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Liked It “Follows with the original movie... so awesome. I own 1 - 2” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “I was disappointed. Essentially, it was the same story but insert Toby instead of his older sister. Bleh.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Follows with the original movie... so awesome. I own 1 - 2”
Chesa M wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I was disappointed. Essentially, it was the same story but insert Toby instead of his older sister. Bleh.”
Robbi C wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I had just watched the movie, so I caught most, if not all, of the references. It was great seeing Hoggle again... and Sir Didymous. I loved the little Ludo guy and Hana. Great start to a promising manga series.”
Aine wrote this review Monday, September 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“When I picked this up I was beyond excited, thinking OMG they finally made a Labyrinth sequel, one of my beloved faved movies of the 80's. They even got an amazing Japanese artist to illustrate it. YAY. NO. Only to be disappointed when I opened to the first page to see that the inside illustration was done by someone else. Talk about serious screw up. The art inside was poorly done, and like many Laby fans I was instantly turned off. Not to mention the storyline was so poor that I think I've read, no scratch that, I HAVE read better fanfiction. This was a terrible excuse for a sequel and I just wonder what the Henson company was thinking when they gave this the ok?”
Aubree P wrote this review Saturday, July 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“i absolutly loved the movie when i was little and i still do plus im a david bowie fan this book was awesome it gets you hooked on the story all over again it such a sweet romance between jareth and sarah”
spookylilgirl wrote this review Thursday, July 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“... I hate how the cover is so beautiful but the inside art is armature. The plot is predictable, the characters without personality - a disgraceful sequel to the movie.”
Eden H wrote this review Friday, June 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I’ve returned to the Labyrinth, and I love it!
maydiwayatangnawawala wrote this review Sunday, June 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In1986, there was a dark fantasy movie about an imaginative 15-year old girl who wished her baby brother away. The Goblin King appeared to grant that wish. Regretful, frantic over her moment of thoughtlessness, she made a bargain with the king to solve the Labyrinth within 13 hours. If she fails, the king keeps the baby forever, as one of his goblins in the Underground Kingdom.
The girl’s name was Sarah, the baby’s, Toby, and the Goblin King’s, Jareth. As she went on her quest, Sarah met strange and wonderful creatures: the dwarf Hoggle, squirrel-fox Sir Didymus, and gentle beast Ludo.
Jareth was portrayed by David Bowie and Sarah by Jennifer Connelly in the movie.
Since then, countless adolescents, and adults, have fallen under the Labyrinth’s spell. Every now and then, there is a resurgence of interest, as evidenced by the flood of fan fiction on the net and consistent good sales of the DVD.
Produced by George Lucas, directed by Jim Henson, and co-written by children’s author Dennis Lee and Monty Python alumnus Terry Jones, Labyrinth is winning the test of time, and is on its way to becoming a classic… I’m quite sure (and I’m quite giddy at the thought), years from now, there will have been a movie sequel, an anime series, and even telenovelas based on the original story.
For now, there is an OEL manga series, Return to Labyrinth, in the works. Story by Jake T Forbes and art by Chris Lie, the first volume centers on teenage Toby as he struggles through adolescent angst, and finding himself back in the Labyrinth via the schemes of the Goblin King.*
Though I’m not crazy about this focus, away from Sarah, with little of the adventure and whimsical drama of the movie, and none of its logic puzzles and nonsensical humor, I still really enjoyed reading the manga.
Sarah in this reincarnation is a teacher, older, dowdy, and sad. At first, I was aghast. Her will, as strong as the Goblin King’s, would not have allowed her to fall so low. Much of why we love the movie is that will, that spirit of defiance against an otherworldly force: she is destined for greatness, that one, and she shines with that potential.
So imagine my chagrin to see her missing from the cover and drawn like a woman who is just like any other on the inside pages. Fangirls the world over must have had a fit.
In fairness, the cover art, by Kouyu Shurei, is gorgeous.
Nevertheless, I don’t regret having discovered this series. Rather disappointed at first, I tried to imagine its potential, realizing I should give it a chance—there are three more volumes to go after all. There are hints enough of a more exciting storyline in the sequels.
With the Goblin King appropriately mean and enigmatic, as devilishly handsome as ever (in my imagination, and close enough in the manga), I am thinking I have good reason to look forward to this. Though the first volume focused on Toby, I believe this is a smokescreen—Jareth probably has an ulterior motive… He isn’t done with the girl yet, and uses her brother to draw her back into the Labyrinth.
He probably is also plotting revenge on the mortal girl who defeated him 13 years ago… but then, this is the Goblin King, who would be much less interesting if he were nice.
So here I am as well, back in Labyrinth, stuck on it, in fact. Thanks to Return to Labyrinth, which made me remember.
*Original English Language Manga. The first volume was released in 2006; the fourth volume is set to be released next year.”
“It was intresting.. I love the Goblin King!!!!!!!”
Ave M wrote this review Friday, May 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
