Jim Henson’s Labyrinth #1 is written by Kyla Vanderklugt and published by BOOM! Studios. Artwork is by Giorgio Spalletta, colours by Sara Cuomo and letters by Jim Campbell.
Jim Henson’s Labyrinth #1 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, join Sarah for the very first time, or discover this brand new adaptation of her surreal adventure through the twisting and changing paths to the castle beyond the Goblin City, determined to save her brother Toby from the Goblin King, Jareth.
Review
BOOM! Studios are no strangers when it comes to adapting cult films and TV shows into comic book form. Properties such as Bill and Ted, Farscape and Firefly have all received the comic book treatment but now, through writer Kyla Vanderklugt and artist Giorgio Spalletta, the publisher has attempted the audacious feat of adapting the Jim Henson classic, Labyrinth.
This isn’t BOOM! Studios first time translating Henson’s work from screen to page. They previously adapted both Fraggle Rock and The Dark Crystal with comics that continued the stories where they left off. However, this new endeavour is a beat for beat retelling of the 1986 film. It is fair that some may be skeptical at the thought of this comic as the original film already exists. Thankfully, it is clear from the first issue that Vanderklugt and co. have worked wonders in giving the comic its own personality while being respectful to Henson’s film.
Though it carries over the core fundamentals from the film, the comic wastes no time in getting straight into the story that fans know and love. From the opening page, it is Spalletta’s brilliant illustrations that give this story a new lease of life. The colours pop straight from the page, complimenting the Disney animation style artwork evident in the landscape and character redesigns. This approach greatly adds to the fantasy setting of Labyrinth and will only get stronger with each issue knowing how abstract the visuals of the film can get in later scenes.
Once the fantastical elements are introduced in the second half of the issue, with the inclusion of the Goblins and king Jareth, the comic hits its stride. The writing and visuals are allowed to be more playful and that is evident in every single panel. As the world opens up for Sarah, the potential creative choices start to come into view. The subtle references to characters and locations introduced later in the story are also given more attention during the comic’s opening pages, a massive benefit of telling an iconic story like this in the comic book format.
Verdict
Jim Henson’s Labyrinth #1 does the near impossible task of breathing new life into this beloved classic. With vibrant artwork and an eye for detail, the amount of respect Vanderklugt and Spalletta have for the 1986 film is inescapable with every turn of the page.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
