The project has been in development at Archaia for some time: it was originally announced in 2012 as a graphic novel, complete with the involvement of concept artist Brian Froud (who also happens to be the father of Toby Froud, who was the baby of the same name in the film). The comic will begin during the film, with Jareth recounting his origins to Toby, starting with his parents in 18th century Venice. Lisa Henson, CEO and President of the Jim Henson Company, said it would reveal how a human became the Goblin King, with Spurrier adding, “there’s a huge amount of stuff about the people who loved him and he loved. What happened to them? How did this all shake out? How did he come to be who he is?”
BOOM! editor-in-chief Stephen Christy dropped a huge hint about Jareth’s back-story in 2012, describing the plot of the comic as a “very tragic story that is the opposite” of the original. Eagle-eyed fans may realize what he meant by looking carefully at Fiona Staples’s main cover for the first issue.
Labyrinth was first adapted by Marvel for a graphic novelization by Sid Jacobson and John Buscema in 1986. Tokyopop published a sequel, “Return to Labyrinth,” from 2006 to 2010, and last year, Archaia published three specials to mark the film’s 30th anniversary.
“Jim Henson’s Labyrinth” #1 is out February 2018. See two of the variant covers, as well as the solicitation text, below.
“Jim Henson’s Labyrinth” #1
Publisher: Archaia, an imprint of BOOM! Studios
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Daniel Bayliss
Cover Artists:
Main Cover: Fiona Staples
Subscription Cover: Rebekah Isaacs
Variant Cover 1: Laurent Durieux
Variant Cover 2: Jill Thompson
Variant Cover 3: Bill Sienkiewicz
Format: 32 pages, full color
Price: $3.99
On sale: February 2018
Synopsis: Simon Spurrier (“Godshaper,” “The Power of the Dark Crystal”) and Daniel Bayliss (“Jim Henson’s Storyteller: Dragons,” “Kennel Block Blues”) present a magical look into the world of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth.
Before Sarah braved the Labyrinth to save her brother, another young woman sought to save a young boy named Jareth from the clutches of the Goblins.
Set in 18th-century Venice, Italy, “Jim Henson’s Labyrinth” is a striking look into the history of the Labyrinth itself, and what happens to the little boys who don’t get rescued.
This is the untold history of the Goblin King.
