Adventure Time (comic)

Adventure Time is a comic book series published by BOOM! Studios, written by Dinosaur Comics creator Ryan North, and illustrated by Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb. The comic book is released monthly, beginning with issue #1 in February 2012.

The comic is canonical with the Adventure Time TV series' story. Adam Muto has speculated that it may take place in a different reality. Either way, the events of the comics have several events irreconcilable with the TV series, mainly the fact that Finn and Flame Princess are still dating in the comics.

Format
Each issue includes at least two comics: The lead story is written by North and drawn in the style of the cartoon by Paroline and Lamb; and one or more backup stories created by an indie comic artist, drawn in their own style.

The main story features small messages at the bottom of many of the pages. This is a trademark of writer Ryan North, whose Dinosaur Comics always contain semi-hidden messages and commentary.

The first storyline in the series is a four-parter by North, split between issues #1 through #4.

Spin-off series
Miniseries:

KaBOOM! Studios has released several spin-off miniseries. After the completion of each miniseries, a trade paperback version (TPB) containing the entire miniseries, as well as a hardcover "Mathematical Edition" with special features has been released (similar to the way the main series has been released in TPB and hardcover formats).
 * Adventure Time: Marceline And The Scream Queens
 * Began July 11th, 2012
 * Written and illustrated by Meredith Gran
 * Summary: Marceline and Princess Bubblegum go on tour playing together in a band.
 * TPB released June 4th, 2013
 * Mathematical Edition released August 26th, 2014


 * Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake
 * Began January 2nd, 2013
 * Written and illustrated by Natasha Allegri
 * Summary: A story featuring Fionna and Cake in the gender-swapped universe created by Natasha Allegri.
 * TPB released October 15th, 2013
 * Mathematical Edition released August 26th 2014


 * Adventure Time: Candy Capers
 * Began July 10th, 2013
 * Written by Yuko Ota and Ananth Panagariya; Art by Ian McGinty
 * Summary: A crime noir caper starring Peppermint Butler and Cinnamon Bun.
 * TPB released May 13th, 2014
 * Mathematical Edition planned release date: January 13th, 2015


 * Adventure Time: The Flip Side
 * Began January 8th, 2014
 * Summary: Finn and Jake consult an Adventurer’s Posting Board in the hope of finding challenging new adventures.
 * TPB planned release date: December 30th, 2014
 * Mathematical Edition planned release date: September 8th, 2015

Graphic Novels
 * Adventure Time: Banana Guard Academy
 * Began July 2014
 * Written by Kent Osborne; Art by Mad Rupert
 * Summary: Root Beer Guy starts his search for new recruits for the Banana Guard
 * TPB planned release date: June 9th, 2015

KaBOOM! Studios has also released a series of standalone original graphic novels.
 * Adventure Time Vol. 1: Playing With Fire
 * Released May 15th, 2013
 * Written by Danielle Corsetto; Art by Zack Sterling
 * Summary: Flame Princess joins Finn and Jake on an adventure. The story develops Flame Princess' and Finn's romantic relationship.
 * Adventure Time Vol. 2: Pixel Princesses
 * Released November 6th, 2013
 * Written by Danielle Corsetto; Art by Zack Sterling
 * Summary: Lumpy Space Princess, Embryo Princess, Breakfast Princess, Muscle Princess and Turtle Princess in a journey of self-discovery and true friendship.


 * Adventure Time Vol. 3: Seeing Red
 * Released March 5th, 2014.
 * Written by Kate Leth; Art by Zack Sterling
 * Summary: The story features Marceline, Jake and Hunson Abadeer, and explores Marceline's tense relationship with her father.


 * Adventure Time Vol. 4: Bitter Sweets
 * Released November 5th 2014
 * Written by Kate Leth; Art by Zack Sterling.
 * Summary: Princess Bubblegum leaves the Candy Kingdom and ventures into the outer limits of Ooo.

The Adventure Unfolds
The Adventure Unfolds is a fold out comic by Jon Chad limited to 700 copies. It was only available at San Diego Comic Con 2012 for the price of $30. On July 25, Boom Studios began selling it on their website for $40.

Trivia

 * Pendleton Ward made a cover for the first issue of the comic.
 * Various of the primary stories contain messages written at the bottom, below the panels, as if a narrator/writer is speaking in a fourth-wall-breaking style. The hardback collection of issues 1~4 retains these messages.
 * In addition, issues 1 and 3 of the comic contain messages written by Marceline in a Pigpen cipher. The known letters of the cipher are in the chart to the right. Note that the first section spells out "vampire" and the rest of the letters are apparently in alphabetical order, making it fairly easy to guess the unknown letters.