The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths Vol 1

Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths Vol. 1 is an original graphic novel hardcover set one thousand years before the crystal cracked, before the world of Thra fell to strife and destruction. Original Dark Crystal movie concept designer Brian Froud plots, provides the cover, designs characters, and art directs this beautiful hardcover.

Of the many beautiful things to be brought to us from the mind of Jim Henson, The Dark Crystal is one of my favorite.  I'm sure this can be said for many a fan of his work or just lovers of fantasy in general.  Now, with The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths and this venture into Vol 1, we get to see another side of the story that I never expected.

Before you even go any further, if for some terrible reason you've never seen The Dark Crystal, DO SO NOW.  I beg of you, do it.  Not only because everyone should, but this will ruin the movie for you before you even see it.

The first volume of this prequel collection shows us the world of Thra we know from the movie, but many a moon before.  Many a moon as a thousand years before the events of the movies giving us an opportunity to follow a previously unseen history of Thra.  We are treated to all kinds of stories from the "birth" of Aughra, the history of the Crystal, to multiple tales of Gelflings all collected in this initial batch.

Even before I got to the first actual page, I was eager to see the art throughout this book.  I had very high expectations and they were absolutely met and more.  The fantasy world of The Dark Crystal is spectacular in the movie and it is easily as great here.  All the characters and the world itself all the stories are told from are perfectly illustrated as far as I'm concerned.

As someone who grew up adoring The Dark Crystal, this was a book I absolutely could not wait to read.  By the end of it, I was very much pleased with how it turned out.  I am very anxious to check out number two as soon as possible.  I would completely suggest that everybody grab this as your next comic purchase, which should be immediately.

For more on The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths or other Archaia titles, check out Archaia.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.