Title: "Bean-Counter Brain"
Writer: Jesse Leon McCann
Penciller: Walter Carzon
Inker: Horacio Ottolini
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Release Date: December 22nd, 1999
Cover Price:
$1.99 U.S./ $2.85 Canada
Summary:
Brain's plan tonight utilizes Beanie Babies.
Description:
Brain decides to use Voodoo to take over the
world. Since making dolls of everyone on Earth would be too costly, he starts a
line of bean toys, Brainy Babies, which he fills with dried caviar, for
financial reasons. He makes dolls of everyone on Earth, planning to sell them
to people all around the globe. But there are the inevitable difficulties, and
the plan crashes and burns when the people find out about the caviar…
Pages (out of 32): 8 pp.
AYPWIP:
BRAIN: That's it, Pinky, are you pondering what I'm
pondering?
PINKY: I think so, Brain. But would the villains really have
gotten away with it, if it weren't for those pesky kids and their dog?
Quote of the Story:
BRAIN: In the meantime, I want you to create some prototypes
that we can use in advertisements. Make the dolls look like our neighbors,
Pinky.
PINKY: You mean the nudist, the Siamese twins and the lady
with the incredibly huge growth under her arm, Brain?
BRAIN: Er…better start with the neighbors on the other side,
Pinky.
Review:
A poor showing for what turned out to be the last
P&tB comic of the series, as well as McCann's last work with the mice (for
now, at least…). It starts out with a *VERY* funny concept, but goes downhill
considerably, due largely to a tremendous amount of technical nits in Brain's
plan. For one, wouldn't it make more sense for the dolls to be custom-made for
each person, rather than putting them on sale to the general public? What if
somebody besides the person for whom the doll was intended buys it (an example
being the celebrity dolls—wouldn't "Ricki Martini" himself have to
buy it?)? Besides, wouldn't people sue them for making dolls with their image
without their permission? And for that matter, in order for Brain to control
the people, wouldn't *HE* have to own the dolls? And the caviar bit was lame
and forced. I could go on…despite some good lines and great artwork, this poorly-thought-out
story is a big disappointment.
Rating: 
½
Title: "Tales of Randy Beaman"
Writers: Neal & Debbie Sternecky
Artist & Letterer: Neal Sternecky
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Description:
A tale involving a crème-filled snack cake.
Pages (out of 32): 1 p.
Review:
Sternecky returns for the last "regular"
issue of the series. Not great; good for a cheap laugh…
Rating: ½
Title: "Wakko's Untamed Melody"
Writers: Jennifer Moore & Sean Carolan
Penciller: Leo Batic
Inker: Jim Amash
Letterer: Phil Felix
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Cover: Leonardo Batic & Horacio Ottolini
Summary:
Wakko can't get a tune out of his head.
Description:
Wakko hums a tune over and over but can't think
of the title. Soon he has the whole A! cast going nuts along with him. He
finally remembers the name, but walks off before he tells the others, who all
scream.
Pages (out of 32): 3 pp.
Quote of the Story:
YAKKO: Should we go after him?
DOT: In his state, he could be dangerous…and I wouldn't want
to miss that! Let's go!
Review:
Just a little bit of delightfully pointless
silliness. Made all the funnier by the fact that *WE* never find out what the
song is.
Rating:
Title: "Tales of Randy Beaman"
Writers: Neal & Debbie Sternecky
Artist & Letterer: Neal Sternecky
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Description:
This story involves a prolonged visual gag…
Pages (out of 32): 1 p.
Review:
More pointless silliness. Lets Sternecky show off
his "cartoony" drawing style. Enjoyable.
Rating:
Title: "Minks is Finks"
Writer: Matt Wayne the Sailor-Man
Penciller: Leo Batic, Ruler of the Queen's Nay-vee
Inker: Barnacle Jim Amash the Sailor
Letterer: The Phil Felix's Hornpipe
Colorist: Bob LeRose the Man Down
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards, Gem of the Ocean
Editor: Heidi MacDonald's A-weigh, My Boys
Summary:
Some sailors drool over Minerva on a beach.
Description:
As all the men on the beach adore Minerva, she
longs for a real "hunk." Some stereotypical sailors show up and she
disguises herself to get them off her back. But when she meets public hero,
action figure, and cheap Arnold Schwarzenegger ripoff Darnol Shrivernecker,
she throws herself into his arms. Now if she could just get rid of those
sailors…
Look for a rather odd reference to Popeye…
Pages (out of 32): 8 pp.
Quote of the Story:
[Minerva, to get the sailors away, puts a paper bag over her
head.]
MINERVA: Is this what you want? Must a girl cover her beauty
in public?
BIG SAILOR: You'll need a bigger bag!
Review:
A passable Minerva story; nothing special. Batic
does his usual great job, which is this story's main attribute…otherwise,
pretty standard.
Rating: ½
Title: "Tales of Randy Beaman"
Writers: Neal & Debbie Sternecky
Artist & Letterer: Neal Sternecky
Colorist: Bob LeRose
Description:
Randy Beaman in the school play.
Pages (out of 32): 1 p.
Review:
Again, good for a cheap laugh.
Rating:
