Return to Labyrinth Volume 2 (v. 2) by Jake T. Forbes, Chris Lie
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Book Reviews of Return to Labyrinth Volume 2 (v. 2)
Book Review: Great book.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is great. I think it's about time they continued the story. I cant wait for volume 3 to be avalible.Book Review: Not flawless but very compelling!
Summary: 4 Stars
I have just finished reading Return to Labyrinth Volume 2. It has a few inconsistencies but otherwise the story is very compelling. I won't spoil it but the story DOES end on a cliff hanger, the very cliff hanger that some wished was the start of volume 1.
Now for the flaws and inconsistencies...
The Goblin King cannot leave The Labyrinth unless he is summoned. I'm not sure why but these are the rules. This seems most peculiar to me because it's been confirmed that Jareth, himself, built The Labyrinth. The king can't leave the very Labyrinth he created?
And here's something curious. Though there were milk bottles outside the castle in the film, goblins apparently have no idea how to make cheese. It's "human food." You would think goblins would love cheese.
Though Jareth has ruled for 1,300 years without aging Mizumi refers to Jareth as a sorcerer. Brian Froud seemed to imply that Jareth is a faery because of the similarities to some of his faerie art and Jareth's powers and appearance so now I'm not sure what he is. Sorcerers usually do... you know... age... And Jareth, thankfully, has not. However, in Disney's Gargoyles Owen / Puck did refer to Oberon's power as sorcery though Oberon is a faery.
Other than these few things that caused me to have a few questions I loved the Return to Labyrinth volume 2 manga. I actually kind of preferred volume one but now I'm very eager to find out what happens next. I have been told that the manga is now going to be four parts instead of three. I hope the last two parts come out soon and it doesn't take over a year as what happened with Volume 2. Four years is a long time to stretch out a four part manga set. I would be happier if the next two parts came out monthly or every other month.
Ah, well. At least the plot is getting very interesting.
I have been a fan of Labyrinth for a very long time so I was very excited when they created the manga sequel to the classic fantasy film. The cover art for each issue of the manga is beautiful. It's true that the internal art work isn't as good but it's still a charming story and it improves with each volume. The portrayal of Jareth is accurate to the film. From the part in Volume 1 where Toby says "You said you wouldn't mess with me anymore!" and Jareth quips "I said I wouldn't HELP you anymore. There's a difference." to the way he abruptly leaves his own kingdom (also in volume 1). It's true that the story does read a little bit like a fan fiction. Many fan fictions have been named Return to Labyrinth over the years but considering how many fan fictions Labyrinth has spawned a real sequel was bound to feel like a fan fiction of some sort no matter how well it was made.
I love the manga just so long as Jareth doesn't turn into anything or die before the series is complete.
Things change. I find that most of the negative reviews of Return to Labyrinth are people who just don't want to see things change or evolve from what they loved growing up. I feel the spirit of Labyrinth lives on in this manga.
Jareth's nature is exactly as I imagined it to be including the backstory revealed so far. It's eerie how true it is to my own childhood imagining about the character's history.
As I said, so long as Jareth doesn't turn into something horrible or die I'm happy with it. I love Jareth. He has always been my favorite character of Labyrinth and now I love him even more in Return to Labyrinth. I enjoyed volume one and two of Return to Labyrinth very much and it gets better with every volume. This was probably the best Manga I've read in a long time, not just as a sequel to Labyrinth, but as a manga in general. Each volume gets a little better. Volume 1 is pretty much to give you an idea of what's going on and to introduce you to some familiar and some not-so-familiar characters. It's a fun book and sadly many are not giving it a chance. Volume 2 sets the plot into motion and makes you thirsty for more.
One thing I find very peculiar is how so many fans are reacting badly that Sarah's stepmother is named Irene in the manga. Back in the nineties many Labyrinth fans had named Sarah's stepmother Karen. The fan-originated name had become so popular that it became widely believed that her name had been Karen either in the novelization or in an early script. It never was. The character had always been nameless until this manga was published. I don't know why so many fans were upset that a name wasn't used that had originated in fan fiction. Don't they realize what sort of copyright issues that would have caused?
I love this manga and the humor of it. It's really nice.
Book Review: The sequel makes up for the first novel
Summary: 4 Stars
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!
Book Review: Getting Better With Each One
Summary: 4 Stars
When I the first one, I was a bit disappointed. The artistry was odd, the characters didn't seem well thought out, but I still was going to give the second one a chance, I'm a Labyrinth fan!
This one is FAR better! The first one was more of a real start up, this really continues it and makes the story truly come alive. You really get a far better feel for the characters this time around, what is really at stake, how Jareth still feels and how his feelings affect everyone else around him. The Queen and her daughter's rolls now really come into play, and Moppet is the perfect love interest for Toby. And the last page, and I really mean the LAST PAGE is the second to best part! Reading the whole book makes that last page soo what Labyrinth fans have been waiting for :D
But the best page was the Editor's note at the end. Instead of 3 mangas, there will be 4!!! Smart idea. He said it was to fully round out the story, and that he and the writers had paid attention to what us, the fans, had said and wanted. So that's good news.
I will definitely be waiting to see what comes up. It's totally worth reading. Take it from someone who's been a fan of Labyrinth when I was 2 years old and it had first come out.
Book Review: More like the Labyrint I love
Summary: 4 Stars
First let me say that I was not impressed with vol 1 of this manga. I like Toby, but I really care about the Jareth/Sarah story, so I was glad to see it in volume 2. The author's note in the back of the book indicates that the author's really listened to people's comments about the first volume and made some changes (probably why it took so long for this volume to be released). With Sarah apparently more involved in the plot, Jareth acting more like himself, and a mysterious prophecy, I'm really looking forward to both volume 3 and 4 (yes there are 4 volumes now due to the plot changes/additions). The art has also improved and while not up to Japanese manga standards, it's much better than volume 1.