In Review: Jim Henson Presents #2 – Uncover the Hidden Past of the Skeksis in New Tales from the Worlds of Jim Henson!

Synopsis: Explore the secret history of the Skeksis from acclaimed writer Seanan McGuire (Magic: Soul and Stone) and fan favorite artist Countandra!

And discover more all-new tales set in the worlds of Jim Henson with short stories from Lilah Sturges, Brennan Lee Mulligan, and Darcie Little Badger!

The Stories

The Dark Crystal story that began in the last issue continues in this second installment, taking an intriguing turn.

This issue also explores the world of The Storyteller, featuring two captivating tales. The Tortoise and The Feast in The Sky by Shobo follows a greedy and vain tortoise who convinces a group of birds to let him join their feast. However, once he arrives, he reveals his true colors—only to learn a lesson he won’t soon forget.

In The Secret Ingredient by Christine Larsen, a baker embarks on a quest to find a mysterious ingredient for his cakes and pastries. Along the way, he encounters a bridge troll, leading to a delightful bake-off to determine who can create the most delicious treats.

Additionally, we get a short story set in the world of Labyrinth, titled The Future Goblin. In this tale, the Goblin King speculates about what kind of goblin Sarah’s baby brother might grow up to be. This story likely takes place within the same timeframe as the movie but unfolds off-screen.

The issue concludes with the second part of The Dark Crystal story, The Heretic and The Wanderer, as events take an even more intriguing turn.

Artwork

The various artists working on these stories do a fantastic job of bringing the worlds and characters to life. My favorite was The Secret Ingredient, where a baker faces off against a troll in a pastry bake-off. The only thing missing was a Paul Hollywood-like character lurking in the background, offering commentary. The artist’s take on the pastries looked so good, I’m honestly not sure how I stopped myself from licking the pages!

Overall

A really fun issue featuring two great tales from The Storyteller, one of my favorite Jim Henson productions. I’m looking forward to issue 3 and seeing what new worlds it will take us to!