Gobblin.net

Return to Labyrinth volume 1 went through three very different takes before we arrived at the one that went to press. In the very first draft, goblins played an even bigger role in the story, and the tone was much more influenced by Terry Jones and the Monty Python element. While a few of the jokes were recycled in the final scripts, most of this draft was, thankfully, archived before the approval process. One character who survived the drafts, however, was Panjan Spittledrum – the Goblin Mayor.

Spittledrum’s roots survive in his name.

Panjandrum: “An important or influential (and often overbearing) person.”

While Toby was always going to be the center of the story, Spittledrum was a minor character who saw himself as the star. I had outlined this running gag in which Jareth would pinch Spittledrum’s cheek and stretch it out to comic lengths, leaving the abused mayor with a wrinkled face like a shar pei. (the design was later salvaged for the librarian in the Hall of Prophecies in volume 2). In my mind, the joke was always on Spittledrum – he was a character to laugh at, but not to feel sorry for.

All of this was in development before Chris Lie, the artist, was brought onto the project. Once Chris was hired, his first assignment was to work on character designs. Some of the characters, like Moppet, Mizumi and Stank, came quite easily. Of the entire cast, no character took more time, more back-and-forth, than Spittledrum. Here was my earliest description:

A pompous Goblin bureaucrat who for years has handled the day to day affairs of the Labyrinth while Jareth played his games. When Jareth retires, Spittledrum assumes that the crown will fall to him, as he knows more about running the Labyrinth than anyone. He resents Toby terribly and plots to overthrow the young king. Small, stout and wrinkled like a bulldog, his stature undermines his pride. He’s not half as wise as he thinks he is. Perhaps he wears a very unconvincing wig.

Some of Chris’ early efforts were very much influenced by Brian Froud’s Fairy artwork. They’re cute to be sure, but they don’t quite capture the pompousness of the character.

This interpretation of Spittledrum definitely looks like someone who would rule over a goblin city – the only thing is, he looks too wise and calculating to be the butt of jokes.

This next sketch was one of my absolute favorite character designs, but just wasn’t working for the character. Rob Valois, the editor of Return to Labyrinth, made this image his personal avatar at the office. I could write a whole series about this guy – a hybrid of the Gnome King and die Fledermaus – but it just wasn’t right for Spittledrum.

Finally Chris delivered this sketch. It wasn’t at all what I had in my head when I first conceived of the character, but something about it just clicked. Moreover, when I started imagining this guy reading Spittledrum’s lines, it was hard not to feel a little sorry for the guy. In the next draft of the script, and the outline for future volumes, Spittledrum went from being a total buffoon, to a loveable tragic figure. Chris’ contribution really defined this character and raised his importance in the series from bit-player to principal cast.

As I finish up the script for volume 3, Spittledrum has become a far more sympathetic character than I had ever anticipated. I really feel sorry for what he has to go through… Ah, but I don’t want to spoil anything for you!