Kool Ladd #2 - Introduction

 Kool Ladd #2: A Rad Dude in King Artie's Court

Kool Ladd #2: A Rad Dude in King Artie's Court is the sequel to Kool Ladd and the second book in the Kool Ladd series. 

Summary

The story starts off when Kool Ladd is looking for another job through the want ads as Tagout had put him on probation, due to a stunt he pulled on his latest movie. Then, he realizes he's found the right job. However, he would travel on it and see. He arrives at Ramsden Mars, Olden England, where he comes face to face with Jester Juggs, the head henchman of the treacherous, notorious, Red Knight, King Artie, his daughter, Princess Tamara, and many more obvious medieval dudes and strange creatures along the way. The princess is then kidnapped by the evil Red Knight, and is warned if that Ladd ever saw him, he would kill him. However, the King is then worried, and that the evil villain challenges him to a jousting tournament, the next afternoon. At first the jousting is a flop, but once Ladd has had it, he uses strategy, fights fire with fire, if you will. Eventually, the Red Knight, the jester and the rest of the henchmen are arrested, by order of the King. The King then grants Ladd his wish for all that he did, the Princess gives him one last kiss. He arrives back home in Fjordburg. The next day, he had just succeeded in his first day at the Lazlo Lottie-Lofty’s History Museum, telling the local children from Bolivia Batwood Elementary. Then, to top it off, a woman similar to Tammy (in modern-day Fjordburg) asks for his assistance.

Production

The idea for the sequel, was because Jordan had wanted to do a parody of King Arthur, but closely towards A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain, in which the story was fully based on. It was a last-minute idea, as the original story, Kool-Lades, which in turn was going to be the first story, but had been erased out, due to story differences and stress. So, Jordan had watched Unidentified Flying Oddball, an underrated 1979 Disney movie, and the 1949 Merrie Melodies cartoon, Knights Must Fall, in which the comic, takes a portion of this cartoon as a remake. Kool Ladd is basically J.T. Love Industries' version of Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny.

The Princess was the first love interest for Kool Ladd, she was based on one of Jordan's teaching assistants in 6th grade, as she was a brunette. However, Jordan had kept this a secret for a long time.

Meet the Characters

Kool Ladd, as you've heard of and/or seen him before, is the main protagonist and hero. 

The Red Knight, or, Sir Prancelot of Pegsoos Manor, is the main antagonist of this story. He is a 28-year-old British knight from Twickenham. He is one of Kool Ladd's villains-of-the-week and his main foe in this story. His personality is based on the Black Knight in both the King Arthur series and Peter Griffin's arch-foe in Family Guy, and Sir Pantsalot from the Bugs cartoon, Knights Must Fall. He is also meant to the Princess' betrothal, but she very much disagrees. Basically, his life for him was absolutely hard for him. When he had failed Y11 (10th grade), he had to do summer school for the remainder of the summer. When, he first encountered the King, he was only 9 while Tammy was only a bairn. As Kool Ladd is only 24 years old (22 in the comic, as this story was set in 2021), the Red Knight knew he was not as mature as Ladd. Later, in his early 20s, when he was a university dropout, he tries his evil ways to force his arranged marriage, but Tammy would not stand for it. Lucky, for the King, jousting against another male would be he his last stand. To, be honest he would do anything to be with her. 

King Arthur "Artie" Pendragon is the titular king and the tritagonist of this story. He has served the town of Ramsden Mars very well, since he was 12-years-old by his faithful tutor and guardian, Merlin (he died shortly, before the events of this story and has a new apprentice wizard). He had been married to Queen Guinevere and his two children, Princess Tamara, and his firstborn, Prince Gawayne (her older brother). His wife, the Queen, died two days Tammy's 12th birthday, which it was a bad time for both of them. However, he knew that his duties were not going to mess things up for his daughter's happiness. His favourite hobbies are battleships, chess, and rotisserie-cooked turkey. His other favourite things are resting in his throne and drinking cordial in his prized-possessed chalice. He is very overprotective of his beautiful, as he only wants the best for her. He can have a foul temper and can sometimes sob uncontrollably if anything happens to threats towards himself, his daughter or the kingdom. Also, he finds Kool to be very trustworthy and is very a good prompter to him if he knows he can save his kingdom. He is very well known to have a bckbone, especially if anyone (particularly Red Knight or the Jester). He has over 40 servants, a tailor, a chef, a herald, a royal advisor, to name a few. He will later be one of Kool's most trusted allies.

Princess Tamara "Tammi" Adelaida Pendagron, also known as Princess Tammy/Tammi is the deuteragonist, the daughter of King Artie and Kool Ladd's first ever love interest. She is the sole heir to the throne, due to her brother's rivalry and alliance with the Red Knight. Her goal in life is to find her one true love. During her middle school years, she got straight-A's, except during seventh grade, in April, her loss of her mother had caused her grades to slip. She was then suspended for a week, with no dating, no garden time and no oggling over boys. Once she had left for college, she realized her job was guarding the garden and the animals, which she enjoyed. Her only friends, were the elves and gnomes, which were her servants, although only the Red Knight (whom they despise) and Kool Ladd know about. Even though, The King doesn't know who they are, he would be happy the garden was taken care of, and that he would never take away any more friends. Even after the events of the story, if Kool was ever around, she would want to have a first date. However, shortly after the events, she had already been married to her new true love, Prince Charlie of Nutwood Derby, a Kool Ladd lookalike. 

Jester Juggs, also known as Jolly Jester, is the secondary antagonist of the story, King Artie's former jester, and the lead henchman of The Red Knight. Not much is known about him, except that he was raised in Chiswick. He is 15-years-old, but the Red Knight took him as his roommate, once he had dropped out of college. However, Jester was expelled from school, due to his grades had slipped, although he was very intelligent, and as punishment for dropping out, Red Knight was sentenced to homeschool Jester. In later terms, for in-subordinating his duties for the King, Jester had agreed to be the knight's head henchman as an alliance to retrieve Princess Tammy to become Sir Prancelot's wife. Once they were arrested to the dungeon, Jester had been sentenced to community service by helping out Merlin's apprentice to start using magic for good. Finally, the King had hired a new jester. 

Minor characters include: 

Burro - Kool Ladd's trusty steed, and one of the King's loaned animals.

The Knights of the Square Table - Silver Feather Nutter, Blue Modge Podge and Yellow Chick Pea are the King's loyal, yet timid knights of the Square Table. They have been loyal since Princess Tammi's arrival from college. There has been more knights who have served King Artie during his lifetime. 

Mr. Albernari - the head librarian and chief museum officer of the Lazlo Lottie-Lofty’s History Museum, and one of Kool's employers.

Jousting Commentator - the King's special sportscaster, and a personal ally of The Red Knight. He has a trans-Atlantic accent. He was born in Newfoundland.

Scholar - one of the King's servants, and the first person who Kool meet and then asks him for directions.

Herald - another of the King's servants who is the bugler caller and announcer.

Hyuana - the King's tailor and fashion designer, who does not speak.

Gnomes of Mushroom Manor - These elves, sprites and gnomes are the little people who consist of: The Elf Mayor who is their leader and founder, A weed remover gnome who is the head supervisor for horticulture, An elf foreman who works on the garden construction and is married and has a daughter named Yoli, and several others. They are, as of the story, Princess Tammi's only real friends, as they are very loyal to her.

Red Knight's Dark Calabrese - Red Knight's personal steed, which was indeed a gift from both The King and Merlin, but once R.K. got attached to him, Dark had started to obey every command.

Sir Edgar - one of the King's servants and best friends.

Royal Parralelogram Messenger - their version of Royal Mail and U.S. Mail.

Usher - the Royal Arena vendor.

Woodpecker - one of the King's animals.

Jousting Referee - the Arena's head referee.

Ramsden Mars Citizens - Villagers and subjects of Ramsden Mars, who are loyal to their King, and later Kool Ladd.

Red Knight's other henchman - They are the armoured knights who serve their leader, at least until they are all arrested. Later, after the events, they are no longer loyal to him.

The King's Royal Guards - the King's personal guards and the police officers, who obey his every command, especially when they arrested R.K., Jester and their cronies.

Bolivia Batwood Elementary students - the children that Kool Ladd gives a tour to, and they consist of one girl from kindergarten, four third-grade children and one fourth-grade boy.

Modern-day Tammi-lookalike - the proto-Dreem Gurl whom Kool Ladd falls for, once Mr. Albernari had given Ladd the task to show her around.

References

Ramsden Mars, the town, based on Camelot, London Town, is named after the Fish and Chips' franchise of Harry Ramsden, and voice actor Jason Marsden.

Among the cameo Easter Eggs, as part of Jordan's love for animation, include: Pepper Ann and Milo Kamalani from Pepper Ann, Jen Masterson and Caitlin Cooke from 6teen, Sharon Spitz, Alden Jones and Connor MacKenzie from Braceface, Mo Moville from Moville Mysteries, and Willy Zilla from My Dad the Rockstar, to name a few, pose as a few of the Ramsden Mars citizens in the Jousting Arena scene. Every cameo Jordan will think of be in the art style of the Kool Ladd characters, to prevent copyright infringement from other companies. Consider them a love letter to Jordan's animated childhood heroes.

"You're expecting maybe Jude Lizowski?" is what Kool says when the crowd jeers at him. This is a reference to Jude from 6teen and his voice actor, Christian Potenza, of which Jordan considers one of his voice actor heroes. Kool Ladd's voice is even efficiently based on Jude.

The woodpecker is a reference to Woody Woodpecker, albeit without the laugh and instead only pecking. This is also a nod to the real-life bird, in which Jordan considers the woodpecker, one of his favourite birds. The other two include Owl and Bluejay.

The Bolivia Batwood Elementary School, although not named in the comic, is a reference to the Love Island and former I'm a Celebrity contestant, Olivia Attwood.

"In the name of Brooke D’Orsay, will this ever end?" - This line is reference to Brooke D'Orsay, the Canadian celebrity best known as Caitlin Cooke from 6teen.

How The Story Idea Came to Fruition

This comic is basically essentially a remake of Knights Must Fall, where a 1/3 of a portion of this cartoon in based on, particularly the whole jousting scene, where Kool Ladd plays Bugs' role.

Other elements is particularly from Unidentified Flying Oddball and the King Arthur's Court book, the Red Knight's introduction is similar to the Black Knight's introduction, where in the Family Guy episode, Mr. Saturday Knight, where he threatens Peter, the Red Knight does the same thing to Ladd.

Location

The town of Ramsden Mars, is located in the area of Hammersmith, London. By the time this time had ceased, Ramsden Mars was demolished, just several years after Princess Tammi had passed. Her children gave up the title of royalty and had moved to the Isle of Man. However, this little kingdom is the main head of the UK, before Downing Street ever existed.

In lieu of the town, a fictional town of Marstown, London, is the revived place, where one of Kool Ladd's cousins are from, however, Kool does not visit that part of the UK anymore, for unknown reasons.

Back in the day, the King's hometown entertainment, consisted of other Jesters, who were very loyal to him, and the regular Knights of the Square Table, were very trained jousters.

Restaurants consisted of two rotisseries, mainly consisted of Capon, Suckling Hog, Gammon, Turkey, and Chicken, and mutton shanks. The King's former chef had redeemed himself to run these establishments. The food here is to drool for.

And finally, the commoners lived in either wooden or stone houses. The electricity had not been invented yet, and peasants were forced to chop firewood, illegally, by having Sir Roustabout, their would-be lumberjack, if you will, have his dragon chop down trees, using his fire-breath, and thus breathing fire indoors, with no extra charge.

Great place, is Ramsden Mars. Catch the town if ya can.

Further info

This is the first, full-length Kool Ladd comic, consisting of at least 30 pages. This is also the first J.T. Love Industries full-length comic overall.

This is also the first official time-travelling Kool Ladd story in the entire series.

Confucius, Albert Enstein, and the Cavemen are historical figures only mentioned by name. This is to introduce readers that Kool Ladd is a time-traveller.

This story, hopefully, will be well-written.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I really appreciate this.