It’s not the stories you tell, but how they are told
A lovingly crafted and richly illustrated tales of giants.
Inspired by folklore from around the world and told in the spirit of Jim Henson’s beloved television series, this collection of legendary tales recounts when enormous beings roamed the land.
It’s not about the stories you tell, but how you tell them.
The critically praised Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Giants features four mythological tales about when giants ruled the Earth, based on folklore from all around the world and told in the format of Jim Henson‘s beloved television program.
This beautiful hardcover edition, which includes an in-depth look at the process and attention invested in adapting each of these timeless tales, is part of a series that captures the imagination with its stunning images. Conor Nolan, Brandon Dayton, Feifei Ruan, and Jared Cullum are just a few of the contemporary writers who contributed to this fantastic volume.
Maybe you’ve outgrown fairy tales, but they always seem to find their way back into your heart. The footprints in Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Giants are enormous. Let’s assume that, like storyteller Jim Henson, your kid is a natural advocate for his or her own point of view. That being said, Boom! didn’t back down when creating this series, and the result is a book that children can sneak a look at during storytime.
View the complete library of The storyteller books.
Other Books In The Series
The Storyteller: Dragons
A lovingly crafted and richly illustrated tales of dragons.
The Storyteller: Fairies
A lovingly crafted and richly illustrated tales of fairies.
The Storyteller: Witches
A lovingly crafted and richly illustrated tales of witches.
Details
Title: Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Giants
Pages: 128 pages
Published: August 29, 2017
Publisher: Archaia
Language: English
Appropriate for ages: 9 – 12
Contents
Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Giants #1 The Peach’s Son
Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Giants #2 The Tailor’s Daughter
Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Giants #3 Pru and the Fomorian Giants
Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: Giants #4 The Fisherman and The Giant
#1 The Peach’s Son
I’ve always liked listening to folktales and mythology from various civilizations (in fact, I’m hoping to one day publish a collection of parodies of them that I’ve been working on for some time, but that’s neither here nor there), and how people perceive them differently. I’m a huge fan of Jim Henson, so I’m interested in anything about him.
Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller: Giants is a collection of mythical stories about when giants walked the Earth, drawn from folklore across the world and told in the spirit of Jim Henson’s beloved television series. Conor Nolan, Jim Henson’sThe StoryTeller: Giants.
In the first issue, Conor Nolan recasts “The Peach’s Son,” a Japanese tale about a giant who was raised by humans but never embraced by them.
The great will take a chance to be a hero and show that he belongs in the community he terms home when a small town is infested with evildoers.
Brandon Dayton, Jared Cullum, and Feifei Ruan will be among the writers for future issues.
The television program was, in fact, an adaptation. I mean it is more than simply a folktale retold in the form of a cartoon. Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller was a children’s television series from the 1980s with John Hurt as the storyteller and Brian Henson as his talking dog. I never saw it myself, but as the narrative largely retells classic stories, there isn’t much in the way of continuity to be concerned about.
Even though the StoryTeller and his dog are easy to adapt, there is still artwork to consider. Given John Hurt’s exaggerated features and unruly hair in his part, it’s simple enough to translate that into comic form.
However, there are still some aspects of the character (mostly in the eyebrows) that cause me to say, “Yep, it’s John Hurt.” The dog, on the other hand, does not appear to be a puppet from the Henson Creature Shop but rather a typical dog who can talk; considering that’s what he’s supposed to be, it works out well.
The name “Big Daddy” might lead you to believe that the StoryTeller is, in fact, a big man, when in reality he isn’t. The Storyteller is a typical-sized person, but the tales he’s relating now are about giants. Of course, there have been numerous other “The StoryTeller” comics before, so it’s just business as usual.
There are several giants to choose from in Mythology, whether it’s because they’re large men or supernatural creatures. Giants abound in mythology (and a surprising number of them are vanquished by people dubbed Jack for whatever reason). However, this adds to the intrigue over who will be the first storyteller.
The tale is titled “The Peach’s Son,” but it immediately recalls the Japanese fairy tale of Momotaro – a young boy who was born from a peach and went to combat a band of oni (demons/ogres) before meeting up with a talking dog, monkey, and pheasant along the way.
There are several versions of the tale, some of which swap the peaches or the creatures that join him, while others alter his character in some way.
However, I have never seen a version where Momotaro was a giant before. Some versions say he was tall and powerful, but the first version I’ve seen is where he’s a literal giant who goes to battle ogres because the people were afraid of him and were on the verge of turning into an enraged mob.
I’m not saying that altering folktales is a bad idea; I’m just interested as to why they decided to begin by turning the hero into a colossus rather than with a tale that includes giants.
Yet it does so in a subtle way, using the main plot to urge the protagonist (who isn’t referred to as “Momotaro” throughout) on his quest.
The dialogue takes a change during the tale’s initial stages when it becomes more like a classic fairy tale in terms of characters monologuing and waxing lyrically about their objectives and circumstances. The StoryTeller’s monologue, on the other hand, is broken up by brief shots of the crowd, during which the narrator (the titular StoryTeller) pops up in the midst of a crowd shot to continue his story and an amusing sequence where another character looks at him perplexed while he addresses the audience.
The artwork throughout the issue is fantastic, and it fits the tone and story perfectly. There’s some. The narrative is told effectively, and everything receives the same amount of care and attention.
There are some excellent establishing shots, such as the shot of the ogre campground, the flying ogre flag over the campsite, ruined villagers’ homes to the side, and an inebriated ogre falling in the middle of the road. The drawing of the ogre king is excellent, with strong armor, a huge beard, and flies buzzing around his head.
The peach boy is a little more basic in appearance than his mother, with simple gowns, short black hair, and rather enormous ears (besides being a giant). However, as the protagonist, it is actually acceptable to appear minimal; not only does it display his modest origins, but it also makes it simpler for readers to connect with him.
The animals in War Dogs are more unique, and even as wild creatures, they all manage to show their personalities. The StoryTeller and his dog serve as a framework for the narrative, bringing it to a nice conclusion.
It’s a mild scene, with an elderly gentleman and his dog by the fire on this cold winter day, which comforts one’s heart. The tale is self-contained, so it’s simple to read the book on its own, yet those who enjoy learning about different legends and myths might want to continue reading.
#2 The Tailor’s Daughter
The Storyteller is the protagonist who was created by Jim Henson in the late 1980s to combine several tales together. His loyal dog, who usually takes a nap beside the fireplace, is with him. Consider the Storyteller to be a Tales From The Crypt-esque take on the Crypt Keeper from earlier episodes.
Jim Henson’s The Storyteller Giants is this generation’s version of everyone’s beloved chattering grandfather. Previously, the Storyteller introduced us to dragons and witches, but now he tells us stories about giants.
The old tailor, who has gathered his six sons and one daughter to inform them about the family’s riches, is the protagonist of Issue 2 of The Storyteller Giants. The girl’s father was going to marry her to the man who resided at the top of the mountain in a story, as it sometimes occurred in fairy tales. The only distinction in this narrative is that the person is a colossus, at least 15 times larger than the tailor’s daughter.
The girl at first thinks he’s delicious, but when she meets him, he says that he’s nice and promises to feed her and provide her with anything she could desire as long as she doesn’t open the basement door. You know what happens when someone says not to do anything, right? Even if they’re a big giant with a red face.
A dozen women are imprisoned in the basement, each of whom has been promised something similar by the huge. When the tailor’s daughter first made her way to the castle, the fun and merging of various world fairy tales occurred.
Alice traveled to many places, meeting a variety of people who she selflessly assisted out of hazardous situations. Those creatures gave her gifts that appeared unusual at first, but which help her when she finds out the true danger she’s in.
It’s like the lesson from the briar patch and the rabbit all over again. The artwork is intricate, beautiful, and some of the most gorgeous you’ll find in comics. With just the silhouette of a character talking, Brandon Dayton leaves some of the panels vacant.
Some panels, on the other hand, are meticulously built to allow readers to easily imagine themselves in the giant’s library, studying ancient tapestries drawn at unusual proportions.
The comic book’s art and narrative are appropriate for all ages because there is no violence or profanity. However, while any age could read the comic, it will be most appreciated by kids in middle school through high school. Because of the fairy tale structure, fantastic artwork, and the fact that it’s a comic book, it will appeal equally to boys and girls.
We (as grown-up readers) anticipate the Archaia comic books because they are some of the ones we (as adult readers) look forward to the most for a variety of reasons. Certainly, part of it is nostalgia for Jim Henson, his world, and the sense that his works will bring back memories.
His works have still maintained a connection with the original material in some fashion to this day, decades after his death. The Storyteller is still there, but new creators are donning the shoes. It has the same warmth, family appeal, and all-age appeal that you recall from your first encounter with the Storyteller.
#3 Pru and the Fomorian Giants
Oh, the artwork. It’s breathtaking. I’d crawl into this tale if I could; it’s light and immersive. This isn’t the first time I’ve read Jim Henson’s Storytellers: Giants, and it isn’t going to be the last. It was a pleasant surprise to discover a tale that is totally about girl power, as young Pru fights the giants to save her brother, Spoon.
The Fomoire giants have seized control of the Emerald Isle, and it is up to a hunter to defend his young, loving daughter. He goes away for battle but vanishes from view. A cautionary tale about a lovely young girl who must watch over her infant brother Spoon in an unsafe environment.
Pru and her brother, Val, are a family unit. They grow and endure together, taking her father’s words “family stays together” to heart. When danger strikes, Pru does everything she can to keep them safe. The film then focuses on the relationship between Spoon and a Puka, with whom he befriends.
The pair, however, must fight to defend Spoon when Pru is threatened by the Puka, solidifying them as a family. Despite her strength, Pru has trouble with trust and retaining the past, as well as her own power. I adore her.
I can’t say it enough: this comic is fantastic. The tale is both well-written and timely. Strong girls and family loyalty, as well as trying to keep your head up in a world full of wolves and giants, are themes that never go out of style.
The writing is fantastic, and it’s supported by amazing art that really brings the tale to life. The images transport you into a lovely fantasy world. I adore how Pru is adorned with a skull helmet. I adore Puka’s fluidity as she transforms from creature to creature.
I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time and I must say that it does not disappoint. However, because I missed out on the previous one, I am somewhat disappointed.
#4 The Fisherman and The Giant
In the concluding Giants tale, Feifei Ruan recites “The Fisherman and The Giant,” an Arabic tale about a vengeful king who has turned his people into fish and a fisherman who must work to lift the enchantment.
In the other direction, Feifei Ruan’s “The Fisherman and the Giant” makes you hesitant to act too hastily after learning about his adversary’s goals. The final line of the problem is a stumper in the finest possible way, while Ruan’s art is forceful in its pursuit of novel page layouts to adapt myths from Arabian Nights.
Line drawings with a rough texture and few details on a white backdrop; the more you engage, the greater utilizing a colossal beard to bind the page (Ruan claims that one required several reworks).
The painting is done in a classic style with just two hues. It has a one-of-a-kind appearance that’s attractive. When something strange happens, we see a fisherman catching fish. He is a good and caring fish, who needs his help. He does exactly that, as a nice and compassionate person should.
A King has been overthrown by a Giant King. It’s a devastating story. It is filled with sorrow. You will feel sorry for this Giant King, as well as those he punishes due to his anger.
The fisherman is a daring individual who takes action as he believes is the greatest solution to protect others. The tale and artwork complement each other perfectly, with no bumps in the road.