Retail Price: $19.95
Page Count: 128 pages
Format: hardcover with dust jacket, 8” x 8”, full color
Written by: Tim Beedle, Jason M. Burns, Katie Cook, Jake Forbes, Joe LeFavi, Paul Morrissey, Grace Randolph and Katie Strickland
Illustrated by: Heidi Arnhold, Nichol Ashworth, Ross Campbell, Lindsay Cibos, Katie Cook, Chandra Free, Cory Godbey, Chris Lie and Mark Simmons
Cover by: David Petersen
Release Date: July 20, 2011

Guest Review by: MayhemMiss

Let me start by saying that, despite my kindred spirit-ship with Boober, I loathe the Fraggles. I realize this won’t win me any popularity contests and is a bold statement for my first review here on Gaming Angels – however, I always feel that honesty is the best policy!

The artwork in this second edition of Fraggle Rock: Tails and Tales is phenomenal. From the epic cover illustration of Mouse Guard’s David Petersen to the vivid coloring of Katie Cook (my personal super favorite), I was immediately drawn in, my inner hatred soothed and I was convinced that this was not so bad. Within the book, the style changes with each story and new artist, the way they share their version of the famed characters is magnificent to experience and the sketchbooks at the end really give you a taste of how the art came to be.

The guide in the beginning properly reintroduced me to characters I’d known from my childhood; Red, Gobo, Wembley, the hippie Mokey and many more. This was an essential bonus for me, considering the last time I paid any attention to an episode of Fraggle Rock I was five years old and lacked the mind sucking children that I have today.

Tales and Tails consists of nine engaging and humorous stories wherein the charming characters teach a handful of important lessons such as bravery, thoughtfulness and the value of friendship. The activity pages were surprisingly useful and fun. But best of all; the characters and their hardships are relatable, easily making this a comic that I would share with my own aforementioned children.

Admittedly, aside from a clever quip about cassette tapes and the desire to snuggle each adorable Doozer, the magic of the Fraggles is lost on me – even so, I enjoyed following along on the Fraggles’ adventures! I have no doubt that new and old Fraggles fans alike will find this edition in the series delightful and heartwarming.

You can also find MayhemMiss at Razingmayhem.com

The visit back to my childhood is now complete. The Jim Henson Company and Archaia have announced that the first Fraggle Rock comic book will be out in comic book shops this April. Issue 1 (of 3) will be available for pre-order in Previews which is why Archaia wants us to know about it now.

What’s also cool is the news of Archaia’s contribution to Free Comic Book day which is a flip book that will include Fraggle Rock and Mouse Guard for free on May 1, 2010.

“All of us at Archaia are so proud of how Fraggle Rock is turning out,” said Stephen Christy, Director of Development for Archaia. “We’re taking a lot of unique approaches with this series, from launching it in our popular 8” x 8” Mouse Guard format to bringing in incredibly talented indie creators such as Jeffrey Brown, creator of Incredible Change-Bots, and Jeremy Love, creator of Bayou, to share their visions of this classic Jim Henson Company creation. We’re working very hard to make sure this book is a fresh take for fans of the show and will also appeal to new audiences, and I’m excited that readers will be able to fully dive into the world of Fraggle Rock with issue #1 in April and our Free Comic Book Day special in May!”

“‘Fraggle Rock’ has devoted fans who have told us they want more adventures from Gobo and the gang and we know Archaia is the perfect partner to tell these new stories,” said Melissa Segal, The Jim Henson Company’s Sr. Vice President, Global Consumer Products. “With exceptional attention to detail and excellent storytelling, Archaia is especially suited to introduce Fraggles to young readers who may be meeting these characters and their fantastical world for the first time.”

Fraggle Rock started in 1983 by Jim Henson. I remember watching alot of it because I was in Europe at the time and we had one English channel. The series followed Fraggles: Gobo, Mokey, Red, Wembley and Boober. It’s been 25 years (I feel old!) and there is some new life in Fraggle Rock. There was a recent series DVD release and new Fraggle Rock Forever line of designer apparel and jewelry.

The multi-year partnership will draw from The Jim Henson Company’s extensive film and television library, including Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Mirrormask, The Storyteller and other titles. The agreement also allows The Jim Henson Company and Archaia to partner with talent in the comic book, television and film industries to create brand-new stories under a co-branded banner, building on the legacy of quality and creativity of The Jim Henson Company brand and strengthening Archaia’s relationships within the entertainment sector.

“Some of the best storytellers in the world are flocking to comic books and graphic novels, making them the foremost platform for innovative and imaginative storytelling,” said Joe LeFavi, Director of Publishing and Development at The Jim Henson Company and who will serve as story editor on all the books. “Archaia has always epitomized artistic integrity, and their passion and support for our brands ensure that fans will receive the very best from the properties they know and love as well as from the new stories we will tell.”

“This is a truly groundbreaking agreement, as it is not just a licensing deal but a partnership in every sense of the word,” said Stephen Christy, Archaia’s Director of Development. “To work with the entire Jim Henson Company and with new talent to create the next generation of Jim Henson Company fan favorites is an unprecedented opportunity, and a dream come true for all of us at Archaia. Creating comics that become a part of the incredibly rich Jim Henson Company legacy is an exciting challenge, and I think fans will share our excitement when they see the talent we’re bringing in to help make these comics a reality.”

Representatives from Archaia and Henson will announce creative teams and a release schedule for the initial slate at San Diego Comic-Con International, with the first title tentatively scheduled for winter 2009.

As a life-long Henson fan myself, this development marks the beginning of more of the things I was enjoying already. It will be interesting to see which direction the stories based on these treasured Henson classics will go. Jim Henson was a revolutionary childhood staple, for many people in my generation. I trust that their work will be treated with good hands. And I must admit… they do have some colorful material to work with.