Jim Henson’s The Storyteller Giants #2, large and in charge

The Storyteller is the titular character created by Jim Henson in the late 80s to weave together various stories. He’s accompanied by his trusty dog who is usually resting by the fireplace. Think of the Storyteller as a kid-friendly version of the Crypt Keeper from Tales From The Crypt. This incarnation of everyone’s favorite chattering grandfather is Jim Henson’s The Storyteller Giants. Previously the Storyteller introduced us to dragons and witches, but this time he tells us tales of giants.

Issue 2 of The Storyteller Giants starts out as an old tailor has gathered his six sons and one daughter together to let them know about the family’s assets. As it went sometimes in fairy tales, the daughter was promised in marriage to the person who lives in the castle at the top of the mountain. The only difference in this story is that said person is a giant, at least 15 times larger than the tailor’s daughter.

When she meets the giant he says that he’s nice and that he’ll feed her and provides her with all the creature comforts she could ever want-as long as she doesn’t open the door that leads to the basement. Well, you know what happens whenever someone, even if they’re a huge giant with a red face, says not to do something.

In the basement are a dozen women that the giant has made similar promises to. The fun-and melding together of various world fairy tales happens when the tailor’s daughter initially made her way to the castle. She met various creatures, all of whom that she selflessly helped out of precarious situations. Those creatures rewarded her kindness with seemingly strange gifts that assist her once she discovers the true danger that she’s in.

It’s a bit like the lesson learned from the briar patch and the rabbit. The art is detailed, beautiful and some of the prettiest that you’ll see in comic books. Brandon Dayton leaves some of the panels sparse, with just the silhouette of a character speaking. Some panels are meticulously crafted so that readers can easily imagine themselves in the giant’s library, looking at old tapestries drawn at unfamiliar proportions.

The art and story in the comic book are appropriate for any age because there isn’t any violence or bad words. However, there is lots of reading and while any age could ‘read’ the comic it will be best enjoyed by those in middle school or up. It’ll appeal equally to boys or girls due to its fairy tale framework, great art and the fact that it’s a comic book.

These comics from Archaia are some of the ones that we (as an adult reader) look forward to the most for several reasons. Certainly part of that is the nostalgia that we have for Jim Henson, the world that he created and the feeling that his works have. Even now, decades after his death his creations have a continuity that touches the source material at some level. New creators are wearing the shoes, but it’s still got the same warmth, family appeal and all age interest that you’ll remember from your first interaction with the Storyteller