With all the anxiety building up, Marceline has to make a conscious effort for a moment of peace.
Creative Staff
Creator: Pendleton Ward
Writer/Illustrator: Meredith Gran
Colorist: Lisa Moore
Lettering: Steve Wands
Bonus Story: Yuko Ota and Ananth Panagariya
What They Say:
DON’T MISS THE LATEST ISSUE OF THIS POPULAR ADVENTURE TIME SPIN-OFF MINI-SERIES! Starring fan-favorite Marceline the Vampire Queen and the hit of San Diego Comic-Con. Popular with all-ages and a great way to get girls into your store!
Content:(please note that the content portion of a review may contain spoilers)
After Marceline’s meltdown at the end of last issue, the band arrives at its latest gig in Sound City, an underwater kingdom ruled by Ocean Princess. They arrive just before “The Calm”, a time when the tide recedes, allowing the band to play. While waiting for the show to start Princess Bubblegum takes the time to check in on her kingdom, only to find out that everything is in chaos with her gone. For now we see no more than a momentary freak-out before her worries shift back to the problems before her (namely Marceline), but it’s becoming apparent that PB might not be able to stand this extended vacation.
Marceline is even more obsessed with the bad reviews than in the last issue, and she only begins to realize how distant she’s been when she sees Bubblegum and Guy getting along so well. Still, she’s too caught up in her own inner issues to notice how she’s effecting others (she takes out her frustrating by kicking a transmitter, just when PB is seeing what shambles the Candy Kingdom is in) and only reaches a moment of calm during the VERY brief concert.
This issue we’re treated to two bonus stories, the first one coming from Yuko Ota and Ananth Panagariya, the creators of Johnny Wander. Marceline fans are showing up to the concert with counterfeit tickets, and it’s up to the super serious, slightly creepy Peppermint Butler (and Cinnamon Bun) to find the culprit. The ultimate villain is unsurprising, but it’s a fun sleuth story featuring a pair of underused characters. The other bonus story, written and drawn by Katie Leth, wraps up in two pages and basically features Lumpy Space Princess being Lumpy Space Princess — so, it’s great.
In Summary
Though we see everything come near the boiling as Bubblegum finally, truly loses her temper with Marceline, the drama hits a bit of a lull as Marceline finds a momentary peace. But with two issues to go, and a pile of unresolved worries and troubles (who’s writing the reviews? What will happen with Guy and Bubblegum? Is the Candy Kingdom doomed?) this may only be the calm before the storm.
Grade: A-
