Jim Henson's The StoryTeller: Sirens: Tale 1 (of 4)
Recap
The critically acclaimed Jim Henson's The Storyteller celebrates four mythic tales of sirens, inspired by folklore from around the world and told in the spirit of Jim Henson's beloved television series.
In this first issue, Polish writer Sztybor Bartosz teams with artist Jakub Rebelka ( Judas ) to reimagine the classic Polish folktale " The Fisherman and the Mermaid".
The fisherman is not happy with his life. He works all the time, struggling to make ends meet rather than spending time with his wife and their daughter. One day, while fishing, he hears a mermaid singing and the song overwhelms him with joy. He can't stop thinking about this song so he captures the mermaid and imprisons her.
Review
Boom! Studios has done a great job adapting and expanding Jim Henson’s works, from the outstanding Labyrinth: Coronation that ended last month, to Beneath the Dark Crystal, down to a fun Fraggle Rock children’s book that came out recently. This book is no different.
Sztybor perfectly captures the feel of the classic TV show, starting with the Storyteller speaking to his dog about his endless love of treats before diving into a fantastic tale of a fisherman who discovers a mermaid and finds her song to be a source of endless joy. Tho, just as with the show, there is a moral to the story. In this case the moral centers around whether or not you can get too much of a good thing.
I wasnt sold on the art at first glance but after reading the story, I saw how brilliant it truly is. The emotions on the book are alive in the art; from the warmth of the scenes with the storyteller and his dog that radiates not only from the fireplace but also from the care that the storyteller and his dog have for each other to the coldness of the fisherman as he wonders if he will ever find a way to be happy.
I’m excited to see what other stories will be adapted or introduced in this four-part series, a must for any Jim Henson fan.
Final Thoughts
A wonderful story with a good moral, depicted with art that captures the emotion of the story in a great way.
Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller: Sirens: Tale #1 (of 4): Too Much of a Good Thing
- Writing - 8.5/108.5/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 8.5/108.5/10
- Color - 9.5/109.5/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10