Nintendo Power #40: September 1992 - Felix the Cat

After nearly three hundred issues, Nintendo Power has finally come to an end. To send this long-running periodical off in style, the Cover Critic has decided to review every single issue. Join him as he experiences every aspect of Nintendo's journey through their magazine covers.

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You have to hand it to Pat Sullivan and Otto Messmer, the creators of Felix the Cat. Despite predating The Great Depression, prohibition and talking films, their animated feline managed to remain relevant late into the 20th century. Even in a world filled with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers, this crafty kitty used his nine lives and bag of tricks to stay trendy. It makes me wonder how many of today's cartoons will still be relevant in 70 years.

Compelling question or not, this Felix the Cat cover is more of the same from Nintendo Power. Just last episode I was predicting that the magazine would revert back to its usual crap, and this lazy cut-and-paste design confirms my suspicions. As somebody with a fondness for Felix and his bag of tricks, I'm disappointed that Nintendo Power's art department did little more than reuse the official licensed artwork.

Sadly, it's not just Nintendo Power that is predictable. It seems like every time I complain about this type of lazy cover design, I'm swamped by people arguing that I'm expecting too much from the magazine. Perhaps these people are new to Nintendo Power Uncovered, because I can't imagine anybody saying that after looking at this amazing DuckTales cover. And Scrooge McDuck isn't alone, because Nintendo Power created original and unique designs for Robin Hood, Track & Field II and Maniac Mansion.

But that's not the direction the art department went this time around. Instead of a gorgeous clay homage of one of the greatest animated characters of all time, Nintendo Power slapped an image of Felix in front of a picture of the Moon. Not only is this a lazy design, but it doesn't make any sense. With the mountains and observatory in the distance, it's clear that Felix isn't actually standing on the hard surface. He seems to be floating in space, unaware that he's about to crash into the side of Moon. Or perhaps Felix is standing on a planet that is seconds away from colliding into the Moon. And in an even more likely scenario, this is the exact position Felix was in when he died in the middle of space. He may have a bag full of tricks, but not a single way to breathe in outer space.