Powerpuff Girls

• Title: Powerpuff Girls #8 (of 6)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Derek Charm
• Artist: Derek Charm

The second-half of the “Monster Day” begins with the Powerpuff Girls defeated and dejected in their room and Steve‘s monster swarm destroying the city of Townsville and preparing for the night’s final festivities: eating the Mayor! Getting the kick in the butt they need from Professor Utonium, Bubbles comes up with a plan to even the odds by taking control of the remaining Mojobots and leading them into battle against the monster horde.

Although the Girls suffered momentary defeat at the end of last issue, Powerpuff Girls #8 allows the threesome to return with a force thanks to a little fatherly push and a brainstorm by my favorite member of the group. Once again the day is saved by the Powerpuff Girls, but despite the monsters eventual defeat Steve’s reign continues as his subjects admit that this has been the best day ever (meaning, if the comic stays around long enough, we may get another Monster Day somewhere down the line). The lastest issue delivers on action, wackiness, and a nice message about never giving up no matter the odds. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: Powerpuff Girls #7 (of 6)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Derek Charm
• Artist: Derek Charm

The momentary peace in Townsville after Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles defeated HIM and Mojo Jojo that allowed the girls a chance to do their own experiments in Professor Utonium‘s laboratory is disrupted by the first annual Monster Day as creatures from Monster Island who the heroines have beaten in the past all converge on the city on the same day to wreak havoc (and regain their lost confidence).

Written and drawn by Derek Charm (whose take on the characters is quite good), the cliffhanger ending of the first issue of the two-issue arc offers something we don’t see very often: a trio of bruised and beaten Powerpuff Girls giving up when they realize the monsters’ invasion will only last a single day and they can clean-up the city tomorrow.

Even with their defeat and the overwhelming odds stacked against them I’d be surprised if we don’t see the Powerpuff Girls leap back into action next issue rather than let the monsters’ rampage continue. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: Powerpuff Girls #6 (of 6)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Troy Little
• Artist: Troy Little

The return of Mojo Jojo! After defeating HIM and all the various Townsville villains who went back to being themselves after HIM relinquished control, the Powerpuff Girls return home to discover Jojo has returned to his crazy, mad-scientist self whose new plan involves not conquering Townsville but destroying it.

Although I’ve enjoyed the series, the lack of my favorite Powerpuff Girls villain (who is back form for the first time since issue #1). Launching himself into safe orbit aboard his own Mojo Jojo rocket (shaped like his head), the villain plans to watch the carnage from a safe distance. And, of course, that’s when the day is saved thanks to the Powerpuff Girls!

Along with Mojo’s return (and outlining of his ridiculously complicated plan), the issue also delivers a good deal of action as the girls work together to save the day leaving their archnemesis stranded in space without any victory to gloat over. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: Powerpuff Girls #5 (of 6)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Troy Little
• Artist: Troy Little

Only after loosening his control of Townsville‘s villains and letting each revert back to their true form does HIM finally reveal his presence and gloat at his victory. The Powerpuff Girls jump into action to stop the collection of villains from laying waste to the town. However, after discovering HIM’s mind control the villains re-purpose their anger accordingly and threaten retaliation.

Facing the prospect of fighting the girls and the various villains, HIM decides to release each character’s inner sin to further destroy Townsville – including those of Buttercup and Blossom. Thankfully for the town, Bubbles steps up in a a big way as the lack of darkness in her soul forces the villain to abandon his latest scheme. And, to wrap-up events, the comic leaves us with a nice message about people actually being able to change if they are given the opportunity.

Writer/artist Troy Little delivers another fun issue leaving the Mojo Jojo thread still left to be resolved next month. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

• Title: Powerpuff Girls #4 (of 6)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Troy Little
• Artist: Troy Little

Although things start off well-enough for our pint-sized heroes with working with the various former villains to keep the city safe, the second-half of the six-issue mini-series begins a big shift in the story. The new-found peace and happiness of Townsville is threatened when HIM decides to lessen his control over the city’s super-villains allowing each of them to begin to revert back to form.

Powerpuff Girls #4 has some fun moments (one of my favorite being Bubbles‘ picnic with Fuzzy Lumpkins which is captured so beautifully on the variant cover by artist Agnes Garbowska I just had to snatch it up). Buttercup and and Blossom also have issues when their newly-reformed friends “accidentally” put the pair in danger. And it appears the transformation of Mojo Jojo back into plain old Jojo wasn’t such a permanent thing after all.

With the various villains all now up to no good I’d expect quite a bit of action in the final two issues of this enjoyable mini-series from writer/artist Troy Little. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]