Jim Henson’s Labyrinth #2 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 #2 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
Finding her way to the Goblin City is no easy task as the clock ticks closer to 13, but no misunderstood warnings from worms or even unreliable companions with hidden ties to Jareth will be enough to keep her from saving her brother Toby.
Review
With introductions out of the way, issue 2 wastes no time in delving into the fantastical world of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth with full force. One thing that held the first issue back, in a few ways, was the fact it was limited to introducing the story. It couldn’t fully take advantage of the abstract imagery that makes the original 1986 film so memorable. Thankfully, from issue 2 onwards, Giorgio Spalletta is now able to make the most of his artwork because of this.
The issue opens with Sarah venturing into the titular maze and meeting Hoggle. Their first encounter is just as humorous here as it is in the film and it’s this sense of bewilderment mixed with offbeat comedy that this series really makes the most of. Even Sarah’s exchange with the iconic little worm is done justice here. The advantage of having grown up with the film for many years means a lot of these classic lines will have respected voices attached to them. So as you read this issue the voices of characters such Jareth, Hoggle and the various goblins will immediately come flooding back and should also enrich the reading experience and world-building.
One downside to this issue, and this is mainly due to the shift in medium, is that the legendary ‘Magic Dance’ scene is skipped over in a singular panel. The dialogue between Jareth and his goblins is just as playful and malevolent on the page as it is in the film, but skimming over this specific scene does take a slight bit of Labyrinth’s core identity away from itself. I am aware something like this may be hard to translate to a comic book, but the fact it is not even attempted is a little disappointing.
However, the issue more than makes up for this with Spalletta’s Disney-esque artwork. The colours and details of the environments and otherworldly characters pop off of every page. It all still looks and feels in keeping with Jim Henson’s original vision whilst adding a bit of its own unique personality to the mix. Nowhere is this better illustrated than when Sarah encounters the helping hands. The colours here are stripped back as the striking imagery gives this moment a very eerie undertone as the issue comes to a close.
Verdict
Jim Henson’s Labyrinth #2 is another solid entry to this timeless story that starts to take full advantage of its fantasy setting. The visuals, once again, are the standout here.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
