Review: Beneath the Dark Crystal Volume #1

Obviously, if you’ve been keeping up with the things I read and write about, you know that I’ve previously read a little of this title. (I’ve also included right HERE) I really love Henson stuff, as I’ve said, and it’s not often that – in my typical reading in comics – that I often get to as I’m primarily a super focused sort of reader. That’s not at all to say that I don’t enjoy these types of titles. I guess it’s more me playing myself and saying I need to be better at paying attention to the world outside of capes.

The volume itself kicks off with beautiful interiors held together by bits of backstory that shed the light on three worlds twined together by both by places the light now touches in a dance of rebuilding rising from the ashes. Like a phoenix. Some worlds brimming with beauty and others still half hidden in the dark where people live in fear. A delicate sort of ballet that not all of the worlds have figured out the balance of.

The chaos breaks way to old traditions that, for one of the Firelings and leads to new situations for Kensho and his friends. Well, traveling companions. It’s a sweet little title filled with a lot of character growth for those who might be following it in its singular issues. What I like most about the volume is that writer, Adam Smith, manages to find a balance between back and forth with the narratives of all the people in the kingdoms; Gelfling and Fireling alike. Each manage to have a cohesion that ends up culminating into one entire story that transitions itself seamlessly between all.

Between that and the art by Alexandria Huntingon, which I can’t compliment enough, is close enough to what I feel is reflective of the Henson animations without overly trying. There’s a fine line that it walks, understanding that too much realism can take away from fantasy, and it manages to find its footing without over stepping itself into something far too much in the real world.

I think that when coupled together, this volume brings itself to a higher plane that’s impactful in its own right as far as the sheer amount of story inside it. Nothing feels rushed or like things are being stuffed too heavily in one portion of it; there is a natural ebb and flow to it all that makes it easy to read in one sitting if you so desire to. The best part is that the entire little 4 out of 5 star volume is family friendly…meaning it stands the test of time and is something that can be read to future generations long after it might come to a close.

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(W) Adam Smith (A) Alexandria Huntington (CA) Benjamin Dewey