SpongeBob Comics Discussion

Advance review of issue #31:

SpongeBob Comics #31

Publisher: United Plankton (distributed by Bongo)
Stories By: Joey Weiser, David DeGrand, Gregg Schigel, Chuck Dixon, James Kochalka and Max Riffner
Art By: Vince Deporter, David DeGrand, Gregg Schigel, Ramona Fradon and James Kochalka

At some point last year in this column I became a big advocate of some of the titles out there based off existing properties. Now comics based on cartoons have always been a staple for eons, but frequently since the early 2000s a lot of the original all-ages work has out shined the existing property stuff. Then within the past two years, magically some of these existing property titles got really good, like really-really good. Of course due to their legions of fans folks will first reference Adventure Time or My Little Pony, and yes those titles are good, but one that I feel goes toe-to-toe with those two and the bloggers ain’t typing away about since it’s not the “hot new property,” is SpongeBob Comics.

SpongeBob you can safely say will become the Millennials’ Looney Tunes, and how baby boomers can now talk on end about rabbit season-duck season, when Millennials are reaching retirement one day they will be fondly recalling SpongeBob and Patrick trying out swearing, that is censored to our ears by a convenient dolphin sound effect. The strength of SpongeBob Comics is how accurately it captures the feeling and content of the show itself for us readers, while being entertaining and accessible even if you do not watch the cartoon.

Issue #31 contains a nice chunk of stories for us, which is always a good thing to make it feel like it is worth your buck. With so much free digital content out there, you have to make it feel worthwhile to pony up cash these days, and this title does. Highlights among the many stories in this issue include “Kings of the Night,” with art by Vince Deporter and story by Joey Weiser, in which SpongeBob and Patrick do that thing everyone does at least once during their early years, and try to stay up all night to experience the world at night time; “SpongeBob Shapes Up,” with story and art by David DeGrand, which possibly has the funniest gag using ranch dressing I have ever read; and “Mermaid Man in Love,” with story by Chuck Dixon and art by Ramona Fradon, which is great Silver Age feeling hero tale, echoing some the best things you’ll only otherwise see reprinted in a DC Showcase collection these days.

The comic is funny, and although the art slightly varies from story to story, that is much appreciated because it really lets the artists speak their voice in their own way, also lending a nice strength to the title and making it feel more personal and not manufactured in the least.

Issue #31 is another great issue for SpongeBob and friends, check it out.
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I finally bought #28 and #29 over Spring Break, but I didn't finish reading them yet. X3 And holy crud! Those covers the Prez posted...I think I need a moment. ;_;
 
Sneak peek of #31 from David DeGrand:

What's wrong with SpongeBob's head? Did his brain expand? Is it full of jellied kelp? Is he just messing around? Find out in this comic I done drew in SpongeBob Comics #31, which hits stores this Wednesday!
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In this year's Swimtacular, the 12-page story "The Squishy Knight" is written and drawn by SpongeBob veteran Jay Lender! (Source.)

He has written and drawn for SpongeBob Comics one time before - a short (and adorable) back cover story for Issue #10 - and it's one of my favourites from the whole series, so I'm more than a little excited about this.
 
http://www.tfaw.com/Comics/Profile/Spongebob-Comics-34___453458/

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In part 3 of the epic 'Showdown at the Shady Shoals,' SpongeBob says he knows how the first meeting between Mermaid Man and the sea-king Viro Reganto must have gone down. How does he know? Because he's their biggest fan! Thus unfolds a spazzy, sponge-woven tale of underwater super villains and the power of friendship-all deliriously delineated by Jerry Ordway. Plus: This issue also features a round up of Wild West yarns - you know, the kind that take place underwater! First a mechanical bucking seahorse becomes the biggest fad - and the biggest rip-off - at the Krusty Krab in 'Shucking Seahorse'! And in 'Mixed Signals' we find out what happens when bubble signals go wrong on the ocean prairie; and Tim Truman provides a seaweed and spaghetti western-style pin-up of 'The Good, the Pat, and the Squiddy!
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*slaps* I'M RIGHT HERE.

Reminds me of that Living Like Larry picture
 
Free Comic Book Day is tomorrow, so don't forget to pick up a copy of Freestyle Funnies!

Here's a sneak peek from editor Chris Duffy:

 
Sam Henderson says in this blog entry that he intends to contribute to the comic more:

Next Saturday, May 3, will be Free Comic Book Day and you’ll have plenty of comics too choose from, and you should take them all, because they’re free.

I mention it because I have a page in SpongeBob Freestyle Funnies. Even though I was a writer for the show and frequently did a strip for Nickelodeon magazine, I haven’t been appearing in the comic as much. Not that I’m not invited to pitch as often as I want. I keep saying I’ll do more and drop the ball, but I just submitted a bunch of ideas this week. I did writing and art in this issue for what I intend to be a recurring feature, Flipper Follies. This issue also has stuff by usual contributors Nate Neal, Maris Wicks, Graham Annable, Corey Barba, Alternative regular James Kochalka, and others. Even if it weren’t free, I’d still recommend it. Editor Chris Duffy, formerly of Nickelodeon, has brought his editorial eye and comics expertise with him for a monthly series, supervised by creator Stephen Hillenburg.
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If you didn't manage to get a free copy on FCBD, you should still be able to buy one off eBay (that's what I did). :)

Here's a picture somebody took of Graham Annable's strip:

 
I used to get all depressed reading this topic because I had none of the comics, but luckily I was just able to order #9-34 (pre-order)

edit: i ordered 1-8
 
#35 cover and description:

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First, in Plankton's Playtime, that tiny terror joins SpongeBob and Patrick for game night...and Plankton will wish he'd stayed at the Chum Bucket! Then in part 4 of the epic Showdown at the Shady Shoals, it's a lie-down, passed-out battle of the geriatric underwater superheroes; Mermaid Man and sea king Viro Reganto compete in the Old Fogeython winner-take-all - all the oatmeal! And in Stupid Patrick, SpongeBob worries that Patrick's new friends just like him because he's so dumb! All this plus Flotsam and Jetsam by Maris Wicks and SpongeFunnies by James Kochalka equals United Plankton's usual mix of strange, soggy, and silly!
 
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