Lilo & Stitch #1 captures the look, fun, and heart of the first movie! Lilo & Stitch (2002) is one of my favorite Disney animated films directd by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. It was in the days of cel animation for Disney Animation. A direct-to-video sequel, Stitch! The Movie (2003), introduced Jumba’s rival, Dr. Hämsterviel. He was lookign for the other 625 experiments. This led to Lilo & Stitch: The Series which ran for two seasons. Another direct-to-video film followed, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005). The television film, Leroy & Stitch (2006) wrapped up the series. There is a planned live action movie.
Dynamite Comics started publishing Disney comics starting with Maleficent and other villains. So I was hesitant that continuing the film’s story would not run in place like many of the other stories. This is not so with the new comic book. The cover of Lilo & Stitch #1 is by Joshua Middleton who has Stitch hugged by Lilo, both smiling, with a painted beach with flowers. It is written by Greg Pak who also wrote the well known Planet Hulk storyline for Marvel Comics. The artist and colorist is Giulia Giacomino. It begins at Planet Turo, shadowy figures approach a Galaxy Defense Industries complex. Two floating robots, cluster drones, with shark-like heads accompany Sovereign. He is not the Wonder Woman villain, but a tiny, gold robot with a cape.
One drone knocks on the door! Sovereign orders them to be more aggressive and they breach the door with plasma blasters. I always like the gloppy look of plasma energy that is in Lilo & Stitch. An alarm blares as Sovereign has his cluster drone download reports. In this case, Dr. Jumba Jookiba on Experiment 626, the scientific name for Stitch. He goes on a rampage which is exactly what the Cluster Sovereign want to take over the Galactic Federation! This shifts to the island home of the Pelekai family on Kaui’i. On the porch, Stitch is working on a drawing of Lilo, her name means "Lost" in Hawaiian. He gets frustrated and Lilo tells him his drawing doesn’t need to be perfect, “just put you heart into it.” I think great advice for young artists and really any artist.
They hear a snap in the jungle and Lilo opens a box. Both of them toss water balloons at their now pals, Dr. Jumba and Pleakley! The artwork captures the fun of the animated film. Stitch is a flurry hitting Pleakley, Jumba says he has a weakness, and throws a water balloon at Lilo! Stitch blocks the balloon as Jumba says he cares about people. I really like defending a helpless person, it really shows a heroic quality. Jumba throws another balloon, a familiar green glob, warned by Pleakley. It explodes sending Stitch flying back and into a lake. This part I was a little confused about there are a few lakes and reservoirs, but I’m not certain about any houses near them. Nani walks out to check on Lilo, her name is the Hawaiian word for "beautiful", and Jumba apologizes about the plasma bomb!
She reminds Jumba that Stitch can’t swim, he’s too dense in matter, and Jumba says that Stitch is indestructible. David walks up with a fishing pole with Cobra Bubbles behind him. He brings up Kuleana, the Hawaiian word for responsiblity, and that Ohana is something you have to give. David talks to Lilo about Malama ‘Aina, Hawaiian phrase for caring and honoring the land. I had to pause thinking about the fires and the recovery of Maui. Jumba wonders about how Kuleana works for Stitch’s destructive nature. Cobra brings up that this might also apply to Jumba. Excellent writing. Expanding on Ohana, family, from the film is really at the heart of the story. Pleakley says they under the protection of the Galactic Federation.
Nani wonders what dangers will require the Galactic Federation’s protection. Lilo reassures her sister, they hug, then Nani throws a water balloon at Jumba’s face! Next, we get an incredible two pages of Stitch’s color pencil drawings. He recaps what happened in the original movie with their new Ohana all working together. This is told to Lilo who wrote down his words. Lilo asks if she correctly wrote his story and he confides that he still worries which is reassured by her. This is when they are confronted by the cluster drones! Stitch is zapped by a drone who offes surrender. Watching television, Cobra hears the disturbance while Nani and David are half asleep. Lilo runs after Stitch taken prisoner by the drones.
Lilo shouts at them that they offered Stitch to surrender while attacking him. This confuses the drones and one is hit by Stitch rolled into a ball. Lilo also joins the fight with a water balloon. The drones manage to stun Stitch and capture him in a containment bottle. Lilo throws the clipboard with Stitch’s story in the bottle before its sealed. They transport Stitch to their ship, they are about to bring him to the Cluster Sovereign with the H-Drive, but Stitch breaks free and falls into a strange land! Lilo runs back to tell Jumba about the Cluster Sovereign. He says they are “civil servants”! Lilo says she doesn’t want to worry Nani so she leaves with Jumba and Pleakley after Stitch! Lilo & Stitch #1 is a well written continuation of the Disney classic with art that captures the style of the animation, pure fun, and brings more of the Hawaiian traditions!
Five+ Plasma Bombs out of Five!
#LiloAndStitch, #GregPak, #GiuliaGiacomino, #Lilo, #Stitch, #DrJumba, #Pleakley, #Nani, #David, #CobraBubbles
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