Archaia gathers some of today's top comic book creators to collaborate in telling tales in the style of the old Jim Henson television show.
The Good
This could be one of the easiest reviews I've ever written. The book is amazing. People need to buy it.
If that's not enough, you get a great collection here of stories inspired by folk and fairy tales from different writers and artists. The list of creators includes Roger Langridge, Colleen Coover, Chris Eliopoulos, Jeff Parker, Tom Fowler, Marjorie Liu, Jennifer L. Meyer, Paul Tobin, Evan Shaner, Katie Cook, Ron Marz, Craig Rousseau, Nate Cosby, Ronan Cliquet along with others provided art throughout.
This hardcover contains 120 pages and nine different tales. Often people ask what comic could they use to get friends or family into reading comics. The stories here have a definite Henson feel to them and you get the feeling that everyone involved jumped at the opportunity to participate in this project. The stories often have morals and feature animals and other characters that will appeal to readers of all ages. It's an all-age book that could be left out on your coffee table without you having to worry about who reads it.
Going along with the stories we have a wide range of art. Normally I cringe when there are multiple artists in one collaboration, especially when they have major differences in styles. In Storyteller, it's not a problem at all. The art adds to the feel of each story and helps to give them each their distinct feel.
The Bad
Why don't we have more collections like this?
The Verdict
It's not everyday we get a comic release suitable for all ages. Sometimes all-age books have an almost watered down feel as they have to be safe for younger readers. The tales in Jim Henson's Storyteller manage to capture the Henson feel and feel they'd be perfect for the original television series. There is a wide range of today's top comic creators involved here. Whoever is responsible for gathering all the talent and putting this together should be commended. Everyone involved here has made the comic industry a little bit brighter. Traditional comics are great but it's nice to have something a little different that has such a warm feel to it. Keep an eye out for this book. Ask your comic shop to order it. Visit your local bookstore. If you're looking for some fun, light-hearted tales that the entire family can enjoy, you must track this book down.
Here's a sample of what you can expect:
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