by TokyoPop
| Average Rating: |
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| Sales Rank: | 26814 (lower is better) |
| Price Used: | $5.25 |
| Shipping: | Free Shipping on most orders over $25* |
| Availability: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| Release Date: | 2007-10-09 |
| Label: | TokyoPop |
| Pages: | 192 |
| Binding: | Paperback |
| Publication Date: | 2007-10-09 |
| Published By: | TokyoPop |
| ASIN: | 159816726X |
| Category: | Book |
Authors
Editorial Reviews and Product Descriptions
Product Description
Highlights: - Lead Tokyopop Title - National print and online advertising campaign featuring 2+ million impressions-will target crossover, film, and core manga sites - Cross-promoted in the DVD box of Labyrinth/Dark Crystal/MirrorMask - Based on the hit film directed by Jim Henson and Executive-produced by George Lucas - Major promotion at New York Comic-Con 2007 - The movie is a classic and has a successful DVD sell-through
Customer Reviews
The sequel makes up for the first novel - Reviewed on 2008-04-08
Now you're probably looking to see with all the lackluster reviews of the first graphic novel if things get better. Or you read the first and are trying to decide if you should just give it up now. Well, I've got some good news for you, the art is BETTER.
While the cover is done by a different artist than the one that does the manga (the same cover artist for the first graphic novel), the art inside is much better. It seems like the artist was given more time to work on things, and utilized it well. Jareth doesn't seem like a doodle, but much closer to his old self: sharp features and wild hair. Queen Mizumi seems much more larger-than-life (Drumlin gets larger than life, but that's neither here nor there). Speaking of Drumlin, the two daughters seemed to be worth attention when penned. Toby looks a lot better and Sarah's appearances in flashbacks and what she's doing in the real world make her much prettier than she looked in the last novel. Environment details in the last novel were well done to begin with, but they feel as if they're a bit nicer in this novel.
Possibly due to the extension of the series from 3 novels to 4, the pace in this one is a little more slower. You get to see more of the goings on in the Goblin Kingdom, you get insight into where Mizumi fits in, and you start to see what in the world Jareth is thinking. While some of the side characters meant for comic relief, like Scub and Stank, remain static silly, characters like Moppet, Mizumi and her daughters, and even Spittledrum gain some dimension to them. You start to get drawn in by certain plot devices, and Return becomes a story unto itself instead of a trip back down memory lane. What is the bet that Jareth and Mizumi have? Why does Moppet's face look so familiar? Is Toby gaining powers and will he remain there forever? They're very easy to come to plot ideas, of course, but a definite improvement over the last novel if you were looking for more than a story setup there.
More references to various other literature and films: the Dark Crystal and the Chronicles of Narnia get hat tips, as well as more Labyrinth ones. And that Mac and Cheese box looked nearly familiar...
In the end, getting through the first graphic novel for setup is well worth it after reading this one. I have high hopes the next novel will show art on par or better than this one, as well as more revelations as to what Jareth has up his sleeve, if he does have anything at all. Here's hoping things keep looking up!
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Book Subjects
- Graphic Novels
- Modern fiction
- Juvenile Fiction
- Graphic Novels-Manga
- Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)
- Comics & Graphic Novels / Manga / General
- Graphic Novels - Manga
- Manga - General
- Comics & Graphic Novels - Manga
- Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
- Fiction
- Goblins
- Kings, queens, rulers, etc.
- Maze puzzles