New ‘Saved By The Bell’ And ‘Punky Brewster’ Digital Comics Debut Today

Get so excited. You don't have to hide it. Or get so... scared.

Lion Forge Comics' new all-ages imprint ROAR Comics released the first issues of two new digital series today on formats such as the Kindle, based on some of the most iconic kids' shows of the 1980s and 1990s. The new Saved by the Bell series goes back to Zack Morris, Kelly Kapowski, Jesse Spano, A.C. Slater, Lisa Turtle and Screech's freshman year at Bayside High. Punky Brewster likewise takes its title character back to the beginning of her TV story, as she looks for a new home.

Joelle Sellner, who has written Teen Titans, Ben 10, and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, is writing both series. Chyna Clugston Flores (Blue Monday) is handling art on Saved by the Bell and Lesley Vamos is the artist on Punky Brewster.

This is actually the second time Saved by the Bell has gotten the comic-book treatment. Harvey Comics published seven issues of a series based on the show back in the early 1990s, but its character likenesses for the show's starts were rough at best. This is the first time Punky Brewster has been adapted to comics, which is a bit surprising considering the show's loose tie-in It's Punky Brewster animated series ran from 1985-1986 was prime licensed comics fodder for that era.

Lion Forge is making a big push in the arena of comics based on TV properties of the 1980s and 1990s. It started comics based on Airwolf and Knight Rider last November and has a Miami Vice series in the works.