Comics Review: Bravest Warriors #30

Back in issue #29, we saw the Bravest Warriors as tiny children. Now we see the Warriors heading back to their favorite childhood place, summer camp! They aren’t campers this time around. They are the camp counselors!

The issue opens with the Warriors getting ready to leave for camp. Danny, however, doesn’t seem quite as stoked as the rest of the gang. He eventually gets packed and they all head off to Camp Tribulon.

As soon as they step through the camp gates, they are greeted by an angry father. According to him, the Warriors are late. They explain to Mister Bowles that the camp supervisor, Mrs Aberforth, was sucked into a black hole. The Warriors had signed a blood oath to take over as emergency counselors if anything happened to her. Satisfied, Bowles rushes out of camp, without actually saying goodbye to his son. Of course, this leaves his son, Arthen, in a bad mood the entire time. Nice job, dad.

At the opening ceremonies, Chris lets the campers know which cabin gets which Warrior. Excitedly, they all head off to start having fun! Since this is a combat camp, each Warrior teaches his (or her) campers how to be good warriors. Chris tells them about knowing yourself, Danny tells them about training to be strong, Wallow tells them about being in tune with their body, Beth tells them about focus, and Plum…well, she tells them about friendship bracelets.

Chris is showing his campers how to use lightsabers, when he notices that Arthen is completely separated from the group. It seems that Arthen doesn’t even want to be at camp. He is only there because his dad made him.

That night, everyone gathers around a roaring campfire. Hot dogs, marshmallows, and hamburgers are being roasted over the flames. Chris finishes his scary story, which frightens the younger campers but just makes Arthen snarky. So Chris sends him to bed. After Arthen leaves, Danny points out that their parents never came back the last time they were at camp. Sometimes camp isn’t fun for everyone.

On his way back, Arthen bumps into Bugcat. The two strike up some secret deal, resulting in Arthen trying to get transferred to Plum’s cabin. Which also happens to be Catbug’s cabin. I don’t think that is a coincidence.

The side story in this issue is titled “They Come From The Planet Of FANDOM part one.” The Bravest Warriors receive a distress call from an uncharted planet. While they want to go help them, it is an unexplored planet, which makes it very dangerous. But Chris gives a rousing speech, convincing them to go anyway.

When the Warriors land on the planet, they find that it is entirely inhabited by Bravest Warrior fans. This planet has been receiving broadcasts of the Warriors’ adventures. For some reason, they decided to base their entire society on the Bravest Warriors. They have Bravest Warrior action figures, Bravest Warrior comics, and they only eat the same foods as the Bravest Warriors.

The King rushes out of his castle, which kinda sorta looks like their hangout, to invite the gang to a feast. While everyone else eats sugar peas and peanut butter squares and soft tacos and cereal, Wallow continues to eat candy made of sugar and glass shards. Eventually, everyone is stuffed. The King convinces the Warriors to stay a few days to relax. As the Warriors are shown to their rooms, the King reveals his diabolical plan to keep the Warriors as memorabilia.

For once, I really enjoyed a Bravest Warriors comic. Usually, the comic feels rushed – like they are trying to put too many things into too few pages. This time, however, the story was very well-paced and interesting. Granted, there weren’t any huge, epic battles for them to fight but I don’t think every issue needs them battling big baddies. I like seeing the softer side of the Warriors once in awhile.

I’m also surprised that the side story was decent too. It is always interesting when a story folds in on itself like this. Having the Warriors face their uber-fans is a great way to poke a bit of fun at the audience without being mean about it. I hope that both the main story and the side story continue the timing and format they started here. It would suck if they decided to rush the endings of both of these stories. It would completely ruin it.