The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance recently wowed would-be audiences with a trailer for the Netflix TV series that teased a sublime mix of old-school puppetry and animatronics with just the right amount of complementary CGI effects. Intriguingly, the show – a prequel set several years before the 1982 Jim Henson-directed classic that lends its main title – will be accompanied by a comic book series by Boom! Studios (which previously released comics based on The Dark Crystal,) that expands upon the onscreen story.
With Netflix set to premiere the 10-episode TV series on August 30, Boom! will subsequently release tie-in comic book series Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on September 25, kicking off a 12-issue run. However, don’t let the nomenclature similarity fool you. While the comic is based on the show, Boom! isn’t just regurgitating the same story with an adaptation of the series. The comic will justify its existence by (as the description claims,) “introducing the untold histories of key characters from the show,” and feature “explosive events tying into the highly anticipated Netflix series.” As the description further explains of the story:
“Enter a world of wonder, danger, and excitement with [writer Nicole Adelfinger and artist Matias Basla] as they uncover an epic story from the world of Thra in the time before Age of Resistance. War and chaos reign over the once peaceful land and Gelflings everywhere must fight for the survival of their clans against menacing forces. When a Gelfling soldier sets off on a quest to retrieve the one item that could save their people, he changes the destinies of the inhabitants of Thra forever.”
Writer Nicole Andelfinger (Adventure Time, Regular Show, Rugrats) and artist Matias Basla (Boom!’s Sparrowhawk) are tackling this story adaptation/expansion task, set to use their pages and panels to explore new layers of the mythology behind the ambitiously grandiose Netflix show – written by Jeffrey Addis and Will Matthews, directed by Louis Leterrier. As Adelfinger explains in a statement:
“There’s something extraordinarily universal about the theme of good vs. evil that seems to speak to so many people from so many walks of life. It’s why I think The Dark Crystal has such a strong legacy, even to this day!” She adds, “When I was offered the chance to play in that sandbox, exploring the facets of that conflict through some pivotal Age of Resistance characters, well, I couldn’t say no! With Matias Basla’s beautiful art, I’m sure you’ll come to love and adore these new additions to the world just as we have.”
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance # 1 (of 12), as mentioned, is set for release on September 25, on which print copies will hit the shelves of local comic book shops, and be made available for purchase on the Boom! Studios webstore. The comic can also be purchased digitally on the usual providers such as comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and the BOOM! Studios app.
In the meantime, catch a glimpse below at the comic’s artistic style by checking out the provided main cover by illustrator Mona Finden, as well as a connecting variant cover by artists Kelly and Nichole Matthews.
