Oct
9
2007

Review: Jim Henson’s Return to Labyrinth Vol. 2

posted by Matt Knicl at 3:00 pm.

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Dance, Manga, Dance

Growing up, my favorite movie was The Labyrinth. The movie where Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) wishes her baby brother to be taken away by Jareth the Goblin King (David Bowie). The goblins and various monsters were made by the Jim Henson Company, the people that made the Muppets and Sesame Street, and designed by fantasy artist Brian Froud. Bowie sang, leading the various creatures in musical numbers.

Looking back, I have to admit the movie is a little childish and I don’t know why they let David Bowie stuff his crotch as much as he did, but the movie has a sort of magic to it that still enchants, and I know that I’m not the only one.

Jareth and SaraJarethJareth and Toby

Last year, Tokyopop, the leader in manga (Japanese comic books), released the official sequel to The Labyrinth with the first volume of the Return to Labyrinth series.
This story focused on the now adult baby brother, Toby, and his return to the magical kingdom of the Labyrinth.

Writer Jake Forbes did a great job capturing the bizarre nature of the Labyrinth, putting Toby up against obstinate characters and challenges he needs to think his way out of, much like how his sister did years before. Return to Labyrinth Vol. 1
Familiar faces returned, like the Fire Gang, Sir Didymus, and Hoggle, but also new ones were introduced, like the mysterious human Moppet and the villainous Mizumi, the Queen of Cups.

The only problem with this manga was the characterization of Jareth and Sarah - Jareth appearing as the ultra-feminine male you’d expect to see in Japanese pop culture and Sara talking like a background character. They read like a bad fan-fiction.

BUT, Volume 2 rectifies this flaw. The characters are truer to the movie.

Toby begins his education to be the King of the Labyrinth as Jareth has left his post, and you won’t believe where he’s going.

I still wish Toby was spending more time in the Labyrinth itself instead of at the castle, but this a personal preference, not a necessity. The story still feels like the movie and I’m enchanted all over again. For fans of the movie, Return to Labyrinth is a must read, but those who haven’t seen it or didn’t particularly like the film will probably not like this manga.

The next volume is not set to appear on shelves until next year, and two more volumes are in the works.

    Return to Labyrinth Vol. 2Return to Labyrinth Volume 2
    By Jake T. Forbes
    Tokypop, $9.99
    192 pages
    ISBN 1-59816-726-X

For more information, visit Return to Labyrinth Vol. 2’s website here.

Images courtesy The Jim Henson Company, Tokyopop

Matt Knicl: My name is Matt Knicl. I'm a U of I alumn and one of those unemployed English majors Garrison Keillor likes to make fun of. I've been reading comics since high school and one day I would like to write them. My goal is to expose readers to what is out there in the world of comics and using my English powers, show what is worth reading or not. I can be reached at buzz.comics@gmail.com.

Comments

LORD Z (LORD Z) says:
(Posted June 8th, 2008 at 11:48 am)

I have read the books and love them.
I Just hope someone will make a movie out of it

Matt Knicl (Matt Knicl) says:
(Posted June 8th, 2008 at 3:30 pm)

I hope they make a movie, but use no CGI and only puppets and real-world effects.

HLKing (HLKing) says:
(Posted July 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pm)

Unfortunately, I took one glance through the first book and refused to pick it up again. I am an avid fan of the original film and find I much prefer the great fanfiction that centre’s solely on Sarah and Jareth. The idea of Toby taking centre stage just offended my ‘fangirl’ inner self and I really didn’t like the characterisation of Sarah. Also, as an artist myself, I’m very picky about the art work of a book - if the art is bad, I wont read it, however good the story. And this book falls under that heading.

As with the Dark Crystal manga, I may buy it, just to have it - but I can never see myself liking it or considering it canon.

Seul Gi (Seul Gi) says:
(Posted July 10th, 2008 at 9:00 pm)

I have to agree with HLKing, it was very hard for me to glance through the book, the art was absolutely horrendous compared to the deceiving cover.

I absolutely adored Labyrinth, so much respect and love for it, and to have that .. thing as an official sequel approved by Henson himself is just .. I refuse to acknowledge its tie to the movie.

I also hope, Pray, pray, pray that they don’t try to remake it with CGI or with some popular cast.

The raw original was at its best, and should never be touched again. Sequel or otherwise.

I agree that the movie it quite childish, but that was mostly the point, it still holds magic for old and new fans alike. I really hate the manga though, no offense, I’m sure they had good intentions and the plot would be okay if I made through the volume.

But .. I also have standards for manga, and that .. was just not it. There are .. great fanfiction out there surrounding Jareth and Sarah, and the fangirl with me teams up with last reviewer in saying that we do not take any Toby-centered thing. Ahaha.

Anyway! I think you worded your review well, the movie really is enchanting. :)

Matt Knicl (Matt Knicl) says:
(Posted July 11th, 2008 at 12:06 pm)

Thanks for the comments! I’m glad people are still taking a look at what I said after all this time!

mauro (mauro) says:
(Posted August 12th, 2008 at 3:23 am)

I like very much labirinth and I like the demons like the character of david bowie(very cool man jeje)i dont know why :p and i want de 2nd volumen in argentina XP yeeeah :) goodbye people

ARIANA (ARIANA) says:
(Posted September 6th, 2008 at 5:18 pm)

si por esas casualidades hay alguien que hable español y tenga en su poder este libro, suplico me lo venda!!!!! desde ya muchas garcias, dejo mi mail por las dudas…
arianabiscardi@hotmail.com

Matt Knicl (Matt Knicl) says:
(Posted September 7th, 2008 at 9:18 pm)

¿Usted ha intentado Amazon.com?

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