Customer Reviews:
 An Admirable Improvement February 16, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
SPOILERWARNINGSPOILERWARNINGSPOILERWARNING
I, as with many other people, was slightly disappointed by the first volume of Return to Labyrinth. I'm sure if you are reading this review you know the drill with regards to the complaints, Sarah was too plain, Toby was too dull, the art was horrendous etc. etc. This volume, thankfully, was a very good improvement.
The story is continued well and it is more interesting than that featured in the first volume, the plot thickens and, for all you Jareth devotees, we get an insight into his character, or to be more exact, we see more of his vulnerability. In the first chapter, we see all of the following; we see Jareth's fears, his egotism and watch him as he makes a bargain. All of this is very interesting, the only annoying part is that we are not shown exactly what the bargain is.
The bulk of the plot follows Toby, and his preparations for the role of Goblin King. This is all well done and often highly amusing, especially the insight into one day in his life which features a series of uh ... interesting ... subjects. Take drama for example, one panel shows us the rather disturbing sight of Toby dressed in the (rather questionable) fashion of Ziggy Stardust.
However, it is not all tom foolery; things get serious, especially as we approach the end, where things become intriguingly serious. We follow Moppet and Hana as they find a bedroom with a locked door that is decorated with flowers, contains wardrobes stuffed with other-worldly versions of high-fashion and a very familiar music box. This particular scene fired off my geeky, theorizing mind no end. Was it a room Jareth set up for Sarah? Was it for another girl, a lost love? Or was it maybe for himself (unlikely, but nothing would surprise me)?
The end is almost irritatingly climatic, Moppet is finally unmasked, everyone gasps, and God, the last panel ... No, I shouldn't go into the last panel. It's too good a surprise to spoil it.
Anyway, in all seriousness everything is very much improved, there is a nice mix of drama and humour and I felt that the writing, the story and the art had all been changed for the better, and the only reason this isn't getting five stars is because I still retain a slight dislike of the art style.
Anyway, roll on Volume Three!
 Volume 2! October 18, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Anyone who didnt really like the first one really should give this another go. I wasnt too keen on the first one, as the drawings wernt too good and the story line was a little weak, but this one is a winner! The illustrations are better (still not as good as the cover though), and the story line is more defined, and gripping. I'm definitely buying the 3rd volume when it comes out, the cliff hanger at the end of this one makes me really really want the next one!
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