Adventure Time Starts a New Story, as Finn Gets a New Robotic Arm

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I found the first issue of Oni Press’ new Adventure Time comic really enjoyable, but I didn’t fully understand everything that was happening. Some parts felt like they were set early in the Adventure Time timeline, and that didn’t quite match my memory of the show. I initially wondered if I was misremembering something.

It took me a little while, but I finally understood what this series is all about. It’s not a typical comic book tie-in meant to fill the gaps between episodes of the original Adventure Time. Instead, it feels more like a reimagining – similar to Ultimate Adventure Time or a fresh take on familiar stories. While it shares similarities with the original (like Finn losing an arm), it’s its own unique story with new characters and twists. Once you accept that, you’ll find it’s a really enjoyable series that truly captures the heart and feel of the original Adventure Time.

Issue #9 of Adventure Time features Nick Winn, a regular writer for the series, alongside new series artist Austin Baechle. Shawn Lee handles the lettering. This issue also includes a continuation of the story from the previous arc—where Robot Princess’s robotic duplicates caused near-apocalypse in the Land of Ooo—with a back-up story by Elizabeth Brei, Cleonique Hilsaca, and Heather Brickel. The arc continues after the destruction of the Enchiridion, leaving the evil Robot Finn still at large.

What is Finn and Jake’s new mission?

Robot Princess is the standout new character in the first two books. While she has good intentions, her attempts to help often backfire due to issues with her robot copies. Plus, the villainous Robot Finn remains a threat.

Finn receives a powerful robotic arm with helpful features, including a phone for contacting him whenever trouble arises in Ooo – a clever way to drive the story forward. Now, with a new mission after the original was lost, Jake and Finn are on a quest to create a new Enchiridion. They travel around, interviewing other heroes with just a notebook, pencil, and Finn’s new arm, to learn how to become even better heroes.

This is a fantastic starting point for a new story arc, made even more exciting by the fact that the characters must track down a villainous robotic copy of Finn.

What is their first major conflict on their journey?

Early in their journey, they meet Canyon, a giant whose baby blanket was stolen. She initially suspects Robot Finn, but Finn and Jake are able to convince her he didn’t do it. They also discover that Canyon is married to BILLY!

I always thought Billy deserved more screen time as a hero, so it’s great to see him featured here, even in a small role. Winn perfectly captures the unique rhythm and style of the series. The characters in Adventure Time have a very distinct way of speaking, and Winn really nails it, which is impressive considering how important audio is to the show. It really shines through in the dialogue.

Austin Baechle is a talented new artist who quickly grasped the visual style of the series. While it’s common for artists to adapt to a show’s look, Baechle excels at more than just the style – he’s also a skilled storyteller, effectively conveying the narrative through his work.

This version of the story starts Marceline and Princess Bubblegum’s relationship a little sooner than in the original cartoon, which is a neat twist. But, Marceline still has to deal with the Ice King when he causes trouble – all the key elements of the characters are still there. Marceline remembers him as Simon, the human he used to be, who looked after her when she was a child long ago.

The episode concludes with Marceline and Ice King on the verge of a meaningful conversation – something the show has always done well, and promises to be compelling in this instance.

This backup story, written by Elizabeth Brei, Cleonique Hilsaca, Heather Brickel, and Shawn Lee, focuses on Lemonhope – a character first seen in the fifth season of the show. One of the great things about this series is its freedom to explore any character’s story, and this tale appears to be about one of Lemonhope’s adventures after he set out to see the world.

Okay, so writing songs for comics is way harder than it looks. I’m seriously blown away by Brei’s songwriting in this issue. It’s so good that just looking at how Shawn Lee draws the lyrics – the lettering itself – I can almost hear the melody in my head. That’s a really cool trick and it really works!

It’s just a quick story, but it was fun for what we had in it so far.

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2026-01-28 19:19