Pride and Prejudice - Graphic Novel Review

Pride & Prejudice MARVEL

I am really interested in reading all the Marvel Classics graphic novels.  It's hard to find a complete list of all of them but I think I finally found one that includes books from Treasure Island to The Odyssey.  I have been wanting to read the Pride and Prejudice one for a while and was finally able to get it from my library.

I didn't love the story in the graphic novel series. I was a little confused.  I think there should've possibly been more comics in the series maybe to help get the story out better.  There was a lot of text on the pages and I felt it jumped from one plot line to the next pretty fast.  The lines from the book are all in here though.  I think this is a good introduction to the story for readers who haven't read the novel by Jane Austen and are wondering what the story is all about.

Now for the art work.  I just really didn't think it fits this book's era.  I enlarged this page from the comic so you can see just all the text I am talking about in the artwork.  I think the novel makes the ladies look like the makeover that Disney recently did on the princesses.  

I see in some reviews that people are talking about the fact that the cover of the graphic novel is different then the panels inside the comic.  This is quite common in comics that I have seen.  I never like to say someone's artwork is bad.  I love art, so I believe art is in the eye of the beholder.  What I like to say is that it's not my style.  In this case I just felt it was just not perfect for this type of story.  though I do love the covers for each of the comics included in the graphic novel.  I think they are neat!

Now even though I didn't love this graphic novel.. I still love the idea of the novel.  I am really excited that Marvel is taking on the Classic stories and look forward to what they have to come in the future.  I would pick this up from the library if you are interested in reading it.  It'll be an afternoon of a little fun!

The Crystal Ball says:

Rain is pouring...  Not sure if this was really worth my time, must get umbrella.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan- Graphic Novel Review

 

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

I love graphic novels... especially really unique ones.  The Arrival's art work is amazing.  Some of the best I have ever seen in a graphic novel.  There are no words in the book, you simply follow the pictures along and form the story in your mind.  Here is the goodreads description:

In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He's embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life- he's leaving home to build a better future for his family. Shaun Tan evokes universal aspects of an immigrant's experience through a singular work of the imagination. He does so using brilliantly clear and mesmerizing images. Because the main character can't communicate in words, the book forgoes them too. But while the reader experiences the main character's isolation, he also shares his ultimate joy.  

I thought this book was just wonderful.  The illustrations are just must style.  Very whimsical.  They are made with pencil. When I first read it I thought I was just going to fly through and look at all the pictures.  I really had to slow down though and look at each picture to figure out the story. As the book goes on I figured out that this was the story of a man who went to a new town and had to find a way to live there and get his family there.   The man learns how to buy food, find shelter, learn how to communicate with people who clearly don't speak his language.

When I first read the story I did not read the description (I never do) so I had no idea it was about immigrants.  Everything in the book was new to me and I had to figure it out on my own journey. Tan does an amazing job of making me feel like I am new to a world.  I don't speak the language, I don't know where to go or how to find work.  I really felt this way. Honestly I am surprised I didn't hear about The Arrival sooner.

The deluxe edition is so exquisite! I wish this is the version I would've been able to read.

Apparently there is also a Broadway type show of this graphic novel too over in Australia where Shaun Tan is from.  I really wish I could watch this show.  There is a lot of puppetry in it. 




 Really if you just want to read something that is different then probably anything you have looked at or read before pick this up.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised and even moved by this book.  I am going to look into more of Shaun Tan's work now.  Just fantastic!

 

The crystal ball says:

Sun is shinning!!!  Great day to go outside and read this book.

Darth Vader and Son/Vader's Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown Review

 I love cute little comics. I love Star Wars. I am a Geek. So when I heard about these books I was really excited to read them.  Darth Vader and Son and  Vader's Little Princess are wonderful comics. I had heard about them in passing.. and then I went to the Denver Comic Con and Jeffrey Brown was there at a booth.  I didn't actually stop by the booth since I hadn't read them yet and now wish I had.  These comics are about Darth Vader trying to raise Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.

What makes these books great is seeing the Vader family doing everyday normal things.  I have loved Star Wars since I was a little kid... so whenever I see a fun spin on it I get super excited!! The artwork in the book is done in colored pencils... which is a really unique look and I love it. Darth Vader and Son follows Luke when he is a little boy and how Vader tries to work with him around.

I do think though if you are not a Star Wars fan you may not get the humor in these books. I guess you could call them Star Wars inside jokes. The Vader's Little Princess book not only covers Leia when she was a little girl but also when she is a teenager.  Which is so fun to read and look at the art! I have seen a few people complain that Brown makes Leia a stereotype teenage girl but that is what makes it fun. The sense of humor Brown has is just clever!

Looks like in August Brown is releasing a book (not a comic) called Star Wars Jedi Academy.  It will be interesting to see the reviews on this book.  I didn't know about Jeffrey Brown prior to these comics and it turns out he has plenty of books to his name.  These books are fun.. for Star Wars fans.. comic book fans, and geeks. A perfect gift!

The crystal ball says:

Sun is shinning!!!  Great day to go outside and read this book.