New light is set to be cast on David Bowie's enigmatic, tight-trousered portrayal of Jareth the Goblin King in Jim Henson's cult children's fantasy film Labyrinth through a graphic novel prequel out later this year.
A deal between the Jim Henson Company and comics publisher Archaia to publish graphic novels based on Henson's creations has already seen adaptations of Fraggle Rock and The Dark Crystal. Now a long-rumoured Labyrinth comic is on the cards, with illustrator Brian Froud, who worked on the original film, to oversee character design and conception.
Released in 1986, Labyrinth told of young girl Sarah's quest to rescue her baby brother Toby from the labyrinth of the Goblin King, after she wishes the goblins will take him away in a fit of anger. Jennifer Connelly played the part of Sarah, with a big-haired Bowie attempting to seduce her into staying with him in the labyrinth as the Goblin King Jareth: "I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave," he says to Sarah. The Archaia graphic novel, due out late this year, will cover Jareth's past.
"It's the story of how Jareth is brought into the Labyrinth for the first time. So, it doesn't deal with Sarah, it doesn't deal with Toby or anything like that," Archaia editor-in-chief Stephen Christy told Entertainment Weekly.
"It's a very tragic story that is the opposite of Sarah's, which has triumph at the end. It's a prequel, so we know what happens in the movie. We know how it's going to end: Jareth is going to be the Goblin King … so we're showing how he's pulled into the labyrinth for the first time. It's going to be cool. We're switching up the dynamic of it, but what we're doing is completely true to the spirit of the original."
With Bowie performing songs for the original film – "You remind me of the babe" – Christy also hopes to include music in the prequel. "I don't know if this will work out," he told Entertainment Weekly, "but I want to do songs where they're songs being sung (by characters) and we show the notes on the page, so you can actually play along." And he says he's "talking" with Bowie about the idea: "The budget to get Bowie to do one song would be the budget of all the books, but we're talking to him to at least get his blessing or maybe an introduction or something."
The graphic novel follows a series of manga sequels to Labyrinth, which featured an older Toby as he returned to the Labyrinth to become Jareth's heir. Christy said that "a whole generation" grew up with the film, and that it was "a big deal to a lot" of people. "It was one of those movies that stays with you from your childhood. We can probably count on two hands the movies that really affected us when we were kids, and I think for a lot of people Labyrinth was one of them," he said.
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9 January 2012 1:27PM
WTF??!!!!!!!
9 January 2012 1:31PM
There's a splendid bit in the "making-of" documentary about Labyrinth in which Bowie explains that he conceived of Jareth as someone who'd much rather be spending his time hanging around in Soho, but had unfortunately been saddled with this Goblin King gig and was making the best of it. When you know this, you appreciate his performance in the film on a much higher level.
In the meantime, you need to see this Adam Buxton clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gcabr_09e4
9 January 2012 1:47PM
How interesting. I wonder if they will bring on board the original scriptwriter, Terry Jones (yes, that one).
9 January 2012 1:54PM
Just wanted to say how much I fancied bowie as the goblin king in Labyrinth first time around. I mean, as a 9 year old girl he ticked all the right boxes:
- make up and cool hair - check
- friendly monster subjects - check
- able to call up limitless amounts of toys - check
- groovy dad dancing - check
- murderous designs on screaming shitty little brothers - triple check
then I realised I was gay. Who'da thunk it?
9 January 2012 1:56PM
Leave the baby - take the Goblin king and the shiny crystal balls that show you your dreams. Who could resist the Goblin King - I just don't get Sarah.
9 January 2012 2:02PM
I hope they get the detail on the codpiece right...very important!
9 January 2012 2:04PM
And of course this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=aSz0REvTBFQ&NR=1
Wuzza wuz.
9 January 2012 2:05PM
Coincidentally, we recorded this last week http://soundcloud.com/naomihateshumans/as-the-world-falls-down-david
9 January 2012 2:18PM
Good to know that Brian Froud is still around and working. I still cherish the Faerie and Dark Crystal books even after 30 years.
9 January 2012 2:22PM
Dark Crystal books? I only have one!
9 January 2012 3:52PM
God that movie freaked me out as a kid. Bowie scared the crap out of me (think it was the hair)
9 January 2012 3:57PM
Labrynth was G-reat. The creatures riding the corridor contraption were hilarious and I always figured Bowie wandering around on his weird dimensional steps was pretty much what he does at home.
Jennifer Connelly's barely contained 'assets' had quite the special effect on me.
9 January 2012 4:17PM
Bowie is now an OAP
Hang on... in 15 years so will I be.
Buddy-bell!!!
Why isn't the government pouring scads of R&D dosh into a Total-Rejuvenating-Time-Machine-Thingy?
2012 should be the year of the TRTMT
R
9 January 2012 4:24PM
I love the Labyrinth so much I got a lovely friend of mine to sing 'As the World Falls Down' at my wedding.
9 January 2012 4:37PM
Graphic novel? Weren't Bowie's male camel-toe leggings more than "graphic" enough in the first place?!?
9 January 2012 4:43PM
Wuzza
9 January 2012 4:47PM
I just don't understand anymore.
9 January 2012 4:51PM
Who would think like this?
9 January 2012 5:04PM
Easy andswer... Dogs body of NYC thinks like that... thankfully no body else does.
9 January 2012 5:11PM
Virtually everyone I've ever met, of any age, who has seen the film.
9 January 2012 5:21PM
I love that film, I welcome any expansion of the franchise. I guess I will watch it again tonight :)
9 January 2012 5:22PM
What a great movie! At first when I saw this article I was perplexed. What could they possibly continue the story with? But then I saw it was a prequel. Okay, could be interesting. Wicked is a big hit here in the states though I must say it put me to sleep. If Bowie is involved I will DEFINITELY watch it. If not, I will consider it. You don't want some wimpy actor to play a young Jared - which would be my concern. It has to be someone who will be very strong, sexy, and seductive in the end. It will have to be someone equally cool as Bowie - a young Bowie type. Does he exist??
9 January 2012 5:50PM
@ladyjatbay: The article's about a graphic novel, not a film.
Re including songs: just having the notation in the graphic novel sounds a bit feeble- how about a version you could read on your computer/kindle which actually plays the songs? Or the paper copy could come with a cd in the back cover (like the amnesiac packaging) or with a code you could use online to get access to the songs...
9 January 2012 5:51PM
@ladyjatbay: The article's about a graphic novel, not a film.
Re including songs: just having the notation in the graphic novel sounds a bit feeble- how about a version you could read on your computer/kindle which actually plays the songs? Or the paper copy could come with a cd in the back cover (like the amnesiac packaging) or with a code you could use online to get access to the songs...
9 January 2012 6:07PM
Labyrinth was the source of my first crush - I've been in love with Bowie since I was about 10 because of it. Will definitely be reading the prequel when it comes out - and for all of you in Sheffield this month, the original film is showing on the big screen at the Showroom on the 24th. Be there or be stuck in an oubliette.... forever.
http://www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/
9 January 2012 6:14PM
Indeed. Difficult to get a handle on what Christy is after here other than being able to associate Bowie's name with the book promotion - which, as this article indicates, will draw in a bit of coverage. Presumably he's not thinking about a singalong DVD insert or password-protected mp3 download. Or is he thinking of an ebook with embedded music tracks and pop-up fields showing the musical notation?
Personally I've always been a bit skeptical of celebrity intros to graphic novels beyond sales to specialty comic fans and collectors. Labyrinth the graphic novel really ought to be able to stand on its own appeal as a version of the story. If it doesn't, it'll end up heading for remaindersville no matter how much plugging it gets.
What's special about this is the way the promotion is using the search for a promotion vehicle as publicity material. Old stuff on the US comics scene but not that common in the UK trade. Current UK graphic novel publishing appears to be becoming increasingly healthy. This project seems like a bit of a throwback but, if nothing else, it shows how interesting what's going on elsewhere is turning out to be.
9 January 2012 6:17PM
And also, whilst I'm here, I should also link to the splendid Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman Labyrinth spoof that went up last Christmas - tis fun (especially at the end)!
http://youtu.be/92jbfz9qa9M
9 January 2012 6:31PM
That should be Labyrinth the graphic novel really ought to be able to stand on its own appeal as a version of and addition to the story.
Looks like the fans are out in force on this thread - if so Archaia may well have a potential readership and the direct market style press release has done its work on the books desk. Watch out San Diego, here come the junket-friendly liberal journos.
9 January 2012 7:26PM
I just want a blue-haired worm that makes a cuppa, not too much to ask!
9 January 2012 7:32PM
That's funny. I remember once having an argument with my friends saying, "I can't be a lesbian. I have to be bi. I thought Bowie in Labyrinth was attractive!"
To which my friends laughed and replied, "THAT DOESN'T COUNT!"
I wonder why? Apparently some performances are immune to Kinsey scores.
9 January 2012 7:41PM
Will they be able to get Gordon Strachan back as Hoggle?
9 January 2012 7:41PM
"What could they possibly continue the story with?"
ladyjatbay-- as the article says, there's already a credible Manga series chronicling the story of Toby after he grows up.
Come now. It's an entire world with an enigmatic central character and a ton of mysteries. I'm sure if you showed the movie to a bunch of current ten year olds, even with all their video games and smartphones, and asked them, "What is Ludo and where did he come from?" or "What happened to Jareth?" or "How did Didymus come to take that sacred oath?" or "What's the origin of the Bog of Eternal Stench?" they could invent all kinds of stories.
Henson created a whole world with a varied, motley assortment of characters and loose ends. It's a work of the imagination. It's almost a blasphemy to imply you couldn't tell any other stories with such a world, such characters. I mean, just think what Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman could do with them!
9 January 2012 7:54PM
Given the comments immediately before yours, that was either a very poor or a very brilliant choice of words.
9 January 2012 7:56PM
Disturbingly, I am approaching the age that Bowie was when he made this and he seemed a decade or so over the hill then.
But God I love Labyrinth. It was on a Christmas Eve when I was about 14. Am struggling to think of when I have been actually happier.
'You remind me of the Babe!'
9 January 2012 8:48PM
i loved the original when i was younger and it made me fall in love with bowies music. yes it is dark and sinistered but is magical and make beleive, a good film for older children. its no more scarier than alice in wonderland, or the wizard of oz. it has good music that relates to the times, a remake would be intresting.
9 January 2012 9:34PM
Needs more Danny John Jules.
Nah, who am I kidding, I'll be getting this.
9 January 2012 9:37PM
Why is a 'graphic novel' different from a 'manga'? The manga was even written by a Caucasian American.
9 January 2012 9:43PM
The main interest here is how Froud's work will adapt to a graphic novel. Bit like Jim Sienkewicz, is my guess...
Oh and @davros - Froud has never stopped working, and his work keeps getting better. Check out his work on Amazon.
10 January 2012 4:02AM
The Dark Crystal is my favorite movie of all time, and I'm 39 tomorrow. Go Brian Froud.
10 January 2012 9:14AM
I suppose it's like the difference between The Nouvelle Vague and the New Wave.
10 January 2012 10:49AM
There's such a thing as American manga, which is distinct from graphic novels - or, perhaps, a subset of them. It deliberately imitates Japanese manga in art style, themes, even the black-and-white art. The Labyrinth sequels fall very firmly into this category (even Jareth is re-imagined looking like a character from Final Fantasy).