Almost every character in the Adventure Time universe has turned out to have such a significant following that they get their own episode, or even series of episodes, their own comic, even their own mini-series. One of the strangest fan-favorites is the erstwhile villain with the incredibly tragic backstory, Ice King.
Due to said history, Ice King is partly a figure of pity; his relationship with Marceline is often considered an analogue for coping with dementia or Alzheimer’s, and many of his odd behaviors can be attributed to events or relationships he had as Simon Petrikov before the Mushroom War. Many of the plots that feature or focus on him have to do with a desire for status amongst his wizard peers. This is potentially more due to the influence of his ancient crown, whose magic is tainted by the wish of a neglected apprentice to be more like his master, the wizard Urgence Evergreen.
This is another story that focuses on the vulnerability of Ice King’s morality when tempted with the possibility of becoming “cool”, even forgetting his friends from the Giuseppe trip, or that Gunther has been kidnapped. It also features a mall makeover with Ice King, Marceline, and Princess Bubblegum that ends in a brawl!
With story by show writer Emily Partridge, and written by Pranas T Naujokaitis, Adventure Time: Ice King fits nicely into the Adventure Time lore and will keep readers entertained and has some good twists and turns that make the ending surprising. Artwork by Natalie Andrewson brings the story to life with animated portrayals of characters and dynamic action scenes.
The Adventure Time: Ice King trade paperback collects the entire story, and is a great read for any fans of the series. With stories of this quality, it’s a comfort to think that when the last episodes of the series air in 2018, the comics may continue.
