A new batch of artwork showed up in my inbox this morning and every piece blew me away. Chris Lie, you have grown so much! (I think we both have.) This image is my favorite one of all. I’m including the full page, inked and toned, because it really is a gorgeous layout — probably the best pics of Moppet yet to appear in the series — and it’s not really a spoiler.

A little context for this image, in this volume, dreams play a very large role. We saw in the movie what happened when Sarah ate Jareth’s peach; in this volume, as suggested on the last page of volume 3, we see what Moppet dreams. This what is revealed in this scene is key to why Moppet exists and why Sarah hasn’t been quite the same. It also features a character that I think many fans of the film will be very excited to see. You’ll have to wait to find out what Moppet dreams, but for now, please enjoy this amazing page!

Director Werner Herzog isn’t just a brilliant filmmaker — he’s also one of the most amazing film subjects when he delivers his vivid blend of nihilism and naturalism in a soothing monotone. This reading/interpretation of Curious George isn’t really Herzog, but it does an amazing job of capturing his mad genius (especially the bit about the fishes in the lungs).  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, and if you haven’t experienced Herzog’s films yet, go and watch Fitzcarraldo– it’s a gorgeous and haunting 2oth centry fable.

Bonus Link: What’s on David Bowie’s iPod these days?

When things get tough in the Labyrinth, who does Toby turn to next? Teen wizards! If anyone can stop Jareth’s plot, it’s Hogwarts grads. Okay, that’s not exactly what’s going on in this panel, but believe it or not, this is a piece of art from Return to Labyrinth volume 4. What does it have to do with the rest of the story? You’ll just have to wait, I’m afraid. Of course, you’re welcome to share your wild theories in the comments…

Update: As much as I enjoy the speculating, I figure I should probably point out that this panel has about as much to do with volume 4, as the Cheshire cat had to do with volume 3. -JF

In a very special chapter of Return to Labyrinth Volume 4, Hana learns to read! Or something like that. You’ll have to wait 7 months to find out what she’s reading.

And remember, angsty fairies aren’t the only ones who think reading is swell:

We’re now officially in 2010, the calendar year that Return to Labyrinth will come to an end! I’ve been a bit lax lately on Labyrinth themed posts for the past month, and for that I’m sorry, but now that the release is getting ever closer and more tangible I think it’s time to start getting back in the gobblin groove.

Before I start previewing all new art, I thought I’d revisit that first piece of Volume 4 art that was previewed back in August. That image was just a rough thumbnail — so rough that folks in the comments couldn’t tell what combination of Jareth/Toby/Sarah/Moppet we were seeing! In the months since, Chris has been cranking through many more thumbnails, detailed pencil pages, and now his team is already starting to ink. So here you have it again, the very first chapter splash page from Return to Labyrinth volume 4. The chapter is called “Oubliette,” which, as Hoggle pointed out, is where you put people to forget about them. Yes, there is a literal oubliette in this chapter, but the word resonates in this chapter in other ways too. More on that later. For now, enjoy this stunning piece of art!