With a chipper style and cartooning grace, Amy Mebberson brings us “Disney Princess” #1. A kids’ comic with a warm heart and cheerful song, the book is clearly born out of love and admiration of the source material. It knows what it is and is perfectly happy with being itself.
Written by Amy Mebberson, Georgina Ball, and Geoffrey Golden
Illustrated by Amy MebbersonDisney’s beloved heroines have returned in this hilarious collection of Disney Princess comic strips! Featuring laugh-out-loud stories from the worlds of Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel, Tiana, Cinderella, Aurora, and more, this charming new ongoing series will make all your royal dreams come true!
Not too long ago, Eric Stephenson gave a speech where he admonished licensed comics. “Those comics are accessories to an existing interest, an add-on, an upsell, easy surplus for the parent products – icing on the cake,” he said. “Those comics are for fans that love the real thing so much they want more.” (Funnily enough, Stephenson also said in that speech, “We don’t want people buying their comics in Targets or Wal-Marts,” which Diamond, the root of all comics evil, basically went out of their way to contradict.) But the thing is, licensed comics are one of the entryways people have into comics. Also, one of the greatest comics of all time happens to be a licensed spinoff, so there’s that. While it seems like everything under the sun is getting its own spinoff or continuation in comic form, there’s at least been an upswell in the care, concern, and passion cartoonists and creators have been bringing to the material. It’s definitely evident in Amy Mebberson’s “Disney Princess” series.
Mebberson started off doing a fanart series called “Pocket Princesses” before Joe Books and Disney Comics tapped her for this project. Her bright aesthetic and classic animated style are a nice fit for the material. This isn’t a big story, but rather a collection of daily strips, with each tier ending in a punchline or gag. She offers up a few arcs, centering on the princesses in their classic hijinks, like Ariel trying to figure out a candelabra with Flounder, Sebastian, and the Scuttle; Aurora’s fairy caretakers trying to make her a birthday cake and dress without using any magic; and Snow White prepping the dwarfs for a dance at some elegant ball, but these stories rarely go for much longer than three pages. Belle, Merida, Jasmine, and Tiana each get short vignettes and cameos, and it’s all very charming. The stakes are low but the delivery is adorable.
“Disney Princess” #1 is 100% a kids’ comic. Unlike “Adventure Time” or “Amulet” or “Battling Boy”, it’s not trying to appeal to an all ages sort of group, but instead wants to be something that kids can go and enjoy on their own. The material is fun and silly, and the characters familiar enough that kids can immediately channel their voices and personalities. Mebberson has a sharp instinct for staging and expression, and considering the characters don’t move around too much, she’s generally able to land a joke. Her linework is smooth and economical and the color palette feels warm and welcoming, like you’re never in danger and just hanging out with a bunch of friends.
The biggest issue, though, is that the girls are almost too pristine, too precious. I understand the format Mebberson utilizes doesn’t allow for much more than a joke based off the broadest sketch of the characters’ personalities, but for them to be so harmless almost undermines their journeys. I recently rewatched Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and was struck by how sassy Snow White gets at everyone. Or in The Little Mermaid, Ariel might have to call on Eric to save her in the end, but she does so after making a series of mistakes (mistakes she makes rather than a series of events that just happen to her); with her, she knows where to go to help fix the situation and is proactive in setting things right. Only Tiana really seems to sustain some of her quirks here. It’s a little disappointing because these are interesting characters, made more so because they weren’t entirely perfect, and had their own attitude and charm to them.
Overall though, “Disney Princess” #1 is perfectly cute. Mebberson clearly loves these characters and loves drawing each and every one of them: that passion comes through in every panel. It knows and understands the humor of its target demographic and it appeals to them nicely. The book could do with a little less precious approach to the princesses themselves, but its brightness and warmness and friendliness does well to give it its charm. Also, anything that gets more kids reading comics or into comic shops is a great thing.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – Harmless but nevertheless adorable.
