Title: "Theme Park Buttons"
Writer: Joe Edkin
Penciller: Leo Batic
Inker: Jim Amash
Letterer: Phil Felix
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Cover: Leo Batic & Horacio Ottolini
Release Date: October 20th, 1999
Cover Price:
$1.99 U.S./ $2.85 Canada
Summary:
Buttons chases Mindy through an amusement park.
Description:
At an amusement park, Lady buys Mindy a walking
dog toy. She and Man head off to get cotton candy, instructing Buttons not to
let anything happen to Mindy or the toy. The toy walks off and Mindy follows
it. After the usual gags, they return to where they were to wait. The toy is
broken, and Buttons gets the blame.
Pages (out of 32): 8 pp.
Quote of the Story:
MINDY: [Approaching a ride operator.]: Watcha doin', Mr.
Man?
MR. MAN: Running this ride!
MINDY: Why?
MR. MAN: Because it's my job!
MINDY: Why?
MR. MAN: Because I lost my job at the bank, and I had to do
something.
MINDY: Why?
MR. MAN: Because I had all these loans to pay back and no
one wanted to give me work after they heard about my rash…and then my
girlfriend left me and my cat was taken to the pound…of course, none of this
would've happened if I hadn't eaten that spoiled cheese…
Review:
*Yawn*. Like Edkin's first M&B story, this one
takes all the bad elements of the M&B cartoons, and leaves out the few good
ones. He does, however, include a "Why?" gag, which is easily the
funniest bit in the story. Some nice stuff from Batic.
Rating: 
˝
Title: "Waiting for 'Waiting for
Godot'"
Existential Musings: Sean Carolan & Jennifer Moore
Philosophical Doodling: Rusty Haller
Jungian Archetypes: Jeff Albrecht
Freudian Slips: Phil Felix
Metaphysical Humours: Bob LeRose
Nietzchean Doubt: Harvey Richards (Assistant Editor)
Categorial Imperative: Heidi MacDonald (Editor)
Summary:
Scratchansniff tries to get the Warners to stage
Samuel Beckett's play.
Description:
Today, Scratchy says, rather than slapstick, we
will see the philosophical masterpiece "Waiting for Godot." But the
Warners don't cooperate, as they put their usual spin on the play (spoofing
everything from Austin Powers to Elton John in the process). Finally, Scratchy
unleashes "massive star power": "Canoe Reeves." After
listening to him act for a bit, the Warners now know the true meaning of
bleakness.
Pages (out of 32): 6 pp.
Quote of the Story:
SCRATCHANSNIFF: Ve shall do zis directly from ze script! Now
get backstage, and no monkeyshines!
YAKKO & DOT: Aww…!
SCRATCHANSNIFF: Ja, zat's ze spirit! Save it for ze stage!
Review:
How could a story with a concept like this be
anything less than fantastic (especially when it's written by Carolan &
Moore)? Uproariously funny…as usual, the little things add to the fun—check out
the "Existential Sports Network"'s philosophy (p. 1), the stickers on
Dot's suitcase (p. 2), and the racecar "Mach" number (p. 4). Haller
makes his debut, and does a decent job. Highly recommended. Wonder if the
"Leave It to Beaver" comment was meant as a ref to last issue, or if
it was just a coincidence…
Rating:
Title: "Operation: Slumberland"
Writer: Jesse Leon McCann
Penciller: Walter Carzon
Inker: Horacio Ottolini
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Summary:
Brain takes over everyone's dreams.
Description:
Using Brain's new Dream Projection Chamber, the
mice travel into "Slumberland," where everyone's most secret dreams
come true when they sleep. Brain collects everyone in the amphitheater, where
he tells them to make him their leader, and he'll make their dreams come true.
But due to Pinky having a nightmare about a monster he saw on TV, the mice are
scared awake. Once they're outside, everyone recognizes Brain from their dream,
and laughs at him for being scared of a nightmare.
Pages (out of 32): 8 pp.
AYPWIP:
BRAIN: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?
PINKY: I think so, Brain. But will anyone other than Eskimos
buy blubber-flavored chewing gum?
Quote of the Story:
[The mice are chased by the squid-like monster.]
PINKY: If we get out of this, I promise I'll never eat sushi
again!
BRAIN: You've eaten sushi?
PINKY: Oh, Brain! If you knew sushi like I know sushi!
Review:
Another highly amusing tale from the pen of McCann
and the pencil of Carzon. The ending was a bit sudden and forced—I think the
story would've worked better in 12 page format. Also, what is everyone already
doing out on the street at the end when they were all in Slumberland with the
mice just moments before? Still, a creative outset, some great gags, and
terrific, imaginative artwork make this story another classic addition to the
series.
Rating: ˝
