Here it is: my almost-entirely spoiler-free review of 'Adventure Time: Marcy & Simon'.
It is a direct sequel to the 'Adventure Time' cartoon series, set after the finale. It is called 'Marcy & Simon', but as it turns out, it is not just about them and their tragic yet sweet yet bittersweet father-and-daughter relationship.
It is not as sentimental as the cover makes it seem. There are hardly even any flashbacks. It is more cerebral and, well, like an adventure time. Everything that happens is in the present, the now, and the stakes have never been higher. As in, the Multiverse is involved.
Got to up the ante yet again. Only not as successful this time, in my opinion.
'Marcy & Simon' is far more epic, cosmic, and arguably more complicated and convoluted than you would expect from an 'Adventure Time' plot. It contains far more dialogue and technobabble than I'm used to in an 'Adventure Time' comic, as well. I swear, Bubblegum exists just to give exposition and said technobabble here, to go with her inventing stuff. Her relationship with her girlfriend Marceline still exists, but it plays second fiddle to everything else going on, and there is a lot going on!
On the subject of Marceline's relationships to other characters, her toxic demon dad gets off way too lightly and easily here. She needs to properly resolve her daddy issues in an overdue subsequent story arc, and make him be held accountable for all of his objectively evil and toxic red flag actions.
On top of that discomfort, therein Marcy's demon daddy issues lie mirrored patterns and relationship parallels with the other characters, concerning themes such as grief, moving on, and possessiveness, that are not explored or addressed here. It's a wasted opportunity.
And what is the history of Marceline's parents? What was their relationship? Has that already been addressed and explored elsewhere?
Still, 'Marcy & Simon' is a mountain-scale-above-average enjoyable, colourful, sweet, and hella creative continuation of 'Adventure Time' and its lore. Nearly everything gets a resolution, even if a mediocre one. Nearly every callback to the cartoon is a hoot, to boot.
I mainly wanted to check it out because I was intrigued that Olivia Olson, Marceline's voice actress, was writing it. She mostly did a great job capturing the humour and feel of the original cartoon, and the unique voices of every character, especially with so much happening in the comic. Her foreword is lovely, touching, and inspirational, too.
Olivia Olson is awesome, and so is Marceline the Vampire Queen; also half-demon, rockstar, and girlfriend of the princess and head scientist of the Candy Kingdom.
I only wish 'Marcy & Simon' could have been sweeter, and simpler, and not so rushed at the end (those last few pages, WTH?), and had been a little more about Marcy and Simon. Like, it's in the title. The focus and coherence should have stayed solely on them, to the end. The fact it calls Marceline 'Marcy' should have indicated an introspection into her childhood, and her fears and insecurities resulting from the various tragic events of it; what the poor child had to go through. Give a further look into her life and development over the years, like a tribute to her and the Simon of old, and of the now, at least.
But I'll take it. I'll take anything with Marceline in it.
I like this line below from Marcy, surrounded by the comfort and support of her friends:
'Thanks. Sometimes I need to remind myself I'm not alone anymore. You guys are the best.'
Plus: Love the cover gallery and art with her in it.
Final Score: 3.5/5
It is a direct sequel to the 'Adventure Time' cartoon series, set after the finale. It is called 'Marcy & Simon', but as it turns out, it is not just about them and their tragic yet sweet yet bittersweet father-and-daughter relationship.
It is not as sentimental as the cover makes it seem. There are hardly even any flashbacks. It is more cerebral and, well, like an adventure time. Everything that happens is in the present, the now, and the stakes have never been higher. As in, the Multiverse is involved.
Got to up the ante yet again. Only not as successful this time, in my opinion.
'Marcy & Simon' is far more epic, cosmic, and arguably more complicated and convoluted than you would expect from an 'Adventure Time' plot. It contains far more dialogue and technobabble than I'm used to in an 'Adventure Time' comic, as well. I swear, Bubblegum exists just to give exposition and said technobabble here, to go with her inventing stuff. Her relationship with her girlfriend Marceline still exists, but it plays second fiddle to everything else going on, and there is a lot going on!
On the subject of Marceline's relationships to other characters, her toxic demon dad gets off way too lightly and easily here. She needs to properly resolve her daddy issues in an overdue subsequent story arc, and make him be held accountable for all of his objectively evil and toxic red flag actions.
On top of that discomfort, therein Marcy's demon daddy issues lie mirrored patterns and relationship parallels with the other characters, concerning themes such as grief, moving on, and possessiveness, that are not explored or addressed here. It's a wasted opportunity.
And what is the history of Marceline's parents? What was their relationship? Has that already been addressed and explored elsewhere?
Still, 'Marcy & Simon' is a mountain-scale-above-average enjoyable, colourful, sweet, and hella creative continuation of 'Adventure Time' and its lore. Nearly everything gets a resolution, even if a mediocre one. Nearly every callback to the cartoon is a hoot, to boot.
I mainly wanted to check it out because I was intrigued that Olivia Olson, Marceline's voice actress, was writing it. She mostly did a great job capturing the humour and feel of the original cartoon, and the unique voices of every character, especially with so much happening in the comic. Her foreword is lovely, touching, and inspirational, too.
Olivia Olson is awesome, and so is Marceline the Vampire Queen; also half-demon, rockstar, and girlfriend of the princess and head scientist of the Candy Kingdom.
I only wish 'Marcy & Simon' could have been sweeter, and simpler, and not so rushed at the end (those last few pages, WTH?), and had been a little more about Marcy and Simon. Like, it's in the title. The focus and coherence should have stayed solely on them, to the end. The fact it calls Marceline 'Marcy' should have indicated an introspection into her childhood, and her fears and insecurities resulting from the various tragic events of it; what the poor child had to go through. Give a further look into her life and development over the years, like a tribute to her and the Simon of old, and of the now, at least.
But I'll take it. I'll take anything with Marceline in it.
I like this line below from Marcy, surrounded by the comfort and support of her friends:
'Thanks. Sometimes I need to remind myself I'm not alone anymore. You guys are the best.'
Plus: Love the cover gallery and art with her in it.
Final Score: 3.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment