Writer: Eric Rogers Artist:Pam Cooke(p), Phyllis Novin(i), Dave Stewart(c) Publisher:Bongo
Plot: Find Zap Brannigan!
Eric Rogers also beams to the racks the best issue of Futurama Comics. The plot spoofs Apocalypse Now, but doesn't just end with "the horror, the horror." Mr. Rogers comes up with unique twists that actually make sense even as straight science fiction.
The cover does not falsely advertise. Zap Brannigan is central, and what's interesting his how Mr. Rogers treats this complete jackass. He doesn't suggest the entire cosmos are blind to his asinine behavior. He instead suggests, somebody noticed this cretin too late. By the time somebody realized a terran fungus could outwit him, he had already risen in the ranks and became privy to sensitive information. Thus, to the forces of good, Zap Brannigan is indeed valuable.
Kif and Leela--great to see her in the jungle again :)--who know the truth struggle with doing the right thing, killing him horribly and rescuing him from certain doom. Meanwhile, Fry and Bender act like the immature beings they are yet somehow manage to provide the vital information and action needed to save everybody's bacon. They are the most unlikely heroes ever created and Mr. Rogers characterizes them exactly like their cartoon models.
Pam Cooke not only gets the look of the book correctly, she embellishes memorable moments to the story. The Zap Brannigan flare for instance sparkles with Leela's homage to Marilyn Monroe on a classic Playboy cover. Personally, I'm thinking that gives Zap a little too much credit. Of course, he's not in his right mind during this issue.
