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Jim Henson's The Storyteller
Jim Henson's Storyteller: Dragons
Following Witches, this is our second in a themed series of Jim Henson's The Storyteller tales, this time centered around dragons. Includes four tales of dragons, inspired by folklore from around the world and told in the spirit of Jim Henson's beloved television series.
Collects the complete limited series and also includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the process and care taken in adapting each of these timeless legends.
Collects the complete limited series and also includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the process and care taken in adapting each of these timeless legends.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2016
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334 people want to read
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Various
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If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.
Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 12, 2022
I have to say I am really enjoying the Storyteller series of graphic novels even if I discovered them late in the series (as a number of them have gone out of physical print(according to the publisher they have no plans to reprint them any time this quarter) so I have to try my best to catch up wherever I can.
Since the series follows themes it does not take a genius to work out what this one is about - with another 4 tales from some of the most talented story tellers in their fields. As usual they are not convention - often taking recognised tales and presenting them in a different light - which I think combined with the amazing artwork makes for a great read.
These stories not what you expect (unless you have read other books from the series then of course you know to expect something different) so yes I would recommend this book and the series in general - I just hope they get round to reprinting them all.
Since the series follows themes it does not take a genius to work out what this one is about - with another 4 tales from some of the most talented story tellers in their fields. As usual they are not convention - often taking recognised tales and presenting them in a different light - which I think combined with the amazing artwork makes for a great read.
These stories not what you expect (unless you have read other books from the series then of course you know to expect something different) so yes I would recommend this book and the series in general - I just hope they get round to reprinting them all.
June 30, 2020
I am so happy that these comics exist.
This collection features stories from England, North American First Peoples, Asia, and Eastern Europe. My favorite was the first story, which was from First Nations. As always the art is varied and aims to match or reflect the culture that the story comes from. The book is actually nicely split between two male and two female centered stories.
This collection features stories from England, North American First Peoples, Asia, and Eastern Europe. My favorite was the first story, which was from First Nations. As always the art is varied and aims to match or reflect the culture that the story comes from. The book is actually nicely split between two male and two female centered stories.
March 20, 2024
Truly the series of the Storyteller's graphic novels are this month's discovery to me. also 4 stories on each magical being seems like a good enough number. as we get to experience different myths and cultures and also 4 different art styles.
I'm enjoying them a lot.
I'm enjoying them a lot.
December 18, 2023
Beautiful artwork.
That first tale will stick with me for awhile.
That first tale will stick with me for awhile.
July 28, 2022
I'm liking this series. They're doing a pretty good job at showcasing myths and legends that aren't as common. Some cool art too. Love the patterns on the dragons in the first story. Although, it's kind of hard to find more information about some of these stories due to their obscurity. The Worm of Lambton sounds familiar, I almost feel like it shows up in a Gargoyles episode? Reading Tokoyo's wiki page, the story is more simpler in that version, it's just the slightest bit convoluted in this version. I kind of want more adventures about Albina
January 9, 2026
If you’re a fan of the quirky, mysterious, sometimes disturbing vibe of the original The Storyteller show (created by the one and only Jim Henson and his Muppet Workshop), then The Storyteller: Dragons is the right anthology for you. Featuring four standalone stories by four graphic novel artists, each based on an existing folktale from a variety of cultures, this little volume delves into more obscure tales that remain mostly kid-friendly. The collection varies in terms of creativity, originality, and coherence, but overall it’s an intriguing installment in a series that seeks to capture the magic of the classic show.
The Storyteller was always an odd little series — like Henson’s projects Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, the show was dark, creepy, and not for the faint of heart, featuring European fairytales and folklore in all their unsanitized glory. The Storyteller always blurred the lines between its narrator (complete with his trusty but sardonic dog) and the stories he told, and its trademarks were the atmospheric music and the elaborate if campy practical effects. The Storyteller: Dragons volume can’t incorporate those elements, of course, but it does manage to capture much of the spirit of the show. The Storyteller and his dog appear at the beginning, throughout, and at the end of each story, rendered in each artist’s unique style. The four main authors demonstrate respect for their source material and an awareness of the show’s traditional structure, even as they make the tales their own. This book certainly has a different vibe from the show, but it’s nonetheless a genuine homage to Jim Henson and his beloved series.
The four tales in The Storyteller: Dragons are unrelated except in theme and in their frame narratives, each of which features the Storyteller relating a folktale to his dog in the cozy fireside manner of the show. Each of the four stories draws from a different culture’s folklore — Native American, English, Russian, and Japanese — and most have some sort of twist to set them apart from the traditional dragon-tale fare, whether it be swapping genders or shifting the values of the original stories. Each author / artist has a unique art style that distinguishes one story from another, usually reflecting the artwork of whatever culture they are drawing inspiration from. Depictions of the dragons and heroes vary: some dragons are portrayed as creatures of mere instinct and others as malicious villains, while some heroes are purely noble and others selfish, vengeful, or reckless. Even the Storyteller himself gets a little bit of lore as a world traveler; his room bears evidence of a coat covered in Native pictographs, medieval tapestries, samurai swords, and even a captured baby Worm.
The first two stories (“Son of the Serpent” and “The Worm of Lambton”) were my favorites, but I enjoyed “Samurai’s Sacrifice” and “Albina” as well. As a whole, The Storyteller: Dragons is cohesive in that each tale is a unique adaptation or retelling of a classical dragon legend, but I didn’t get a sense of overarching theme or tone from the collection. The stories vary in quality of development, characterization, and coherence — some feel too short to pack a punch emotionally, and most simply do not have enough pages to explore the interesting ideas they introduce. “Son of the Serpent” stood out to me as being the best-developed story, but I found “The Worm of Lambton” to have the best overall plotline. I also enjoyed reading the opening comments by each author introducing their stories; they identify their source material, explain their goals in composing an adaptation, and elaborate on the creative liberties they have taken. The end of the book features some fun concept art, early sketches, variations on the cover artworks, and some additional authorial commentary.
I would be intrigued to check out more books in The Storyteller series. They seem like excellent opportunities to learn about lesser-known folklore from other cultures — you won’t find any of your stereotypical “St. George and the Dragon” legends here. The authors keep their stories succinct if a little underdeveloped, and they don’t add any unnecessary romances or gratuitous violence. If you’re looking for a short, effective collection of dragon legends, The Storyteller: Dragons is a great place to start!
1. Son of the Serpent
While fishing on the Salish Sea, a native father and son are shipwrecked on separate islands after witnessing a mighty battle between the fearsome Horned Serpent and its ancestral enemies the Thunderbirds. Unbeknownst to the father, he is shipwrecked on the island where the Horned Serpent lives, and his desperation to rescue his son will drive him to make unfathomable sacrifices. “Son of the Serpent,” beautifully illustrated and told by Daniel Bayliss (and Fabian Rangel Jr.), deviates from the normal European dragon folktales to retell some famous Blackfoot, Cherokee, and Lakota tales — “The Warrior That Ate the Horned Snake,” “The Horned Serpent,” and “The Thunderbird,” among others. Set in the ancient days of the Pacific Northwest and visually inspired by the totem pole of Coast Salish, “Son of the Serpent” uses a gorgeous color palette of vivid orange-red, cool blue and purple, pale yellow, hot pink, and striking black and white. The Horned Serpent himself is terrifying, and Bayliss’ use of movement, emanata, and emotion (in dozens of electrifying, engaging panels) is masterful in such a short tale.
“Son of the Serpent” is intriguing in portraying the eldritch serpent and bird spirits as creatures of instinct rather than of good or evil, just as they have traditionally been depicted in Native legend. We see the giant aquatic Horned Serpent locked in an eternal duel with the Thunderbirds of the air, a supernatural battle that takes place in the natural elemental realm. We also see separation and difficulty as a necessary part of fate, and Bayliss takes special pains to illustrate the unhesitating sacrificial nature of a father’s love for his child. The story lacks any major plot twists but still packs a powerful punch, especially in that it subverts the typical themes of the original Native folktales from punishment for disrespect to the power of love. “Son of the Serpent” is a great tribute to Native American cultures and the parents who, in every culture, have been willing to sacrifice everything for their children without hesitation.
2. The Worm of Lambton
In a fit of disrespect and anger, young nobleman John Lambton, their heir of Lambton Hall in County Durham on the River Wear, catches a strange-looking river worm while fishing and casts it into the well before riding off to join the Crusades. Over the next seven years, the Worm grows into an enormous, terrifying monster who devours everything in his path, and it’s only when John returns, a humbled and courageous knight, that he can set things right and save his ancestral home from destruction. “The Worm of Lambton” is a very old tale, adapted from the 1866 story “The Lambton Worm” in William Henderson’s Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders and based on the real-life Lambton family of northern England, who famously did seem to suffer from a curse. “The Worm of Lambton,” retold here by Nathan Pride, has all the typical components of the ancient ballads and heroic legends, and his artwork reflects the styles of medieval tapestries and illuminated manuscripts. There’s more blood and guts than usual for this type of story, but Pride sticks to the tone of a traditional medieval tale with a very effective art style.
Our hero John Lambton (who may or may not have existed in real life) sets up some fascinating religious implications for our story: he starts the trouble by shunning church and being blasphemous, then does penance for his sins by joining the Crusades and returns a godly knight with the Lord’s power on his side. It’s doubly interesting since that sets up the Worm as an evil that must be defeated, when Pride seems to ascribe to the creature more of an instinctively destructive nature than a malevolent one. The Worm seems to represent both the harshness of the natural world and the manifestation of the consequences of disrespect and rage. Pride states that he chose to depict the Worm as a “terrifying yet wondrous creature,” and I found it to be an odd mixture of scary and adorable. Its ability to heal itself no matter how many times it’s slashed to pieces seems to tie into the theme of it being a physical embodiment of man’s own worst attributes. I also loved Pride’s notes about including the dragon’s love for milk, which is a recurring theme in medieval folktales.
John, who returns from the Crusades having done battle with the darkness inside himself, has to face the sins he committed in his youth, what he calls “the grotesque fruit of my folly as a young man.”
3. Albina
Albina Popovich, a legendary medieval bogatyr (or knight) searching for a lord to serve, travels from Rostov with her reluctant squire Mara Paranov to Prince Vladimir of Kiev, but they are horrified to discover a shapeshifting dragon called Tugarin terrorizing Vladimir’s court. In “Albina,” author and artist Hannah Christenson retells the Eastern Slavic legends about the epic poetry figure Alyosha Popovich, the Russian semi-mythical equivalent of the cunning warrior Odysseus, who was famed for his strength in battle and his skill at lying. Christenson opts for a genderbent version of Alyosha’s story, portraying both him and his companion Maryshko as female warriors; her feminist twist on the story feels very natural, as there’s no big hubbub about them being women, and Christenson omits things like female patronyms and preserves the original themes of the legend. Christenson’s art style is markedly different from the other three artists’, with more fluidity and less definition, but her renderings of the Storyteller’s scenes are even more striking with their smudgy, smooth colors and lack of hard lines. Christenson’s color palette — vivid reds, fiery oranges, burnt golds, and some occasional browns and silvers — is striking and even reminiscent of Katherine Arden’s The Winternight Trilogy.
Our heroine Albina is born into legend in a medieval cathedral on a story night, unmatched in strength but constantly craving adventure. Christenson draws a few subtle parallels between Albina and Tugarin in their boastful manners, and the allusions to Kievan Rus’ Catholicism and the repetitive dialogue of folklore are interesting enough. There’s no real character building, and the big lesson of the story — that you should never face your fears alone — falls pretty flat. What we’re left with is a fairly bland, uninspired retelling that is confusing at times if you’re not familiar with the original legend. Overall, “Albina” is standard fare with a below-average use of its source material, and its lack of a weighty message or a satisfying conclusion make it the weakest entry in this collection.
4. Samurai’s Sacrifice
Samurai warrior Tokoyo Shima arrives on the cursed Oki Islands in search of her banished father, but she is enraged to discover that the people of the islands have been sacrificing a maiden every year to a malevolent sea dragon called Yofune-Nushi. Tokoyo must overcome her hatred and shame to face the dragon, find her father, and free the people of the Oki Islands (and all of Japan) from a terrible curse. Jorge Corona’s “Samurai’s Sacrifice” is a very straightforward adaptation of the Japanese legend “A Story of Oki Islands,” which features the heroine Tokoyo and the dragon Yofune-Nushi. Corona’s artwork is the most cartoonish of the four stories, and his use of startlingly bright colors and unusual facial expressions sets his style apart. Yofune-Nushi’s design is classical and very memorable, while our heroine gets to be intriguingly unattractive. Corona also incorporates a handful of excellent standalone quotes that could honestly apply to the whole anthology.
“Samurai’s Sacrifice” gives us our second female dragon-slayer in this collection, though in this case the original story didn’t even have to be genderbent or even sympathetic, as the Storyteller’s dog points out. Tokoyo Shima struggles with dark hatred, a thirst for revenge, and ultimately a deep shame for her actions that caused her beloved father to be exiled on her behalf. Corona makes several comments about how hatred can twist a person beyond recognition, There’s a bit of confusing characterization for Tokoyo, as she seems equally bent on revenge and on rescuing the innocent, which kind of takes away from her character arc in such a short tale. Still, Corona’s theme of sacrifice being more than just fighting is positive, .
Corona’s opening comments are very articulate and insightful, pondering his story’s connection to The Storyteller series, the overall themes of sacrifice in the story, and the symbolic concept of the dragon as a voice of temptation for the hero. The chief theme of “Samurai’s Sacrifice” is, of course, sacrifice — we have a father surrendering his freedom to save his daughter, that same daughter risking her life to rescue him from exile, and the village girls being willing to sacrifice themselves to save their homeland. However, I was disappointed by how confusing and overcomplicated some of the story became, and I was left with a lot of questions. Anyway… “Samurai’s Sacrifice” is a good story that nicely pays tribute to the heroic legends of ancient Japan, but it’s a bit too messy and incoherent to be considered an outstanding retelling.
“What is life if not the adventure of one story after the other?”
The Storyteller was always an odd little series — like Henson’s projects Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, the show was dark, creepy, and not for the faint of heart, featuring European fairytales and folklore in all their unsanitized glory. The Storyteller always blurred the lines between its narrator (complete with his trusty but sardonic dog) and the stories he told, and its trademarks were the atmospheric music and the elaborate if campy practical effects. The Storyteller: Dragons volume can’t incorporate those elements, of course, but it does manage to capture much of the spirit of the show. The Storyteller and his dog appear at the beginning, throughout, and at the end of each story, rendered in each artist’s unique style. The four main authors demonstrate respect for their source material and an awareness of the show’s traditional structure, even as they make the tales their own. This book certainly has a different vibe from the show, but it’s nonetheless a genuine homage to Jim Henson and his beloved series.
The four tales in The Storyteller: Dragons are unrelated except in theme and in their frame narratives, each of which features the Storyteller relating a folktale to his dog in the cozy fireside manner of the show. Each of the four stories draws from a different culture’s folklore — Native American, English, Russian, and Japanese — and most have some sort of twist to set them apart from the traditional dragon-tale fare, whether it be swapping genders or shifting the values of the original stories. Each author / artist has a unique art style that distinguishes one story from another, usually reflecting the artwork of whatever culture they are drawing inspiration from. Depictions of the dragons and heroes vary: some dragons are portrayed as creatures of mere instinct and others as malicious villains, while some heroes are purely noble and others selfish, vengeful, or reckless. Even the Storyteller himself gets a little bit of lore as a world traveler; his room bears evidence of a coat covered in Native pictographs, medieval tapestries, samurai swords, and even a captured baby Worm.
The first two stories (“Son of the Serpent” and “The Worm of Lambton”) were my favorites, but I enjoyed “Samurai’s Sacrifice” and “Albina” as well. As a whole, The Storyteller: Dragons is cohesive in that each tale is a unique adaptation or retelling of a classical dragon legend, but I didn’t get a sense of overarching theme or tone from the collection. The stories vary in quality of development, characterization, and coherence — some feel too short to pack a punch emotionally, and most simply do not have enough pages to explore the interesting ideas they introduce. “Son of the Serpent” stood out to me as being the best-developed story, but I found “The Worm of Lambton” to have the best overall plotline. I also enjoyed reading the opening comments by each author introducing their stories; they identify their source material, explain their goals in composing an adaptation, and elaborate on the creative liberties they have taken. The end of the book features some fun concept art, early sketches, variations on the cover artworks, and some additional authorial commentary.
“A true hero is not one that battles just the demons ahead, but, also, those that live within.”
I would be intrigued to check out more books in The Storyteller series. They seem like excellent opportunities to learn about lesser-known folklore from other cultures — you won’t find any of your stereotypical “St. George and the Dragon” legends here. The authors keep their stories succinct if a little underdeveloped, and they don’t add any unnecessary romances or gratuitous violence. If you’re looking for a short, effective collection of dragon legends, The Storyteller: Dragons is a great place to start!
1. Son of the Serpent
While fishing on the Salish Sea, a native father and son are shipwrecked on separate islands after witnessing a mighty battle between the fearsome Horned Serpent and its ancestral enemies the Thunderbirds. Unbeknownst to the father, he is shipwrecked on the island where the Horned Serpent lives, and his desperation to rescue his son will drive him to make unfathomable sacrifices. “Son of the Serpent,” beautifully illustrated and told by Daniel Bayliss (and Fabian Rangel Jr.), deviates from the normal European dragon folktales to retell some famous Blackfoot, Cherokee, and Lakota tales — “The Warrior That Ate the Horned Snake,” “The Horned Serpent,” and “The Thunderbird,” among others. Set in the ancient days of the Pacific Northwest and visually inspired by the totem pole of Coast Salish, “Son of the Serpent” uses a gorgeous color palette of vivid orange-red, cool blue and purple, pale yellow, hot pink, and striking black and white. The Horned Serpent himself is terrifying, and Bayliss’ use of movement, emanata, and emotion (in dozens of electrifying, engaging panels) is masterful in such a short tale.
“Son of the Serpent” is intriguing in portraying the eldritch serpent and bird spirits as creatures of instinct rather than of good or evil, just as they have traditionally been depicted in Native legend. We see the giant aquatic Horned Serpent locked in an eternal duel with the Thunderbirds of the air, a supernatural battle that takes place in the natural elemental realm. We also see separation and difficulty as a necessary part of fate, and Bayliss takes special pains to illustrate the unhesitating sacrificial nature of a father’s love for his child. The story lacks any major plot twists but still packs a powerful punch, especially in that it subverts the typical themes of the original Native folktales from punishment for disrespect to the power of love. “Son of the Serpent” is a great tribute to Native American cultures and the parents who, in every culture, have been willing to sacrifice everything for their children without hesitation.
2. The Worm of Lambton
In a fit of disrespect and anger, young nobleman John Lambton, their heir of Lambton Hall in County Durham on the River Wear, catches a strange-looking river worm while fishing and casts it into the well before riding off to join the Crusades. Over the next seven years, the Worm grows into an enormous, terrifying monster who devours everything in his path, and it’s only when John returns, a humbled and courageous knight, that he can set things right and save his ancestral home from destruction. “The Worm of Lambton” is a very old tale, adapted from the 1866 story “The Lambton Worm” in William Henderson’s Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders and based on the real-life Lambton family of northern England, who famously did seem to suffer from a curse. “The Worm of Lambton,” retold here by Nathan Pride, has all the typical components of the ancient ballads and heroic legends, and his artwork reflects the styles of medieval tapestries and illuminated manuscripts. There’s more blood and guts than usual for this type of story, but Pride sticks to the tone of a traditional medieval tale with a very effective art style.
Our hero John Lambton (who may or may not have existed in real life) sets up some fascinating religious implications for our story: he starts the trouble by shunning church and being blasphemous, then does penance for his sins by joining the Crusades and returns a godly knight with the Lord’s power on his side. It’s doubly interesting since that sets up the Worm as an evil that must be defeated, when Pride seems to ascribe to the creature more of an instinctively destructive nature than a malevolent one. The Worm seems to represent both the harshness of the natural world and the manifestation of the consequences of disrespect and rage. Pride states that he chose to depict the Worm as a “terrifying yet wondrous creature,” and I found it to be an odd mixture of scary and adorable. Its ability to heal itself no matter how many times it’s slashed to pieces seems to tie into the theme of it being a physical embodiment of man’s own worst attributes. I also loved Pride’s notes about including the dragon’s love for milk, which is a recurring theme in medieval folktales.
John, who returns from the Crusades having done battle with the darkness inside himself, has to face the sins he committed in his youth, what he calls “the grotesque fruit of my folly as a young man.”
3. Albina
Albina Popovich, a legendary medieval bogatyr (or knight) searching for a lord to serve, travels from Rostov with her reluctant squire Mara Paranov to Prince Vladimir of Kiev, but they are horrified to discover a shapeshifting dragon called Tugarin terrorizing Vladimir’s court. In “Albina,” author and artist Hannah Christenson retells the Eastern Slavic legends about the epic poetry figure Alyosha Popovich, the Russian semi-mythical equivalent of the cunning warrior Odysseus, who was famed for his strength in battle and his skill at lying. Christenson opts for a genderbent version of Alyosha’s story, portraying both him and his companion Maryshko as female warriors; her feminist twist on the story feels very natural, as there’s no big hubbub about them being women, and Christenson omits things like female patronyms and preserves the original themes of the legend. Christenson’s art style is markedly different from the other three artists’, with more fluidity and less definition, but her renderings of the Storyteller’s scenes are even more striking with their smudgy, smooth colors and lack of hard lines. Christenson’s color palette — vivid reds, fiery oranges, burnt golds, and some occasional browns and silvers — is striking and even reminiscent of Katherine Arden’s The Winternight Trilogy.
“Not all burdens can be carried on shoulders. The heaviest weight is often unseen.”
Our heroine Albina is born into legend in a medieval cathedral on a story night, unmatched in strength but constantly craving adventure. Christenson draws a few subtle parallels between Albina and Tugarin in their boastful manners, and the allusions to Kievan Rus’ Catholicism and the repetitive dialogue of folklore are interesting enough. There’s no real character building, and the big lesson of the story — that you should never face your fears alone — falls pretty flat. What we’re left with is a fairly bland, uninspired retelling that is confusing at times if you’re not familiar with the original legend. Overall, “Albina” is standard fare with a below-average use of its source material, and its lack of a weighty message or a satisfying conclusion make it the weakest entry in this collection.
4. Samurai’s Sacrifice
Samurai warrior Tokoyo Shima arrives on the cursed Oki Islands in search of her banished father, but she is enraged to discover that the people of the islands have been sacrificing a maiden every year to a malevolent sea dragon called Yofune-Nushi. Tokoyo must overcome her hatred and shame to face the dragon, find her father, and free the people of the Oki Islands (and all of Japan) from a terrible curse. Jorge Corona’s “Samurai’s Sacrifice” is a very straightforward adaptation of the Japanese legend “A Story of Oki Islands,” which features the heroine Tokoyo and the dragon Yofune-Nushi. Corona’s artwork is the most cartoonish of the four stories, and his use of startlingly bright colors and unusual facial expressions sets his style apart. Yofune-Nushi’s design is classical and very memorable, while our heroine gets to be intriguingly unattractive. Corona also incorporates a handful of excellent standalone quotes that could honestly apply to the whole anthology.
“When it comes to the ones you love, there’s no sacrifice big enough.”
“Samurai’s Sacrifice” gives us our second female dragon-slayer in this collection, though in this case the original story didn’t even have to be genderbent or even sympathetic, as the Storyteller’s dog points out. Tokoyo Shima struggles with dark hatred, a thirst for revenge, and ultimately a deep shame for her actions that caused her beloved father to be exiled on her behalf. Corona makes several comments about how hatred can twist a person beyond recognition, There’s a bit of confusing characterization for Tokoyo, as she seems equally bent on revenge and on rescuing the innocent, which kind of takes away from her character arc in such a short tale. Still, Corona’s theme of sacrifice being more than just fighting is positive, .
Corona’s opening comments are very articulate and insightful, pondering his story’s connection to The Storyteller series, the overall themes of sacrifice in the story, and the symbolic concept of the dragon as a voice of temptation for the hero. The chief theme of “Samurai’s Sacrifice” is, of course, sacrifice — we have a father surrendering his freedom to save his daughter, that same daughter risking her life to rescue him from exile, and the village girls being willing to sacrifice themselves to save their homeland. However, I was disappointed by how confusing and overcomplicated some of the story became, and I was left with a lot of questions. Anyway… “Samurai’s Sacrifice” is a good story that nicely pays tribute to the heroic legends of ancient Japan, but it’s a bit too messy and incoherent to be considered an outstanding retelling.
December 11, 2016
This book consists of four different stories about Dragons. I liked the overall format with ”The Storyteller” introducing each story. This is the first of the Jim Hensen’s Storyteller books I have read. My nine year old son actually picked this up at the comic book store and desperately wanted; he enjoyed it quite a bit. The book is beautifully put together with a lovely embossed cover and thick full color pages.
My favorite story of the bunch was Samurai’s Sacrifice by Jorge Corona. This story had lots of action, some humor, character growth, excellent illustration and was just generally really well done.
Overall this was a solid anthology of fantasy graphic stories featuring dragons. It’s appropriate for middle grade and older kids and was a fun read. See below for details on each individual story.
“Son of the Serpent” by Daniel Bayliss and Fabian Rangel Jr (4/5 stars)
This is an American Indian themed story about a father who desperately tries to save his son from an evil horned water serpent. It was well drawn and well told. It looked at a different kind of dragon and I enjoyed it.
“The Worm of Lambton” by Nathan Pride and Cassie Kelly (4/5 stars)
This is a retelling of the Worm of Lambton story about a giant evil worm that grows in part because of a young lord’s carelessness. This was another well drawn story and was well told. I enjoyed it.
“Albina” by Hannah Christenson (3.5/5 stars)
I didn’t like this one quite as much as the previous ones. I liked the artistic drawing style quite a bit but the story seemed a bit incomplete to me. It’s about a young woman warrior who is unhappy at home and goes out with another woman to slay a dragon.
“Samurai’s Sacrifice” by Jorge Corona and Jen Hickman (4/5 stars)
The illustration style for this one is more cartoony than the others; it’s very well done and easy to follow. I liked this story a lot, there was a lot of irony in here, some excellent character growth, and a lot of awesome action scenes. I think this was my favorite story of the bunch.
My favorite story of the bunch was Samurai’s Sacrifice by Jorge Corona. This story had lots of action, some humor, character growth, excellent illustration and was just generally really well done.
Overall this was a solid anthology of fantasy graphic stories featuring dragons. It’s appropriate for middle grade and older kids and was a fun read. See below for details on each individual story.
“Son of the Serpent” by Daniel Bayliss and Fabian Rangel Jr (4/5 stars)
This is an American Indian themed story about a father who desperately tries to save his son from an evil horned water serpent. It was well drawn and well told. It looked at a different kind of dragon and I enjoyed it.
“The Worm of Lambton” by Nathan Pride and Cassie Kelly (4/5 stars)
This is a retelling of the Worm of Lambton story about a giant evil worm that grows in part because of a young lord’s carelessness. This was another well drawn story and was well told. I enjoyed it.
“Albina” by Hannah Christenson (3.5/5 stars)
I didn’t like this one quite as much as the previous ones. I liked the artistic drawing style quite a bit but the story seemed a bit incomplete to me. It’s about a young woman warrior who is unhappy at home and goes out with another woman to slay a dragon.
“Samurai’s Sacrifice” by Jorge Corona and Jen Hickman (4/5 stars)
The illustration style for this one is more cartoony than the others; it’s very well done and easy to follow. I liked this story a lot, there was a lot of irony in here, some excellent character growth, and a lot of awesome action scenes. I think this was my favorite story of the bunch.
January 18, 2017
This volume contains four lovely short stories about--obviously--dragons! The art for each story is beautiful and suited to the story, and the settings are nicely diverse: one Native American, one traditional English, one Eastern European, and one Japanese. Oftentimes I find that short stories, especially when they're in a graphic novel collection, tend to be sadly somewhat lacking when it comes to the quality of either the art or the writing (or in certain cases, both); with this book, however, I felt that all four were both well-told and well-drawn, which I deeply appreciate.
My one regret is that I was not already familiar with Jim Henson's Storyteller...but now I think I'm going to have to go looking around on the internet a bit, to see if I can't change that. :)
My one regret is that I was not already familiar with Jim Henson's Storyteller...but now I think I'm going to have to go looking around on the internet a bit, to see if I can't change that. :)
June 22, 2024
This is the last in the series for me - I have finally managed to track them all down, without breaking the bank.
As with the other volumes in this Storyteller series, the book features 4 tales, each one by a different author and with a different illustrative design. At the beginning of each tale, each contributor details their inspiration for their specific work, and at the end of the book there is extra content relevant to each tale as well.
For me, the fourth tale, Samurai's Sacrifice was my favourite. This is definitely a tale which I feel that I need to go back to, as I am sure there will be more that I can take from it upon a second reading. For that specific offering, I also liked the fact that the storyteller and his trusty dog featured at different points of the tale, which rings true to the original BBC series.
Across the whole of the series, what I have really enjoyed is discovering tales inspired from folklore and legends across the world. The first in the series included the opening, voiced by John Hurt, about the best place by the fire keeping kept for the storyteller. It would have been nice if all volumes had started this way. It would be a way for them to link back to the original series, and I think it would have been a nice touch.
If you haven't already discovered this series and you enjoy myths, legend and folklore, I would definitely recommend that you check this series out. I have loved them; they have earned a permanent place on my bookshelves.
As with the other volumes in this Storyteller series, the book features 4 tales, each one by a different author and with a different illustrative design. At the beginning of each tale, each contributor details their inspiration for their specific work, and at the end of the book there is extra content relevant to each tale as well.
For me, the fourth tale, Samurai's Sacrifice was my favourite. This is definitely a tale which I feel that I need to go back to, as I am sure there will be more that I can take from it upon a second reading. For that specific offering, I also liked the fact that the storyteller and his trusty dog featured at different points of the tale, which rings true to the original BBC series.
Across the whole of the series, what I have really enjoyed is discovering tales inspired from folklore and legends across the world. The first in the series included the opening, voiced by John Hurt, about the best place by the fire keeping kept for the storyteller. It would have been nice if all volumes had started this way. It would be a way for them to link back to the original series, and I think it would have been a nice touch.
If you haven't already discovered this series and you enjoy myths, legend and folklore, I would definitely recommend that you check this series out. I have loved them; they have earned a permanent place on my bookshelves.
June 19, 2017
Took me some time to read it because I wasn't motivated enough. After reading Witches, this segment seemed too bland, too similar. I love dragons and was really excited to read this but it was just an okay read.
The stories are too similar to each other; predictable. I am not sure whether it's because of the legends used as a base for the story or the storytelling itself. There were some tweaks to the original stories, such as the gender element which I liked but it always was a bad 'dragon' that was slayed even when in one story, the dragon's huge existence was due to the protagonist.
The first story is either from a First Nation legend or from New Zealand. I liked this one. The art was gorgeous and matched the location. Sad but understandable.
The second story was from England or Wales I think. The dragon's existence was due to the protagonist. Again, sad.
The third story was a Ukrainian/Slavic legend. There was gender-bending. The ending was predictable.
The fourth story was from Japan. Although the storyline was a bit different, the end of the dragon was the same as the other two previous stories. The dragon here was drawn really nicely and the art was great. Not as nice as the first one.
I liked the first story the best.
The stories are too similar to each other; predictable. I am not sure whether it's because of the legends used as a base for the story or the storytelling itself. There were some tweaks to the original stories, such as the gender element which I liked but it always was a bad 'dragon' that was slayed even when in one story, the dragon's huge existence was due to the protagonist.
The first story is either from a First Nation legend or from New Zealand. I liked this one. The art was gorgeous and matched the location. Sad but understandable.
The second story was from England or Wales I think. The dragon's existence was due to the protagonist. Again, sad.
The third story was a Ukrainian/Slavic legend. There was gender-bending. The ending was predictable.
The fourth story was from Japan. Although the storyline was a bit different, the end of the dragon was the same as the other two previous stories. The dragon here was drawn really nicely and the art was great. Not as nice as the first one.
I liked the first story the best.
May 29, 2022
"Song of the Serpent"- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story was great! It was the most beautiful of this collection and the story was my favorite. I enjoyed the story of the father and the son. The sacrifice that the father makes for his son was beautiful and touching. I love the Storyteller's little intrudes throughout this tale, especially with his dog.
"The Worm of Lambton" - ⭐⭐
I didn't really enjoy this story too much. Though I did like that they made illustrations throughout that looked like an old Medieval tapestry. That was a neat little addition.
"Albina" - ⭐⭐⭐
An okay story with stunning illustrations.
"Samurai's Sacrifice"- ⭐⭐
Another okay story with pretty good illustrations. This had much more of a traditional dragon in the story than the rest of them did.
This story was great! It was the most beautiful of this collection and the story was my favorite. I enjoyed the story of the father and the son. The sacrifice that the father makes for his son was beautiful and touching. I love the Storyteller's little intrudes throughout this tale, especially with his dog.
"The Worm of Lambton" - ⭐⭐
I didn't really enjoy this story too much. Though I did like that they made illustrations throughout that looked like an old Medieval tapestry. That was a neat little addition.
"Albina" - ⭐⭐⭐
An okay story with stunning illustrations.
"Samurai's Sacrifice"- ⭐⭐
Another okay story with pretty good illustrations. This had much more of a traditional dragon in the story than the rest of them did.
September 10, 2019
Given my love of dragons, it seems like this should hands down by my favorite entry in this series, but I just felt like it was about equal to the others I've read.
"Son of the Serpent" -- a decent story which has the bonus of the dragon not being (entirely) bad. But I feel a bit uncomfortable with it being a story stitched together from various sources; true, many of the stories in this series are like that, but in this case the fact that it is also appropriation of cultural creations of a marginalized people gives it a slightly dubious air.
"The Worm of Lambton" -- I've encountered this story before, and this is a generally faithful rendition of it. It provides some justification of the folkloric motif of needing to slay the first creature encountered on the way home, which I'm not sure was in versions I've heard before. Also, I thought the point of the spiky suit and fighting the worm in the river was that it meant pieces would be washed away before they could recombine, while here it is more just that the many wounds wear out the beast faster.
"Albina" -- Perhaps my favorite story in the collection: I love the watercolor art style and I like the female heroes. Except, the author's intro reveals that the story is adapted from Slavic folktales of a male hero and his sidekick, which for me just highlights how disappointingly rare kick-ass female leads are in actual folklore.
"Samurai's Sacrifice" -- An okay story, but the art style isn't my favorite. Also, I was curious about the author intro mentioning the story of Yofune-nushi, and I discovered that it is of dubious origin, attested in only one collection of stories created by a westerner visiting Japan and without any sources or independent verification.
"Son of the Serpent" -- a decent story which has the bonus of the dragon not being (entirely) bad. But I feel a bit uncomfortable with it being a story stitched together from various sources; true, many of the stories in this series are like that, but in this case the fact that it is also appropriation of cultural creations of a marginalized people gives it a slightly dubious air.
"The Worm of Lambton" -- I've encountered this story before, and this is a generally faithful rendition of it. It provides some justification of the folkloric motif of needing to slay the first creature encountered on the way home, which I'm not sure was in versions I've heard before. Also, I thought the point of the spiky suit and fighting the worm in the river was that it meant pieces would be washed away before they could recombine, while here it is more just that the many wounds wear out the beast faster.
"Albina" -- Perhaps my favorite story in the collection: I love the watercolor art style and I like the female heroes. Except, the author's intro reveals that the story is adapted from Slavic folktales of a male hero and his sidekick, which for me just highlights how disappointingly rare kick-ass female leads are in actual folklore.
"Samurai's Sacrifice" -- An okay story, but the art style isn't my favorite. Also, I was curious about the author intro mentioning the story of Yofune-nushi, and I discovered that it is of dubious origin, attested in only one collection of stories created by a westerner visiting Japan and without any sources or independent verification.
November 23, 2019
Dragons have been an icon in the world of fantasy for so long they have ignited imaginations and inspired stories since before the written word (assuming there was such a time) when humanity hurdled in communities and would tell tales to warn and to entertain that live and change as generations spread them to the next and so on.
This book contains 4 newly imagined stories about dragons and although inspired by legends of old they will no doubt inspire the imaginations of the next generation as well when they are passed on in this book format, each story told in its own unique art styles.
This book contains 4 newly imagined stories about dragons and although inspired by legends of old they will no doubt inspire the imaginations of the next generation as well when they are passed on in this book format, each story told in its own unique art styles.
February 15, 2021
Some retellings and stuff of dragon tales around the world. It is what it says on the box. Of course, using Henson's storyteller as its frame.
It was a nice read and reminded me of the days when I would go into a library and pick up books of other culture's tales. Slightly exotic and makes you want to understand how these can be different and what do those differences mean?
A way better way to start to understand a culture rather than the headlines talking about migrants...
It was a nice read and reminded me of the days when I would go into a library and pick up books of other culture's tales. Slightly exotic and makes you want to understand how these can be different and what do those differences mean?
A way better way to start to understand a culture rather than the headlines talking about migrants...
March 21, 2021
this ongoing graphic novels series deserves the best place by the fire!
These continuations of Jim Hanson's The Storyteller? Beyond fitting. Beyond excellent. I recommend that fans of the original series starting John Hurt listen to the original soundtrack on YouTube while reading these graphic novels. Long may these continue to be made. They also make me look forward to the streaming service re - imagining all the more, my dearios, my darlings!
These continuations of Jim Hanson's The Storyteller? Beyond fitting. Beyond excellent. I recommend that fans of the original series starting John Hurt listen to the original soundtrack on YouTube while reading these graphic novels. Long may these continue to be made. They also make me look forward to the streaming service re - imagining all the more, my dearios, my darlings!
February 25, 2018
Dragons! The mythical creatures that hoard away riches and have a never quenching need for more! These fiery-breathers are displayed here from all ranges of stories. From inspired Native American horned serpents to papery winged Tugurin, stories never explored by the TV series' Storyteller that really should have been. I can't wait to see if more come about in the Storyteller's series!
September 24, 2021
Didn't like it... didn't like it... didn't like it.
The illustrations were unclear, the stories not very good. Each of the stories forward, sounded like a college students intro to a homework assignment.
This book was astonishingly upsetting and agitating to read. I could not wait to finish so I can move on to quality books.
The illustrations were unclear, the stories not very good. Each of the stories forward, sounded like a college students intro to a homework assignment.
This book was astonishingly upsetting and agitating to read. I could not wait to finish so I can move on to quality books.
December 28, 2021
Le livre ressemble au premier sur les sorcières. Les histoires sont toujours aussi courtes mais ça suffit pour des contes de fées. J'ai apprécié que l'auteur s'attache à trouver des histoires de dragons sur différents continents. Certaines pages sont superbes.
September 28, 2017
I love dragons and this has great art of dragons and imagery of legends. I also love Jim Henson's vision. So, of course I was going to like this a lot. It delivered.
December 13, 2017
4 stories from different authors (reviews later)
Son of the Serpent- 3 stars-
The Worm of Lambton- 5 stars-
Albina- 4 stars-
Samurai Sacrifice- 3 stars-
Son of the Serpent- 3 stars-
The Worm of Lambton- 5 stars-
Albina- 4 stars-
Samurai Sacrifice- 3 stars-
August 14, 2018
A beautifully illustrated collection with tales about dragons.
March 2, 2019
First story was a 4.5 for story and artworm :) The other three were three stars honestly? I love dragons, but had a hard time getting through this collection
March 30, 2019
I love reading this series before bed. The various artist's styles. The various interpretations of the tales. A relaxing read.
December 28, 2019
All out of ten-
Characters: 9
Plot: 10
World-building: 9
Ending: 9
Average: 9
Would read again. Fantastic art and compelling stories.
Characters: 9
Plot: 10
World-building: 9
Ending: 9
Average: 9
Would read again. Fantastic art and compelling stories.
June 12, 2020
Like most compilations this was a mixed bag. I did appreciate that this was a pretty diverse collection in terms of what area of the world the lore was coming from.
August 18, 2021
Review to come :)
October 14, 2021
Four enjoyable stories from different cultures, all about facing dragons, and all illustrated quite nicely.
December 8, 2023
Anthology of lesser-known dragon tales, with a variety of art styles. Son of the Serpent was my personal favorite, but they all bring something interesting to the table.
January 10, 2024
Loved it, different artists, versions of folk stories. a fun book
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