Review - Adventure TIme Presents Marcy and Simon #1 (@boomstudios)

"I'm sorry for tattling. I was a no-good snitch! I vow to never cry wolf again!"

A hero often lives or dies by its villains. Joker is an eternal foil to Batman, Doc Ock is one to Spider-man and Ice King is one to...Simon. In Adventure TIme Presents Marcy and Simon #1 from kaBoom!, Ice King and Simon are one and the same, attempting to reconcile with each other. The issue is written by Olivia Olson, illustrated by Slimm Fabert, colored by SJ Miller and lettered by Mike Fiorentino.

After the events of the Adventure Time series finale, Marceline and Simon have finally reunited! Now together, Simon asks Marceline for help in making amends for his time as Ice King, which leads them, Finn, and Jake to one of the most dangerous places yet...the Nightosphere!

Ice King was always an unsettling villain in the Adventure Time series so Olson starts off with him at an appropriate spot: an apology tour. The entirety of the issue is a proverbial stroll down memory lane as Olson visits all the key players in the Land of Ooo as the newly "reformed" Simon seeks to make amends. These supplemental characters all feel welcoming as Olson taps into their familiarity to make the reader feel more comfortable with the issue. The dynamic between Simon and Marcy is refreshing as well, with Olson offering dialogue that shows the two truly care about each other. The issue definitely feels a little on the slower side, primarily because Olson is focusing on the apology rather than story, although things do pick up towards the end when the direction of the series is revealed.

Fabert's illustrations tap into the Adventure Time mythos with ease, largely owing to the wispy yet thick lines that define the characters. Marcy is pretty recognizable and seeing Ice King as Simon is interesting as Fabert illustrates him with a nod to to beatniks. The structured format of the panels brings some order to the otherwise chaotic series and Fabert allows all characters to remain front and center. Simon looks contrite the entire issue which Fabert uses well to help set the tone. Miller's colors are bright and vibrant, evoking thoughts of bubblegum and happiness that are consistent with the series as a whole.

Adventure TIme Presents Marcy and Simon #1 is a fun way to pick up where the series ended. Simon is working to make amends with his past life and it's a journey that will require the help of Finn and Jake. Olson's script is lighthearted and fun despite its otherwise deeper message. Fabert's illustrations fit the style perfectly, providing a great vision of the property. Adventure TIme Presents Marcy and Simon #1 has everything fans of the series want and is a lot of fun to read.

Adventure TIme Presents Marcy and Simon #1 is available January 16.