Changes: The Muppets (comic strip)

Revision as of 14:49, 2 October 2015

Comicstrip 0001 — The premiere comic: September 21, 1981.

Gilchristcomic-color2 — An example of the color strip in *Muppet Magazine*.

The Muppets comic strip first premiered in over 500 daily newspapers on September 21, 1981, just months after The Muppet Show ended its five year run. The strip was created by brothers Guy and Brad Gilchrist, who drew and wrote the strips, and distributed through King Features Syndicate.

The Muppets Comic Strip was printed daily from 1981 to 1986 in over 660 newspapers worldwide. Special strips were also created in color, exclusively for issues of Muppet Magazine during its run.

The strip is notable as being the first comic strip in history to be syndicated in multiple countries starting on the very first day of publication. Guy Gilchrist described working on a world-wide comic stating: "We had to work twice as far in advance as anyone else in our business at that time, because our strips had to be shipped via airmail and messenger (prior to the internet, of course) all around the world to be translated into every language of the 80 countries that read us each day. We had to be extremely aware of the global marketplace. We couldn't, for instance, write any 'puns' or English language wordplay. It couldn't be translated, you see." ^[1]

In 1983, Enesco released a line of coffee mugs featuring artwork from the comic strip.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan invited Guy to be guest of honor at the "Easter at The White House" celebration. Later that week, Guy’s Muppets artwork was permanently enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute. Guy’s Muppet artwork was chosen to be part of the touring Art of the Muppets exhibit and has appeared in museums worldwide.

The strip originally had a more naturalistic style that was patterned directly off the puppets, and on the work of Michael Frith. As time went on, though, Guy became more confident drawing the characters and the strip became more stylized and simplified, capturing the essence of the characters in this new medium. Guy's version of Kermit can be recognized by small horizontal lines around his smile, which persisted in Guy's licensing work for Muppet Babies.

Gonzo recommends the book Moving Right Along by Guy and Brad Gilchrist at the end of The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson.

Characters featured in the Muppets comic strip included: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Scooter, Rowlf, Statler and Waldorf, Robin, Beauregard, Sam the Eagle, Floyd, Zoot, Janice, Animal, Rizzo, Link Hogthrob, Dr. Julius Strangepork, The Swedish Chef, Camilla, Pops, Beaker, J.P. Grosse, Foo Foo, and Thog. Background characters included Whatnots, Monsters, Chickens, Rats, Frogs and other creatures.

Strip gallery

Book collections

Six books were released by Tom Doherty Associates collecting the later strips.

Translations

Sources

↑ [1]

External links

Tough Pigs: The Early Days of the Muppets Comic Strip

[1] [1]

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[File:Mupcomicstrip.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 [[File:Comicstrip_0001.jpg|thumb|300px|The premiere comic: September 21, 1981.]]
 [[Image:Comicstrip2.jpg|thumb|300px|The final comic (1986).]]
@@ Line 190: / Line 191: @@
 The Muppets comic strip 1982-05-29.jpg|May 29, 1982
 File:Gilchrist_1983-05-18.jpg|May 18, 1983
+gilchrist strip 1983 may 26.jpg|May 26, 1983
+gilchrist 1984-04-06.jpg|April 6, 1984
+gilchrist comic strip march 7 1985.jpg|March 7, 1985
+gilchrist comic strip march 12 1985.jpg|March 12, 1985
+gilchrist 1985-04-17.jpg|April 17, 1985
+-05-20.jpg|May 20, 1985
+-05-22.jpg|May 22, 1985
+gilchrist strip 1985 july 27.jpg|July 27, 1985
+-12-31.jpg|Dec 31, 1985
 gilchrist 1986-04-01.jpg|April 1, 1986
 gonzo shower comic.JPG
@@ Line 207: / Line 217: @@
 Comic Jun 26.jpg|June 26, 1983
 Jul 22 1984.jpg|July 22, 1984
+gilchrist 1985-10-28.jpg|October 28, 1984
 April 14 1985.jpg|April 14, 1985
 Jun 30 1985.jpg|June 30, 1985
 Oct 27 1985.jpg|October 27, 1985
-gilchrist 1985-10-28.jpg|Oct 28, 1985
+gilchrist 1985-11-17 comic strip.jpg|November 17, 1985
+gilchrist 1985-12-1 comic strip.jpg|December 1, 1985
 comics0002.jpg
 Pigs In Space comic.JPG
+The Muppets comic computer store.jpg
-The Muppets comic computer store.jpg|Offered [http://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/guy-gilchrist-and-gill-fox-muppets-comic-strip-art-original-art-king-fea/i/800050728.s#Photo via Heritage Auctions]
+easter at the white house 1984 program booklet.jpg|White House Easter Egg Roll program: 1984
 </gallery>

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