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In 2008, the music tragicomedy short film called Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog was created by Maurissa Tanchareon, Jed Whedon, Joss Whedon and Zack Whedon. The short film revolved around the super villain, Dr. Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris) and his goal to be accepted into the Evil League of Evil. Occasionally, he spends his time at a laundromat with his crush named Penny (Felicia Day). The superhero, Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), keeps foiling Dr. Horrible’s plans and is starting to creep into his private life. Will Dr. Horrible accomplish his goals and acquire Penny’s love? Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog was released in 3 Acts between July 15, 2008 and July 20, 2008. Tie-in comic books for Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog were published by Dark Horse Comics during and after the short film’s run.

Title: Captain Hammer: Be Like Me!
Writer: Zack Whedon
Art: Eric Canete
Color: Dave Stewart
Letters: Nate Piekos
Issue: #12 of Myspace Dark Horse Presents
Pages: 8
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: July 2008
Price: $0

Side Notes: Myspace Dark Horse Presents provided Captain Hammer: Be Like Me! online.   Later it was reprinted in Myspace Dark Horse Presents Vol. 2. It starred Captain Hammer, who explained what it was like being a superhero (before turning the story into a public service announcement against villainy).

Captain Hammer: Be Like Me! was a twisted story. It illustrated the fact that Captain Hammer was an annoying jerk and a tool. The cartoon-style suited the story perfectly; Captain Hammer looked smug, while others had the appearance of being weak and fragile.

Title: Moist: Humidity Rising
Writer: Zach Whedon
Art: Farel Dalrymple
Color: Dan Jackson
Letters: Nate Piekos
Issue: #17 of Myspace Dark Horse Presents
Pages: 8
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: December 2008
Price: $0

Side Notes: Myspace Dark Horse Presents released Moist: Humidity Rising online. Later, the comic was reprinted in Myspace Dark Horse Presents Vol. 3. The story told the tale of how Moist developed his super powers.

Moist was depicted as a sad and disgusting individual. Although it made me feel grungy to read that story (Moist’s power is to sweat incessantly), I loved the irony of Moist’s super power. Moist: Humidity Rising reenacted a scene from Captain Hammer: Be Like Me! where Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer were fighting in the park, making it feel as if the present day of  Moist: Humidity Rising took place just before Captain Hammer: Be Like Me! and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.

I loved Captain Hammer:Be Like Me! and Moist: Humidity Rising. The comics were a nice change of pace to experience the short film in another medium.

On November 18, 2009, Dark Horse Comics published another Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog comic called Dr. Horrible, which focuses on the origin of the character. It’s a prequel to the short film, which you can view by clicking here!

Princess Powerful
princesspowerful@comicattack.net