Archaia’s Fraggle Rock Vol. 2: Tails and Tales [Review & Giveaway]

July 28, 2011 in Comics,Reviews with 10 Comments

Of all of Jim Henson’s myriad creations, I always felt that Fraggle Rock was the one that didn’t seem to be on most people’s radar. Ask any geek or child of the 80’s about The Dark Crystal or Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas and you usually get a knowing nod of the head and a smile.

But mention Fraggle Rock and most times you just get a confused, blank expression. And that is a shame, because Fraggle Rock always was about a lot more than just Muppet fun. It always provided positive messages to its young audience about prejudice, tolerance and dealing with conflict.

Thankfully, Archaia is bringing the Fraggles back to the forefront of popular consciousness with their incredible Fraggle Rock comics. Fraggle Rock: Tails and Tales is the second collection of the anthology style series and include everything you remember about the Fraggles and their world. The “Fraggle Five” are there, as well as Uncle Traveling Matt, The Doozers and Marjory the Trash Heap. Done by a who’s who of talent, the stories all evoke that distinct Fraggle feeling and will no doubt put a smile on your face.

It’s impossible to touch on every story, but a couple highlights include Brave Sir Wembley by Joe LeFavi and Cory Godbey, in which Wembley and Boober (my favorite Fraggle) have to go retrieve Uncle Traveling Matt’s latest postcard and get more than they bargained for. Another outstanding story is The Meaning of Life, also by Joe LeFavi with art by Heidi Arnhold. Here we see the gang go off to explore a Fraggle legend and come back a bit wiser than when they left.

Fraggle Rock Vol. 2 is also a beautiful book just to look at. Archaia really does a great job in term of presentation with their graphic novels. The book itself is well made, includes a dust jacket with a cover by Mouse Guard creator David Petersen and the back includes a sketchbook section, coloring and activity pages.

Fraggle Rock Vol. 2: Tails and Tales is a joy to read and to share. It is the kind of book that is perfect for anyone who loves Jim Henson and his work, regardless of their age. It is a book you can read to your kids at night and then read yourself if you had a bad day and want to feel better. It encourages you to live by the immortal words:

Dance your cares away,
Worry’s for another day.
Let the music play,
Down at Fraggle Rock.

Want to win a copy? Leave a comment about your favorite Fraggle, and we’ll choose one of you at random next week.

About David Goodman: David has been a geek ever since he saw Star Wars at age 7 and then bought his first action figure. In between working on his webcomic New Book Day and writing for Geekadelphia, David watches too much television and reads way more comic books than can possibly be healthy.

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10 Responses to “Archaia’s Fraggle Rock Vol. 2: Tails and Tales [Review & Giveaway]”

  1. Ann July 28, 2011 at 9:35 am #

    I’m all about Red Fraggle’s puffy pom hair!

  2. gerri July 28, 2011 at 9:46 am #

    this is amazing! so glad to know the fraggles have resurfaced! they are indeed an overlooked jim henson maseterpiece!! definitely have love for red as well–she had license to be a total spaz, was always positive and upbeat, and made any day at fraggle rock super fun. she also had awesome hair, obviously.

  3. Mordy July 28, 2011 at 10:04 am #

    My favorite fraggle was Mokey bc she looks like the video game lemmings.

  4. Sara July 28, 2011 at 10:07 am #

    I can’t pick a favorite… I love them all :)
    Thank you for the chance.

  5. Melissa July 28, 2011 at 10:38 am #

    Traveling Matt! Loved his adventures!

  6. Andrew July 28, 2011 at 11:43 am #

    Wembley was my guy, because well, his personality is a lot like mine.

  7. Melissa July 29, 2011 at 10:55 am #

    Thank you for bringing this to readers’ attention! This makes me warm and fuzzy thinking about watching Fraggle Rock when I was younger. I definitely always loved the Doozers; however, Red is my fav since she and I share many personality traits. I can’t wait to see this reemergence!

  8. Bailey July 29, 2011 at 2:52 pm #

    I’m so HAPPY that you’re bringing the joy of the Fraggles to peoples’ attention!!!

    I live down in Philadelphia, but recently traveled up to Astoria, NY to see Jim Henson’s Fantastic World at the Museum of the Moving Image.
    http://www.movingimage.us/exhibitions/2011/07/16/detail/jim-hensons-fantastic-world/
    It was one of the most enjoyable exhibits I’ve ever been to!!

    Anyway, I guess I’m a bit young to have known Fraggle Rock on my own, but luckily I have an awesome older brother who Loves Henson – so we watched it all the time!

    I’m really bad with names… damn, I think I liked Wembley the most. I think he was cool.. Hmmm, I actually just rented the beginning of the series from NEtflix, I’m just waiting for them to arrive.

    Well, Everyone should go see the show.

    thanks

  9. Walter July 30, 2011 at 1:03 am #

    All the Fraggles are awesome! I have been watching with my own kids (now 9 and 10), for the second time around I would have to say Uncle Traveling Matt does has some really groovy ideas that make you question your own assumptions, so much better this time around! Oh and a special thanks to those talented souls who made a book series possible! (especially you Tim!)
    I miss Jim Henson :(
    (Thank the universe for video!)
    Cheers

  10. danielle July 30, 2011 at 11:33 pm #

    my favorite fraggle is gobo, because everyone likes to joke that my boyfriend looks like him.

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