(NOTE: Beginning with this issue, the cover title reads "Animaniacs Featuring Pinky and the Brain," but the "official" title in the indicia box remains "Animaniacs.")

Title: "Revenge of the Magi"

Writers: S. Carolan & J. Moore
Penciller: Omar Aranda
Inker: Jim Amash
Letterer: Phil Felix
Colorist: Bob LeRose

Release Date: October 14th, 1998
Cover Price: $1.99 U.S./ $2.85 Canada

Summary:
The Warners are Secret Santas at the WB Studio this year.

Description:
The Warners are Secret Santa this year. They give Scratchy, Ralph, and Hello Nurse thoughtful presents, and then come to Plotz—they all have bought him accessories for his car. But it seems that the three accessories are now unnecessary, as each of the Warners sold a part of Plotz's car to finance their gift.

Pages (out of 32): 3 pp.

Quote of the Story:
[The Warners present Plotz's presents.]

DOT: Something extra special for the guy who always gives us Liquid Paper for Christmas!

SCRATCHANSNIFF: You got Liquid Paper? I just got stickies!

Review:
A wonderful satire on the old "Gift of the Magi" story, which was a satire itself. Very amusing.

Rating:  

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Title: "Shoe-In"

Writer: Joe Edkin
Penciller: Neal Sternecky
Inker: Mike DeCarlo
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Cover: Leonardo Batic (with thanks to Walter Carzon) & Mike DeCarlo

Summary:
Pinky & the Brain return full-time to the A! comics! The mice go into the sneaker business to take over the world.

Description:
Brain has invented a new type of basketball sneakers. They include satellite dishes which will receive a signal from Brain, and then "boing" everyone into the stratosphere via springs on the bottom. When Yike turns down the design, Brain creates his own company. He then hires an ad company, and soon everyone is wearing "Twinkle Toes." But Pinky, upon Brain's comment that people only want "bells and whistles," adds actual bells and whistles to the plans. The satellites no longer receive Brain's signal and the plan fails.

Pages (out of 32): 12 pp.

AYPWIP:
{None.}

Quote of the Story:
AD EXECUTIVE: Live in the moment, babe! TV is about image, not substance! We give the viewers a vague, empty feeling--as if something is missing from their lives!

PINKY: Like adult undergarments! And synthetic fat!

Review:
With the sudden cancellation of the P&tB series, the comics originally slated to appear there were instead run in the A! books. Therefore, the next several issues of A! are filled half by P&tB comics—and most of them aren't even terribly funny. This is one of the better ones, but is still relatively unimpressive. Although it makes some amusing comments on the sneaker and advertising businesses, and has some good dialogue exchanges, the story as a whole doesn't live up to its best bits. Sternecky fans should enjoy his work here, which is probably his best work on the mice to date, and some of his last work on the A! series.

Rating:   ½

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Title: "The Sound of Coo-sic"

Writer: Matt Wayne
Penciller: Leo Batic
Inker: Dan Davis
Letterer: Phil Felix
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Inspiration: Julie Andrews

Summary:
The Goodfeathers babysit the Godpigeon's nephews.

Description:
The Sparrows have stolen the goat cheese that the Godpigeon intended to use to make a cannoli. As the Godpigeon and some other Birds search for the Sparrows, the Goodfeathers are to babysit his nephews—Louie, Louie, and Louie. They want to be Goodfeathers when they grow up. The Sparrows approach and as the pigeons unsuccessfully fight them, the Louie's recapture the cheese.

Includes several parodies of songs from The Sound of Music.

Pages (out of 32): 8 pp.

Quote of the Story:
BOBBY: [As the Sparrows approach with the cheese, out of nowhere.]: It's a coincidence. Howd'ya figure a coincidence like this?

Review:
Very enjoyable, although those who aren't familiar with the songs from The Sound of Music will be hopelessly lost. But those who do know the tunes well enough to sing along with the new lyrics should have a good time. Also, unlike Wayne's "The Lunch Boat," which had nothing going for it other than some clever rhymes, this story isn't completely lyric-dependent: it also has several other amusing elements, including the Huey, Dewey, & Louie parodies, and a glimpse of the Godpigeon crying!

Rating:   ½