Today’s Comic> The Smurfs v2 #1

Why Smurfs don't own pet grooming shops.

The Smurfs Vol. 2 #1

Papercutz (May 2010–yes, somehow they’re two months BEHIND in the publishing date)

This was a one-shot, $1 preview of an upcoming series of graphic novels featuring the Smurfs, with the original Peyo comics.

A sorcerer named Gargamel has stumbled upon a formula to create a philosopher’s stone, the legendary stone that is supposed to be able to turn metals into gold. For his recipe he needs a Smurf, so he sets out to capture one. His fellow Smurfs, lead by Papa Smurf, comes to his aid.

It’s hard to do a right/wrong here. It might have been nice to include a one-page back-up article on the creation of the Smurfs, but that’s the only complaint I could have. The comic itself is well done, and is the origin for the more well known Hanna-Barbera cartoons. One note is that while anyone who grew up with the Smurfs will instantly recognize Brainy and Papa Smurf, only the latter is referred to by name. Even the smurfnap victim isn’t named. The usual “replace word X with ‘smurf'” style is here, but I’m not sure they’re supposed to replace the word “key” in the speech patterns. Then again, I’m not up on my Smurf lingo.

It’s a nice comic for kids or those who grew up loving the three-apple high blue critters, and a good catch-up for the upcoming graphic novels. I think some of the episodes must have been adapted from the comic. The first GN sounds like one of the early episodes, where a virus turns the Smurfs purple and can be passed by biting. The next one is an adaptation (or vice versa) of the first theatrical movie, The Smurfs & The Magic Flute, and is claimed by solicits to be the first Smurf comic. This is the one I’ve ordered and will review upon it’s arrival (or whenever I get the chance to pick it up).

Tomorrow’s Comic> Transformers: War for Cybertron, the give-away comic IDW made for K-Mart to promote the video game.