Return to Labyrinth

Return to Labyrinth
File:Labmanga1.jpg Cover, Return to Labyrinth volume 1, artist Kouyu Shurei
Genre	Fantasy
Author	Jake Forbes
Illustrator	Chris Lie, Kouyu Shurei (cover art)
Publisher	Madman Entertainment Tokyopop
Original run	2006 – ongoing
Volumes	3

Return to Labyrinth is an OEL manga based on the Jim Henson fantasy film, Labyrinth. Jake T. Forbes is credited as the creator, and Chris Lie is the illustrator. The covers for the first three volumes were drawn by Kouyu Shurei. It is published by Tokyopop.

Return to Labyrinth is a four-part series starting with Volume 1 that was released in August 2006. Volume 2, titled Goblin Prince of the Labyrinth, and was released in October, 2007. Originally planned as a three-part series, it was announced at the end of the second volume that the story would be expanded to four volumes. Volume 3 was be released on May 12, 2009. The story takes place about thirteen years after the events of Labyrinth and centers around Toby, who by this time has grown up into a teenager.

Synopsis

Volume 1

It has been over a decade since the events of Labyrinth, wherein Sarah defeated the Goblin King and rescued her baby half-brother, Toby. Jareth, the Goblin King, has watched as Toby grows up into a teenager, secretly giving him everything he desired regardless of its attainability, propriety, or scale. Through the years, Toby noticed the strange way by which all his wishes came true, but never understood the reason behind it. Despite this, he seems to have grown up into a reasonably well-adjusted teenaged boy. He has no memory of the time that he was kidnapped by goblins and no idea of Sarah's rescue of him. Sarah herself has become a teacher.

Jareth has been watching Toby, it seems, because he still intends for Toby to become his heir. A deadline is drawing near and other individuals, including a mysterious queen and the mayor of Goblin City, are eying the throne. Jareth eventually lures Toby back to the Labyrinth, where he meets various creatures, including some that his sister encountered during her own adventure.

Volume 2

Immediately following Volume 1, Jareth names Toby his heir and then disappears. Mizumi, the Queen of Moraine, and her two daughters decide to stay with Toby in the Goblin Castle "to help him out". After a brief scuffle in the "History of Toby" museum, Toby embraces his destiny as the new leader of the goblins and begins training for the role. Mizumi volunteers to teach Toby magic, gifting him with a small vial of magical water from Moraine. During their lessons Mizumi reveals her past romantic history with Jareth and his subsequent building of the Labyrinth "to keep everyone, including [Mizumi] out".

A flashback shows Jareth after Sarah's retrieval of Toby. He appears frustrated and unsettled, and the goblins, who believe that he is losing his powers, prepare to revolt. Jareth visits Mizumi in Moraine, where he requests that she prepare an ablation for him. When Mizumi asks what he offers in return, he offers a wager, claiming that if he wins, he keeps the ablation, but if he loses then "the goblin kingdom and its king are [Mizumi's]" to handle as she pleases. Mizumi agrees and gives Jareth thirteen years wherein to complete the wager; exactly what the wager entails is not revealed to the reader.

Toby's studies interfere with his quest to find Hana's wings; therefore Hana begins searching for them alone. With the aid of Moppet, Hana discovers a locked door in a far tower of the Goblin Castle. After breaking through it, they discover a room closely resembling the bedroom that Sarah had as a teenager, though it also features a closet full of elaborate clothes and a dungeon lock on the door. At this point, Moppet begins to feel uncomfortable because of recognizing the music playing from the music box ("As the World Falls Down") and having a vision of Jareth demanding her love. Drumlin, Mizumi's daughter, locks them in the room and starts destroying it.

During this time, Mizumi takes Toby to the Ministry of Prophecies where they select a prophecy for Toby. Toby only hears part of the prophecy, leaving out a dangerous omen of things to come. When Toby and Mizumi return to the castle, Toby sees Moppet falling. Desperate to save her, he magically extends his arms to catch her, but in the process of saving her life knocks her mask off to reveal her true face. Toby instantly recognizes her as a younger version of his sister, Sarah, but having pale hair and different coloring.

Elsewhere, two goblins discuss a plot against someone of importance. The scene then cuts to one of Sarah, who is grading papers when she hears a knock on the door. When she opens it, it reveals Jareth standing before her.

Volume 3

Volume 3 was released May 12 2009. The first chapter continues where volume 2 leaves off and is entitled "Jareth's Lies". The cover art features Moulin and Drumlin with Mizumi in the background.

After Moppet's face is revealed, Drumlin is taken to the dungeons, and Mizumi and Spittledrum sit Toby down for an explanation. One of Mizumi's powers, she says, is the ability to create ablations, to remove traits from living beings and give them form and autonomy. Moppet, she reveals, is the ablation that she created as part of her bargain with Jareth. At his request, she stole the part of Sarah Williams that frightened him the most--her dreams. (At about the same time, Toby recalls, the real Sarah gave up on theater and fairy tales and stopped telling him stories about her friends from the labyrinth.) It is implied but not explicitly stated that the terms of Jareth and Mizumi's wager were that Jareth had to get Moppet to love him. For several years, Jareth kept Moppet a prisoner in the locked tower room. This temporarily restored his power over the goblin kingdom, but when he could not make Moppet love him, his old problems returned. Whether Moppet escaped from Jareth or was discarded is left unclear, but Spittledrum tells Toby of how he found Moppet among the rubbish people and brought her back to the city. One day, he says, Jareth saw Moppet and confronted Spittledrum. He told Spittledrum to keep Moppet out of the palace and gave him an apple. If Moppet ever mentioned anything about a locked room, he said, Spittledrum was to give Moppet the apple. Closing the meeting, Mizumi says that she is fully capable of returning an ablation to its former host, but that this will wipe out the ablation's separate memories and experiences. She also tells Toby that if an ablation dies, the host dies with it. When Toby muses that he wishes to summon Sarah to the labyrinth so that Mizumi can restore her dreams, Moppet objects and runs away.

Meanwhile, in the human world, Jareth has gone to see Sarah. She does not immediately recognize him, but accepts his explanation that they know each other from the theater. During this meeting, Jareth seems disappointed that Sarah has made so little of herself but notices that her strong will is still there. It is also shown that Sarah has no memory of ever knowing Toby, though why this is is not revealed. After leaving Sarah, Jareth seeks and finds a specific goblin, Cob, who had been banished to the human world many years earlier. From him, he retrieves a tiny sliver of his own heart, which he had splintered off for safekeeping before his power began to wane; it is as potent as ever. With a good portion of his magic restored, Jareth plots his revenge on Sarah. He creates the Enigma Lain theater in an outdoor park and sends Sarah a ticket.

Mizumi visits Drumlin in the dungeons. Though Drumlin apologizes, Mizumi tells her that it is too late and that she has to go "home." As Moulin watches from a hidden place, Mizumi reabsorbs Drumlin. Drumlin and Moulin, it is revealed, are Mizumi's own ablations. Drumlin had been an ablation of her hope. Moulin decides to help Toby against Mizumi but is caught and captured by Mizumi's servant Esker.

Before the coronation of the strange reptilian creatures meets Toby and offers him a warning in some unintelligible language. He also gives Toby a gift, a small medallion. Toby proceeds to his coronation. After a few long rituals, Toby goes through an ordeal in which he locates the Pathfinder, giving him direct control over the labyrinth's walls. Shortly after this, Mizumi announces her triumph over Jareth and claims the labyrinth for her own, chaining Toby. The goblin army resists, but Mizumi's own forces rain in from above and defeat them. Candlewic, the captain of the guard, betrays Toby and Spittledrum to Mizumi.

Mizumi confronts Moulin in the dungeons. Moulin and Drumlin, she says, are both ablations of the emotions that had bound Mizumi to Jareth. When Moulin asks why Mizumi bothered to create beings who could only die with her or as part of her, Mizumi answers, "There is another way. I just didn't want them to know that." Despite this, Mizumi is about to reabsorb Moulin as she did Drumlin but is interrupted by Esker, who reports that Jareth has made contact with Sarah in the human world. This news upsets Mizumi, who orders Esker to go to the human world and stop Jareth, but Esker explains that he cannot leave the Labyrinth--the Pathmaker is stopping him. Mizumi muses that there may be another way and sends Esker to kill Moppet so that Sarah will die too.

The volume closes with Toby, Skub, Spittledrum and Moulin imprisoned, Moppet climbing the rubbish hills with her apple in her arms and Sarah walking into Jareth's trap.

Characters

Main article: Labyrinth (film) § Characters

Jareth, the Goblin King

The King of the Labyrinth, a vast kingdom within a realm known as the Underground. According to the manga, Jareth has ruled the Labyrinth for 1300 years. Though he appears human, he has several inhuman abilities including the ability to form crystal orbs with which he can create illusions of all types or view things from a distance. He is also a master of disguise capable of physical transformations, such as changing into a barn owl. In the first volume, he poses as Toby's high school guidance counselor. He does not appear to have aged between the film and the manga. It is revealed that Jareth has been watching Toby grow up through the years and granting his wishes, supposedly in order to prepare Toby into becoming his heir.

In Volume 2, more of the history of the Labyrinth is revealed. Part of Jareth's personal history is revealed as well: at one time or another Jareth had a relationship with Mizumi, Queen of Moraine. What exactly their relationship was is left open to interpretation, but it appears to have been a romantic one (Mizumi claims to have loved Jareth), though Jareth seems to have broken their bonds. Mizumi claims that creation of the Labyrinth was an externalization of Jareth's powers and desire to isolate himself; however, in allowing one person, presumably Sarah, to enter the Labyrinth and in being defeated by that person, his power began to wane. Volume 2 also further explores Jareth's intentions and feelings towards Sarah, long speculated upon by fans of the film. The manga shows Jareth fixated on Sarah, genuinely frustrated by her refusal of his offer to stay in the Labyrinth. One passage can be interpreted to mean that Jareth had intended to make her his queen.

There is some question as to whether Jareth is free to leave the Labyrinth. On one hand, Toby is warned that, as the Goblin King, he may not leave the Labyrinth unless he is summoned. Jareth's appearances to Toby and Sarah might be explained by their wishes for outside help. His only uninvited visit to the ordinary world takes place after his abdication. Nevertheless, Jareth is shown visiting Mizumi in Moraine while he is still Goblin King.

Toby Williams

The baby that Jareth kidnapped after he was wished away by his half-sister, Sarah. In the film it was hinted that Jareth became fond of Toby. In the manga, Toby has grown into a high school student who displays characteristics similar to those shown by his half-sister in the film, such as a love of theater and fantasy. He has no memories of his previous time in the Labyrinth nor of Sarah rescuing him. In Volume 1 of the manga, he returns to the Labyrinth after a goblin steals his homework and arrives in a ballroom in the castle beyond the Goblin City, where Jareth declares that he is to become the new king of the goblin kingdom. Toby spends most of the second volume coming to terms with his inheritance of the Labyrinth and becoming its king, which he has decided to view as a learning experience.

Moppet

A polite and passive girl who resides in the Goblin City as a servant to the Goblin Mayor. She wears a goblin mask to hide her face. She dances with Toby in the ballroom before Jareth's declaration. In Volume 2, it is revealed that she had been found by one of the trash ladies and then given to Spittledrum as payment for her taxes. Moppet appears to have no memory of anything that had happened to her before this. When Moppet's goblin mask is removed, Toby instantly recognizes her as looking like Sarah, though her connection to Toby's sister remains unexplained until Volume 3. Moppet is shown to have a crush on Candelwic, a tough goblin guardsman, but she seems to be too shy to say so.

Hana

A pixie whose wings were plucked by goblins as punishment for minor theft. She has a fierce temper and is easily agitated. She befriends Toby during his journey into the Labyrinth and he promises to help her find her wings. When Toby's studies prevent him from helping her search for her wings, she become agitated with him and goes with Moppet to find them alone.

Stank

Hana's friend and steed. Stank looks like a smaller version of Ludo, having a round body, thick fur, and two short, twisting horns. Like Ludo, he can make rocks and bricks move by calling out to them. Like Ludo, he speaks only in short one- or two-word phrases. Although good-natured, Stank has a number of unhygienic habits.

Spittledrum

The somewhat incompetent Goblin Mayor. He has served Jareth for a long time, and seems to think highly of himself as each time he comes to believe that Jareth will retire from being Goblin King, Spittledrum prepares a speech to accept becoming Jareth's successor. When Toby is named the heir to the Labyrinth, Spittledrum is initially upset but later looks after Toby.

Mizumi

The Queen of Moraine, a land known for its beauty and dangerous waters. Known also as the Queen of Cups, Mizumi is a powerful magician and an icy beauty who was once very close to Jareth. Soon after Jareth is defeated by Sarah, he approaches Mizumi to present a wager offering "the goblin kingdom and its king" if she wins in exchange for creating an ablation for him. As of Volume II, the terms of the wager itself are unrevealed.

Her motives for helping Toby are unknown, though it appears that she seeks to take control of Labyrinth through him. To do so, she tutors Toby in magic, alternately believing he is inept but has tremendous potential, in hopes of finding the Pathmaker, who controls the Labyrinth's shifts and changes. She has two daughters, Moulin and Drumlin, and a mechanical bodyguard.

Drumlin

One of Mizumi's daughters. She is very obese as a result of her ability to drink moisture from anything she touches. In Volume 3, it is revealed that Drumlin is an externalization of Mizumi's hope.

Moulin

Mizumi's other daughter. She carries a rain cloud, having the power to control water, and an umbrella to keep herself dry. She is also a skilled fencer, sparring with Sir Didymus in a demonstration during Toby's physical education lesson. At the goblin ball, she preferred dancing with Moppet to dancing with Toby.

Esker

Mizumi's servant. He is tall and imposing, always wearing a skull-like mask (unless that's his face). Unlike Moulin and Drumlin, Esker does not show much interest in anything except his obedience to Mizumi.

Sarah Williams

The protagonist of the film. In the manga, she is a supporting character, living a subdued life as a teacher and sharing a close relationship with her half-brother, Toby. A stylized, younger version of Sarah appears frequently in flashbacks and in scenes of Jareth's imagination. Mizumi briefly takes this form while mocking Jareth about his apparent loss of power. Volume 2 closes with Sarah opening her door to find that Jareth has come to see her.

Skub

The small goblin that stole Toby's homework and eventually led him into the Labyrinth. Apparently rejected by the army goblin's recruitment. He has become the King's/Prince's royal chef.

Dingle

The little imp that rings Moppet's alarm clock.

The Brick Layer

A spider-like goblin that builds the outer brick walls of the Labyrinth. He believes that in any conflict, one must always choose a side. He able to see all the sides of every wall and can transport a person to the opposite side if asked properly.

Hoggle

A cowardly dwarf-goblin that once worked for Jareth but became loyal to Sarah in the film. At that time, Jareth had threatened Hoggle to turn him Prince of the Bog of Eternal Stench if Sarah ever kissed him. In the manga, it is shown that Jareth has fulfilled this promise, and Hoggle claims to resent Sarah for this development.

Sir Didymus

A small dog-fox goblin first seen in the film. He has a loyal canine steed named Ambrosious. In the manga he is seen sending invitations for Jareth's ball. He becomes Toby's physical education teacher. He is on friendly terms with Moppet.

Professors Maelgrot, Nymblie, Glosspan, Glokensteal, and Jodhspur

Toby's teachers in how to become Goblin King. Maelgrot is an artistic goblin whom has made the "Museum of Toby," of which he is the founder as well as the collector of Toby's old junk, including Lancelot. Nymblie is Toby's drama teacher and fashion advisor. Glockensteal is Toby's economics teacher, money grubber. For goblins, "economics" seems to be mostly about the art of hoarding and swindling. Toby's philosophy teacher is a noted philosopher, Glosspan, while Jodhspur is Toby's jousting teacher.

Ludo

An orange yeti who was being tormented by goblins until Sarah rescued him in the film. He makes a cameo in Volume 1 of the manga.

The Blue Worm

A small blue worm who wears a red scarf and lives in the brick wall of the first passage of the Labyrinth. He had encountered Sarah in her journey in Labyrinth, and here he briefly encounters Toby. His wife is the Missus, who was never seen in the film but seen briefly in the manga.

The Flegworts

An elderly goblin couple. They own a shop where they sell shoes to their fellow goblins as food. For a time, Hana lives with them, saving their business by making shoes.

Irene Williams

Toby's mother, who in the manga is shown as very stern with her son. Irene and Toby have a cold relationship, while Sarah and Toby are shown as very close.

Mr. Morrisey

Toby's high school math teacher. He believes Toby is cheating on his test, though this is really the result of Jareth's intervention. He sends Toby to the guidance counselor, who is Jareth in disguise.

Easter Eggs and Pop Culture References

In addition to echoing and retelling elements from several classic fairy tales, Return to Labyrinth often references other Jim Henson projects and science fiction.

Volume I

Uncle Traveling Matt from Fraggle Rock shows up at the ball asking for radishes.

Volume II

When Maelgrot first sees Toby, he starts, "You remind me of the babe!" to which his assistant responds, "What babe?" These are lines from "Dance Magic," a song from the film.

Toby refers to having read his sister's Choose Your Own Adventure books. Though he doesn't call them by name, he does mention Harlowe Thrombey.

When Toby meets the Wiseman, he says that he doesn't know if being Goblin King is what he wants. The Wiseman responds with, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need," then says that he was "gathering moss" waiting for Toby, another reference to the Rolling Stones.

Mizumi says of spittledrum, "Little hobgoblins consistently have foolish minds," a reference to the quote, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds," from Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance.

Chef Eskubar, whom Skub replaces, is said to have been killed by exploding chickens.

Volume III

Cob the Exile's tiny robot, Mandelbrot, addresses Jareth by saying, "Please state the nature of the medical emergency," a recurring line of the Doctor's on Star Trek: Voyager, then with "I am fluent in over 5000 forms of communication," which is a take on C-3PO's job description, and then with "EX-TERMINATE! EX-TERMINATE!" like the Daleks from Doctor Who. Later on, he shouts, "Resistance is futile!" the motto of Star Trek's Borg. In addition the name "Mandelbrot" is a reference to both the famous mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot and his celebrated Mandelbrot Set.

External links

• Official Return to Labyrinth site on TOKYOPOP

• Author's Site