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Jim Henson's The Storyteller

Jim Henson's The Storyteller

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When people told themselves their past with stories, explained their present with stories, foretold the future with stories...the best place by the fire was kept for...The Storyteller
Archaia and The Jim Henson Company are proud to present all-new tales of fantastic wonder and extraordinary myth, as told from the tongue of The Storyteller and his loyal canine companion.

111 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2011

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About the author

Roger Langridge

298 books62 followers
Roger Langridge has been producing comics for over twenty years. Most recently, he has attracted critical attention for his work on the Harvey Award-winning Muppet Show Comic Book (Boom! Studios) and Thor: The Mighty Avenger (Marvel Comics); other works of note include Marvel's Fin Fang Four, Fantagraphics' Zoot! and Art d'Ecco (in collaboration with his brother Andrew), and the NCS, Ignatz, Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated comic book Fred the Clown. He currently lives in London with his wife Sylvie, their two children and a box of his own hair.

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5 stars
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323 (35%)
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55 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
Profile Image for Chad.
10.3k reviews1,061 followers
December 30, 2021
I'm always a sucker for retellings of fairy tales. These are very well done, even if I've read most of them before. I think my favorite here was Puss in Boots. The art was so ethereal. I loved it. The framing sequence is missing some of the magic of the original series but it's very difficult to reproduce the magic of muppets.
Profile Image for Patrick.
Author 81 books243k followers
December 7, 2014
I'm a huge fan of the original Jim Henson Storyteller series done by Jim Henson Studios. So I picked this book up with hope (and a lot of nostalgia) in my heart.

And honestly, that's probably why I didn't enjoy this comic very much. The biggest tripping point was the fact that the original series was written by Anthony Minghella. Who was one of the best writers in the world. He had an amazing turn of phrase, and a brilliant understanding of story. Those are hard shoes to fill. What's more, he gave the series a particular feel, and the characters a distinctive voice. That's hard for anyone to replicate. And impossible for a team of writers to do.

What made me realize this was the fact that one of the stories in the collection was produced from an unpublished script of Minghella's. That was much closer to what I was looking for in the series.

Was this awful? No. Not at all. Would I have enjoyed it more if I'd never watched the series? Probably. That said, when you're following in a tradition like this, a reader can't be blamed for some high expectations.

Profile Image for Emma.
2,677 reviews1,084 followers
June 6, 2021
Beautiful art work and cover gallery. The stories came from different myths from around the world, each with a different author illustrator.
Profile Image for Melanie (TBR and Beyond).
527 reviews466 followers
September 7, 2017
I have mixed feelings on this graphic novel. I was excited to see it at my local library when I was browsing because I didn't know it even existed but it was mostly a let down. I adored The Storyteller series - I used to watch it all the time. This wasn't written my the writer who wrote those tales and it shows. This was written by a handful of people and illustrated by a handful of artists. It was hit and miss - there were some fun tales and there were some ones that seemed kind of bland or pointless. The art is very nice in most of them but it's not really one I would go out and spend a lot of money on to own. Overall, it was fine for a read.
Profile Image for Christine.
7,224 reviews571 followers
June 28, 2013
Disclaimer: Read via Netgalley.

I loved the Storyteller television show. Who wouldn’t? Jim Henson and fairy tales, awesome. This collection of graphic retold tales does follow the format of the lovely television show. The stales told in the comic are new and were not adapted in the series. The artwork is stunning, in particular with “The Crane Wife” which is the best done story of the lot.

Yet, the book is lacking something. Maybe it’s because I’ve read “Once Upon A Time Machine” which did it better. Maybe because I’m too old for this graphic novel. Maybe because despite the careful recreation of the frames – the Storyteller and his dog – it lacks the charm of the series.

It’s not a bad collection, though I wish there had been at least one story with a girl character who was not a wife or who didn’t daydream. I particularly liked the retelling of Puss in Boots. The twist in the story was well done and the artwork was stunning. In some ways Liu’s retelling is more fulfilling than the original. The artwork not only is worthy of framing, but harkens back to French painting. The same is true of “The Crane Wife” by Katie Cook which has the most stunning and heartbreaking panel of the whole volume. Like the Puss story, the style in the Crane Wife is hearkens to Japan.

Interspersed between the stories are sayings reflecting on the power of stories. The book also features one tale told by the dog and another where the Storyteller himself takes a more central role than framer. Both the Storyteller and the Dog in all the stories will be recognized by the reader. John Hurt lives in comic form.

This is worth getting for children and for fans of the series. It is worth reading for the Crane and Puss stories.
Profile Image for Stewart Tame.
2,476 reviews121 followers
June 24, 2016
This was an interesting book: tales from around the world, adapted and illustrated by some of the finest comics artists and writers in the business. The Storyteller and his dog appear in each story to frame them and tie the whole book together. I find myself wondering why this seems to be just the one book? Surely, a concept like this could stretch indefinitely? The weakest tale in the book is probably the final one, "The Witch Baby," adapted from an unproduced Storyteller teleplay, which was likely the genesis for the entire project. Unlike the other stories in the book, the Storyteller takes a more active role and the framing sequence involves tarot cards and it's all just klunky and a bit of a mess, really. I'm not convinced it would have worked as a teleplay, but I don't know what, if any, liberties were taken in the adaptation. In any case, what we have here is three quarters of a good book, and then a final quarter that burns through some of the goodwill generated by the previous three. I would definitely be up for further Storyteller volumes, provided they don't use the final story as their model.
Profile Image for Kate.
677 reviews19 followers
March 1, 2025
As a child, I loved the BBC series, The Storyteller. With John Hurt in the titular role, along with his trusted doggy companion, for half an hour you could escape into a good tale. They are stories which have stayed with me throughout my life. My favourites were "Sapsorrow" and "The Soldier and Death." It has only been fairly recently that I discovered there a series of comics which have been created, under the same name.

Now, I did come to this collection of tales knowing that they weren't comic creations of the original Storyteller tales, and I think that has helped to manage my expectations. I think my love of the original series has given me a kind perspective to these short tales. For the majority, the art was good, but I have to admit that the magic of the Storyteller did seem a little lacking here. The final story is an unproduced tale, written by Anthony Minghella, who worker on the original storyteller tales. Some may find this the most successful of the tales, for this reason. For me, it was this tale and "Puss in Boots" which seemed to be the most successful.
Granted, the tales are very short, so to get the same sense of wonder can be hard. And, maybe it is my love of the original which makes me a harsher critic. But it is also my love of the originals that will make me return for more. I know that they have since produced comics which collect tales based on a particular theme; for example, there is a collection of tales on giants, fairies, ghosts and sirens, to name a few. I will go to them to see how they compare. I do hope, though, that I find a little more magic from the original. For people who want the original tales, but in book form, there are 2 editions that I know of, and own, that you should also hopefully be able to find.
Profile Image for Erika.
833 reviews71 followers
August 21, 2019
Kändes som måsteläsning eftersom jag älskar tv-serien The Storyteller från 1987. I den här volymen fick jag återse sagoberättaren och hans hund och stifta bekantskap med berättelser som inte ingick i tv-serien. Olika personer har tecknat och skrivit manus till de olika berättelserna, vilket naturligtvis gör att intrycket är lite spretigt. Mysig läsning, men betydligt svagare än tv-serien (och då ska det ändå sägas att specialeffekterna i tv-serien inte direkt övertygar nutida tittare). Om alla berättelser i boken (och inte bara den sista) haft samma manusförfattare som tv-serien hade mitt betyg antagligen blivit högre.
Profile Image for reni.
278 reviews5 followers
February 16, 2019
really enjoyed this, have a feeling i watched the show but unsure
Profile Image for Wendy.
621 reviews141 followers
July 29, 2013
Despite my love of Jim Henson, I never did watch his Storyteller series. I've made up a bit for that now with this collection of retold myths and legends by various artists and writers. Some of the stories are familiar, with new twists, while some might be a little more off the wall or new, depending on your background and upbringing. No matter the source material all of the stories are uniquely pieced together in this collection.

My favourite is the Puss in Boots retelling which firmly captures my inner hopeless romantic with both art and story. I'm a fan of not so happy endings or inconclusive ones, but I admit to really liking the stories like this that are just really, really beautiful.

I love the interaction between the Storyteller and his witty dog, who even gets a chance to tell a story himself. Each story has a moral - some more obvious than others, but all of them are just the right blend of story and characters, action and adventure to keep kids (and grown ups) interested.
Profile Image for Cale.
3,919 reviews26 followers
September 7, 2015
This graphic novel collects a number of fairy tales from across the world and presents them as if they were episodes of the classic TV series, complete with narrator introductions. The stories are strong overall, with even titles you think you know (Puss In Boots, for example) being different variations, even if the character is the same. I appreciated the breadth of stories included, avoiding the overused classics and definitely reflecting their origins. The art style is different by story, but all are attractive at least, and some are full on beautiful. This is a very respectful, well-done addition to the Storyteller series.
Profile Image for Bill.
622 reviews16 followers
January 4, 2019
Disappointing. This collection lacks the comfortable pacing and subtle charm of the television series it is based on. It's an interesting twist to have different artists illustrate each tale, but the styles clash terribly, and some of the artwork is genuinely unfinished -- you can see the artists' sketching guidelines in some of the stories, and it feels clumsy rather than intentional. There are a few real gems here, particularly the artwork for the "Puss in Boots" tale, but you have to put up with lackluster writing and abrupt endings otherwise. Also, it feels very unclear who this volume is for; the final tale, in particular, has gore and grim elements that seem to place this outside the realm of a children's book.
Profile Image for Altivo Overo.
Author 6 books19 followers
December 29, 2018
Brilliant art, fine tales

These were apparently intended as teleplays, but never made it to the small screen. As a result, we get to enjoy them in graphic format, with superbly drawn illustration. Fine folk tales, some with an Asian flavor.
Profile Image for Radwa.
Author 1 book2,310 followers
March 18, 2024
A collection of fairy tales retellings told by the Storyteller to his dog, each done in different art style. I liked some and others were just meh. but I liked the variety of sources.
Profile Image for Katie.
348 reviews9 followers
September 4, 2018
I'm surprised at how much I loved this graphic novel. It's a mixture of short classic stories with huge twists.
The only story I didn't like was the last one.
The frog one was really good.
The one about the cat was cute but I found it was hard to work out who was who... As the characters looked very similar.
I also loved all the different art styles the one which is to look like it was drawn in chalk was really cool and creative my favourite art style was the milkmaid story.
Profile Image for Ross Alon.
517 reviews5 followers
January 14, 2019
kind of disappointing. The stories are too short, and not as magical as the original.
I rather watch the series again.
108 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2024
I was feeling nostalgic while reading this lovely graphic book. Each story is illustrated by a different artist, and all the renditions are so appropriate and beautiful. Although I am familiar with the episodes of "The Storyteller" from 1988 TV with John Hurt, I was delighted that none of those stories were repeated here. I very much enjoyed this book and recommend it to Jim Henson fans.
Profile Image for Meran.
826 reviews41 followers
October 17, 2013
"All stories are true to someone..."

I'm not sure how Jim Henson's name got attached to this collection, but it's artistically a lovely book. The StoryTeller is the Old Man with the Dog of the Fraggles Show. Doe very well, this is a collection of stories by many comic book writers and artists.

This book is a mixture of 9 tales:

Old Nick and The Peddler- adapted from an old Scandinavian tale by Roger Langridge - Crusty Bob is a peddler who can barely sell his wares; it's so bad the Devil approaches him, fully assured he'll be collecting his debt of Crusty's soul very soon. The art, by Roman Cliquet and Adam Street is well done. The story flows well because of it. -3.5 stars

The Milkmaid and her Pail- adapted from an Aesop's Tale, by Colleen Coover - A milkmaid named Patty believes she'll make her fortune selling just ONE pail of milk; by turning it into butter, she'll trade it all for some eggs, which she'll succor with chickens, that will give her yet more eggs, which will be hatched, until she has a large chicken farm! Art, by Roger Langridge, is simple but effective. -3.5 stars

An Agreement Between Friends - by Chris Eliopoulos from a Romanian folk tale - This is the story of why dogs and cats (and mice) don't get along. Art by Janet K Lee and Mike Maihack. - 3.5 stars

Old Fire Dragaman - by Jeff Parker from an Appalachian Jack Tale. Expressive art by Tom Fowler. A typical, yet fun Jack tale. -4 stars

Puss In Boots - adapted by Marjorie Lui and Jennifer L Meyer from a French fairy tale - Great art! (by Meyer?) The imagery tells a story in itself; changes the tale a bit, shows more of the cat than any other Puss in Boots tales I've read. Very original, novel twist on this French tale! -4.5 stars

The Frog Who Became an Emperor - adapted by Paul Tran from a Chinese folk tale, art by Evan Shaner - A frog become Prince tale. I hadn't heard this tale before. -3 stars

The Crane Wife - adapted by Katie Cook from a Japanese folktale, art also. - I'd not hear this tale before either. About loving, trusting your spouse and not abusing her. - 4 stars

Momotaro the Peach Boy - adapted from a Japanese fairy tale by Ron Marz and Craig Rousseau - Beautiful art! Looks very much like pastel on paper. The tale was pleasing as well. Another one I hadn't heard. -4.5 stars

The Witch Baby- adapted from an early Russian folktale by Nate Cosby based on the un-produced StoryTeller teleplay written by Anthony Minghella, Susan Kodieck and Anne Mountfield. Art by Roman Cliquet. An odd story for sure, but it's from the Russian, so that explains it. :D - 3 stars



Profile Image for Wayne McCoy.
4,291 reviews33 followers
August 30, 2013
I've always loved fables and fairytales, and I loved the way the Jim Henson company did them right with The Storyteller series. Now a new graphic novel from the Jim Henson Company and Archaia Entertainment give us 9 new stories to be told at the fire by the storyteller and his dog.

Most of the stories are a few pages long, but the volume concludes with an adaptation of an unproduced Storyteller teleplay written by Anthony Minghella. There are stories from all over the world. Some are familiar, some are less so.

My favorite part about this book is every story is done by a different team of writers and artists and all the art is different. It reminds me of a favorite storybook I had when I was young with different illustrations for each story. Tying it together is some wonderful script/callgraphy writing by Rus Wooton. It's a fun issue, and now I'll have to dig out my dvd of the series and watch them all over again.
Profile Image for Mel.
193 reviews
June 10, 2013
I received a copy of the digital ARC from Net Galley and was immediately blown away. I love the illustrations and the pages were easy to pinch and zoom on my Nook Color. I have never seen the TV series except for the Greek Myths special so I am sure many of the tales were retold but they were awesome fables and fairytales and I found myself unable to put it down. I read nearly the entire book in one sitting and finished it all in less than a day. This is a beautiful graphic novel adaptation. I actually can't wait to get a paperback copy when it comes out later this summer.
Profile Image for Steven Shinder.
Author 5 books20 followers
April 6, 2016
If you love the show Jim Henson's The Storyteller, then this is a must-read! I could hear John Hurt and Brian Henson again as I read through this anthology of old tales, which appear in different art styles. I love the back-and-forth between the Storyteller and his dog. And I really felt for some of the characters in the tales, and even those outside of the tales like the cat out in the rain.
Profile Image for Michael.
Author 1 book24 followers
March 28, 2012
Some of my favorite comics creators re-telling classic (and sometimes obscure) fairy tales and folk stories. Might would have enjoyed it more if I was familiar with the Jim Henson characters who introduce each tale, but their bickering got to be tiresome.
1,628 reviews4 followers
December 17, 2025
Well, I came at this one completely backwards, having read all of the later books in the series first. I'm not quite sure why I sought this one out; I think I was maybe looking in the library catalogue for Dark Crystal stuff and this also turned up. Also, the catalogue displays completely the wrong cover image for this book, though I thought it might be the cover of one of the chapters and felt especially intrigued.

Unlike the later themed collections, this is a scattershot mix of different tales with nothing in particular to tie them together (though a common complaint I've had with the other volumes is how flimsy the theme often is). At nine stories there are more than twice as many chapters as the later volumes, though since the book feels about the same thickness they must all be much shorter on average. Generally a quick and interesting read. Most were tales that I knew, or were variant of familiar ones, but some were novel.
Profile Image for Louisa Robertson.
110 reviews
May 16, 2018
Unfortunately nostalgia for the amazing tv series heavily influenced my rating. It was a favourite of my siblings and I, so when one of them gave us all the gift of this graphic novel for Christmas I was really excited.

However, the stories aren’t the same and some weren’t really that engaging (no moral or not much substance).

I really liked the different art work, but again I had in my head what I felt it should be and it just wasn’t. Nothing can live up to my memories of the show.

People not familiar with the series would probably really enjoy this book. Love the idea; just not for me.
Profile Image for Wanda.
49 reviews
April 29, 2019
This is a graphic kindle book. My best description for this book is: Fun, fun, fun. I really enjoyed reading through this little comic type book on kindle. The main character tells a story. The interactions between the storyteller and his dog are humorous. Parts of the story is humorous as well. I remember the old series of Jim Henson's The Storyteller on TV. I wish someone would bring it back to life. But, this kindle book is the next best thing.
Profile Image for Kelley.
29 reviews2 followers
July 27, 2019
I loved this show when it was on television. Many of the stories were ones I hadn't heard or read before, and the Henson Creature shop puppets and animatronics created a sense of wonder and whimsy that I still remember fondly decades later. The graphic novel beautifully captures the spirit of the show. The stories are delightful and the artwork evokes a sense of magic. It will appeal to fans of fantasy and fairy tales as well as fans of Henson's puppets.
Profile Image for Knight Of.
489 reviews8 followers
July 22, 2022
I've been getting back into watching Jim Henson's Storyteller. It was pretty fun and I wished it had more season. The comic satisfy these wishes. Although the stories are a little more light than what was on the show, it still pretty fun. I especially enjoyed their take on Puss in Boots where the cat and the princess' suitor are one and the same as well as the Frog who became Emperor. I also I guess the storyteller has served two kings and entertained two princes in his past.
Profile Image for Shazza Maddog.
1,359 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2024
Collection of short stories with some memorable characters - i.e., I recognized a lot of the stories. The retellings were all by different authors and very enjoyable as were the Storyteller and his talking Dog. I vaguely remember this as a Henson project? The dog is definitely a Henson flop-eared dog.

At any rate, the stories were all enjoyable and the art for each complemented the story being told. Will definitely be looking for more of these.
Profile Image for James.
208 reviews2 followers
October 22, 2017
I recently read The Story-teller (Novelization) and found it a bit of a mixed bag; there were some quality stories in there, but some were a bit bland. However, this collection of comics is really poor. The majority of the stories barely have any substance to them, so most were completely pointless. The art style changes with each story which is pretty cool but could annoy some people.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews

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