Time to get this out of the way. Yes, Return to Labyrinth volume 3 has been pushed back until May 2009, seven months past the original date, and yes, this absolutely sucks. This is just as disappointing for the folks who are working on the series as it is for those waiting to read it. Why is there a delay? I can accept some blame as I was late in turning in the script. Other than that, it isn’t my place to say as I am a freelance writer for hire. That said, it’s been a tough year behind the scenes for the publisher, Tokyopop, and considering how many series were cancelled or put on hold indefinitely, I’m very grateful that RtL has the full support of the publisher and Henson and will be completed in four volumes as intended.
As things have been a little out of control in the comments the past week (for which I largely blame myself for being so quiet of late), I want to make a few reminders:
- This is the personal website of Jake T. Forbes, and he (being me) can only answer for the writing.
- I understand people’s frustration (I have known no shortage of disappointment at seeing things I’ve been looking forward to delayed), but venting and demands aren’t going to change anything. Feel free to vent in the Venting post below, but if venting about release dates spills into other threads, I’m going to have to close comments.
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Star Trek were also pushed back 6 months, so if you dilute your disappointment as I do, it doesn’t feel quite so bad. Look at it this way–you have one hell of a May to look forward to, right?
- At least the delay isn’t as bad as the one for news on Power of the Dark Crystal!
Moving forward, I’m going to have to rethink how I approach Gobblin.net. I assumed that I’d only have a couple more months to tease about volume 3 before you’d all have copies and we could start discussing volume 4, but with the delay, obviously that all changes. I’ve brought up the possibility of hosting the first chapter of volume 3 online as a way to tide folks over during the wait – still waiting to hear if that’s a possibility. While it’s too early to discuss the contents, I’ll work out some kind of progress meter on the writing of volume 4 to help keep me stay on track. While the ultimate release date is out of my hands, I want to make sure I do my part to see that volume 4 comes out as soon as is humanly possible.
In the meantime, feel free to post any suggestions of things you’d like me to write about on Gobblin.net in the comments below.
Thanks again for your patience!
*head-on
I shot you, Maggie. And what’s wrong with a little creative speculation?
… *punctures the silence by shooting Maggie some more*
A whole lot now that I think about it. *entire cast of Labyrinth shudders* What’s scary is there are some authors who really can pull off those sort of pairings convincingly. (Luckily I am not one of them and thus do not write them.)
Still, I can see that Sara and Mizumi could become friends. They’ve actually got a lot in common. They’ve both been tricked by Jareth, fallen in love with Jareth, believe in magic, had thier hearts broken by Jareth… And both of them are in love-hate relationships with Jareth!
Ooooh, I wonder… *whispers into Mizumi’s ear. Mizumi pulls Sarah aside and they have a quiet discussion. Then Sarah walks over to Jareth, kisses him, and Mizumi pours paint over him.*
*watches as Jareth loses his sanity and makes an old cartoon celebration after being kissed even though he has paint all over him*
Hahaha! Was it really that great?
Plus Jareth never broke Sarah’s heart. The way I see it, she broke his heart.
I’m pretty sure Mizumi would want to get rid a Sarah at any opportunity she has. Were it not for the wager, I’m sure Mizumi would have taken Sarah out by now. That’s why I’m so scared for Moppet in vol. 3 now that everyone knows what she really looks like.
Mizumi already tried to kill Moppet once so there is a good chance that she will try again.
However, if she was going to try to kill Sarah, I don’t think it would be a “I HATE YOU, YOU SMILY LITTLE #$@%$#@!” type of murder. It would be a “Jareth loves you, therefore to break his heart for once and for all, I must kill you” murder.
Mizumi is a very cold woman and very methodical. The sort who doesn’t have friends–just alliances. I feel immensely sorry for her and partly blame Jareth since she did–after a fashion–love him. (Hmmm, gee, where does this sound familiar?) I think at one point, she might have given him the same sort of ultimatum Jareth later gave Sarah… And Jareth accepted.
an ultimatum? I wouldn’t describe Jareth’s offer as an ultimatum. By the way, what happened to the website? It’s different now…
And I noticed on wikipedia that Esker is supposedly a “mechanical bodyguard”. They also mention that RTL will be released in December
*sighs*
I didn’t imagine Esker being mechanical. I guess that rules out Esker as Moulin and Drumlin’s father…
I wonder if maybe Mizumi had a relationship with a human as well. Then she fell in love with Jareth after her human died. When Jareth fell in love with a human, she became extremely jealous and heartbroken. That would explain Moulin and Drumlin.
I’m not completely sure if Mizumi fully understands what love is. From what I understood, her relationship with Jareth was mainly based on them both being extremely powerful and having similar desires. I’m not saying that it isn’t possible for her to love, but I don’t think she would fall in love with a human and then turn around and mock Jareth the same way she did in volume 2. I think she did love Jareth, but if you remember before Jareth met Sarah he’d already started shut her out. (By building the Labyrinth, etc.)
I hope Sensei Jake tells us or at least hints at it in volume 3.
I wonder what happened.
Oops. I goofed on the italics. Sorry.
That fact is what makes me fear that Mizumi’s and Jareth’s relationship was ended by a little misunderstanding, and that they’ll realize the mistake and get back together. NOOOO! (OME, I just realized that this is what started out paintball fight…)
Also, just to make it clear, I did not misspell OME= Oh My Edward
All around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel! The monkey thought it so much fun! *shoots maggie* POP goes the weasel!
Edward groupie. Talk to the hand. I’m not a “team member”. Actually, I think James is kinda hot and that’s probably illegal among fangirls. The Twilight series is really my dirty self-indulgence that I allow myself to obsess over every so often. I can quit any time I like. *starts twitching and glancing at books*
I think with any Mizumi x Jareth pairings we’re going to have to wait for furthere infromation from Sensei Jake. Darn it.
For those who believe that Mizumi and Jareth are a perfect match, I fervently disagree. They both need someone the opposite of themselves to complete them. That’s why I think Sarah and Jareth would make a good couple. I know people think they are quite alike (which they are on certain levels), but at the same time they’re both very different. Sarah expected everything to go against her, yet was still angry when things did go aride. (our favorite quote “It’s not fair!!!!”). Jareth, unlike Sarah, believed everything had to go his way (there’s no such thing as a democracy in the Underground *sob*). They were both, however, very selfish in their desires. Sarah believed her life was extremely unfair, when actually she was a lot better off than a lot of people in the world and the Underground. Jareth expected everything because, well, he’s a king. Remember when Jareth treated Sarah quite coldly right before he released the cleaners.
-Jareth “So, how are you liking my Labyrinth?”
-Sarah “It’s a piece of cake” (evil words!!!)
-Jareth “Then how about uping the stakes then?” *a clock appears and Jareth moves his hand clockwise. The hands of the clock follow his hands, making three complete turns*
-Sarah “That’s not fair!!!”
-Jareth “You say that so often. I wonder what your basis for comparison is!”
This shows that he believes that he is worse off than Sarah, because let’s face it; one thousand two hundred and eighty-five years of ruling a kingdom full of Goblins alone can get quite lonely and frustrating.
Oh, I almost forgot…
hands Gobblinize me a white shirt. After she puts it on, I shoot her to where it looks like a smiley face on her shirt.
By the way, can I call you Gobby. It’s a drag typing your whole name…
Gobby… Well, if you must.
Maybe you could call me, Gobblin? Pwease?
hands Maggie a silk dress. After she puts it on, I proceed to tispalsh it with paint of clashing color.
Ok Gobblin.
uses clorox bleach to get the paint out, then dances with Jareth to spite Gobblin
Hahaha. Why Jareth, you dance divinely…
Nickname! Yea! I have a nickname! (With my real name it’s more or less impossible to have a nickname so I’m really excited about this…)
Yeah, uh-huh, no offense, but while Jareth is totally worthy to be worshiped with every flutter of my fangirl’s heart… The only girl who belongs in his arms is Sarah, with the possible exception of Moppet. Sarah and Moppet, no one else.
Moppet and Sarah exchange glances, stare at Maggie, and then pelt her and Jareth with paintballs.
And that dress was dark blue; you totally have those pink bleach marks all over you and it’s not precisely very flattering, dahling.
it was magical clorox… Moppet takes off her mask and looks at Sarah. Sarah says, “You know… regardless of what others say, I think you’re gorgeous.”
Mizumi slaps her head in embarrasment and disbelief. Did she seriously just compliment herself? Jareth morphes over to the two and wraps his arms around their shoulders. “Why don’t the three of us go see Twilight tonight?”
What dos Twilight have to do with RtL?
like the stry thow
Nothing. We just like to mention it every now and then. (Plus: It’s a…sensual movie, so Jareth would expect at least a first base with one of the two) Hahah… =)
Right, it’s not that either of us are obsessed with it or anything. coughvampiregroupiecough
I, unfortunately or fortunately depended on who you talk to, am of the opinion that Twilight is clever and fairly original, but essentially brain candy to which I am addicted. I get a lot of flack for this stance from both sides of the Great Twilight Debate, which just strikes me as ironic.
Anyone else out there think Candlewick is kind of handsome for a goblin? For a second I thought he was an elf because he doesn’t exactly look like a goblin or for that matter ACT much like one either. But then somewhere it said he was a goblin and that odd thought was crushed. Hmmm… maybe he’s actually Jareth’s illegitimate son by a goblin bride? dives behind Maggie, giggling. Just joking, in case someone thinks I’m actually serious.
Moppet and Sarah look at one another, discuss Jareth’s invitation for a moment, and then kiss him on the cheek saying they’ll go if he reveals Moppet’s origins. Translation: no way, but nice try, lover boy.
Well, in “Goblins of the Labyrinth”, Candlewic is the name of a “keeper of the Goblin Hoard” which is an unknown hoard that known of the keepers even know about apparently. So I believe that at least his name has been derived from the archives of the Labyrinth… In the reference book, however, there’s hardly any similarity in how the two look. The one in “Goblins of the Labyrinth” is much smaller and thinner, yet looks just as threatening. He also wields a huge sword that by far surpasses his height. His eyes are narrower and his face is thinner; he wears a helmet similar to that of a viking and he has some type of chainmail on.
Jareth shrugs and walks away, hiding his smile. At least I got half way to first base.
Goes to watch Twilight….alone…with no date… and no human money to buy any snacks with. What a bummer…
Skub offers to escort both Sarah and Moppet to go see “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and the two giggle with glee.
Mizumi watches the exhilaration in envy, and Moulin and Drumlin plays jacks.
Toby watches in awe as both his sister and his friend/love-interest/aquaintence/adviser/cloned-sister go to the movies with….Skub. Told you he was a stud-muffin!
*none*
I so have to watch Twilight now – and before you start a rant about the fact that I haven’t seen Twilight, I live in New Zealand so this website is the first I’ve heard of it. (The fact that someone I was talking to the other day had seen it is irrelevant) Fortuately I managed to track down copies of RtL one and two. I think I would have had a tanty if they weren’t stocking them here. Anyway Twilight sounds really good. I think I will be going on a mission to find it. Hx
I haven’t seen it yet either, so don’t fret. I do, however, plan to see it today with a couple of friends. I have been ranting on how bad I think it’s gonna be. But I recently learned it got 4 stars. *sigh*
Someone said it was based on a book? If that’s true I might try find that first. I hate reading the book after I’ve seen the film of something. It puts weird pictures in your head of what people look like and they don’t always match up. 4 stars, hmmm, we’ll have to see. Hx
Haven’t seen Twilight yet, but it looks pretty good. I’m hoping they’ll up the action a little and cut back on Bella’s drooling over Edward. (It was a little excessive in the books.)
Most awesome adaption of a book to a movie… Stardust. Of course, die-hard Gaiman fans freak out and start ranting about horribly wrong I am, but… *shrug*
Hate to break it to you Maggie, but they went with Skub because he’s “safe”. And defining Moppet’s exact relationship with Toby is a doozy. But since apparently it’s okay to pair Skub with Sarah and/or Moppet…
)
Mizumi walks over to Toby and offers to give him “private lessons in magic”. The two of them walk off together, arm-in-arm. *tactful black-out*
(I’m personally of the opinion that Mizumi is Toby’s equivalent of Jareth, so a little romantic tension between the two would definitely make the plot interesting in a hurry.
Yes, but remember: Mizumi was in love with Jareth; Jareth was in love with Sarah; Sarah was an immature child compared to Jareth who was 1270 years her senior (I did the math with how long Jareth’s been in power). Mizumi and Jareth are most likely the same age, if not a few years apart. Jareth is 1283 years Toby’s senior. Mizumi and Toby together? By the symmetric property of addition, Mizumi = Jareth > Sarah > Toby < Mizumi. So it’s one big circle…
I did not see it ither, but i ame wating for A to lone me the books.
my other firend lone’d it to me!
(not A or G)
!@#$!@#$# Well, at least that explains why I can’t find it at my local bookstore. >.> I was wondering, so I did a search. >.> I wont lie, I swore a few times. Okay, more than a few. I discovered the series at the beginning of December, and LOVED the story, even if the art was…a disappointment. I can’t count the number of times I laughed reading it (getting very odd looks from my husband all the while…). I look forward to the release, and I suppose that at least it gives me something to look forward to. Besides longer days…
I nearly cried when I found out the release date had been pushed back. No joke, I’d been at Barnes and Noble every week since the 16th, and now I learned I have to wait until May… I was furiously searching the internet until I crash-landed onto your site and saw the updates.
I loved the first two–I laughed so hard throughout them–and I definitely hope the third is worth the extra wait…I definitely want to see more Sarah/Jareth interaction, and I kind of hope Sarah won’t look so much like a librarian…but then again, it suits her current ‘mature’ personality. I wonder if Moggle was born of the child within Sarah that she seemed to have left behind in the labyrinth…Just speculation. =)
Anyway, I just thought, that among all my complaints about the date, I’d say something wonderful about your writing. I absolutely love the series, and am dying for the third book to come out. Just don’t make us wait so long for the final book!!
Jareth b**ched too much in the second book about not having Sarah, we all know he came to her house for a specific reason, lolz
Go get er, Jareth! Grrrrarrr! *Wriggles eyebrows*
It sucks that it won’t be out til may but on the bright side… its my birthday and i have already told everyone what i want!! But i hope the third and forth one there will be more Sarah/Jareth!!! Its so cute i love it!!!
*Sneaks into the ranks, before forming a few crystals from thin air, and throws them into the crowds of fighting peoples. The crystals explode, sending forth a shower of paint, glass shards, and rubber ducks into the unsuspecting populous*
<..>
Anyone need a half-Fae team member?
Ah, noticed that a while ago you guys asked why Jareth’s eyes are differently dilated. It has to do with the fact that David Bowie was punched in the face as a young man, and that damaged his eye, causing it to be permanently dilated. I always get annoyed when people think that his eyes are different colors, and don’t notice that they’re both blue, just with unique pupils; which, by the way, is the most amazing thing I can possibly think of. *Goes off to have her friends punch her*
Ah, the book. I actually went to Barnes and Noble the other day (before I knew about it being postponed) and saw they had no copies. So, being a good little fan, I went down to order a copy, and they said that they had 8 copies that should come in during the next 2 weeks, but that they weren’t allowed to let people hold any of the copies. Seeing as the lady behind the counter was a total and complete n00b, I wouldn’t be surprised if she read the title wrong. However, it got my hopes up… Well, my birthday’s in May… so all’s fair in Love and Labyrinths.
Oh. Jake, do you know if they are going to be publishing more fan arts in the next two volumes? If so, I would be most tempted to submit some stuff, if I felt there was a chance at such a pipe dream.
~Phantasm
Oops,
Forgot to add in one of the things I wanted to say.
Pertaining to all the Twilight comments. I rather enjoyed the books, when I first read them. However, by the time I finished the fourth book, I felt the author had dragged it on much too far, and it started to feel almost… stretched thin. Plus I can’t begin to list how many issues I had with the fourth book, least of which being the Deus Ex Machina towards the end there.
And I went to see the movie with a friend of mine. I knew I wasn’t really going to like it after seeing the trailers, however, I went armed with fresh images from the spoof trailer I’d found on Youtube. With those in mind, I was able to laugh my way through the entire farce, with my friend shooting me daggers the entire time. Oh, and you know what really saved me though? For the scenes when Bella and Edward are in the science lab, there is a barn owl directly behind them. Being the obsessive Laby fan I am, it was a sign from heaven, telling me that Jareth, the Goblin King, was ready and willing to take the hideous movie away if I just wished hard enough! Thoughts of the Goblin King were my salvation that night, I can tell you.
Anyone else notice that? Or was I the only one so thoroughly obsessed?
~Phantasm
I’ll wait as long as I have to for it! Lol XD
Hi, Mr. Forbes, this is Elissa, the girl who wrote to you a long time ago, right before Fruits Basket was published. I wrote you about Miyuki-chan in Wonderland and how displeased I was… well, since then, I’ve lightened up and bought my own copy, as well as the 21 Fruits Basket volumes that have been published (and intend to get the other two). I just wanted to say, don’t sweat it about RtL; now I can buy it in May for my friend whose birthday is in July. ^^ Next, I wanted to ask you a small question, if you don’t have the answer it’s fine… What’s happening with the Keiko Suenobu manga LIFE? Does the scaleback mean you guys have dropped the series? Mr. Forbes, I of course understand you are NOT the only person on staff at Tokyopop; I just couldn’t think of anyone else to turn to about this. If you have any info, that would be wonderful; if not, could you please point me in the direction of someone who CAN tell me what’s going on? Thank you so much! I’ll get out of your hair for now, though.
Do you know any Legends of the Dark Crystal blog ?.I’ll like to look at it!
I like Return to Labyrinth,too
So many comments here, and still some new ones!
Elissa, I wish I could help you, but I don’t actually work for Tokyopop anymore, except for a writer on Return to Labyrinth. Things have changed so much in the 5 years since I’ve been there (yup, it’s been a while!), I don’t really know who to talk to anymore. I’m sorry I don’t have the answers you need.
Oh, please don’t apologize, Mr. Forbes; even if that’s the case, I’m still glad you plan to release Return to Labyrinth before July, because that way I can buy it for my friend’s birthday. I’m actually going to get the phone number for Tokyopop and call them, since emailing didn’t work and you’re not there much now. Thank you for replying, though… that’s the most response I’ve gotten out of anyone on this.
miley u rock & d song just ike u os also cool
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE YOU Miley.