Update: When e-mailed about the status of the Pixar and Muppet comics, BOOM! responded with the “BOOM! Kids 2.0″ image, first released in September:
Original story: Looks like BOOM! Studios may possibly no longer be in the Pixar or Muppet business. As first pointed out on the Comics Worth Reading blog, the remaining solicited Pixar and Muppets comics from the publisher surfaced on Diamond’s latest cancellation list, with the added twist of having a “3″ code — meaning, “canceled by Previews.”
One of the affected titles, The Incredibles, is in the midst of a story arc, with the earliest canceled issue on that title, #16, originally scheduled to ship in November. The other three, Toy Story: Tales From the Toy Chest, The Muppet Show and Cars: Adventures of Tow Mater had all wrapped story arcs.
BOOM! picked up the Disney and Pixar license in 2008, a year before Disney acquired comic book publisher Marvel Comics. Marvel’s first Disney comics produced since the purchase were tie-ins to last month’s Tron: Legacy feature film; the publisher has held both Disney and Muppet licenses in the past before their acquisition.
BOOM!’s Disney comics, especially The Muppet Show by cartoonist Roger Langidge, have received critical acclaim. Late last November, Langridge announced that he was working on his last story with the Muppet characters, to be released sometime in 2011. Newsarama contacted BOOM! Studios, and will update upon hearing back from the publisher.
A list of the canceled titles follows after the jump.
BOOM ENTERTAINMENT
SEP100898 CARS ADVENTURES OF TOW MATER #5 3 OCT100885 CARS ADVENTURES OF TOW MATER #6 3 SEP100903 INCREDIBLES #16 3 OCT100897 INCREDIBLES #17 3 SEP100910 MUPPET SHOW #12 3 OCT100901 MUPPET SHOW #13 3 SEP100912 TOY STORY TALES FROM TOY CHEST #5 3 OCT100903 TOY STORY TALES FROM TOY CHEST #6 3
January 11th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
So…cancelled to move the characters over to a new line from Marvel? Or did the licensing fee jump too high for Boom? Fans of the Gargoyles comics recall that happening midway through both the main series and a related spinoff comic.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:59 am
It’s really no mystery why the Muppet comic failed. The Muppet comics were poorly drawn for the most part and the writing wasn’t much better. Plus the comic didn’t sell well after its initial outing. It also doesn’t help that Muppets are very dated and don’t interest the current generation much. So all in all, it’s no mystery why the Kermit comic, um, croaked.
January 14th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
actualy the Muppets have been doing well with a big time come back! Kermit and company have always been around. it’s quality family entertanment.
February 17th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Wow. Lariat Jim – that was the most uninformed post I have ever read. The Muppet Show comic has actually been selling quite well and has also received critical acclaim. While the Muppets may be struggling to grab the younger generation, there is a whole lot of us Gen Xers who remember them quite fondly.