Review - Powerpuff Girls #1

"I'm covered in algae!"

Powerpuff Girls was a show that had a certain playfulness to it. The main characters fought crime and did their thing, all while learning what it's like to be a girl growing up in the world. It only makes sense that the characters get their day in the sun in comic book form, debuting in Powerpuff Girls #1 from IDW Publishing.

The book is written and illustrated by Troy Little with letters by Neil Uyetake and Little.

Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup are three superhero crimefighters with a penchant for saving the city of Townsville on a daily basis. The trio of girls manage to blend fierce combat prowess with a youthful innocence, usually on full display against the likes of Mojo Jojo. While fighting to save the city on what seems to be a daily basis, the girls have a blast doing it and typically learn something in the process. It's all good fun with a rather interesting twist at the end of the issue.

Little really taps into what makes Powerpuff Girls in the comic, making it very lighthearted and an enjoyable read. If you've seen the show before, you can almost imagine the action playing out as a cartoon in your head, right down to the voices. The story itself isn't exactly original, but the majority of the problems faced by the Powerpuff Girls pitted them against Mojo Jojo. Little really emphasizes the characteristics of the characters that made them so lovable in the show's heyday and capitalizes on that nostalgia.

Little also pulls art duty on the book as well, offering up a very familiar appearance to the reader. The Powerpuff Girls are sufficiently illustrated and--again--make the reader feel as if they're watching an episode of the show instead of reading the book. The show was stylized by heavy outlines and bold, basic shapes, a style that Little uses to great effect in the first issue of the series. It's a look that's as visually pleasing as it is solid.

Fans of the Powerpuff Girls series will definitely want to check out the book. Those who know about the characters and haven't really invested much to this point would do well to start with the comic. It's very accessible and offers new readers a great jumping on point to get into the series. The first issue plays out exactly as an episode of the series would, which is to say it's very enjoyable and a fun, fast-paced read. There's a lot of free spirit carried in the pages that really presents a complete package.

Powerpuff Girls #1 is available now.