated in multiple countries and newspapers from the very first day. Guy Gilchrist is arguably the king of muppet comics. He managed to stylize the muppets in a way that feels completely natural.

I used to collect these strips whenever I found them. I cut them out and glued them onto cardboard. Remember, only three comic books came out in Sweden, so I had to make my own.

Have you ever seen a more beautiful strip than this final Muppets strip from 1986? Guy Gilchrist is an interesting character with many years of experience in comics and music. Read more about him here.

This image makes me very nostalgic. You can read more about Guy Gilchrist and the Muppets at Muppetwiki.

But we shouldn’t get stuck in nostalgia. Muppet comics are still being produced today! Roger Langridge’s personal interpretation of the Muppet Show is loved by many. There’s even a Muppet Show Motion Comic in the making, based on Langridge’s art.

I wasn’t too keen on his style at first, but when I learned that Langridge is leaving the series, I ordered the first two issues. I’ve always been a bit late to catch on to things I guess. There are other muppet titles too being released by Boom! studios, like Muppet Sherlock Holmes, Muppet Robin Hood and Muppet Snow White.

Muppet Sherlock Holmes by Patrick Storck and Amy Mebberson.

Muppet Robin Hood by Tim Beedle and Armand Villavert Jr.

Muppet Snow White by Jesse Blaze Snider and Shelli Paroline.

Also, have a look at Dave Alwarez’s muppet art at the Boom! artists gallery. I really like Dave’s muppet strips! According to Dave he made these “just for fun” and as an homage to Gilchrist’s classic muppet strips. Dave has had some muppet cover art published Boom! Lucky Dave…

It would be a dream come true to draw the muppets professionally. I posted some stuff at the Boom! artists gallery in vain hope of catching the attention of some influential boss. Please go there and comment (I prefer positive ones…) to keep my post fresh and high up on the list. And cross your fingers! 🙂