Weta Announces More Dark Crystal Mini Epics, Shard Statue, and a Sale!

Weta announced they are expanding their Dark Crystal offerings with new Mini Epics of Aughra and Chamberlain, a Crystal Shard statue, and a sale on many of their previously released Labyrinth and Dark Crystal products!

The Crystal Shard

When single shines the triple sun,
What was sundered and undone,
Shall be whole, the two made one,
By Gelfling hand, or else by none.

Tasked by his master, the Mystic urSu, Jen sets out to find Aughra before the three suns of Thra converge. She reveals to him the origin of the Skeksis, brought when the Crystal was broken, entrusting him with taking the broken shard and restoring the Dark Crystal to its former state.

Aughra has many crystals, and only one is the true shard, but remembering the teachings of the Mystics, Jen plays a single note upon his firca flute; the true shard vibrating and glowing.

Before he can get more answers, Jen is forced to flee, as they are besieged by the fearsome Garthim...

FEATURES:

• 1:1 scale prop replica
  
  
• Crafted from crystal glass with internal faceting, faithfully recreating the unique qualities of the original prop
  
  
• Base features the iconography from the Crystal Chamber
  
  
• Light up base that illuminates the shard with its signature purple glow, powered by 3x LR41. (Batteries not included)

MINI EPICS: SKEKSIL THE CHAMBERLAIN

Be careful around this ‘friend’, he’s more treacherous than you can imagine.

All dissembling smiles and obsequious bows on the outside, this sinister plotter is rotten to the core. Responsible for many of the most devious plans the Skeksis ever came up with, this is one Mini Epic that we reckon you’re going to want to keep an eye on, mmmmmm? Imbued with life-giving essence by our expert artists, skekSil the Chamberlain Skeksis comes to your collection straight from the Castle of the Crystal, courtesy of Wētā Workshop.

FEATURES:

• Premium, stylised vinyl figure
  
  
• Most manipulative and cunning of all the Skeksis
  
  
• Dressed in his immaculately detailed original costume
  
  
• Greedily grasping the Skeksis Emperor’s staff in a daring but futile play for the throne
  
  
• Sculpted by Wētā Workshop’s Mini Epics Art Director, Mauro Santini.

MINI EPICS: AUGHRA

One can glean much wisdom from Aughra, provided you can understand her rambling words and riddling speech.

Follow the Greater Sun for a day to the home of Aughra and you will find a mess of perplexing tools and instruments scattered around an enormous revolving orrery. Ducking and weaving with ease through this moving chaos, Aughra remains as sharp as any shard in her collection, and our artists set to work to infuse all her might and mystery into our latest vinyl collectible.

FEATURES:

• Premium, stylised vinyl figure
  
  
• The physical embodiment of Thra, Mother Aughra
  
  
• Depicting Aughra in her iconic red dress
  
  
• Holding her removable eye, through which she can remotely explore the world of Thra
  
  
• Sculpted by Wētā Workshop’s Mini Epics Senior 3D Artist, Jorgelina Yeme

Weta is also having a sale on a few of their previously released Labyrinth and Dark Crystal products through July 27th. 

Including their Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Gelfling statues for $99.

And their Labyrinth Mini Epics 3 for $55. 

You see more of Weta's Dark Crystal and Labyrinth on Weta's website and using the links above. 

‘The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance’ Exhibit Coming To Center For Puppetry Arts!

Puppets, props, and artifacts from The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance will soon be on display at the Center For Puppetry Arts in Atlanta!

Get a behind-the-scenes look at how The Jim Henson Company recreated the fantastical inhabitants and landscapes for the Emmy Award-winning Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. 

Longtime fans and those new to puppetry will find a world to discover and appreciate in this close look at the artistry and craftsmanship behind the creation of the live-action epic.

MOMI's The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance Exhibit in NY

Atlanta radio station show City Lights spoke with the center’s museum director, Sarah Dylla, about the exhibit.

Below are a few highlights of their discussion:  

“In this exhibition, we try to give a bit of a backstory so those who are a part of that strong fan base and those who are not familiar with the story can all find something to enjoy, appreciate and learn from it. So you’ll see a lot of comparisons between the two productions — from the 1982 feature film and the 2019 series,” said Dylla.

She continued, “This project, ‘Age of Resistance,’ really is a huge undertaking and huge labor of love and artistry for a whole community of puppeteers and artists. The production included 75 sets all created to take viewers into different climates and different zones of the world of Thra. It employed 500 employs of all different types, 83 of whom were puppeteers. There were 175 puppets. So, something we wanted viewers to take away is truly the massive amount of labor and creativity that projects like this entail.”

“Something special about this exhibit is that there is a base point for comparison. It is a reboot of a story that was one of Jim Henson’s forays into creating entire fantastical worlds with puppetry and sets. In looking at those puppets and props from the 1982 film and comparing them to now, you can see how things changed, but also how the field and the process of puppetry has stayed the same. We have a section in the book where we look at the production of arms and hands on Skeksis puppets. There are a series of arms that show how the puppet builders put together the arm to be able to have it articulate and move in the right way. You can see the arm from 1982 and then you can see the arm from the more recent Netflix series.”

 
Masterpiece of Puppetry: Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance will be on view at the Center For Puppetry Arts from June 18 - Oct. 31.

New Year ... Same Calendars AGAIN?!

Just like we reported last year, it looks like Universe Publishing, is releasing (almost) the same Labyrinth calendar they've released the last 3 years!

Here are the Labyrinth calendars from 2018 - 2020,

and the images they contain:

2018 - 2020 Labyrinth Calendars

And here is is the Labyrinth 2021 Wall Calendar:

Look familiar? 🤦‍♂️

Well, I guess since MOST of the images are recycled, it's fitting they added the Junk Lady this year.

One nice touch that makes the 2021 stand out out from its predecessors, is the use of Brian Froud's concept art around the months:

Which is a nice touch compared to the generic maze accompanied by a thumbnail of concept art:

Labyrinth 2020 

The good news is, while Labyrinth is basically the same, they've replaced The Dark Crystal calendar with one showcasing The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

With the return of Fraggle Rock and the cancellation of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, who wants to take bets we'll see another very similar Labyrinth calendar next year, but instead of a Dark Crystal calendar, we'll see a recycled version of Universe's Fraggle Rock calendar instead?

I for one hope at least it features photos of Fraggle Rock reboot!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Canceled!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has come to an end as Netflix has officially canceled the series.

Variety is now confirming the rumors we heard in February that "Netflix will not be returning to the planet of Thra."

The news of the comes just after the show won an Emmy for outstanding children’s series.

“We can confirm that there will not be an additional season of ‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.’ We know fans are eager to learn how this chapter of ‘The Dark Crystal’ saga concludes and we’ll look for ways to tell that story in the future,” said executive producer Lisa Henson.

“Our company has a legacy of creating rich and complex worlds that require technical innovation, artistic excellence, and masterful storytelling. Our history also includes productions that are enduring, often finding and growing their audience over time and proving again and again that fantasy and science fiction genres reflect eternal messages and truths that are always relevant. We are so grateful to Netflix for trusting us to realize this ambitious series; we are deeply proud of our work on ‘Age of Resistance,’ and the acclaim it has received from fans, critics and our peers, most recently receiving an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program.”

“We are grateful to the master artists at The Jim Henson Company for bringing ‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ to life for fans around the world,” added a Netflix spokesperson. “We’re thankful to the executive producers Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford, and Louis Leterrier, who also directed all episodes, as well as the writers, cast and crew for their outstanding work and thrilled they were recognized with the Emmy this weekend.”

This follows Netflix cancelling their previous Henson collaboration The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell after one season as well. 

Dark Crystal: Age of Emmy!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance won an Emmy over the weekend for "Outstanding Children's Program."

Below is the official Jim Henson Company 

We are honored to announce The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program! Congrats to all of the incredibly talented artists who brought this fantastic world to life and made the series a reality! Thra rejoices!#Emmy2020 pic.twitter.com/e04iDNNAwN

— The Jim Henson Company (@hensoncompany) September 20, 2020

Congrats to everyone involved with The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. I hope Netflix knows fans want even more of this groundbreaking show.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Gets Two Record Store Day Releases!

Due to COVID-19 and social distancing Record Store Day has now been expanded to 3 days and two of those will see the release of two different The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance soundtrack picture discs. 

Varèse Sarabande Records announced that The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Aureyal Picture Disc) will now be released September 26, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Crystal Chamber Picture Disc) October 24th.

Here's what you can expect on each disc.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Aureyal Picture Disc):

Side A:

“Dzenpo!” – Daniel Pemberton

“Remember Your Oath” – Samuel Sim

“Puppet Show” – Samuel Sim, Daniel Pemberton

“Song Of Thra” – Daniel Pemberton

“The Skeksis Arrive” – Samuel Sim

“Outcast” – Daniel Pemberton

“Outside Podling Wayhouse” – Daniel Pemberton


Side B:

“An Old Story” – Daniel Pemberton

“The Three Brothers Rise” – Daniel Pemberton

“Attack Of The Arathim” – Samuel Sim, Daniel Pemberton

“Our Sister Is Gone” – Samuel Sim

“The Dark Crystal: End Credits” – Daniel Pemberton

“The Dark Crystal: The Age Of Hope” – Daniel Pemberton 

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Crystal Chamber Picture Disc) 

Side A:

“The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance” – Daniel Pemberton

“Another World, Another Time” – Daniel Pemberton

“Story Of The Dark Crystal” – Daniel Pemberton

“Rian + Mira Dreamfast” – Daniel Pemberton

“Aughra Awakes” – Daniel Pemberton

“The Crystal Chamber” – Daniel Pemberton

“Essence Draining” – Daniel Pemberton


Side B:

“What Lies At The Dream’s End” – Daniel Pemberton

“Together We Fight” – Daniel Pemberton

“The Blue Flames Part 1” – Daniel Pemberton

“Deet In The Woods” – Samuel Sim

“Speak For The Dead” – Daniel Pemberton

“Brea And The Library” – Samuel Sim

“Her Light Faded” – Daniel Pemberton

So mark your calendars for September 26th and October 24th for these The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance picture discs.

A list of participating stores can be found at recordstoreday.com and for more info about these special LPs visit VareseSarabande.com.

Watch The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance VFX Reel!

If you thought The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was impressive, check out the VFX reel to see how it was all achieved. 

Discussing The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance with MegaPodTastic!

While under self imposed quarantine, Krazy Joe from MegaPodTastic and I discuss The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. 

As you'll see, we recorded our Skype session, but unfortunately the video portion got corrupted so, now it's a megapodcast! 

Enjoy!

Thanks again go Krazy Joe. Be sure to follow and subscribe to and MegaPodTastic on YouTube, Facebook, iTunes, and on MegapodTastic.com. 

First Look The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #7!

BOOM! Studios revealed the first look at The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #7. 

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #7 features a main cover by illustrator Mona Finden, a variant cover by acclaimed artist Conor Nolan, and a connecting cover by artists Kelly and Nichole Matthews.

Inside writer Adam Cesare, artist French Carlomagno, and letterer Jim Campbell present the story of fan favorite Hup and brand-new character Barfinnious.

After some hard times on the road, Paladin-turned-bard Barfinnious and his noble Podling squire Hup finally get to relax and enjoy their hero’s welcome at a festive Spriton village. But a mysterious Beast is lurking in the shadows, threatening the lives of the Gelfling villagers. What should be a simple fight for a former Paladin soon turns dangerous, and the truth behind Barfinnious’ grift begins to emerge.

Check out the first few pages below:

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #7 will be available for sale on March 25, 2020 at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one) or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and the Madefire.

Coming Soon: Test Your Knowledge of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance!

Think you know your way around the world of Thra? You'll soon be able to put your knowledge to the test.

Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Dream-Seeking: Quizzes, Trivia, and Adventure will "test your knowledge with trivia and brag about it like a Skeksis would. Or, perhaps your personality is more in-tune with the humble Mystics. Discover where you belong in Henson's extraordinary world with this book packed with character quizzes!"

Explore your dark side and discover your inner Skeksis, test your bravery to see if you would be the type of Gelfling to join the rebellion, and open your mind to tricky trivia to feel like the wise Aughra in this fantastical quiz book featuring full-color photos from Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance: Dream-Seeking: Quizzes, Trivia, and Adventure will be released Mar 17 and can be through Amazon and Penguin Books.

First Look: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #6!

BOOM! Studios revealed a first look at the new story arc in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #6.

Issue #6 features a main cover by illustrator Mona Finden, a variant connecting cover by artists Kelly and Nichole Matthews, and an additional variant cover by David Peterson.

Podling cook Hup has joined the famous Paladin Barfinnious as a squire and set out from his small village for the first time! It seems that Hup’s dreams of becoming a Paladin himself are finally within reach. But when Barfinnious is more focused on making some quick coin than on performing acts of bravery, Hup realizes that his trust may have been misplaced.
Check out a few sample pages below:

Print copies of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #6 will be available Wednesday, February 26 at local comic book shops or at the BOOM! Studios webstore.

Digital copies are available l through Amazon.