by Ryan Ferrier, Simon Spurrier
Illustrated by Daniel Bayliss
Series: Labyrinth: Coronation #2
Published on May 21, 2019 by Archaia
ISBN: 9781684153589
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 112
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Graphic Novel
The untold origin of the Goblin King from Jim Henson’s cult-classic film, Labyrinth.
As the clock ticks ever closer to the thirteenth hour, Maria struggles through the canals of the Labyrinth alongside her peculiar band of companions, wishing desperately to be reunited with her son. While she may be no closer to the Owl King’s castle, Maria begins to uncover the secrets of the Labyrinth and her own power within the walls of this magical domain. But from deep in the shadows, the Owl King watches her every move, plotting and waiting to bring her demise by any means necessary.
Written by Simon Spurrier (Jim Henson’s The Power of the Dark Crystal) and Ryan Ferrier (Kong on the Planet of the Apes) and illustrated by Daniel Bayliss (Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Dragons) and Irene Flores (Heavy Vinyl), Labyrinth: Coronation Volume Two continues the bestselling prequel to one of Jim Henson’s most iconic creations.
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As the second in the three-part mini series, Labyrinth: Coronation Vol. 2 expanded on the world of Labyrinth further with the introduction of a worm, Cible, more involvement from the former king, and Maria’s adventures through the land she’s still trying to make sense of.
Once again, the art was stunning and vibrant, making it easy on the eyes for this brief read. And it definitely was that, brief. In some ways, I felt like the story moved forward slower than the first in terms of the progress Maria makes in the Labyrinth, but on the flip side, it’s over so quickly without really establishing much. After finishing Vol. 2, I definitely wanted to dive into the final volume because I left this one with more questions than when I started.
These graphic novels definitely feel like they need something more to make them worth the read. I definitely enjoyed the first one as well as this installment, and have no doubt I’ll like Vol. 3 too. But for a reader who doesn’t have a love for the Labyrinth movie, I just don’t think these hold as much appeal (especially since there are only 3 volumes).
I felt like this volume had some sequel syndrome going on. There’s a lot of filler events happening to connect the first and (presumably) the third volumes together so a lot of the story threads are open and unclear. Not necessarily a bad thing but you definitely want to have the last volume on hand.
But I liked it overall. I think the art is the best part but the story is fun and if you love Labyrinth like me, it’s definitely worth a read. It has all those frustratingly but entertaining moments where you don’t necessarily know what’s going on but it’s part of the charm.
About Austine
I'm a 20-something research proposal developer with a background in the life sciences and education. Reviewer of books since 2011, amateur photographer by day, and aspiring author by night. I believe animals (and books) are better than people.
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