More than four decades ago, film and television legend Jim Henson unveiled to audiences what is one of the most unique offerings in the modern history of cinema in the form of The Dark Crystal. Fully live action and created through Henson’s signature use of puppetry and special effects, the movie has become, since its debut, a cult classic. It serves today, as a solid reminder that it is still possible to make a great movie with actual effects in place of over the top blue and green screens and CG effects. In the decades since the movie’s premiere it has generated a whole realm of its own with new sequel books, merchandise, and more. In 2016 Boom! Studios released its Dark Crystal sequel series, The Power of the Dark Crystal. Disney+ launched a TV series from the Dark Crystal universe in 2019 in the form of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. A guide to the creatures of The Dark Crystal was even published in 2020 as well as other companion books over the years. Last year Boom! Studios also launched a kickstarter effort that led to the creation of the Dark Crystal prequel series, Creation Myths. The three-volume series made its way to a complete hardcover anthology late last month through Boom! Studios in the form of The Dark Crystal Creation Myths: The Complete Collection. Spanning nearly 130 pages, the collection (whose price is listed at $75 on its back cover) is another piece that is certain to appeal to the most devoted fans of The Dark Crystal. That is due in large part to its featured story, which will be discussed shortly. The stunning art that is displayed throughout the course of the story is well worth its own attention and will be discussed a little later. The bonus content that accompanies the book rounds out its most important elements and will also be addressed later. Each item noted here is crucial in its own way to the whole of the success of The Dark Crystal Creation Myths: The Complete Collection. All things considered they make this complete three-volume collection a prequel that is actually worth experiencing in an age of completely unnecessary prequels.
Boom! Studios’ recently released Dark Crystal collection, The Dark Crystal Cration Myths: The Complete Collection is a presentation that the most devoted fans of Jim Henson’s landmark cinematic creation are sure to appeal to longtime fans of The Dark Crystal. That is due in large part to the story featured in the collection, which was released Oct. 24. The story featured in this nearly 130-page anthology is a prequel to the original 1982 movie. The story featured here turns The Dark Crystal world from one of fantasy to science fiction as it is revealed that the Urskek – the beings from which spawned the vile Skeksis and the more peaceful Mystics (also known as the Uru) – are in fact beings from another planet who had been exiled to the world of Thra by their own for being heretics. This is discussed at some length as Aughra’s son (yes, as it turns out she had a song and how he came to be is its own interesting story that adds to the story’s science fiction leaning), Raunip confronts one of the Urskek about why they are on the planet and is sure to engage audiences quite in its own right. Raunip’s addition to the story makes for its own share of interest, too. As the story progresses, the crystal, as it is revealed, becomes the center of the tale as it is ultimately responsible for the Urskek’s division into the two races that everyone came to know from the original 1982 movie.
Getting back to Raunip for a moment, hopefully this will not give away too much, but the entire story is in fact told by Raunip. Though this revelation is not made until late in the story. It honestly would have made for even more interest to have kept the identity of the storyteller anonymous throughout the story but having that revelation made does play its own role. It would explain why Raunip is never mentioned in the original movie.
All things considered, the story presented here, which also gives Aughra much more of a prominent role – that of an “Earth Mother” type of figure – brings to life a whole new chapter in the history of The Dark Crystal that enriches the original story all the more. It builds a solid foundation that gives readers reason enough to take in the tale.
Resting on the solid foundation formed by the anthology’s story is the incredible artwork that is used to tell the tale. The rich colors and unique designs are unlike anything else out there, even in other Jim Henson-based graphic novels. That includes the Fraggle Rock and Labyrinth books that are out there. There is a certain softness to the artwork which makes sense when reading through the bonus content that accompanies the book. It is revealed through a bonus “commentary” by Illustrator Alex Sheikman, the artwork of Brian Froud, Sheikman wanted to really do justice to Froud’s work on previous Dark Crystal books. He explains that in order to do that, he used “soft pencils”. Fellow illustrator Lizzy John then painted over his drawings to add to the work’s depth and warmth, and he then added some more touches to complete the visual presentation. The result is, as noted, something truly unique that makes for its own share of identity within the bigger picture of the anthology. When the beautiful artwork used in this story connects with the story itself, the two items together make for even more for readers to appreciate.
Getting back to the noted bonus content, there is a lot of engaging and entertaining bonus content featured throughout the book, not the least of which being Sheikman’s own commentary about the art. The very discussion on how and why the Skesis and Mystics were drawn the way in which they were is interesting in itself, especially as those discussions are paired with the early rough sketches of the characters. Karen Falk’s discussion on why the Miners (the creatures originally so feared in this story) were omitted from the original 1982 movie (they were going to be in the movie but eventually removed, as Falk reveals) is sure to shock some readers. That is especially considering how well they played into Raunip’s own story of personal growth and discovery. The Dark Crystal screenwriter David Odell also shares his own reflections on making The Dark Crystal. His recollections are truly interesting. For instance, he reveals that the movie was created at Elstree Studio, the same studio where Star Wars was made. How’s that for six degrees of separation? Speaking of six degrees of separation, Odell also points out a connection that he pointed out to Jim Henson between The Dark Crystal and The Muppet Movie in regard to Henson’s personal and theosophical beliefs. That minor discussion is actually sure to generate lots of discussion among audiences. There is also commentary by Odell on the work of the puppeteers who brough the beings of Thra to life in The Dark Crystal and those in The Muppet Movie as he continues his commentary. That is sure to entertain readers in its own way, too.
As if all of this is not enough, Odell also reveals that the early test screenings of The Dark Crystal did not have a positive result. As Odell remembers, people actually walked out of the movie during that screening, supposedly because it was anything but what they had come to know from Henson. Ironically the changes that were made to the movie following that less than successful showing resulted in a movie that has since gone on to be the cornerstone for a cultural phenomenon. Between this discussion, the others pointed out here and the rest of the extras here, the bonus content featured here really brings everything full circle with this collection when it is collectively considered along with the overall story and the story’s artwork. All things considered this set proves to be one of this year’s top new comic book anthologies.
Boom! Studios’ new Dark Crystal anthology, The Dark Crystal Creation Myths: The Complete Collection, is a presentation that is certain to engage and entertain the most devoted fans of the long-running franchise. That is due in no small part to its featured story. The story is a prequel that builds on the universe originally established by Jim Henson more than four decades ago. It does not try to go all out and change things up from Henson’s original story, either. It just builds – properly – on Henson’s work, pointing out how the Skeksis and Mystics came about in the first place, setting the stage for the movie that so many audiences have come to love to this day. The artwork that accompanies the story builds on the appeal of the story because it helps to further establish the collection’s own identity. That is because it is so much unlike the art of so many comic books and graphic novels out there. The bonus content that accompanies the anthology rounds out the collection’s presentation and completes that showing. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of The Dark Crystal Creation Myths: The Complete Collection. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of the set. All things considered they make The Dark Crystal Creation Myths: The Complete Collection a prequel that is actually worth experiencing.
The Dark Crystal Creation Myths: The Complete Collection is available now through Boom! Studios. More information on the new anthology and other titles from Boom! Studios is available at:
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