When people told themeselves their past with stories....

[icon_uk]

Explained their present with stories
Foretold their future with stories


I've said it before, but if I have a personal, real-world, hero outside my own family, someone who embodies everything I would consider admiring in a creative person, it should come as no surprise that it would be Jim Henson.

The apparently easygoing, staggeringly creative puppeteer and inspiration, who created the Muppets, the Fraggles, the world of the Dark Crystal and the realm of the Labyrinth amongst others.

One of his many, many, brilliant outputs was two series called; "The Storyteller".

In the first season, John Hurt, accompanied by a canine companion (Who was never given a name past, "The Dog"), told old European folk-tales

In the second season Michael Gambon (Also with the Dog) related stories from Greek mythology, not pulling any punches with the deaths either (Seriously, Daedalus and Icarus will break your heart

It's a wonderful, magical, lyrical series, stories (some familiar, some less so) told by two masters of their craft and with some marvellous special effects.

What has this to do with scans_daily? Well, we have exciting news for CBR here

With the announcement today at WonderCon, one of former Marvel Comics editor Nate Cosby's first- post Marvel projects has been announced. It is apt, given Cosby's clear appreciation for the craft of storytelling, that Archaia Comics has tapped him to helm "Jim Henson's The Storyteller." In this CBR News exclusive, we spoke with the writer/editor to learn more about his plans for the 100-page hardback, set to go on sale in September 2011.

"This is a 100-page hardcover from Archaia, based on the amazing show from the Jim Henson Workshop," Cosby said. "Basically, I've given free rein to my favorite creators and asked them to give their own spin on classic myths/tale tales. I'm producing and editing, as well as writing a story adapted from an original, never-produced screenplay by original screenwriter Anthony Minghella. The creators I've secured so far include Roger Langridge, Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, Jeff Parker, Paul Tobin, Colleen Coover, Francesco Francavilla, Brian Clevinger, Tom Fowler, Marjorie Liu, Evan Shaner, Jennifer Meyer, Katie Cook, Chris Eliopoulos, Ron Marz, Jim McCann, Janet Lee -- and a few more."

I don't often indulge, but I think this warrants a

"SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

And here are a few sample pieces of art by some of the creators involved;


Katie Cook


Robert Langridge


Janet Lee


Evan Shaner

Comments

[dr_archeville]

May I join you?

"SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

I <3 this show SO much!

[crinos]

I loved those when they were on HBO.

I remember the one about the soldier with the sack he could catch anything in. He caught death in it, and after he let it go Death became so afraid the guy became immortal. He tried to get into heaven and hell, and failed at both, and in the end it was revealed to be the storyteller himself.

[icon_uk]

Well, that's blown THAT surprise ending, no? :)

"The Soldier and Death" is my favourite too, the Devil in it is amazing "Oh, black roses, very nice." and Death is wonderfully creepy.

[dr_archeville]

"Wife, this is my devil. Devil, this is my wife."
"Hello, ma'am."

[dr_archeville]

... I don't remember that being the ending. Just that the nameless soldier kept wandering forever.

[icon_uk]

I believe there's a hint that it might be the case, but it's left suitably vague...

[crinos]

Well, after the story, the dog notices a sack, and tells the storyteller to get into it (The trigger to activate the bags magic), after it fails to function, the Dog goes to sleep.... but then we see one of the devils from the story get out of the sack and run off.

Also, I enjoyed the card playing part with the devils.

"Is he cheating?"

"I am, and I'm STILL losing."

[mynondw]

Oh my gosh! I remember this one. I didn't think I'd seen the season with the European folktales.

[shadowpsykie]

OMMMMMMHGGGGGGH!!!!! This is currently streaming on netflix!

[mynondw]

Yes! I just watched Daedalus and Icarus last week. It was wonderfully done.

[crinos]

Thanks for the heads up. May just add it to my queue (give me something else to watch besides old MST3K)

[featheredserpent]

I loved this show. There's a DVD box set available, I believe.

Thank you!

[roguefankc]

I loved the series when I was little (anyone who doesn't like Jim Henson will personally have me introduce a well-aimed foot to the head!) so seeing this is like a walk through my childhood again. And John Hurt was awesome as the Storyteller!

And I'm surprised no one else is making mention of "The Heartless Giant" and "The True Bride"; those two were my favorite episodes and personally, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want a white Dream Lion. =)

[20thcenturyvole]

AHHHH I FREAKING LOVED THE STORYTELLER. Seriously, that one with the hedgehog-man who sheds his skin at night? And then his wife burns it thinking that'll make him permanently handsome, only it makes him permanently hedgehoggy instead, and he runs away, so THEN, remorseful and properly in love with him, she searches the world for him, wearing out three pairs of iron shoes before she finds him again.

And then there was the one with like half a goblin and so many others with nightmarish and horrifying things in them and when I was five years old I lapped it up. I haven't seen it since, but it left such an impression. :D