Comics publisher Archaia today announced a partnership with the Jim Henson Company to release comics based on classic Henson fantasy franchises as well as new Henson-branded series.

The multi-year partnership will draw from The Jim Henson Company’s extensive film and television library, including Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal,Labyrinth, Mirrormask, The Storyteller and other titles. The agreement also allows The Jim Henson Company and Archaia to partner with talent in the comic book, television and film industries to create brand-new stories under a co-branded banner, building on the legacy of quality and creativity of The Jim Henson Company brand and strengthening Archaia’s relationships within the entertainment sector.

I’m not involved with Archaia, so I don’t have anything to add, but since I’ve seen comments here and elsewhere wondering what it means for Return to Labyrinth, the anwser is — nothing. Return to Labyrinth volume 4 is still proceeding with Henson and Tokyopop. As others have speculated, there is a distinction in licensing these days between “comics” and “manga,” so this announcement has no bearing on the series I’m writing.

I do think it’s a very exciting announcement as any comics + Henson projects are bound to yield some amazing stories and art, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with! Feel free to discuss what you’d like to see in a Labyrinth comic series in the comments, but I’ll be sitting this one out until the books come out when I can enjoy them as just another fan.

The first poll was quite a hit, and the results were clear — when in the Labyrinth, most folks want Moppet by their side, and I can’t blame them! She certainly knows her way around the twists and turns better than most, and unlike the Goblins, she is fluent in both nonsense AND logic. Poor Drumlin came in dead last. Fitting, I suppose, but she could perhaps her essence influenced a few people to vote Mizumi?

Anyway, for the second Poll, I thought I’d drag up the eternal question — Which 80s Fantasy Flic is your favorite. And no, you can’t vote Labyrinth! I had to go Neverending Story, but I can honestly say that every movie on that list has a special place in my heart.  Vote in the poll and defend your choice in the comments should you so choose.

When I put out my call for book recommendations, Diana Wynne Jones was the author whose name came up the most. At the time, I said that I’d never read Howl’s Moving Castle, just seen the movie. Amongst other titles, I added that one to my book queue and set to reading it last week.

…a second time it turns out, as the further I got into it, the more I realized that my best memories of the movie were actually from the book. Before the American release of Miyazaki’s adaptation, I wrote an article on the movie for the LA Times and I read the book then as research. How I could forget that reading experience is a mystery, as rereading the book now, it is an absolute gem.

Sophie Hatter is such a fantastic protagonist. The way her latent pride manifests as she slips so effortlessly into old age makes for such fun sparks with Howl. And for someone with no compunction about speaking her mind, Sophie is quite the unreliable narrator.

Howl, of course, is one of the most loveable rogues ever put to paper–a master slitherer outer who might not eat hearts, but effortlessly captures them from readers. The book might be 23 years old, but Howl hasn’t aged a day.

As crackling as the chemistry between Howl and Sophie is, what I love most about the novel is how it works as a “domestic fantasy.” The tight family unit of Howl, Sophie, Calcifer and Michael (as well as the Man-dog and chattering skull) are such a wonderful ensemble that even though the lion’s share of scenes are set inside one cramped room, every page is packed with whimsy.

Thanks for getting me to revisit this wonderful book. I can’t wait to see where Jones’ imagination takes me next!

Today I want to test a new format on Gobblin.net – the “Gobblin Gab” post. In these posts, I’ll set up a topic for discussion related to Labyrinth the film or manga where readers can share their thoughts as a freeform conversation. In this way, we can keep the Labyrinth discussions alive without having a single thread grow ever more unwieldy, plus, by having a rotating topic, we can keep the discussions fresh. It will also help me to post more about Labyrinth without getting into volume 4 teasing too early or often. What do you think?

For the first installment of Gobblin Gab, let’s talk about the unsung heroes of the Labyrinth–the Goblins! While it is undoubtedly Jareth and Sarah who stir the most passions in Labyrinth fandom, there’s no doubt that the Goblin King wouldn’t be nearly as interesting without his subjects. I have three editions of the Goblins of Labyrinth art book/guide, which matches Terry Jones’ witty prose with Brian Froud’s gorgeous concept art, and while I don’t treat them as story bibles for Return to Labyrinth, they certain serve as inspiration for all things goblinesque. What wonderful creatures of illogic and grotesquerie goblins are! (And a little creepy at times, I must confess — especially the way their lower lips flap!)

To get the discussion started, I am curious, how to readers relate the Goblins of Labyrinth art books to the film? Do you consider Jones’ goblin history to be canon, or just a silly supplement with no real bearing on how you view the film? And when it comes to goblins, which ones are people’s favorites from the movie, manga or art book? Discuss!

Apologies to visitors looking for new posts this week. Things have gotten quite busy all of a sudden–many balls in movement, and unlike Jareth, I don’t have Michael Moschen’s magic hands to keep them aloft for me. To top it off, I’m presently packing for a trip south to visit with my trusty Tokyopop editors and other friends and colleagues.

In the meantime, check out Moon, the new sci-fi thriller from Bowie offspring Duncan Jones, opening this Friday. The trailer is super unsettling and the early reviews are quite glowing.

See you next week!

You asked, Chris and I answer! Here is the second batch of answers to the questions asked by you, the readers. There are enough questions left for one more batch from this round. I’ll put out another call for questions in the future, so don’t worry if you didn’t get your question in this time or if you’ve got more to ask. Thanks again for the great questions — I hope you enjoy the answers!

Has Chris Lie seen Labyrinth ? If so, does he like the movie ?

Here’s what Chris had to say:
“I first saw it it was out in 1986. I was still a kid then and I thought the film was very good and imaginative. I remember that I kept the rented tape for a month and watched it everyday. The most memorable scene was when Jareth walking and singing upside down and also the Magic Dance.”

What is it about Sarah that is so special that Jareth fell in love with her, and is still consumed with her?

I suspect that her beauty caught his eye, her imagination gave him an opportunity, and her will presented a challenge worthy of his attentions. Of course, this is just speculation as Jareth has been quite coy when discussing these matters with me over drinks. (He claims that he chose her after watching Ms. Connelly in A Beautiful Mind on his magic DVD player that shows movies from the future, but I doubt that claim, considering he would also have seen The Day the Earth Stood Still.)

What inspired you to write RtL (besides being a fan of the movie)?

When I first proposed the idea, I was an editor at Tokyopop and the publishers was looking for licenses that might be a good fit for the manga style. I really pushed Labyrinth, being a fan of the series and someone motivated to write about it in any case, and by good fortune, the Henson folks were thinking along similar lines, what with Jareth being the original Bishonen.

Does Moppet have blonde or white hair?

More straw-colored, I think, but that could just be on account of the lax standards for hygiene in the Labyrinth. We’ve seen a bath and shower inside the Goblin King’s Castle, but such luxuries are reserved for the snootiest residents. A common serving girl like Moppet would have access to a bath about once every few years, so her hair is probably quite thick with oil and dust.

If you could give any character in the labyrinth (manga series or movie) a hug, who would it be?

I was going to say Stank, but that would probably result in my getting soiled with piss, so perhaps his elder and less stinky cousin Ludo. Or maybe Skub – he looks like he needs a hug the most.

Who was your favorite character to draw/create? It can be one of the main ones, I’m just interested which one is your favorite.

What a tough call! Spittledrum is an easy pick as his puffy speech and bad puns are always fun. Or Jareth for his emo mood swings and snarkiness. But I think have to go with either Skub and Moppet as they have the best extremes of sweetness and tragedy.
Here’s what Chris had to say:
“Sir Didymus, Skub, Spittledrum, and Toby, especially if they are in a comedic situation. I like to draw them because they are expressive, so I can create their expression by using exaggerated body language.”

If you could change one thing about the RtL series (from the first 3 volumes) so far, what would it be and why?

Great question! I’ve thought about this a lot. I would probably pick up the pace of the actual events in volume 1 to allow for more character interaction between Toby and the others cast members. I had greater ambitions for Hana and Moulin, for example (and they’ll get more attention in volume 4!) but due to the space constraints (largely imposed by my own pacing), I’ve had to scale them back. I think a lot of inexperienced writers, myself included, put too much emphasis on events and not enough on the small moments. Events pack much more impact when we’re super invested in the characters. It’s the difference between being amused and being emotionally involved. In volume 1, my favorite scene is the one with Moppet going shopping. I wish that there were more moments like that in the series. Working them in efficiently though is still a challenge.

Does that play at the beginning of the volume have an important significance to everything?

I think you’ll see some parallels between that play and the events/dialog of volume 3. As for volume 4 and the big picture, you’ll have to wait and see!

Do you as the writer get to dictate the layout- ie “In the first panel draw a picture of Toby looking confused, then in the next one draw him running” or is what you write more of a movie script and some one else puts it together?

Somewhere in between, leaning towards the former. When writing the script, I do a first pass without panels and pages broken down, then I go through it again inserting page breaks for pacing and to make sure it’s within page count. Most panels are either called out or implied in my script, but the actual layout is done by Chris. Also, if Chris needs more pages to do justice to a scene, he’ll make suggestions about where to insert panels to make it flow better visually.

How do you describe the characters so Chris Lie knows what to draw?

Depending on how important a character’s appearance is, I’ll offer anywhere from a sentence to a meaty paragraph of description. For major characters (basically, the 10 listed in the first poll), they went through a pretty extensive back-and-forth approval process with Chris, me and then editor Rob Valois, before going through a second round of approvals with the Jim Henson Company. Most other characters are purely based on Chris’ interpretation of my often vague descriptions. Here’s a sample of a description from volume 3:
“A large introductory shot of the Goblin Priest – MYNOSKYRKA. He is very old, wise and mysterious in appearance. He has four arms and walks with the aid of a tall and expensive-looking staff. Look to fancy catholic priest garb for inspiration (headgear similar to a papal miter), but don’t make him look too similar to any actual religious figure. When he speaks, he is always making a religious gesture with one or more of his hands (like a benediction or mudra). His fingers bend a little too much to appear natural – giving him a bit of a creepy look. “

Can we see some Bogging action in the next volume? Mainly for her watery royal-highness or the stray chicken?

Bogging? As in Stenchy-bogging? I’m not telling how important it will be, but the series wouldn’t be complete without at least another glimpse of that infamous swamp!

How much input and control does the Henson company have and who do you talk to about your ideas?

As far as input goes, the Henson company was very receptive to new ideas and aside from a few minor points, gave me free reign when coming up with the story and characters.Feedback in volume 4 has been the most comprehensive to date, both to ensure that the series really ends on a high note, and because the cherished stars of the film, Jareth and Sarah, figure more prominently than ever before. There is no doubt, the Henson Company has 100% control over all things Labyrinth, but they’ve given me a great deal of trust and freedom, and I endeavor to do right by them!

How hard was it to get them to get on board with your first proposal?

Not hard at all, surprisingly! They were very receptive to a manga-fied take on Labyrinth, having recognized themselves the timeless appeal of Jareth as a sort of “bishonen” in the tradition of shojo manga’s leading men.

What inspired you tackle the Labyrinth?

The film was a favorite during childhood, and as I grew older, I came to appreciate the artistry and whimsy all the more. It’s one of the rare films that I never grow tired of as it satisfies on so many levels. The combination of comedy, whimsy and adventure, with hints of danger and forbidden love makes for a unique melodramatic mélange that’s right up my writerly alley.

If you could own a prop/outfit/set piece from the Labyrinth movie, what would it be?

Hmm… That’s a tough one! I think I would have to go with the Deaf Door Knocker. I love his pudgy face, and he’d be easy to display. Either that or the riding crop scepter that Jareth holds in the Magic Dance scene. It looks perfect for snapping at meddlesome cats who try to sleep on my laptop! That said, like the Cross of Coronado, no matter what the  prop, “It belongs in a museum!” I’ve seen Labyrinth props at the Museum of the Moving Image in London, and the experience is one that I’d rather share than horde to myself.

A Question for Chris — In Volume 4, can you draw Jareth with tighter pants?

“If that’s what the fans like, sure.”