Adventure Time #1 Review

Introduction:

From The Press Release:
In this first issue of ADVENTURE TIME join Finn the Human, Jake the Dog, and Princess Bubblegum for all-new adventures through The Land of Ooo! The top-rated Cartoon Network show now has its own comic book! With the show exploding in the ratings, garnering rave online reviews, major cosplay at the San Diego Comic-Con, and huge displays dominating the New York Comic Con, it's clear fandom is obsessed and 2012 is the Year of Adventure Time! Don't miss out on the phenomenon!

Vitals

Title: Adventure Time #1
Created By: Pendleton Ward
Writer: Ryan North with Aaron Renier
Artist: Shelli Paroline and Branden Lamb with Aaron Renier
Covers: Shelli Paroline and Branden Lamb (A), Chris Hougthon, Colors Kassandra Heller (B, C, and E), Jeffrey Brown (D)
Letters: Steve Wands
Content: Adventure Time is an all ages comic book.
Publisher: Kaboom! (A BOOM! Studios Imprint)
Cost: $3.99

Story:

Jake and Finn are living the life in The Land of Ooo. This land is a magical one with an adventure possibility of “unlimited.” The two have had countless adventures in this post-apocalyptic landscape that is full of unimaginable creatures and locations. The two are best friends and can always count on each other to have each others backs. Jake is a human with a cool hat and is friends with Princess Bubblegum. Finn is his dog friend that has super stretchy powers and is Jakes best pal. The two call The Land of Ooo home and seek adventure wherever it takes them.

In this first installment of Adventure Time the terrible Lich King has escaped from the Bag of Holding, ironically looking very much like a Crown Royal bag, and is sucking everything around him in The Land of Ooo into it, casgin destruction everywhere he goes. The Lich King eventually finds Jake and Finn and sucks them into the Bag of Holding taking them to a whole completely different land where they may be stuck forever if they can’t find a way out.

Review:

It’s easy to see why Adventure Time has risen in the ranks of popularity. The hit show on Cartoon Network has garnered quite a following and has had exploding ratings. It makes a lot of sense that they would take this property and transfer it to the sequential art platform.

I’m not intimately familiar with the Adventure Time property as my kids are at a much younger age bracket, but I was able to check out a couple of episodes on Cartoon Network and was pretty pleased that the art style in the comic is very seamless with the cartoon series. This is a big thing as the arty of Adventure Time is very quirky, whimsical, and cartoony, but also has a very detailed look to it. The art style of the series is very unique, so if it was off, even a little, I think fans would notice and they have noticed, selling out the first issue already.

The backup story diverges a bit in the art style, especially the coloring, but was a nice added touch, especially in the hilarious storyline. It was a nice added touch that gave the comic some extra meat in the story department and was cool to see a different take on the Adventure Time characters.

Conclusion:

Adventure Time looks to have a good thing on its hands. I could easily see some people not “getting” the more unusual and nonsensical aspects but I’m pretty sure many of the younger generations will enjoy this comic book. It was well done and I’m sure we will see much more of Adventure Time in the years to come, especially if they keep up with the seamless transitions and added goodness that fans crave.