Labyrinth Anthology Series Coming From Tokyopop
Tokyopop made a big announcement at WonderCon this past weekend that is sure to delight fans of Jim Henson's classic fantasy film "Labyrinth". As you may know, the company is currently producing the "Return to Labyrinth" manga series, an epic four-part sequel to the 1986 film. The third installment in the series will be released in November 2008, and the final volume is planned for release in the fall of 2009. Well, the company is now beginning work on a second series of original "Labyrinth" graphic novels - planned to debut in March 2009!
Tokyopop is working with the Jim Henson Company to produce an original anthology series featuring a collection of independent stories based in the world of "Labyrinth". The mangas will include prequels and sequels (and possibly even mid-quels) to the events of "Labyrinth" and "Return to Labyrinth". Each book will tell a story focusing on a different character or element within the world of the Labyrinth - such as Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, the Fierys, the Junk Lady, and even Jareth the Goblin King. While the number of volumes in this series has yet to be determined, the series will feature a large range writing styles and artistic sensibilities, as each story will be produced by different writers and artists. Jake Forbes, author of "Return to Labyrinth", has revealed that he will be writting a story for the series that shows how Jareth became the goblin king.
The first installment in the anthology series is planned for release in March 2009. I will be sure to keep you updated on this new manga series, and the final installments of "Return to Labyrinth", as soon as more information becomes available.
3 comments:
Lurve.
Thanks for posting this, guys! Two clarifications. First, each volume of the series will contain multiple stories. Some may be longer, some may be shorter, but there should be several in each volume focusing on a variety of characters and featuring a variety of writers and artists. Also, Jake's story is still very much a work in progress. He's submitted a proposal for a Jareth and Mizumi story that also shows how Jareth became goblin king, but the details in the story are still being worked out and it's possible that the final printed story will be quite different than the one he initially pitched. With a series in the early stages like this one, you never really know!
Tim Beedle
TOKYOPOP
This idea is more approachable for my Henson fan sensibilities. I'm not a big fan of the Asian-art inspired/manga trend that seems to be seeping into established character brands. This venue often eclipses the original spark and the heart of something beloved like Labyrinth in favor of an empty, but stylized artifice. It appears this new project will emphasize and explore other aspects of Labyrinth in a way that honors what is already there and builds on it. I know these sorts of things aren't geared to the type of art I appreciate, but this project has the potential to bridge that gap. I hope it does!
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