Jim Henson's Tale of Sand Gets Renewed Life

BOOM! Studios has an in with Jim Henson and his properties, bringing them to comic book life with plenty of care and attention to detail. It's one of the many things the publisher does well and this September, they're going to do something exceedingly well. It's then that the publisher will release Jim Henson's Tale of Sand: The Illustrated Screenplay and Jim Henson's Tale of Sand Box Set, which contains both the new illustrated screenplay and the original, Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel, Jim Henson's Tale of Sand, in a beautiful slipcase edition. Jim Henson's Tale of Sand: The Illustrated Screenplay contains the final draft of the original, unproduced screenplay by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl, as well as nine all-new, black-and-white pages illustrated by Ramón K. Pérez that were cut, 19 original inked pages, 16 pages of layouts, and never-before-seen drawings, hand-written notes and artifacts created from The Jim Henson Company's Archives. Jim Henson fans and process junkies alike will be able to see the creative process from draft to final comic page.

“When JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND was first published, it made waves in the comics industry,” said BOOM! Studios President of Publishing and Marketing Filip Sablik. “Jim Henson continues to be one of the most influential, creative men in recent history, and his work has shaped the imaginations of creators worldwide. Being able to reproduce the screenplay for fans is incredibly exciting, and having Ramón return to do new work for this book means we can make a collected edition of the highest quality for fans.”

Between 1967 and 1974, Jim Henson and his longtime writing partner Juhl developed three drafts of a screenplay for a feature-length film called Tale of Sand. In 2012, Archaia published a graphic novel adaptation as realized by illustrator Ramón K. Pérez which went on to win three Eisner Awards and two Harvey Awards. The Illustrated Screenplay features the complete and final 1974 draft of the project with Jim and Jerry's handwritten edits as well as layouts and inked pages from the adaptation in gorgeous black-and-white, and never-before-seen sequences that were cut during the production of the graphic novel, newly illustrated by Pérez.

Jim Henson's Tale of Sand: The Illustrated Screenplay and Jim Henson's Tale of Sand Box Set go on sale in comic shops and specialty stores on September 3rd under Diamond Order Codes MAY141171 and MAY141172 and wherever books are sold on September 9th. The illustrated screenplay will retail for $24.99 and the box set will retail for $49.99 with a new wrap-around cover by Pérez.

Full press release below.

EXPERIENCE THE AWARD-WINNING
'JIM HENSON'S TALE OF SAND'
LIKE NEVER BEFORE

JIM HENSON'S TALE OF SAND: THE ILLUSTRATED SCREENPLAY
Cover by Ramón K. Pérez

July 30,  2014 - Los Angeles, CA - Archaia, an award-winning imprint of BOOM! Studios, is excited to announce the September debut of JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND: THE ILLUSTRATED SCREENPLAY and the JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND BOX SET, which contains both the new illustrated screenplay and the original, Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel, JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND, in a beautiful slipcase edition. Following the critically acclaimed graphic novel adaptation by Eisner Award-winning artist Ramón K. Pérez, the JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND: THE ILLUSTRATED SCREENPLAY contains the final draft of the original, unproduced screenplay by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl, as well as nine all-new, black-and-white pages illustrated by Pérez that were cut, 19 original inked pages, 16 pages of layouts, and never-before-seen drawings, hand-written notes, and artifacts created from The Jim Henson Company's Archives. Jim Henson fans and process junkies alike will be able to see the creative process from draft to final comic page.

“When JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND was first published, it made waves in the comics industry,” said BOOM! Studios President of Publishing and Marketing Filip Sablik. “Jim Henson continues to be one of the most influential, creative men in recent history, and his work has shaped the imaginations of creators worldwide. Being able to reproduce the screenplay for fans is incredibly exciting, and having Ramón return to do new work for this book means we can make a collected edition of the highest quality for fans.”

Between 1967 and 1974, Jim Henson and his longtime writing partner Jerry Juhl developed three drafts of a screenplay for a feature-length film called Tale of Sand. In 2012, Archaia published a graphic novel adaptation as realized by illustrator Ramón K. Pérez which went on to win three Eisner Awards and two Harvey Awards. The Illustrated Screenplay features the complete and final 1974 draft of the project with Jim and Jerry's handwritten edits as well as layouts and inked pages from the adaptation in gorgeous black-and-white, and never-before-seen sequences that were cut during the production of the graphic novel, newly illustrated by Ramón K. Pérez.

JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND BOX SET is the definitive way to experience the groundbreaking JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND graphic novel. Featuring an all-new, wrap-around illustration by Ramón K. Pérez, this beautiful slipcase box includes the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel adaptation of the lost Jim Henson screenplay and the new JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND: THE ILLUSTRATED SCREENPLAY hardcover.

Archaia began publishing Jim Henson comic books and original graphic novels in 2010 with the FRAGGLE ROCK comic book series and has consistently published new projects since that time. Archaia’s relationship with The Jim Henson Company resulted in the Eisner Award-winning JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND, based on the lost screenplay by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl and illustrated by Ramón K. Pérez, along with critically acclaimed interpretations of JIM HENSON’S THE STORYTELLER, THE DARK CRYSTAL, and FRAGGLE ROCK.

JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND: THE ILLUSTRATED SCREENPLAY and JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND BOX SET go on sale in comic shops and specialty stores on September 3rd under Diamond Order Codes MAY141171 and MAY141172, and wherever books are sold on September 9th. The illustrated screenplay will retail for $24.99, and the box set will retail for $49.99 with a new wrap-around cover by Ramón K. Pérez. Not sure where to find your nearest comic retailer? Use comicshoplocator.com orfindacomicshop.com to find one! It is also available to be ordered through the BOOM! Studios webstore.

Above: JIM HENSON'S TALE OF SAND BOX SET Full Slipcase Cover by Ramón K. Pérez
Below: 3D Rendering of the Box Set

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ABOUT BOOM! STUDIOS
Founded by Ross Richie in 2005, Diamond Gem Award-winning “Best Publisher” BOOM! Studios (boom-studios.com) generates a constellation of best-selling Eisner and Harvey Award-winning original and licensed comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent. BOOM! Studios is the home of Mike Carey’s SUICIDE RISK, Clive Barker’s NEXT TESTAMENT and HELLRAISER, Paul Jenkins and Humberto Ramos’ FAIRY QUEST, PLANET OF THE APES, Max Bemis’ POLARITY and Mark Waid’s IRREDEEMABLE. Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 GUNS was recently released as a feature film from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. BOOM!’s all-ages imprint KaBOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Jim Davis’ GARFIELD, Cartoon Network’s ADVENTURE TIME and REGULAR SHOW, Mike Kunkel’s HEROBEAR AND THE KID, and Roger Langridge’s Eisner Award-winning SNARKED. In June 2013, BOOM! acquired Archaia Entertainment (archaia.com). Archaia is the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning graphic novel publisher of MOUSE GUARD, COW BOY, GUNNERKRIGG COURT, RUST, SPERA, JIM HENSON’S TALE OF SAND, and many other great titles. In October 2013, BOOM! Studios entered into a unique first-look relationship with 20th Century Fox, giving the studio access to its library of titles and giving the publisher access to Fox's vast catalog of films.