By the time I’d finished the script for the first volume of Return to Labyrinth, some of the characters had fleshed out backstories and multi-volume arcs, while other characters were, admittedly, sketchy. Moppet, for example, is developed to the point where I could tell a series about her even without Toby and crew. Mizumi had her motivations that, while not really apparent in volume 1, played out in volume 2 as planned. Skub, however, left the gate more or less without a purpose. My take on this “original” character was, in a nutshell, “like Gollum, only cuter, and try not to make him TOO Dobby-ish.” He was born without a heart. Thanks to the freedom of serialized storytelling, this once bland (if always cute) side-character found his voice in volume 2, and in Volume 3, he gets his soul.
I know it sounds like sloppy storytelling to introduce a half-baked character into a pivotal position, but in this instance, I think it was the best way to do it. No, really! Return to Labyrinth is released as a finite series of “graphic novels,” which implies a certain rigidness of structure, but I’ve tried to write the series as a serial. A novel in 4 acts, this is NOT. Even though there is a full year between volumes thus far, I try to write each chapter as if it is a monthly installment or “episode,” the way manga is published in Japan. Or to use another medium, Return to Labyrinth is more like a TV series than a movie.
What I love about serials (be they manga, TV or old pulp novels) is that they feel alive. Any character, no matter how small, can go on to star in his or her own adventure. Villains can be defeated, then return as unlikely allies. Every object and location has a history that may or may not get told. There’s always another cliffhanger, another downfall and another redemption. It’s why people are still telling stories about Star Wars and why Naruto can go on for over 40 volumes without losing steam.
Going back to Skub, In volume 1 he existed merely to advance Toby’s narrative. He was the Goblin that Toby followed to get to the Labyrinth in the first place. Aspects of his personality – cowardice and servility in particular—were there, but he was pretty 2-dimensional. It wasn’t until I’d spent time with Skub on the printed page that he finally clicked, and it happened in a way I never could have predicted. In volume 2, Skub becomes the head chef at the Goblin Castle. Is that a crucial development in telling the story of Toby, Jareth and Moppet – the “A” story? Not at all, but it makes the world a richer place. It even inspired this Return to Labyrinth “minigame.” Consider it emergent character design.
In the second chapter of volume 3, entitled “Skub’s Tale,” we finally learn what made this diminutive pig-nosed goblin who he is. Back in volume 1, the de-winged Fairy, Hana, has her backstory introduced in the format of a “fractured fairy tale” – a riff on the classic Elves and the Shoemaker. Skub’s Tale is also inspired by a fairy tale, although a more obscure one. It sets up a long-term story arc that will carry into the next volume… and beyond? I hope, that once Return to Labyrinth is over, Skub will be every bit as rich a character as Hoggle or Didymus and a member of the Labyrinth family that fans will want to revisit again someday.
One last note about serials. On Monday I start my new day job as a Game Designer at Telltale Games. They are the developers of Sam & Max
and other PC adventure games that are pioneering the Serialized model for narrative games. It’s an exciting opportunity and I look forward to learning from some of the best storytellers in the gaming industry. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll be able to bring Labyrinth to the video game medium. (I know I’d play that game!)
Next up, a new Goblin — Enter Minoskyrka!
, recently invited me over for a unique (to say the least) evening of manga smelling, tasting and snobbish silliness. The event is captured in his article for OtakuUSA. Check it out for a rare glimpse at at the madness that goes into reviewing manga (and an even rarer glimpse of bescarfed and Beard-Type me). A sample set of reviews of Rin! (a yaoi title):
