WonderCon 2011: Archaia Brings JIM HENSON’s THE STORYTELLER to Comics this Fall!

It's really hard typing while breathing into a paper bag. 

Today Archaia announced a new hardcover anthology based on Jim Henson's The Storyteller television series. CBR has the details on the 100 page collection, due out in September. The book is edited by former Marvel editor Nate Cosby, and the list of creators involved is, shall we say, sublime. 

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 more.

Plus, Cosby is adapting a story from a lost teleplay by Anthony Minghella. 

If you're not familiar with the original Jim Henson series from 1988, you're worthless, gather 'round. The AmericanUK production originally aired on HBO, and went on to win Emmy and Bafta awards for quality children's programming. Each half hour episode was introduced by John Hurt, a magical old coot known only as "The Storyteller." The character would putter around his dramatically lit home, interacting with a lifelike Muppet dog voiced by Brian Henson. Inevitably their activities would result with the old man recalling a classic fairy tale, which he'd relate to his dog as well as the audience. The fairy tales themselves represent some of the most stunning puppetry from Jim Henson's creature shop, with tales and characters far darker than what viewers had ever seen on Sesame Street or The Muppet Show. A second series debuted in 1990, featuring Michael Gambon as a Homer-esque storyteller, relating classic Greek myths, but it was that first series that truly resonated with viewers. Both series are available on DVD, and you can even stream them on Netflix. 

Let's have a look at some art.

First up, the amazing Evan "Doc" Shaner, a regular in our Weekly Sketch-Up series:

Roger Langridge, the writer behind Thor the Mighty Avenger and the writer/artist of Boom's Muppet Show books. 

Last but certainly not least the sensational Janet K. Lee of Archaia's Dapper Men series!

I'm over the moon excited about this project, and I'm even plotting to pick up original pages when they become available. The series is that pivotal a touchstone in my life. Thank you, Nate Cosby, and thank you Archaia for gathering such incredible talent for these Jim Henson comics. 

Alright, I'm gonna go do a full body Kermit flailing of the arms and legs now. Ecstatic.