Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal captivated the imaginations of children and adults when it was released in 1982. The film introduced us to the world of Thra and to Gelflings, Skeksis, Mystics, and so much more. A sequel was planned in the form of another feature film to carry on the story and expand the world, but it never came to be. However, the screenplay has found a new life! Archaia is publishing the sequel, The Power of the Dark Crystal, as a comic book series.

Cover for the first issue by Jae Lee and June Chung

Based on the original screenplay by David Odell, Annette Odell, and Craig Pearce, the 12 issue monthly series will kick off “countless decades” after the events of The Dark Crystal. Jen and Kira have grown the heck up and have been busy ruling Thra as King and Queen. Everything sounds awesome, right? Not so fast. Distracted by power, Jen and Kira can’t feel the needs of the Gelfings and the world as they used to. A new character, the Fireling Thurma, is tasked with getting a shard of the Dark Crystal to restore power to her realm and she accidentally brings back the Skeksis and Mystics. Oops. But, hey, it means adventure!

Writer Simon Spurrier will pen the series, and Kelly and Nichole Matthews will illustrate it. Issue one arrives to your local comic shop on February 15, 2017. In a press release, Lisa Henson, President and CEO of The Jim Henson Company, said, “Like the ending of The Dark Crystal, in which the duality of good and evil is collapsed and reconciled, the story of The Power of the Dark Crystal is that of reconciling the inner and the outer worlds—perhaps even the unconscious and the conscious. This is an amazing and original theme.”

I’m excited by the idea of returning to the world I first encountered as a kid and seeing what’s different. What do you think about The Dark Crystal sequel finding life as a comic book? Will you be purchasing it? Tell me in the comments.

Images: Universal Pictures, Archaia