By Hunter T. Patrick
As a big Rugrats fan when I was a child I was really looking forward to this. I have not read the other issues yet, so I am reviewing this as the first issue I read, which it required no background knowledge I noticed of the other issues so that was good. With that in mind, the question is if I enjoyed the comic and if it did give me the nostalgia I was looking forward to. The answer is disappointingly no. The story did not feel like a whole story, it felt way too short. There were several panels without dialogue, which I am a fan of, but they just contributed to making the issue feel like a waste. The story would have worked much better if it was half the comic and they had another mini story for the other half, but sadly that story was it. There could be an argument that it is supposed to be like that as it is a comic about babies, but the show did take things up a notch. The ending was predictable, but there was one little twist to it that was fun to see and where the writer went with it.
Dialogue is what one of the best-loved things about Rugrats with its constant mispronunciations to comedic effect which the comic succeeded with. This might be nit-picky, but I could have done without several editor’s notes explaining the mispronunciations, which is understandable if the comic is meant to be easy to read for all ages, but still annoying. The art worked well to replicate the TV show but one panel in particular of Tommy just looked way too off.
The comic has me confused at who the audience is. If it is meant for younger readers that is great, but I cannot imagine children picking Rugrats unless they have already seen the show. People who did grow up on Rugrats would be too old and cynical over it, as you can see with this review. It is for the young at heart, but they should go ahead and read another series if so. I will admit I am really happy to see this book on stands and making it to issue seven. I am interested to read the other issues and expect those to also be quick reads. The comic has a lot of potential and whole worlds to explore just like the cartoon, and the comic medium is one full of unlimited potential. If you are on the fence about buying this comic, don’t. I would wait to read it in a trade with other stories for a full Rugrats experience. Most episodes of the show had two eleven-minute segments and this felt just like one, but needs something with it. Babies go and put on your diapers because once we get more stories, then expect many adentures*.
*reviewer note, adentures means adventures**
**Reviewers note note, That would have been much funnier without that note, but also we needed an explanation as it came out of nowhere and was not that puny. Do not worry though, the comic has much more creative language, somewhat, then this horrible example. Like the comic, I tried.
Score 2/5
Rugrats #7
BOOM! Studios