Review: Labyrinth: Coronation Vol. 3
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Story By: Simon Spurrier
Writer: Ryan Ferrier
Artists: Daniel Bayliss and Irene Flores
Colorist: Joana Lafuente
Letterer: Jim Campbell
Review by: Kendra Hale
Labyrinth: Coronation Vol. 3 brings the untold story of the Goblin King Jareth to a close.
Over the first two volumes we have followed the journey of Maria as she desperately tries to get her son back from the Owl King. Following Maria’s adventures, readers are treated to a mirror effect. The tale is narrated by none other than the Goblin King as he watches Sarah try to rescue her brother. Entranced and engulfed, I listened to the voices of beloved characters revisited. While there is that nostalgic core set in stone, the heart of this series is new and with new characters and a story that gives the feeling of stepping back into this world almost seamlessly.
Masquerade, Hide Your Face So The World Will Never Find You
With Goblin rebellions, the Labyrinth sharing secrets with Maria, and The Owl King set on cheating in order to maintain not only control, but power, this book is a thrilling close to Jareth’s backstory. Above all though, my favorite scenes feature the balls, with masquerade masks in tow. I love when a book is able to do a mirror effect so seamlessly, and in this case not only can you almost, panel for panel, find the scenes in the movie itself, but I would swear you could hear the guitar playing while waiting for David Bowie to begin singing “As The World Falls Down.” It is that good.
While there is a dual tale that develops between these three volumes, meeting Maria and watching as she struggles to save her son is so fluid. You just want to absorb it and ache for it to never end. The character development for the new crew of characters like Skubbin, Tangle, and Cible is incredible. I would love to see if this were a TV Series like what they did with Dark Crystal. It would be absolutely fascinating. The team of Simon Spurrier, Ryan Ferrier, Daniel Bayless, Irene Flores, Joana Lafuente, and Jim Campbell have given us a lasting glimpse inside the crystal ball.
Verdict
As a fan of the original movie, like watching it at least 20 times a year if not far more, Labyrinth: Coronation Vol. 3 was such an enjoyable experience. Perfectly in mesh with the original story, it felt like a justified prequel. One that fans have wanted and deserved and further proves that if you are not a comic fan…WHY! We are being given some of the best stories that pluck at our memories and exquisitely adding new ones to the mix. If you are an older fan or a new, this is a mandatory for me. Adding in more depth to the story and doing so in a way that isn’t forced but feels like it is supposed to be there.
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