Legends of the Dark Crystal Legends of the Dark Crystal is an original manga series based on the world of " The Dark Crystal " . The story is a prequel to the 1982 film , and showcases many of the established " Dark Crystal " characters - including the Skeksis , the Mystics , the Garthim and Aughra . " Legends of the Dark Crystal " also introduces many new characters - including the gelflings Lahr , Neffi and Kelsee ; the Mystic monk , urSen ; the Skeksis collector , skekLach ; Whouf ; and the Mounders . It ' s after the Golden Age of Gelflingdom , at the start of the long dark time that leads to the era of Jen and Kira . The story focuses on two Gelflings - Lahr , a mounder herder , and Neffi , a weaver . After their villages are attacked and destroyed by the Garthim , they join together and eventually rally another nearby clan to take a stand against the monsters . The graphic novels were released by TOKYOPOP , with story by Barbara Randall Kesel and artwork by Heidi Arnhold . The first volume , " The Garthim Wars " , was released on November 13 , 2007 . Originally , the second volume was planned for the spring of 2009 , with a third to follow thereafter . In of February 2010 , TOKYOPOP confirmed a release date of August 3 , 2010 for the second volume , as well as announcing the series was reworked to be only 2 - parts . Another original comic book series based on the world of " The Dark Crystal " , and set as a prequel to the 1982 film , is being developed by The Jim Henson Company and Archaia Studios Press with Brian Froud . Volume 1 : The Garthim Wars . Chapter 1 . UrSen , the Mystic monk introduces the tale , which takes place 200 years prior to the events of " The Dark Crystal " . We then meet Lahr , a simple herder and music maker . He is a peaceful young Gelfling content to watch over his herd of mounders with his doglike companion Whouf . While watching his herd , Lahr spies a troop of Garthim descending upon his village . But by the time he reaches the village it is too late . Devastation , destruction and disaster have fallen on the clan . His friends and family - including Gar , Mikka , Ineth and Mineen - have been taken by the Garthim . Lahr ' s resolve is soon put to the test when more Garthim move through the area . In a head to head struggle , Lahr fights for his life . He saves himself by killing one of the Garthims – a feat that amazes even him . But amid the struggle his flute is broken , and so is Lahr ' s innocence . Lahr wanders the village and remembers all the good times . He can feel change taking place in his life , and declares that " a tremendous song will come out of this adventure ; if there is anyone to sing it for . " Lahr , along with Whouf and the herd , leave the devastated village behind to search for survivors . Chapter 2 . Lahr soon meets Neffi , another surviving Gelfling of the area . The two dreamfast to share the stories of their past . Neffi was a weaver from Greengrove . Neffi made tapestries with Lolly . Neffi drew the designs and spun the yarn while Lolly did the weaving . Everyone from the village helped , especially the little ones . But soon the Garthim descended upon the village . They took everyone - everyone except for Neffi , that is . Her friends and family were gone , and her village destroyed . Lahr comforts Neffi . He shares his food and the two take off in search of other Gelflings . Neffi is exhausted and so she naps on the back of a mounder while Lahr and Whouf lead the herd onward . Chapter 3 . The pair reach Namopo Valley where they meet Kelsee , a Gelfling . She tells them that the village is in hiding inside the caves of the valley . She takes Lahr and Neffi to meet the others . While Neffi entertains the little ones with her yarn tricks , Larh talks with the elders . The elders are discussing what to do about the garthim attacks . Belleg thinks the tribe should stay put , while Vhant wants the tribe to move . When Larh tells his tale and how he killed a garthim , the elders are shocked . They did not know the garthim could be killed . Belleg tells about how his village was destroyed by the garthim and how he won ' t let such devastation take the Gelflings here . Smeeshun , a very young Gelfling in the crowd , speaks up ( much to the amusement of the elders _ and says he could battle the garthim . After much debate , the elders decide to bring the decision of whether or not they should stay or leave to vote . Chapter 4 . Over in the Castle of the Crystal , the emperor skekSo and the general skekVar are talking . SkekSo reveals that he is aware of many plots to overthrow him . While skekVar predges allegiance to the emperor , when the emperor begins to choke the general reaches to take the scepter . The true intentions of the general are revealed to the emperor , much to the amusement of skekSil who is watching the events through a hole in the wall . Meanwhile in caverns of Namopo Valley , the vote of the council is underway . The gelflings place colored stones into a pot to cast their vote - a light stone for leaving and a dark stone to stay . Just as the voting is finishing in the caves the scouts above spy garthim coming toward the valley . And as elder Vhant prepares to reveal the results of the vote a scout rushes in to inform the others of the impending attack - she knocks the pot over , spills the stones and ruins the votes . Panic breaks out in the caves . Soon Lahr speaks up and helps calm everyone down . With the help of Neffi , Lahr develops a plan - stay and fight . Volume 2 : Trial By Fire . Lahr and Neffi travel to the crystal castle to rescue their friends and family , encountering the Collector Skeksis and others . With the Lord Chamberlain ' s secret assistance , the Gelflings escape , but Lahr must agree to a terrible price . Editor Tim Beedle spoke of what to expect in the second volume in an interview , stating :