Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort is leaning into nostalgia as of late. First, it was Biker Mice From Mars, and now ‘80s sitcom ALF is back in the headlines after Reynolds announced that he’s struck a deal with the show’s creator, Paul Fusco. Before you get excited about the superstar actor starring in a new project, the agreement will see the classic series air in its entirety on Reynolds’ new streaming channel, Maximum Effort.
It’s not a full reboot or continuation, much to the disappointment of ALF fans everywhere. However, this could be the beginning of something larger. The ‘80s are en vogue these days, and iconic franchises are being dusted off left and right. Instead of jumping straight into a new ALF show, this could be a chance to test the waters and reacclimate older fans while introducing the oddball character to a new generation of viewers at the same time. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that we could see the short-lived ALF cartoon brought back from obscurity, either.
With Reynolds’ star power, anything with his name attached gets immediate attention worldwide. That has now put a spotlight on ALF, and it could translate into an uptick for his comics, including the one with the seal.
ALF #1
When it comes to collecting, there’s no beating that first appearance. Of course, ALF #1 was published by Marvel. In the 1970s and ‘80s, the House of Ideas grabbed the publishing rights to practically every franchise available, especially kids’ shows.
The debut issue hit store shelves in 1988 in conjunction with the ALF cartoon that aired that same year.
ALF #48
Why waste words when a picture tells a better story? This issue has gone down in comics history as one of the most infamous covers Marvel ever published. Clearly, this was a tongue-in-cheek joke on the part of artist Dave Manak whom we can assume knew exactly what he was doing.
It’s not unlike the Golden Age Wonder Woman artwork with bondage overtones that slipped past the Comics Code Authority radar. ALF #48 didn’t exactly sneak by, since it was pulled from shelves for being inappropriate for minors. That only fuels the collecting.
UNCANNY X-MEN #245
Technically, ALF is already part of the Marvel-616 Universe. Sure, it was meant as a joke, but we clearly see him alongside other famous interstellar characters, but at least he’s in good company. There he is with Star Wars’ Yoda, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, and Jabba the Hut, as well as a xenomorph and E.T.
Unless ALF is suddenly tossed into the MCU or makes a return to the Marvel-616 in the comics, it’s doubtful this issue will gain any real traction. Still, it’s a fun moment for ALF collectors, so you might as well add it to your shopping list.
ALF’S TIME HAS COME
With Deadpool dominating the social media news feeds, it’s made anything related to Ryan Reynolds instantly buzz-worthy. Who else could get audiences actually excited for Biker Mice From Mars? That should be the same for ALF, though a new show or movie would have been bigger news. Again, airing the old ALF episodes could lead to more in the future, so now would be the time to grab those keys.
