Maze Comic Book Reviews - Jim Henson's Labyrinth Comics

I read and review maze books about the spirituality of mazes, or the history of physical mazes. I also delve into comic books that contain either mazes and labyrinths. You will not be surprised that today’s comics based on Jim Henson’s classic film from 1986 Labyrinth do just that. The movie has been in the news again as it made it’s way into theaters January 8-17, 2026 to celebrate it’s 40th Anniversary.

We have 5 different comic versions to look at.

Jim Henson's Labyrinth 2016 30th Anniversary Special (2016)

from BOOM! Studios, 40 pages

by Jonathan Case, Cory Godbey, Ted Naifeh, Adrianne Ambrose

The comic consists a collection of 7 stories featuring some of the movie characters (the wonderful Jim Henson puppets from the movie). It is actually a collection of previously released mini stories that were given out for free comic book day. The stories are quick, fun and are not interconnected. It is helpful to know a bit about the characters to enhance the relatability, but you will not be lost (maze reference?) if you pick this up with no prior knowledge.

The best story, and the reason for this review is story 4 titled “Rock Solid Friendship”, which features Ludo the monster in a predicament that has him entering the labyrinth to escape. But is entering the labyrinth really a good idea ? Now Ludo must find his way out !!

Ludo approaching the Labyrinth

Overall this is a comic great for fans of the movie, and worth a read if you are not but you do like 5 page fantasy stories.

Jim Henson's Labyrinth Tales (2016)

from BOOM! Studios, 46 pages

by Jim Henson, Cory Godbey

We come back with a second book based off of the same characters, from the same year, the same publishing company and the same illustrator. I think you will love the artwork you see in this volume from Cory Godbey and I suggest you check out his site/portfolio to discover even more.

And as far as a review. Really this book, despite having the same illustrator is more about the illustration than the first volume above. The book is almost completely full page illustrations that look like paintings. There are 3 short stories included in the book. Outstanding book. You will spend more time looking at the pictures than reading the dialogue.

Jim Henson's Labyrinth 2017 Special (2017)

from BOOM! Studios, 40 pages

by Jim Henson, Katie Cook, Delilah S. Dawson, Roger Langridge , illustrated by Jared Cullum and more

Our final review is from the 2017 Special volume that features 6 short stories. Of the three comics this one does feature a few stories with the Goblin King, but like the other volumes really focuses on the puppet characters from the film like Sir Didymus, Worm, The Four Guards, and Ludo.

Each of the stories are fun and we get a different look from our first 2 reviews. This is mostly because we have 5 different illustrators for the 6 stories. Although we do not see any illustrations of the labyrinth, we do get a call back to the famous MC Escher inspired room you probably remember from the movie.

Jim Henson's Labyrinth Artist Tribute (2016) AMZN

from Boom! Studios, 120 Pages

by various authors and illustrators (see list below)

First, let’s start with a photo of the page that lists all of the artists you will find in the edition. It is a large list and includes artists who use many different styles !

This comic is exactly what the title says it is. If you are a fan of Labyrinth, either the book, the movie, or the comics, this is the book for you. It has the feel of a coffee table book, because while there are snippets of writing, this is also about the artwork. The colorful characters created by Jim Henson that you saw as puppets in the movie make for great subjects for creative artists.

I did not want to include much artwork from book but this transition page did catch my eye.

And I did feel compelled to include this maze ! Because, well, this is a maze website and it features the characters from the Labyrinth world.

Overall, this is an artist tribute that I would love to see for many different franchises.

UPDATE: In anticipation of the 40th anniversary re-release of the movie Labyrinth into theaters, Boom Studios! released a new adaption of the movie in 8 issues:

Jim Henson's Labyrinth (2024)

8 issues, by Kyla Vanderklugt, illustrated by Giorgio Spalletta

This is an expanded novelization of the book by A.C.H. Smith. You can see a preview of the first issue here. All reviews which I agree with are focused on the wonderful artwork by Giorgio Spalletta.

While my favorite comic of the 4 was Jim Henson's Labyrinth Tales because of the illustrations, all books are nice, short, fun stories that anyone could enjoy. If you were a fan of the movie (or still are a fan), all 4 are worth a read/look. And if you want to get into longer stories I suggest you check out the longer comic series that have been published:

Jim Henson's Labyrinth (6 issues)

Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Coronation (12 issues)

Jim Hanson’s Labyrinth (2024) (8 issues)

Other blog posts you might like:

The 12 Best Maze and Labyrinth Movies Of All Time

How to make over 40 types of maze

A Review of 9 Maze-themed Books for 5-10 year olds

I wanted to pull together a collection of maze books that are perfect for kids aged 5-10 years old. None of these are traditional maze books but have mazes as part of the plot. We get Batman and Robin, Scooby-Doo, the boxcar Children, Once Upon a Tim, Buzz and Bingo, Thundertrucks and 2 Christian books. 2 corn mazes, 3 hedge mazes and 3 labyrinths.

And the final book is actually non-fiction. So if you are looking for an educational book, skip to the end !

Scarecrow's Nightmare Maze (2016) AMZN

by J. E. Bright, Luciano Vecchio, 88 Pages. Ages 7-12 years old

If I’m being honest when I saw this book I thought it was a comic. But it is not a comic, it is a young adult book of 88 easy to read pages. I found digitally from my local library. Our antagonist is Scarecrow and his very effective fear gas. In this story we have Scarecrow using a maze to confuse and scare his victims when it is effectively combined with his fear gas. Batman and Robin are on his trail and are trying to catch him and return him to Arkham Asylum. There are only a few illustrations in the book, but I think the few that there are are very good (Check out Batman and Robin walking in the corn maze below!). The story is good and reads like a Batman comic although the vocabulary is targeted at a younger audience. Overall, If you are fan of Batman and mazes, you will like this book.

Batman and Robin in a corn maze !

If you are a fan of Batman, check out my review of a maze centric episode from Batman the Animated Series called If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich? from way back in 1992.

The Mystery of the Maze Monster (2014) AMZN

by John Sazaklis; 112 Pages, Ages 7-11 years

First I need to mention that this is different from “choose” books I have read in the past. To me this this has longer passages between decisions, so you get more story before making that decision. As you can tell from the cover there are 10 different endings ! Personally I did the book 4 different times and I never caught the villain ! This is a Scooby-Doo book. I thought I would catch them each time like on the cartoon ! It is not a bad thing, just surprising.

This book is fun and does take you in many different directions after the initial set-up. That set-up is what made me read and do a review of the book. A minotaur appears to have stolen some valuable items and has escape into a hedge maze. Can the gang catch it ? (As I said before I went 0 for 4).

There are some nice illustrations in the book that made me nostalgic for the tv show. I also found myself hearing the different characters voices in my head as I read. I enjoyed the book and think you would too !

One other thing of note - If you enjoy this book, there appear to be a total of 14 Scooby-Doo ‘You Choose’ books available !

The Clue in the Corn Maze: The Boxcar Children Mysteries, Book 101 AMZN

by Gertrude Chandler Warner; 144 Pages from Albert Whitman & Company, for Ages 7-10 years

I am really glad that I decided to read this book. Of course I picked it up because I knew the story included a corn maze, but I was pleasantly surprised by the story. Yes, this book is meant for children 7-10 years old and I am an adult. I still appreciated the simple way the story was told. I am currently learning how to speak a second language and would love this kind of book in that language.

The story takes place on a farm that has a festival for the town which features a corn maze. Someone is vandalizing the maze each night and leaving notes to not hold the festival. Along the way a variety of people are shown to have motivations that may mean they are the perpetrators. The feel of the story reminded me of a Scooby-Doo episode. The short chapters pace in story just right and this is a good read. I also noticed some words that were meant to expand the vocabulary of the young reader which I liked. I don’t give a score for books, but this book is recommended.

Molly's Maze Discovery (2021) AMZN

by Carmen Allen. Own Image 57 Print Pages. Ages 6-10. Part 2 of the Molly Greenwood Adventures series

I came across this book, Molly's Maze Discovery, while browsing for something to read from the library. You know I can’t pass up a maze book no matter what age it is intended for. This book is about Molly (Greenwood) and her friends as they are tempted to enter a hedge maze despite being told they are not old enough by the King. I should mention that Molly is a princess (see book 1, this is book 2 in the series), thus the King.

After finding a map of the maze with an X hidden inside the children give in to their temptations and enter the maze. What follows is an adventure that includes 2 men chasing the children to try to get them into an orphanage. We have secret trap doors and secret rooms and a nice adventure for the kids. Without giving away too much of the story, we get a nice message (and a hidden message). This is a Christian book and suitable for ages 7-12.

You can find information on the complete series at the author’s website.

Baby's Labyrinth (2022) AMZN

by Bobby Holley, from Christian Faith Publishing, 44 Pages For ages 3 months to 10 years

The book is a bedtime story for kids about a book of bedtime stories that is lost. It is a quick read of 44 pages ( although that may depend on just how sleepy your children are!). The story is composed of 8 chapters and follows a group of five babies and their mother.

After the initial set-up we get into the main part of the story, and the part we are most interested in in Chapter 2, titled Into the Labyrinth. The kids have found their way into a colorful labyrinth (details are saved for the book). This starts our quest to find the book, and we meet a variety of characters along the way. It is in Chapter 4, titled Magic of the Maze where we learn that the children won’t be able to fall asleep without their book (oh no !). The quest continues and we eventually reach our conclusion (spoiler….any guess?). The book has a few illustrations, but is really a story to be read ( versus a bedtime story book that uses pictures and reading together). I would have liked more illustrations, but overall, a nice story.

The Labyrinth of Doom (2022) AMZN

by Stuart Gibbs, illustrated by Stacy Curtis; 157 Pages, for ages 7-10

The Labyrinth of Doom by Stuart Gibbs and Stacy Curtis, which is the second book in the "Once Upon a Tim" series. The story follows Tim, a knight-in-training, and his best friend Belinda, as they embark on a quest to save Princess Grace. The princess needs rescuing again (also in book 1 of the series), and Tim and Belinda must face a series of challenges as they traverse a labyrinth, including menacing beasts like the minotaur and treacherous obstacles like chasms filled with cave sharks. Yes, cave sharks. I enjoyed the writing style a lot (maybe I like kids books ?) and found the story to be engaging. The illustrations are also fun by Stacy Curtis.

This is a great book for kids, that I definitely would recommend.

Buzz and Bingo in the Monster Maze (2005) AMZN

by Alan Durant and Sholto Walker; 40 pages, for ages 6-7

I was able to borrow this book, Buzz and Bingo in the Monster Maze, online from my library. That meant I spent a portion of my time using the read along feature (fun, but a bit slow for me). The book follows the duo Buzz and Bingo as they take a walk through the forest on the night of a full moon. They find a sign for a monster party but they must arrive by solving a hedge maze. The story follows them as they encounter monsters lost in the maze ! I really enjoy the many illustrations. This is a fast read and would be a good bedtime read !

Monster Maze ! A Monster Truck Myth (2019) AMZN

by Blake Hoena (Author), Fern Cano (Illustrator) 50 pages, for ages 5-7

This is a really fun story to read…IF you already know the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. This is basically a version of that story but with monster trucks as all of the characters. You can read the book without that background and still enjoy it, but think of this as a movie sequel without seeing the original movie - you just miss a lot of creativity and nuance. I like the creativity used for this book and it is a quick, fun read.

OUR NON-FICTION BOOK:

The Book of Labyrinths and Mazes (2021) AMZN.

by Silke Vry (Author), Finn Dean (Illustrator), - 96 pages, recommended for Grade Levels 2-5, Ages 7-10 years

What you can expect in this book:

• The book begins by defining the difference between mazes and labyrinths. Mazes are typically made up of a complex network of paths that can lead to dead ends or the center of the maze. Labyrinths, on the other hand, have a single path that leads to the center and back out again.

• The book then goes on to explore the history of mazes and labyrinths. The earliest known mazes were found in ancient Egypt and Crete. These mazes were often associated with religious rituals and were seen as a way to represent the journey of life.

• In the Middle Ages, mazes and labyrinths became popular as a form of entertainment. They were often found in gardens and courtyards, and people would enjoy walking through them for fun.

• The book also discusses the symbolism of mazes and labyrinths. They are often seen as a symbol of the journey of life, with the center representing the goal or destination. They can also be seen as a symbol of the subconscious mind, with the twists and turns representing the different thoughts and emotions that we experience.

• The book concludes by providing instructions on how to create your own maze or labyrinth. It also includes a number of puzzles and games that you can play with mazes.

What this book does best: Great overview of mazes for young readers that reviews many aspects of mazes and labyrinths.

Other blog posts you might like:

The 12 Best Maze and Labyrinth Movies Of All Time

Watchmojo's Best Maze Movie Scenes

How to make over 40 types of mazes

NEW BOOK LAUNCH: The Arrow Maze Book: Volume 3

Announcing a new book:

The Arrow Maze Book: Volume 3

Features 100 all new Arrow Mazes ! This was a quick turn around from Volume 2 to Volume 3. This builds off of Volume 2, so it has less easy to start mazes, less explanations and more interesting mazes to explore. Available in both print and Kindle editions !

I am excited for this sequel and hope you enjoy it too ! Here is an example of a maze you’ll find inside. If you have never seen one you might need an explanation. Double looking arrows jump over a square/space. Warps allow you to move between them when they are the same shape. Start and warp squares can be moved off of in any direction. Enjoy !

Here are all of my books (some are available in multiple languages):

Maze Books for Kids:

Maze Books for Arrow Maze Lovers:

Maze Books for 3 dimensional Maze Lovers:

Need a bigger challenge ? Check out the largest arrow maze in the world !

NEW BOOK LAUNCH: The Pipe Maze Book

Announcing a new book:

The Pipe Maze Book

My first pipe maze book, featuring 100 pipe mazes ! They are a variation on weaving mazes because the you can follow the pathways over and under one another. But, these mazes do not have any dead ends. You just might get frustrated in a loop though ! They are solved from handle to spigot !

If this book does well, it could be worthy of a sequel in the future. Here is maze #13 from the book:

Here are my original 3 books (13 versions if you include Kindle and the different languages).

And here are my 3 recently launched books !

And in a week ?????

Need a bigger challenge ? Check out the largest pipe maze in the world !