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Return to Labyrinth #1
Return to Labyrinth, Vol. 1
After having survived his initial visit, Toby has returned home and has grown up. As he has grown he has noticed that many things have come very easily to him, even when under pressure. Little does he know that Jareth, the Goblin King, has been looking...
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
23 people are currently reading
1,625 people want to read
About the author
Jake T. Forbes
11Ìýbooks47ÌýfollowersI make digital games & comics, but my heart belongs to good old-fashioned analog books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
November 28, 2007
If you're thinking about reading this comic because you're feeling nostalgic for the amazing move, DON'T.
December 1, 2008
One of the greatest disappointments of my life. And the cover is nothing but deceiving.
October 31, 2018
A relatively interesting concept and gorgeous cover art are not enough to save this very, very awful looking sequel series to possibly my favorite (and still a firm fixture on the adult top ten list) childhood film.
Its one of the all time great romantic fantasy films. I mean its practically every little kids game of imaginary castles and kings and dragons brought to life. A perfectly normal girl does battle with a tempting not quite evil magical king to save someone she loves and she meets marvelous, unbelievable creatures along the way who make her stronger and teach her the lessons of growing up but with the wonderful footnote that its okay not to entirely give up those innocent imaginings of childhood. Oh and David fucking Bowie sings amazing songs while wearing a series of awe inspiring codpieces.
I'm sure that, like me and countless other fans, you always kind of wondered what happened next. What happened to that beautiful, cold king and that beautiful young woman? It can't all just end with a goblin slumber party and owls flying off into the night can it? I mean yes, there's been some enormously good fan fiction but that's not "real" in the canonical sense is it?
I mean did Sarah grow up and find her way back through the labyrinth and a destiny as a queen? Did Jareth forsake the goblin kingdom and his power to find her in the human world (once she was a legal adult of course)? Maybe she became a great actress who used her time in the labyrinth to make amazing fantasy movies. Maybe Jareth began to fade away without her love and she came back to rescue HIM!?
So many possibilities.
And we get this mess.
I'm NOT reviewing all four of these separately. I'm gonna sum this sucker up real quick. We begin quite a few years post the lovely Sarah saving her baby brother Toby from the equally lovely Jareth, king of the goblins. Peaches have long been eaten, waltzes danced, fieries foiled, bogs of stench avoided, and cold, cold hearts broken.
Toby is a directionless teen who just wants to play fantasy based video games and Sarah is an English teacher who doesn't remember any of her time in the labyrinth and Jareth is a petulant brat who's still angry about Sarah not taking him up on his offer to "fear me, love me" and "do as I say."
There are hoardes of new characters, all of whom are drawn in that horrible Disney sequel style that's like one degree above a frickin' He-man cartoon. Actually that's giving them too much credit. They're drawn like the sketches for an old school Scooby Doo cartoon. I'm talking the episodes like that Batman cross-over where Batman's tights disappear randomly because they forget to color the cell in.
Sad art aside I just don't even know what the story is here. I think its basically the same one as the original except this time its Toby who has to grow up and stop expecting everyone to do everything for him? Maybe? All I really know is there is a shit ton of complaining. SO MUCH COMPLAINING!!!!
There's a side story where a sad creature named "Moppet" is trying to figure out who she is
Also? Practically no Sarah which is just a bummer. When she does show up its not as an ass kicking Queen or even the resourceful beauty from the original story. She just kinda shows up because story wise people would be upset if she didn't.
Ugh, this whole thing is one hum drum glum mess of crappy drawing, frantic, nonsensical action, characters I didn't give a crap about and a non ending that resolves NOTHING.
Oh well, its been awhile since we had an entry on the crap shelf.
Its one of the all time great romantic fantasy films. I mean its practically every little kids game of imaginary castles and kings and dragons brought to life. A perfectly normal girl does battle with a tempting not quite evil magical king to save someone she loves and she meets marvelous, unbelievable creatures along the way who make her stronger and teach her the lessons of growing up but with the wonderful footnote that its okay not to entirely give up those innocent imaginings of childhood. Oh and David fucking Bowie sings amazing songs while wearing a series of awe inspiring codpieces.
I'm sure that, like me and countless other fans, you always kind of wondered what happened next. What happened to that beautiful, cold king and that beautiful young woman? It can't all just end with a goblin slumber party and owls flying off into the night can it? I mean yes, there's been some enormously good fan fiction but that's not "real" in the canonical sense is it?
I mean did Sarah grow up and find her way back through the labyrinth and a destiny as a queen? Did Jareth forsake the goblin kingdom and his power to find her in the human world (once she was a legal adult of course)? Maybe she became a great actress who used her time in the labyrinth to make amazing fantasy movies. Maybe Jareth began to fade away without her love and she came back to rescue HIM!?
So many possibilities.
And we get this mess.
I'm NOT reviewing all four of these separately. I'm gonna sum this sucker up real quick. We begin quite a few years post the lovely Sarah saving her baby brother Toby from the equally lovely Jareth, king of the goblins. Peaches have long been eaten, waltzes danced, fieries foiled, bogs of stench avoided, and cold, cold hearts broken.
Toby is a directionless teen who just wants to play fantasy based video games and Sarah is an English teacher who doesn't remember any of her time in the labyrinth and Jareth is a petulant brat who's still angry about Sarah not taking him up on his offer to "fear me, love me" and "do as I say."
There are hoardes of new characters, all of whom are drawn in that horrible Disney sequel style that's like one degree above a frickin' He-man cartoon. Actually that's giving them too much credit. They're drawn like the sketches for an old school Scooby Doo cartoon. I'm talking the episodes like that Batman cross-over where Batman's tights disappear randomly because they forget to color the cell in.
Sad art aside I just don't even know what the story is here. I think its basically the same one as the original except this time its Toby who has to grow up and stop expecting everyone to do everything for him? Maybe? All I really know is there is a shit ton of complaining. SO MUCH COMPLAINING!!!!
There's a side story where a sad creature named "Moppet" is trying to figure out who she is
Also? Practically no Sarah which is just a bummer. When she does show up its not as an ass kicking Queen or even the resourceful beauty from the original story. She just kinda shows up because story wise people would be upset if she didn't.
Ugh, this whole thing is one hum drum glum mess of crappy drawing, frantic, nonsensical action, characters I didn't give a crap about and a non ending that resolves NOTHING.
Oh well, its been awhile since we had an entry on the crap shelf.
March 18, 2021
I enjoyed the movie as a teenager, and had such high hopes for the manga. The artwork is really nice, but the story... ehhhhhh.
April 14, 2024
3.5 stars
January 8, 2009
With misleading beautiful art on the cover and weak, chibi-like art similar to the Kingdom Hearts spin-off manga on the inside, it's a dissapointment at first sight - especially if, like me, you bought it online. If you're thinking of buying it, try and look at it in a store first.
Looking past the art, there's the story - weak, rushed, and fanfiction-like, though no doubt a lot of fanfic writers could outdo this.
Just watch the movie again.
Looking past the art, there's the story - weak, rushed, and fanfiction-like, though no doubt a lot of fanfic writers could outdo this.
Just watch the movie again.
January 21, 2018
I have been a fan of the movie Labyrinth since it came out in 1986. Return to Labyrinth is a 4-part manga series from Tokyo Pop that continues the story. A couple years ago I was given the first 3 books in the series. Unfortunately, the person who gave me the books didn't have the final book. Because I made it a personal challenge in 2018 to read more books I want to read and more off my own shelves, I went online tonight and found a copy of Volume 4 for a good price. I am finally going to finish reading this series! While I'm waiting for Volume 4 to arrive in the mail, I am going to re-read the first 3 volumes.
I am by no means an expert on manga. So I will leave the in-depth style and artwork critiques to others. I'm just going to concentrate on my own personal thoughts about this series.
Return to Labyrinth is American style manga, reading left to right. I really prefer the Japanese style...there's just something about reading from right to left that sets the genre apart and makes it different and more fun to read. But, that does not mean that I didn't enjoy this series. I'm always up for a revisit to Labyrinth!
This series takes place more than 10 years after the movie. Toby is a troubled teenager. Unknown to Toby, the goblin king has meddled in the teen's life for years, causing him to be a bit of an outcast with his peers. Toby is lured into the Labyrinth by Jareth, who wants the boy to be his heir. A mysterious queen and the Mayor of Goblin City want to steal the throne from the goblin king, so they try to prevent Toby from finding Jereth in the Labyrinth.
Toby meets up with some characters from the original movie like Ludo and Sir Didymus, but there are also new characters like Moppet, Skub and Queen Mizumi.
As a fan of the movie, I'm really enjoying reading this manga series again. I can't wait to get the last book and finally discover how it ends!
On to Volume 2! :)
I am by no means an expert on manga. So I will leave the in-depth style and artwork critiques to others. I'm just going to concentrate on my own personal thoughts about this series.
Return to Labyrinth is American style manga, reading left to right. I really prefer the Japanese style...there's just something about reading from right to left that sets the genre apart and makes it different and more fun to read. But, that does not mean that I didn't enjoy this series. I'm always up for a revisit to Labyrinth!
This series takes place more than 10 years after the movie. Toby is a troubled teenager. Unknown to Toby, the goblin king has meddled in the teen's life for years, causing him to be a bit of an outcast with his peers. Toby is lured into the Labyrinth by Jareth, who wants the boy to be his heir. A mysterious queen and the Mayor of Goblin City want to steal the throne from the goblin king, so they try to prevent Toby from finding Jereth in the Labyrinth.
Toby meets up with some characters from the original movie like Ludo and Sir Didymus, but there are also new characters like Moppet, Skub and Queen Mizumi.
As a fan of the movie, I'm really enjoying reading this manga series again. I can't wait to get the last book and finally discover how it ends!
On to Volume 2! :)
February 23, 2011
I got all four of these books as an Xmas gift this year. I am a massive fan of the Labyrinth film and of Brain Froud's work, so when I first picked these up I was nervous as to whether these would be any good or not.
I have previously read bad reviews on these series and I'm not really into manga like graphic novels/comics.
As soon as I started reading them I couldn't put them down, I finished them within the week I think but then they are quite small. The illustrations are really lovely to look at and the story flowed quite well.
I think the only downside was at times they seemed quite childish and it would have been nice to use original goblins from the Labyrinth and from Brian Froud's field guide to goblins.
But all in all a good read, but not a very long one.
I have previously read bad reviews on these series and I'm not really into manga like graphic novels/comics.
As soon as I started reading them I couldn't put them down, I finished them within the week I think but then they are quite small. The illustrations are really lovely to look at and the story flowed quite well.
I think the only downside was at times they seemed quite childish and it would have been nice to use original goblins from the Labyrinth and from Brian Froud's field guide to goblins.
But all in all a good read, but not a very long one.
July 24, 2023
This is by no means perfect,nor is it a manga I'd recommend to anyone who hasn't watched the labyrinth.
The artstyle of the story is actually way different than the one of the cover, which was a bit disappointing. With that being said I did not have issues with the actual art in the manga - just had a preference from the one depicted in the cover.
With that out of the way - I really enjoyed this. It might be nostalgia and love for the labyrinth world ( I just watched the film last weekend after having it recommended to me by a trusted friend) and I must say that being back to the labyrinth with new and old characters felt incredible. I'm really hoping for some Jareth and Sarah moments in the next volumes!
The artstyle of the story is actually way different than the one of the cover, which was a bit disappointing. With that being said I did not have issues with the actual art in the manga - just had a preference from the one depicted in the cover.
With that out of the way - I really enjoyed this. It might be nostalgia and love for the labyrinth world ( I just watched the film last weekend after having it recommended to me by a trusted friend) and I must say that being back to the labyrinth with new and old characters felt incredible. I'm really hoping for some Jareth and Sarah moments in the next volumes!
February 14, 2011
Hmmmmmm... not overwhelmed with delight at this first instalment in the series so I suspect I won't go on to read the rest of it. It's not particularly bad - just... didn't live up to what I was expecting, I guess.
Toby as a character is... I guess he's realistic as a teenaged boy who seems to think he's the centre of the universe and whines a lot (which, again I guess, is actually not that far off how Sarah was portrayed in the movie, although Toby seems to be even less sympathetic to me - I could at least identify with Sarah despite the whining!) Jareth is... complex and hard to figure out, which I guess is also true of the movie - here I get the idea there are a whole load of things going on beneath the surface that are hinted at, but I reach the end of the book none the wiser as to what they are.
The one thing I *did* like were the couple of shoutouts to other Jim Henson productions in there though. At one point there's a fairy/pixie type character who meets Toby and asks "Did they catch you and cut your wings off too? Oh, wait, of course you don't have any... you're a boy!"
So yeah, I'll give this one a 6/10. It was easy to read in a single setting, which is in its favour, but even so, there are way too many other books I want to read more to seek out and read the rest of the series.
Toby as a character is... I guess he's realistic as a teenaged boy who seems to think he's the centre of the universe and whines a lot (which, again I guess, is actually not that far off how Sarah was portrayed in the movie, although Toby seems to be even less sympathetic to me - I could at least identify with Sarah despite the whining!) Jareth is... complex and hard to figure out, which I guess is also true of the movie - here I get the idea there are a whole load of things going on beneath the surface that are hinted at, but I reach the end of the book none the wiser as to what they are.
The one thing I *did* like were the couple of shoutouts to other Jim Henson productions in there though. At one point there's a fairy/pixie type character who meets Toby and asks "Did they catch you and cut your wings off too? Oh, wait, of course you don't have any... you're a boy!"
So yeah, I'll give this one a 6/10. It was easy to read in a single setting, which is in its favour, but even so, there are way too many other books I want to read more to seek out and read the rest of the series.
August 14, 2021
Disappointing.
May 14, 2021
This experience was... Ugh. A beautiful cover commissioned from an artist with a very different style and skill level than the content inside was the first problem. Then came the uninspired story. And of course, what the Jim Henson movie was missing: Hot fantasy babes in skimpy clothes with questionable anatomy! At the same time as managing to make Jareth look hideous, which is quite a feat. So glad that they were able to fulfill everyone's dream of turning this girl child classic movie into a manchild comic sequel. All that said, it was at least a swift read, and since I already have the other 3 I might push through just to say I read it. We'll have to see, I guess.
Read
April 27, 2011Oh my God, you guys, oh my God. I love Labyrinth, the movie. Have you seen it? Are you a fellow child of the �80s like me? Then you love it, too. Of course you do.
Imagine my shock and amazement when I found out there was a manga series that was considered the official sequel to Labyrinth. And it came out five years ago! FIVE. Why didn’t someone tell me about this?
Well, if you were in the dark like me, this is me telling you about the official sequel. It’s a four-volume series and it’s essential to have all four parts before you begin. I read the first two volumes and then had to wait weeks before I could finish it. *agony* Also, watch the movie before you read these. It helps.
So, the story. Return to Labyrinth focuses on Toby, Sarah’s infant brother. It’s about fifteen years after Labyrinth and Toby’s a lazy teenager. Jareth, the Goblin King, has kept a close eye on Toby throughout his life and had his goblin minions fulfill whatever Toby’s heart desires, grooming him for the day he’ll return to the Labyrinth as heir to the Goblin Kingdom.
There’s so much more going on in these volumes then the synopsis tells you. I don’t want to hype it up too much, though, especially if you’re a newbie to manga. The world is a bit confusing at first, but don’t worry, explanations come along the way. I’ve learned to never base your expectations of a manga series on the first volume. At least read the second because that’s usually when the real plot is revealed.
Honestly, I would have been completely behind them making this a six-volume series. The wrap-up before the ending didn’t answer all of the lingering plot lines. But alas, there were only four volumes, so we must make due.
I liked teenager Toby. He was a bit lazy, having grown up with goblins giving him whatever he wanted his entire life, but he eventually matured a bit. Strife and trials usually do that to a person.
Jareth was yum. Did anyone else have a crush on �80s David Bowe from the movie? Well, I did. I guess due to legality or infringement or something, the illustrator couldn’t draw an exact likeness of Jennifer Connelly or David Bowe, but it was close. I kind of like this version of Jareth better since he’s not as old. Sorry, David.
And I don’t want to ruin anything, but every time I watch the movie, I want Sarah and Jareth to get together. Every. Time. So I held out hope that maybe now, with her grown-up, this would happen. You’ll have to read them to find out if it does, but let’s just say, I’m happier than I was before.
The illustrations were great. I consider them the best part. Working with an already established world, it must have been hard to keep the art similar to the movie, but Chris Lie did a wonderful job.
This is a great continuation that I really enjoyed and will be featured on my bookcase for a long time. If you’re new to manga and not sure about it, I suggest checking out if your library carries them, or get them through the InterLibrary Loan system.
Now, let’s have a Labyrinth watching party! =P
Reviewed on on April 21, 2011.
Imagine my shock and amazement when I found out there was a manga series that was considered the official sequel to Labyrinth. And it came out five years ago! FIVE. Why didn’t someone tell me about this?
Well, if you were in the dark like me, this is me telling you about the official sequel. It’s a four-volume series and it’s essential to have all four parts before you begin. I read the first two volumes and then had to wait weeks before I could finish it. *agony* Also, watch the movie before you read these. It helps.
So, the story. Return to Labyrinth focuses on Toby, Sarah’s infant brother. It’s about fifteen years after Labyrinth and Toby’s a lazy teenager. Jareth, the Goblin King, has kept a close eye on Toby throughout his life and had his goblin minions fulfill whatever Toby’s heart desires, grooming him for the day he’ll return to the Labyrinth as heir to the Goblin Kingdom.
There’s so much more going on in these volumes then the synopsis tells you. I don’t want to hype it up too much, though, especially if you’re a newbie to manga. The world is a bit confusing at first, but don’t worry, explanations come along the way. I’ve learned to never base your expectations of a manga series on the first volume. At least read the second because that’s usually when the real plot is revealed.
Honestly, I would have been completely behind them making this a six-volume series. The wrap-up before the ending didn’t answer all of the lingering plot lines. But alas, there were only four volumes, so we must make due.
I liked teenager Toby. He was a bit lazy, having grown up with goblins giving him whatever he wanted his entire life, but he eventually matured a bit. Strife and trials usually do that to a person.
Jareth was yum. Did anyone else have a crush on �80s David Bowe from the movie? Well, I did. I guess due to legality or infringement or something, the illustrator couldn’t draw an exact likeness of Jennifer Connelly or David Bowe, but it was close. I kind of like this version of Jareth better since he’s not as old. Sorry, David.
And I don’t want to ruin anything, but every time I watch the movie, I want Sarah and Jareth to get together. Every. Time. So I held out hope that maybe now, with her grown-up, this would happen. You’ll have to read them to find out if it does, but let’s just say, I’m happier than I was before.
The illustrations were great. I consider them the best part. Working with an already established world, it must have been hard to keep the art similar to the movie, but Chris Lie did a wonderful job.
This is a great continuation that I really enjoyed and will be featured on my bookcase for a long time. If you’re new to manga and not sure about it, I suggest checking out if your library carries them, or get them through the InterLibrary Loan system.
Now, let’s have a Labyrinth watching party! =P
Reviewed on on April 21, 2011.
June 12, 2016
LIGHT SPOILERS
This. Was. Tripe.
Especially if you are a fan of the movie, and I don't know why you would be reading this thing if you were not. I picked up 'Return to the Labyrinth' because I really enjoy the movie and was hoping whoever wrote this would take an idea that I had actually had myself for possible fanfic and run with it. 'What if Toby still had some right to the Goblin Kingdom as its price?' That sounds intriguing, right?
I think I might still have to write the fic to make up for this rubbish.
I was most offended by the art style. Black and white, and completely failing to capture the magic, style, or characters, of the twisting and turning Labyrinth. The characters were all poorly drawn and went off model from one panel to the next. Animals were the worst, with the artist having no notion of how animal legs look. Jareth himself just made a cringe. He's just a generic, vaguely anime-esque pretty boy and I could have drawn his hands better! Sarah was unrecognizable and Toby was bland. I found myself wanting to redraw every page.
Now for the characters. Needless to say Toby winds up in the famed Labyrinth. He immediately encounters a random, hot fairy and later another attractive human chick, because this magical world needed some boobs. Toby "befriends' this fairy who has a bland backstory that completely robs the Labyrinth of its magic in one fell flashback. Then Toby hardly speaks to her, seems annoyed by her at all turns, and then later claims they are bosom companions. This sad book's attempts to recapture the sweet charm of Sarah's friendship with her strange traveling companions in the movie fails utterly.
The characterization of all the characters from the movie is terrible as well. It was like the author was give a one sentence overview of each and told to write.
Towards the end of the book we get cameos from Hoggle and Ludo, but it is too little too late, and Hoggle looks like he got a facelift somewhere in there while he was apparently working as 'Prince of the Land of Stench' because I guess his life did kinda suck after Sarah left. Thanks Sarah.
Basically, this is a steaming pile of poo in book form. The art is bad and bland, the story is poorly executed, and I spent my entire read with a permanent grimace etched across my face as these atrocities were committed to a world and characters I loved. I will NOT be reading the next in the series.
This. Was. Tripe.
Especially if you are a fan of the movie, and I don't know why you would be reading this thing if you were not. I picked up 'Return to the Labyrinth' because I really enjoy the movie and was hoping whoever wrote this would take an idea that I had actually had myself for possible fanfic and run with it. 'What if Toby still had some right to the Goblin Kingdom as its price?' That sounds intriguing, right?
I think I might still have to write the fic to make up for this rubbish.
I was most offended by the art style. Black and white, and completely failing to capture the magic, style, or characters, of the twisting and turning Labyrinth. The characters were all poorly drawn and went off model from one panel to the next. Animals were the worst, with the artist having no notion of how animal legs look. Jareth himself just made a cringe. He's just a generic, vaguely anime-esque pretty boy and I could have drawn his hands better! Sarah was unrecognizable and Toby was bland. I found myself wanting to redraw every page.
Now for the characters. Needless to say Toby winds up in the famed Labyrinth. He immediately encounters a random, hot fairy and later another attractive human chick, because this magical world needed some boobs. Toby "befriends' this fairy who has a bland backstory that completely robs the Labyrinth of its magic in one fell flashback. Then Toby hardly speaks to her, seems annoyed by her at all turns, and then later claims they are bosom companions. This sad book's attempts to recapture the sweet charm of Sarah's friendship with her strange traveling companions in the movie fails utterly.
The characterization of all the characters from the movie is terrible as well. It was like the author was give a one sentence overview of each and told to write.
Towards the end of the book we get cameos from Hoggle and Ludo, but it is too little too late, and Hoggle looks like he got a facelift somewhere in there while he was apparently working as 'Prince of the Land of Stench' because I guess his life did kinda suck after Sarah left. Thanks Sarah.
Basically, this is a steaming pile of poo in book form. The art is bad and bland, the story is poorly executed, and I spent my entire read with a permanent grimace etched across my face as these atrocities were committed to a world and characters I loved. I will NOT be reading the next in the series.
October 4, 2015
I have had this book for a while to read and was excited to finally get to read it. I was a huge fan of The Labyrinth movie when I was a kid and was eager to revisit the story. The book ended up being a bit disappointing; both the story and illustration were okay but not great.
It’s been many years since Toby left the Labyrinth and he notices that things come easy to him, especially when he is under pressure or stressed...little does he know that Jareth, the Goblin King, has been helping him out in not so subtle ways. Now Toby, who is sick of Jareth messing with his life, journeys down a secret tunnel into the Labyrinth to confront Jareth.
This series had a lot of potential but I was left wanting more. Sarah is in the book only briefly as a somewhat sad and downtrodden teacher who has given up any belief in things like imagination and fairy tales. This was kind of depressing. Toby is a selfish teenager, who whines a lot and complains about his lot in life. I didn’t really enjoy either character. There are lots of cameos by other characters from the Labyrinth movie; some of these were very well done and most were in keeping with the movie.
I was also a bit disappointed in the drawing. It was okay and pretty easy to follow, but they used this dot-type of shading for grey areas and it was distracting and took quite a bit away from the drawing. The characters definitely looked similar to how they appeared in the movie, but the backgrounds could have used more detail.
The big twist of this novel is that Jareth names Toby as the heir to the Goblin Throne...which was kind of anticlimactic. But don’t worry Toby whines about that too. There are some interesting side stories going on in here; so those do add something to the story.
Overall an okay continuation of the Labyrinth story. I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters or the illustration style. I did enjoy seeing some of the old favorites from the movie and did enjoy how some sidelines were added to complicate the story. I just didn’t find this engaging enough to keep reading it and honestly I wouldn’t really recommend it.
It’s been many years since Toby left the Labyrinth and he notices that things come easy to him, especially when he is under pressure or stressed...little does he know that Jareth, the Goblin King, has been helping him out in not so subtle ways. Now Toby, who is sick of Jareth messing with his life, journeys down a secret tunnel into the Labyrinth to confront Jareth.
This series had a lot of potential but I was left wanting more. Sarah is in the book only briefly as a somewhat sad and downtrodden teacher who has given up any belief in things like imagination and fairy tales. This was kind of depressing. Toby is a selfish teenager, who whines a lot and complains about his lot in life. I didn’t really enjoy either character. There are lots of cameos by other characters from the Labyrinth movie; some of these were very well done and most were in keeping with the movie.
I was also a bit disappointed in the drawing. It was okay and pretty easy to follow, but they used this dot-type of shading for grey areas and it was distracting and took quite a bit away from the drawing. The characters definitely looked similar to how they appeared in the movie, but the backgrounds could have used more detail.
The big twist of this novel is that Jareth names Toby as the heir to the Goblin Throne...which was kind of anticlimactic. But don’t worry Toby whines about that too. There are some interesting side stories going on in here; so those do add something to the story.
Overall an okay continuation of the Labyrinth story. I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters or the illustration style. I did enjoy seeing some of the old favorites from the movie and did enjoy how some sidelines were added to complicate the story. I just didn’t find this engaging enough to keep reading it and honestly I wouldn’t really recommend it.
May 27, 2009
This reads a lot like fan fiction; some of the wording is cribbed directly from the movie, though placed in different/new context and the characterization of the characters returning from the original seems shallow, taking their presentation from the movie as read without reading deeper. I also found it a little off-putting (though I'm not totally sure why) to see the world translated through a more Japanese sensibility. It wasn't bad, it just didn't fit with my perceptions of the Labyrinth world. All that being said, I would be interested in reading further and I found myself strangely intrigued by the relationship/chemistry between Jareth and Toby.
April 25, 2018
W here to begin.
1. The art was basic at best. The cover is deceiving and looks nothing like it does on the inside.
2. The plot was half assed. Sorry but it was. I could see why a very very very young child would enjoy it. But I wouldn’t recommend for anyone over the age of 8.
3. The characterization was nothing that was in the film so everything is OOC (out of character) and not true to the labyrinth name.
Do yourself a favor. Don’t read it.
1. The art was basic at best. The cover is deceiving and looks nothing like it does on the inside.
2. The plot was half assed. Sorry but it was. I could see why a very very very young child would enjoy it. But I wouldn’t recommend for anyone over the age of 8.
3. The characterization was nothing that was in the film so everything is OOC (out of character) and not true to the labyrinth name.
Do yourself a favor. Don’t read it.
June 25, 2016
Who in the hell greenlighted this shit? Oh, wait, Tokyopop. I shouldn't be surprised, they greenlight a lot of shit.
June 17, 2017
As a big fan of the movies I'm interested in where this manga series is headed but so afraid of being disappointed.
May 8, 2024
This is longer than thought.
May 2, 2024
Entertaining. I enjoy that Sarah went into the Labyrinth to save her brother and Toby went in to save his homework. I totally have to rewatch the movie now.
May 15, 2023
The art is nice and I like that characters I already know and love are involved. The new characters are great too. I will be getting the next instalment when I can find it at a decent price, but I have the same complaint I have of every graphic novel I've read so far. There's just not enough. It's a short story, not a novel.
But I did enjoy it. I love the world of The Goblin King and it's a pleasure to go back.
But I did enjoy it. I love the world of The Goblin King and it's a pleasure to go back.
November 10, 2008
I will be honest and admit that I am a "Labyrinth" fan. Not a fanatic. But something about seeing this movie when I was 6 or 7 (and possibly with older people--so that might have added to the experience) has made an impression on me. I mean, a movie that can make me laugh, cry, fear, and have nightmares is a pretty wide-ranging movie. Nightmares not only from the guys who take of their heads, but David Bowie in leggings. Ick!!! David Bowie aside, I was intrigued as a little girl by the character of Jareth and that he was so mesmerized by Sarah. Another plus was the "magic of Jim Henson" is throughout. While it may be 80s, there are definitely worse 80s things out there. ("Pretty in Pink?" "Sixteen Candles?" New Kids on the Block? MTV music videos? "Summer School?") I will always have my little affinity for the happier things: "Labyrinth" and "Willow."
That being admitted, I have no reason to justify my intrigue when I stumbled across this book in some amazon searches. I protect my views/opinions/ideas of "Labyrinth" as much as I do my Austen heroes and heroines. So when I saw that a 4-part graphic novel series was so far following my same views, I gained a desire to read it.
And it's good. I'm not a graphic novel fan. But I would gladly have read this one for the graphic novel genre study and actually enjoyed myself, too. Possible because I had more "connection" with the characters here than in so many other graphic novels. There was a wink into the ug/crude/bathroom humor and references. However, overall, not too bad of a book. I would have preferred less graphic on various costuming. But the characterization--whether new or continued from the movie--was nice. I loved the reunion of Ludo, Hoggle, and Sir Didymus.
Very good cliff-hanger ending and I looke forward to reading volume 2--especially as I know how that one ends, too! I'm excited to read someone's version of the history of various characters. I look forward to getting to know more of the character Moppit. I would really like nothing more to do with the two daughters--very disturbing, each in her own way.
Basically, it is an enjoyable way of living a little more in the Labyrinth world while not having to spend too long in pages and pages of a print book or slug through a poorly done sequel film.
That being admitted, I have no reason to justify my intrigue when I stumbled across this book in some amazon searches. I protect my views/opinions/ideas of "Labyrinth" as much as I do my Austen heroes and heroines. So when I saw that a 4-part graphic novel series was so far following my same views, I gained a desire to read it.
And it's good. I'm not a graphic novel fan. But I would gladly have read this one for the graphic novel genre study and actually enjoyed myself, too. Possible because I had more "connection" with the characters here than in so many other graphic novels. There was a wink into the ug/crude/bathroom humor and references. However, overall, not too bad of a book. I would have preferred less graphic on various costuming. But the characterization--whether new or continued from the movie--was nice. I loved the reunion of Ludo, Hoggle, and Sir Didymus.
Very good cliff-hanger ending and I looke forward to reading volume 2--especially as I know how that one ends, too! I'm excited to read someone's version of the history of various characters. I look forward to getting to know more of the character Moppit. I would really like nothing more to do with the two daughters--very disturbing, each in her own way.
Basically, it is an enjoyable way of living a little more in the Labyrinth world while not having to spend too long in pages and pages of a print book or slug through a poorly done sequel film.
December 3, 2024
My review for this book will summarize my feelings about the whole series.
The cover art and the actual comic panels inside are completely different styles because they were drawn by different people. I am an avid manga fan and have read many volumes of manga, in many different styles, by many different artists. So I am fully aware of the variety of style that "manga" includes.... And I was SO disappointed by the comic art in this series. It's very angular and overall feels to me like a cheap Americanized imitation of manga. It's also very different in many ways from the visual aesthetic of the movie.
What I did really enjoy about these books is it expanded and delved deeper into many of the places and species that make up the world of the Labyrinth. There's a young... Pup? Cub? Of the same species as Ludo who absolutely stole my heart. The junkyard ladies have a whole society and ecosystem. The old men with the bird hats are in an interesting co-dependent / symbiotic situation. The goblins have varied personalities and we get glimpses into their personal lives.
There's a little more background on Jareth but he still remains a complicated and mysterious character. He's wicked and selfish and lonely and powerful, but sometimes not as powerful as he seems. Sometimes he's the villain and sometimes he makes me feel a lot of sympathy for him. The relationship between Jareth and Sara is more complex in the books. Sara and Toby both have a lot more connection to the Labyrinth than the 13 hours she spent in the movie trying to rescue Toby. The books have a few crazy twists which I did NOT see coming and some of them cause conflicting feelings for me. A few of the twists I love to hate. A few of the twists make the movie make more sense in a good way.
The books also CONSTANTLY have included little elements of the Labyrinth movie, which I loved as a fan. So clearly the comic artist for the books watched the movie and noticed the details.
All in all, It's nice to get a chance to spend more time with such a wacky place and the odd characters that call it home.
The cover art and the actual comic panels inside are completely different styles because they were drawn by different people. I am an avid manga fan and have read many volumes of manga, in many different styles, by many different artists. So I am fully aware of the variety of style that "manga" includes.... And I was SO disappointed by the comic art in this series. It's very angular and overall feels to me like a cheap Americanized imitation of manga. It's also very different in many ways from the visual aesthetic of the movie.
What I did really enjoy about these books is it expanded and delved deeper into many of the places and species that make up the world of the Labyrinth. There's a young... Pup? Cub? Of the same species as Ludo who absolutely stole my heart. The junkyard ladies have a whole society and ecosystem. The old men with the bird hats are in an interesting co-dependent / symbiotic situation. The goblins have varied personalities and we get glimpses into their personal lives.
There's a little more background on Jareth but he still remains a complicated and mysterious character. He's wicked and selfish and lonely and powerful, but sometimes not as powerful as he seems. Sometimes he's the villain and sometimes he makes me feel a lot of sympathy for him. The relationship between Jareth and Sara is more complex in the books. Sara and Toby both have a lot more connection to the Labyrinth than the 13 hours she spent in the movie trying to rescue Toby. The books have a few crazy twists which I did NOT see coming and some of them cause conflicting feelings for me. A few of the twists I love to hate. A few of the twists make the movie make more sense in a good way.
The books also CONSTANTLY have included little elements of the Labyrinth movie, which I loved as a fan. So clearly the comic artist for the books watched the movie and noticed the details.
All in all, It's nice to get a chance to spend more time with such a wacky place and the odd characters that call it home.
March 2, 2015
I read this years ago.... I'm a huge fan of the film (it is my childhood) I hated this bastardization with a passion....
First off the cover art is done by a very talented woman name Kouyu Shukei who did a lovely manga called Alichino that was left unfinished due to a crippling injury..... but then she went to do this.... and if you look in the pages of Alichino, you will see a beautiful, unique and detailed panels.... if you look in Return to Labryinth, you will see some really really lack luster art work that is NOT done by Kouyu Shukei...
The panels had little background, the art style is paired down as well the character's don't look right.... they made Jareth (Bowie's character) look like a haggard woman.... not even androgynous!
The story is crap, Sarah has become dull and gave up on pretending (apparently Jareth took that from her.... that's right, the thing that he loved about Sarah in the first film he took from her and altered her personality so that she would be different..... hmmmmm maybe that's a metaphor I'm missing) On top of that Jareth now wants to kick it with Toby (the baby from the film who is now a teenager) and Sarah's little friends have realized that Sarah really didn't need them..... despite the suggestion at the end of the film/source material.
It's just plain bad- it lacks all the imagination of the film... if you want something to add to Labyrinth, I suggest the film Mirror Mask (which came in the box set that included Dark Crystal) or maybe some other Neil Gaiman delights
First off the cover art is done by a very talented woman name Kouyu Shukei who did a lovely manga called Alichino that was left unfinished due to a crippling injury..... but then she went to do this.... and if you look in the pages of Alichino, you will see a beautiful, unique and detailed panels.... if you look in Return to Labryinth, you will see some really really lack luster art work that is NOT done by Kouyu Shukei...
The panels had little background, the art style is paired down as well the character's don't look right.... they made Jareth (Bowie's character) look like a haggard woman.... not even androgynous!
The story is crap, Sarah has become dull and gave up on pretending (apparently Jareth took that from her.... that's right, the thing that he loved about Sarah in the first film he took from her and altered her personality so that she would be different..... hmmmmm maybe that's a metaphor I'm missing) On top of that Jareth now wants to kick it with Toby (the baby from the film who is now a teenager) and Sarah's little friends have realized that Sarah really didn't need them..... despite the suggestion at the end of the film/source material.
It's just plain bad- it lacks all the imagination of the film... if you want something to add to Labyrinth, I suggest the film Mirror Mask (which came in the box set that included Dark Crystal) or maybe some other Neil Gaiman delights
January 10, 2009
Despite the fact it's set years after the movie, Return to Labyrinth heavily references the movie in sequence, events, and lines. Toby seems far more capable of dealing with the mysterious labyrinth and its whimsical residents far better than his stepsister (who briefly appears) ever did.
In what really became too forced an effort to establish when the book (written twenty years after the movie came out) takes place (set about ten years after the events in the movie), current culture references are interspersed throughout the first couple of chapters. After a while, it just became easier to focus on the artwork, which really did a beautiful job of capturing the Labyrinth and the fantastical puppets that resided there.
I think I was doomed to like this book before I ever opened it. The author worked on the translation of Fruits Basket (my favorite manga/anime), and the artist worked in G. I. Joe Sigma Six (one of my favorite cartoons in recent years. I'm looking forward to reading the second volume.
In what really became too forced an effort to establish when the book (written twenty years after the movie came out) takes place (set about ten years after the events in the movie), current culture references are interspersed throughout the first couple of chapters. After a while, it just became easier to focus on the artwork, which really did a beautiful job of capturing the Labyrinth and the fantastical puppets that resided there.
I think I was doomed to like this book before I ever opened it. The author worked on the translation of Fruits Basket (my favorite manga/anime), and the artist worked in G. I. Joe Sigma Six (one of my favorite cartoons in recent years. I'm looking forward to reading the second volume.
May 4, 2016
LOVED this! It was a little weird seeing this done as a manga but the artist did a great job in making many of the characters and goblins look the same (except for Sarah as an adult, she looks weird). Basically this story picks up when Toby is a teenager. Everything starts going wrong for him in school and one day a goblin runs in and steals his homework, enraged and not knowing what is going on he chases the creature through a small tunnel in his closet and ends up in the labyrinth where his older sister had been years before (although he doesn't know that, she never told him). He finds himself making friends with a fairy and adorable mini-ludo type creature and they work together to get to the castle, outrunning foes along the way. It's awesome and I can't wait to read the next three!
July 7, 2017
This is a weird little project. I discovered it because I raided my library's catalog for anything Labyrinth related when I was feeling nostalgic one day. Written 20 years after the movie's release, I'm not really sure who the intended audience is. It certainly has enough little throwbacks to movie lines and the same general kitschy feel of the original film. The plot is nothing particularly amazing at this point, but it feels enough like the movie (and has enough fan service) to keep it from being bad.
April 28, 2015
I found this a little hard to follow and I would have loved to have seen this as a full size, full colour comic rather than as a manga, this format doesn't do justice to the colour and weirdness of the world.
The story was interesting and a great spin on the movie plot with new storylines thrown in to continue the adventure and interest into the next volumes.
The story was interesting and a great spin on the movie plot with new storylines thrown in to continue the adventure and interest into the next volumes.
November 9, 2015
un manga que a muchos nostálgicos y enamorados de la pelÃcula les gustara y/o les defraudará por partes iguales. Porque hay cosas que les traerá recuerdas pero las partes nuevas no encajan muy bien con ese mundo creado por Jim Henson.
Más sobre mi opinión en la reseña del blog
Más sobre mi opinión en la reseña del blog
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