It’s a testament to the long-standing pop culture influence of the brilliant Jim Henson’s imagination and ability to world-build that the classic 1980s coming-of-age dark fantasy film, Labyrinth, is still strongly etched in our cultural zeitgeist.
Biff Bam Pop! has written about the film and it’s impact on pop culture a number of times in recent history, chiefly in this very column! Specifically in 2018, when Boom! Studios published Jim Henson’s Labyrinth #1, the first part of a new 12-part tale that gave fresh origins and a deeper understanding to the Goblin King (played both wonderfully and memorably by David Bowie in the 1986 film) and again more recently here, earlier this year, when Boom! Studios published Jim Henson’s Labyrinth Archive Edition #1, a timely re-release of the old Marvel Comics adaptation of the historic film.
Certainly, a labyrinthian plan by the publisher was most definitely in motion!
Today, we get a fresh new take on the cult classic with a first-time adaptation based on the original novelization of the film, originally written by A. C. H. Smith. If you never read that book (or would like to read it in a tantalizing visual medium), that means wonderful, deep-dive, easter egg-like moments and scenes that were never part of the theatrical release.
And what a celebration it is!
Ahead of the 40th anniversary of the film’s original release (June of next year), today, we present to you the rediscovery of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth #1!
Written/adapted by Kyla Vanderklugt (Science Comics: Crows, Flight, Nobrow, Spera) and evocatively illustrated by Giorgio Spalletta (Alice Ever After, Alive Never After, Red Sonja: Black, White And Red, James Bond 007: For King And Country), Jim Henson’s Labyrinth #1 is the first issue of a new eight-issue miniseries from publishers Boom! Studios and Archaia. The comic book is a wonderful visit (or revisit) inside Jim Henson’s fertile mind and the story and characters that have endeared themselves to so many Labyrinth fans. It’s perfect reading for any adult who remembers the film and wants to experience it again, or for any man, woman, teen or pre-teen that loves magic, goblins, trolls and fantasy worlds.
Make the run to your local comic book shop and pick up the long-lasting magic that is Jim Henson’s Labyrinth #1 and let it meander its way through both your heart and mind, today and for always!
