BONGO COMICS REVIEW: FUTURAMA COMICS #60

Bender becomes the star of a hit TV show on which he terrifies the public with predictions about the imminent end of the world. Meanwhile, Fry and Leela work off an amusement park debt as carnies on the moon. And when a real threat to Earth appears on the horizon, Bender and the Planet Express crew must warn a wary and weary populace that has braced itself for disaster one too many times.

Spoilers Below

THE BOT WHO CRIED WOLF

Fry. Bender, and Leela are having a grand ol’ time at the moon carnival after having made a successful delivery. Right off the bat, Fry and Leela hit up a few rides while Bender goes to check out the haunted house. While there, Bender makes the habit of telling everyone that the attraction sucks as they should be more afraid of diseases and robot attacks. Smelling dollar signs, Morbo catches wind of Bender’s speech and offers him a job as an anchor on WOLF NEWS. Bender splits the carnival and heads back to Earth, but not before he decides to destroy a ferris wheel that Fry an Leela are riding. Now, thank to Bender, the carnival’s manager forces Fry and Leela to stay on the moon and work off the damages that their robot friend incurred.

As it turns out, working at the carnival isn’t all fun and games. As a matter of fact, Leela has to work a game, but is shocked to learn that the game is rigged. Leela sets the game right making it easier to win a stuffed bear which has NEVER been awarded. Alas, the first paying customers come by and win the stuffed bear….only to return a short time later and complain that the bear is stuffed alright…WITH GARBAGE FROM EARTH! Turns out the manager of the carnival stuffs his bears with garbage to makes some extra cash.

Meanwhile, Fry gets bored of the rides he has to work, so he invites the Professor to come by and modify some the attractions so that they will get more riders and be more fun. The first ride Farnsworth invents is a Cy-Clone merry-go-round that actually clones the riders albeit temporarily. Next, the Professor gets a hold of a ‘moon walk’ an ends up turning it into a Rocket propelled ‘moon walk’ which of course Fry sets off, only to have it crash back down to the moon knocking it out of orbit, and sending it straight to Earth!

You remember who is back on Earth, right? Bender! And with his new found powers of gripping television, warns Earth that its on a collision course with the moon and they are about to be destroyed. But, Bender’s been taking advantage of his viewing audience by warning them everyday of a new impending disaster only for it to never happen and as a result no one buys into his latest claim. That is until Bender warns that he is an illegal alien *gasp* and that the incoming moon is filled with even MORE illegal aliens and its heading straight for Earth! Luckily, President Nixon believes him this time and sends off a bunch of ICBM missiles to help thwart the incoming disaster, but not before the missiles destroy the moon carnival setting Leela and Fry free of their responsibilities.

This was one of the best issues of Futurama Comics in a while as their were tons of great gags throughout. What with the Emotional Roller coaster, the prizes filled with garbage, and Bender’s repeated threats to a very gullible    Earth! Also, the Professor’s modifications to the rides were really funny, but the best guy there might have been the Carnival Boss. For one, he always had smart-ass quips while walking away from everyone, the garbage filled  teddy bears, and lastly his plans for an insurance claim for the newly destroyed carnival, all had me thinking that this guy might be more evil than Mr. Burns! All in all, a great read and definitely worth the price of admission.

 

(9.0 out of 10)