Return to Labyrinth Vol. 4 is in the middle of being drawn, and as promised, I bring you the first ever preview pic! This is the “splash page” for Chapter 1, titled “Oubliette.” It’s just a thumbnail, much rougher than the final art, but it’s still quite a beautiful composition. From this sketch, artist Chris Lie will move on to a final “pencil” version, which then gets inked and finally toned. I’ll share the updated versions as they move through production and are approved by the Jim Henson Company.
Next time, I’ll share some juicy penciled pages, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy this tantalizing first image! Feel free to speculate on the image or title in the comments.
I dont want this to be the final volume *cries* im loving is SO much i was hoping for at least 10 volumes its to short and i cant get enough of it as it is ha ha ha
i love these books and i’m going to die if it doesn’t come out soon!
Welcome to the site, amblen! I will endeavor to speed up the process so as not to cause your death. Seriously, though, thanks so much for giving the books a try and I’m glad you enjoy them! I hope volume 4 gives you a satisfying conclusion.
I too am not happy that this will be the concluding volume, but the ride was nice while it lasted. Thanks for taking the chance and doing this series. I love these and you guys really do a great job on them…
Jake forbes thankyou so much for bringing this back to life, you done a great job and this has reached my favourite top list and I’m loving it =)
OMG! I DON’T WANT IT TO END! MY FRIENDS AND I ARE WAITING FOR THE NEXT BOOK! I FINISH 1 IN 2 HOURS! THAT IS ONLY 8 HOURS TO FINISH THE SERIES! I REALLY, REALLY DON’T WANT MOPPET TO BE KILLED OFF, BECUSE THAT MEENS MOST OF THE FAVORITE CHARICTERS THAT I LIKE DIE! WELL NOT ALL I JUST ADORE SKUB AND SIR DIDIMUS!
I am really excited to read the 4th book! i love the story so far. Personally i am a Jareth and Sarah fan so i hope to see more of them together!
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I to love your books, Mr. Forbes, and I wish you would write three more, but alas I will enjoy this final one and add it to the other three. I hope Sarah and Jareth end up together, the movie was my favorite as a kid. Chris Lie has done a wonderful job with the art, I love the new picture for Volume 4.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Autumn, and I’m glad you enjoyed the first pic. Come back often between now and August for plenty more sneak peeks. While Return to Labyrinth is ending, it’s not necessarily the end of Labyrinth. I’m sure there will be more stories in that world — it’s too wonderful to fade away.
So — are you saying that if you had the chance to write about Labyrinth again, you would? I agree that it’s too wonderful to fade away, but it is also a crying shame it’s ending at 4.
I agree with Summer
This can’t be the end — There has to be more — right?
I have really enjoyed the first 3 volumes of Return to Labyrinth, and cannot wait for volume 4. I agree with everyone else that this series has been far too short, and far to irregular (I mean I bought volume 1 years ago now). Come on TokyoPop and Mr Forbes, make another Labyrinth series, and have it come out on a regular basis so us Labyrinth fans can enjoy a fix every month, or even every few months, not once a year like this has been.
Thanks so much, Pete, for the glowing endorsement. I’m also sad to close the book on this Labyrinth story, but I think the ending in volume 4 really does wrap up this particular set of intertwining tales. I won’t rule out the possibility that I’d work on another Labyrinth book in the future — should the opportunity arise, I’d definitely take it! — but it’s not really up to me at this point. I hope that you’ll keep an eye out for my next project, even if it doesn’t have Labyrinth in the title!
Consider me watching!
Pete . . . although I agree that us loco Labyrinth fans do need a regular fix, I don’t agree with us sounding like psycho drug addicts. But I will be watching out for more J. Forbes creations.
Look on the bright side now guys! There’s only a few months left! I’m being optimistic though!
I can’t take the waiting and the nail biting any longer! The Tensions killing me!
I find it funny because technically I’m saying this to an empty screen that not many people look at any more! LOL
Poo — My internet swapped the pages on me — that last comment was for a different page! Sorry people!
This is a good reason for why I shouldn’t be allowed on the computer!
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I will admit that I was a little skeptical of the series when I first heard of it. It doesn’t have quite as much of the romance quality in the plot so far, not as much as the movie anyway, but it has the same joking (pun-ish) quality that made the movie fun, as well as a life lesson. I wasn’t going to read the books unless Wikipedia told me that Sarah and Jareth got together, but I am glad I did. They are genuinely funny and interesting, and I desperately await the final installment, if only to have closure from my favorite childhood movie. (Even if you are only 16, Labyrinth has been my favorite movie for a long, long time.) So I just wanted to say thanks, cant wait, and honestly, if Sarah and Jareth don’t get together I will cry and that will be on your conscious.
-MariannStrange:)
I hope in the end Jareth and Sarah / Moppet will end up together. I think that Jareth really love Sarah, but he himself is confused of his own feelings
Lady Storykeeper, I hope Jareth and Sarah end up together too. I think he does love her and wants to be with her, for ‘what use is a kingdom without a queen’ as Jareth and his brilliant writers so put it. I like her over the Queen of Moraine.
I saw the movie when I was two and since then I’ve seen it at least a 1000 times. i came across the manga only last year, and fell in love with the story all over again. it’s like everything i wanted to see in the movie is presented in the manga. i always imagined in my head that some day they (Sarah and Jareth) would definitely end up together and would be heartbroken not to see it happen. not that I’m not hear broken already to know that the my beloved series would be concluding soon.
I Love This Series to Death Because I Was Such A Fan Of The Labyrinth I Startedd To Wish That Another Movie Would Come Out But It Hasnt So I Started Readinqq This Series Andd I Absolutely LOVE IT!! I DONT WANT IT TO END SO QUICKLY!! Well i Hope Toby, Sarah, Sir Didimus,Hoggle, Moppet ,Ludo Andd Jareth End Uhp Beinq Okk Cuz Their All My Favorite Characters!:) WEll I Wishh The Series Was Endinqq So Suddenlyy But I Cantt Wait Till This Book Comes Out!!
Yay:)
Thanks so much for the kind words, Elizabeth, and welcome to the gobblin community! I would definitely love a chance to write more stories in the Labyrinth world, but this particular story is definitely concluded in volume 4. I hope that you find it a satisfying ending.
I Do Hope You Make More books Because Someday in The Future Idkk When But I will Publish mine I Am Also a Story Writer I Write About Fairy Tales Such as Vampires, Werewolves, Goblins, Andd Even more Andd What The Weird Thinq Is, Is That Im Onlyy 13 Andd I’ve alreadyy Written more Than 20 Books(Not Published Ones) But Please Write Somemore Stories Because Thanks To You, Myy Love For Writinq Stories Has Become Stonger Than Ever:) You Are My Insperation!!
Your Very Welcome Mr.Forbes:) I Am Lookinqq Forward In Beinqq A Part Of The Gobblin Community! Its Nice To See Other People Talk About And Read The Same Thinqs I Do For Once So Thank You For The Invitation To Joininq:) Im Glad To Be A Part Of This Wonderful World
WHY? WHY IS IT SOOOOO FAR AWAY!!!
I’m counting down the days until the last book comes out and I’m wondering, Mr. Forbes, will you and Chris Lie be attending Dragoncon in Atlanta this Labor Day Weekend? I went last year and met one of the artist for The Dark Crystal manga, there was even some one dressed as the crab creature from the movie. I bet your fans would love to see you guys there
Autumn,
I don’t currently have plans for Dragon Con, but I should look into it. (Can’t speak for Chris). Right now, the only convention I’m officially attending is comic-con, as it’s in the same state as me and it coincides with the release of the book. I would love to go to a few more cons, but right now, I’d be paying out-of-pocket, as neither Henson nor Tokyopop are organizing any RtL promotions at cons. (Grrr…) Maybe I should do DragonCon, though, as my Dad lives just a few hours from Atlanta and I owe him a visit. Thanks for the recommendation!
you’re welcome. this will be my second visit to Dragon Con. Thanks for the reply and I will be buying the next book when it hits stores in my town. I know it will be a hit, the evidence is in the replies you and Chris have received from everybody on this cool site.
cannot wait untill this next volume comes out, very, very sad that it is the last one
This has been a wonderful story absolutely amazing. I wish this wouldn’t end with a 4th book but alas all good things must come to an end. It has been a grand pleasure following the Goblin King again, the kingdom will never fall!!!!
If i May Ask, Mr.Forbes When Exactly Does The 4th Book come Out? its Sometime This Month But I Cant Remember the Date.
Elizabeth, It’s out NOW, as of this Tuesday (Wednesday for comics shops), at least in the US. Tokyopop books do make their way to the UK and Australia, but I don’t know the timeline for when it appears in those or other international markets.
-Jake
Ok Well i live in Grand prairie texas and i dont really know if its here yet or not
Elizabeth, bookstores and comic store nationwide should have received their shipments by now. If your favorite store doesn’t have it in stock, they can always order it. Most bookstores can get special orders for an in-print book like this one in a few days. Hope you find your copy soon.
Thank You For Your Help, Mr.Forbes
Ugh the book still isnt out yet at my Library:( its so not fair. ohh wow i sound like sarah on the Labyrinth! “It isnt fair”
I really like your series and agree that book four was not the end of return to labryith. I am a writter myself and I was wondering , How hard was it to get the premission to use the characters for labryinth in your books? I was thinking of writting a novel basised on the moive since the origional is out of print. as well as write my own book about Sarah’s return to the Labryith. Your books are a great inspiration. Do you ever think you will alow them to be created into a moive? I think they would make a great one as long as hollywood doesnt mess wiht the story like they do with so many others. (spiderman, the hulk etc).
Cathy,
Thanks for reading the books! I did try to leave volume 4 open-ended enough so that there’s plenty of room to imagine new stories with the characters. As for getting permission to write authorized Labyrinth fiction, that is something that would most likely have to initiated by a publisher. Usually when you’re dealing with licenses owned by a company, as Labyrinth is owned by the Jim Henson Company, a writer doesn’t contact the license holder directly. Rather, a publisher will approach the license holder with a business and creative plan. I agree that Labyrinth novels could do very well, but it would take a publisher who sees the potential of the property and can convince the Henson Company that they’re a good partner to work with.
And it’s also important to keep in mind that while Labyrinth fan fiction has taken the Labyrinth characters in many varied and exciting directions, a writer working with the Henson company wouldn’t have the same freedom. When you are writing for a licensed property, whether it’s a major franchise like Star Wars or a smaller world like Labyrinth (small in that it’s just a single movie at its core), you as a writer have to be a cooperative partner on the project. Ideally you’re both on the same page creatively, but at the end of the day, the license holder is boss, not the writer.
I’m so glad these were created. <3 I'm about to buy the fourth volume and am delighted to discover that it's actually out already (I was still waiting with baited breath… LOL. Had no idea!) Thank you so very much. I'm so happy that the world of Labyrinth lives on! ^_^
Hey, can someone help me? I can’t find book three at any library and I REALLY want to read it!! Come to think of it, I can only find Vol. 1 at my library! SOMEONE HELP MMMMEEE!!!!