THE JIM HENSON COMPANY AND ARCHAIA COMICS FORM GRAPHIC NOVEL PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP
NEW COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS WILL BE BASED ON FAVORITES FROM
THE JIM HENSON COMPANY’S LIBRARY AS WELL AS ORIGINAL CONCEPTS
Hollywood, CA (June 22, 2009) –The Jim Henson Company and
Archaia announced today that they have entered into a partnership that
will publish comic books and graphic novels based on popular Henson
titles as well as new co-branded original properties.
The multi-year partnership will draw from The Jim Henson Company’s extensive film and television library, including Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Mirrormask, The Storyteller and
other titles. The agreement also allows The Jim Henson Company and
Archaia to partner with talent in the comic book, television and film
industries to create brand-new stories under a co-branded banner,
building on the legacy of quality and creativity of The Jim Henson
Company brand and strengthening Archaia’s relationships within the
entertainment sector.
“Some of the best storytellers in the world are flocking to comic books
and graphic novels, making them the foremost platform for innovative
and imaginative storytelling,” said Joe LeFavi, Director of Publishing
and Development at The Jim Henson Company and who will serve as story
editor on all the books. “Archaia has always epitomized artistic
integrity, and their passion and support for our brands ensure that
fans will receive the very best from the properties they know and love
as well as from the new stories we will tell.”
“This is a truly groundbreaking agreement, as it is not just a
licensing deal but a partnership in every sense of the word,” said
Stephen Christy, Archaia’s Director of Development. “To work with the
entire Jim Henson Company and with new talent to create the next
generation of Jim Henson Company fan favorites is an unprecedented
opportunity, and a dream come true for all of us at Archaia. Creating
comics that become a part of the incredibly rich Jim Henson Company
legacy is an exciting challenge, and I think fans will share our
excitement when they see the talent we’re bringing in to help make
these comics a reality.”
Representatives from Archaia and Henson will announce creative teams
and a release schedule for the initial slate at San Diego Comic-Con
International, with the first title tentatively scheduled for winter
2009.
About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family
entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an
innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known
as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50
Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include “Sid the
Science Kid”, and “Pajanimals”. Features include “The Dark Crystal,”
“Labyrinth,” “MirrorMask,” and “Unstable Fables.” Television
productions include “Fraggle Rock” and the sci-fi cult series
“Farscape.” With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim
Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie
Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities.
Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder
Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop™, a
pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with
international film, television and advertising clients, as well as
Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording
facilities known for its world-class blend of state of the art and
vintage equipment. The Company is currently in production on 40
episodes of “Dinosaur Train,” an animated preschool series teaching
concepts of natural science and history, set to debut on PBS KIDS in
fall 2009. The Company’s Henson Alternative brand continues to produce
“Puppet Up! - Uncensored,” a live puppet improvisational show that runs
monthly at the Avalon Hollywood. The Company has also announced the
creation of Jim Henson Designs, a merchandise collection inspired by
Jim Henson’s earliest sketches, and The Jim Henson Company:
Discoveries, an acquisitions banner that celebrates outstanding third
party produced independent film, television and video productions from
around the globe embodying the Company’s enduring legacy. www.henson.com
