For the first time ever, The Muppets are crossing paths with the Marvel Universe.
Marvel Comics has announced The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1, a special one-shot arriving this September that celebrates the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show. The oversized issue brings together the beloved cast of Muppets and a wide range of Marvel heroes for a collection of all-new stories from an impressive lineup of creators.
Leading the charge is Eisner Award winner and longtime Muppets fan Chip Zdarsky, who teams with artist Pete Woods for a story that throws Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and the rest of the gang into a wild adventure alongside Spider-Man, Wolverine, Black Panther, Emma Frost, and more.
The main story begins when Rowlf the Dog is kidnapped by Mojo to help launch a new streaming service, forcing an unlikely alliance between Marvel heroes and Muppet favorites.
Other stories in the issue include a scientific mishap involving Bruce Banner, Hank Pym, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, and Beaker from creators Kyle Starks and Mike Henderson; a mystical cooking crisis pairing Doctor Strange and the Swedish Chef from Ashley Allen and Paco Medina; and a cosmic encounter between Pigs in Space and Rocket Raccoon and Groot from MacKenzie Cadenhead and David Baldeon.
Additional stories will be contributed by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Adam F. Goldberg, E.J. Su, and Áthila Fabbio.
Zdarsky was quick to joke about the responsibility that comes with handling two beloved franchises.
“With the great power of two iconic properties comes great responsibility. I promise to not let down Kermit, Fozzie and Animal the way Spider-Man let down his Uncle Ben,” Zdarsky joked.
He also revealed which character excited him most.
“It’s impossible to overstate how excited I was to write for Miss Piggy, whom I consider to be one of the greatest icons of the last hundred years, a character who speaks to every generation. I also got to write Deadpool,” he continued. “And Pete Woods is turning in the most stunning, detailed and joyous pages. Seeing his take on these characters interacting is a real delight.”
The collaboration marks a milestone for both Marvel and The Muppets Studio.
“It has been exciting for The Muppets Studio to collaborate with Marvel Comics in a new and unique way to bring the personality, humor and mayhem of The Muppets into the Marvel Universe and vice versa,” said Leigh Slaughter, Vice President of The Muppets Studio. “To do this during the 50th anniversary year of ‘The Muppet Show’ makes this project even more meaningful.”
Marvel also revealed a lineup of covers for the special, including artwork by Nick Bradshaw, Humberto Ramos, Ron Lim, a Muppet Treasure Island 30th Anniversary cover by Matteo Lolli, and a special Logo Mashup variant.
Check out the covers below.
THE MUPPETS TAKE THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #1
Written by CHIP ZDARSKY, MACKENZIE CADENHEAD, PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON, ADAM F. GOLDBERG, ASHLEY ALLEN, KYLE STARKS & MORE
Art by PETE WOODS, DAVID BALDEON, ÁTHILA FABBIO, E.J. SU, PACO MEDINA & MIKE HENDERSON
Cover by NICK BRADSHAW
Foil Variant Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Muppet Treasure Island 30th Anniversary Variant Cover by MATTEO LOLLI
Variant Cover by RON LIM
Logo Mashup Variant Cover
On Sale 9/23
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