So I’m not sure how many of you enjoy reading graphic novels, but volume 2 of Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson is out and available (forgive me for being a couple of weekend behind). I have volume 1 myself which I enjoyed a lot, but now is the time that I wish I had a physical bookstore nearby so that I could thumb through this new one. I’m curious as to how Stefan will look. I met Ms. Briggs at San Diego Comic Con last summer and she said that we’d finally see him in this volume.
Of course it made me think a bit about graphic novels in general. I honestly don’t think I am a huge fan of it in most cases. Usually the characters for the series I read are set in my mind and someone else’s interpretation can’t capture it for the better, especially not something in comic book format. There were only a couple of instances where it has been right on and so far it’s only been through fanarts.
Take Rachel Morgan and Trent Kalamack:
http://valliantcreations.deviantart.com/art/Rachel-Morgan-Fan-Art-99707031
http://valliantcreations.deviantart.com/art/Kim-Harrison-Fan-Art-Trent-143340714
Let’s also forget how nice it is that Trent is coincidentally facing her.
Or Anita Blake’s Jean Claude (too many good ones to pick out, so you all can have at).
I can guarantee that they don’t look nearly as great in the graphic novel or even the world book, but these artists make them look even better than I’d imagined (well, Trent at least. Rachel is spot on). So I just wonder how you guys feel as readers when it comes to changing mediums. Television/movie adaptations are a whole other can of worms altogether that I won’t discuss at this time, but I have pretty strong opinions there too. Either way, nothing feels quite as rich as its written novel counter parts and I think I’d prefer that the authors keep writing more books than to take that valuable time away to branch out to the graphic novel realm.
I used to be an avid reader of Japanese manga, but I guess I didn’t mind it there because that was that is how we’re usually introduced to the characters (not to mention the Japanese attention to detail and making the characters look attractive are bar none).
So what do you guys think?
Well hate is such a strong word and not one I like to use in any situation. I prefer “dislike.” I would prefer to read the books as they are, but I understand an author wanting to explore another medium. I liked Diana Gabaldon’s “The Exile.” However, there were a lot of mistakes (Jamie’s back was missing the numerous scars from his beating) and the characters were not drawn consistently from page to page. When I read graphic novels, I feel like I am nitpicking the way the characters are represented/drawn or critiquing the drawings and if they match up to the scene I have in my head, and I don’t find that enjoyable.
Very true. I’ve updated the option ~_^. I totally agree with you though that consistency, or lack thereof, can really take away from the experience.
I voted the third option. I like graphic novels but I grew up reading various superhero comic books.
Does the Mercy Thompson graphic novel follow the books? I’m just now starting the series (just finished Moon Called a few hours ago actually) and I’m liking it so far.
I do agree with you about the artist capturing/not capturing the characters as I see them. Rachel and Trent (and Ivy and Quen for that matter)as depicted in the Insider book bear no resemblance at all to the images I have in my head. Those fan art drawings you have here are much, much closer.
Yes, the Mercy Thompson novels follow the books, though they have to break them up into volumes. The Hollows tried to go another approach with a completely original story, but I think it fell flat and came off as too superficial. It’s hard to confine The Hollows to speech bubbles.
I just got “Blood Work” in the mail today. Not eve out of the package yet. I was excited to see they took the new story approach. Is it really not good? I am not a fan of the genre, but since 2 of my 3 favorite authors did them I thought I’d give it a shot. Jim Butcher has done both ideas, a new story and the novel rehash. I got his new story too. Love Harry!
Here is my total review for it and I do bring that up http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/185341373
I am just on the picky side when it comes to art and graphic design stuff. The textures and shading look really amateurish and the reason why a graphic novel is created is so that the art and story to emphasize one another, and with neither one being very strong it just fell really flat for me. I would have rather read a short story about it.
I haven’t read the Dresden files yet, but I imagine I’ll get around to them within a year or two. My to read list is a mile and a half long, lol.
I read Blood Work las Ant night. You are so right. The artwork is not great, nor is it consistannt. Ivy looks too asian and her face is not very feminine. Rachel is not that bad, but I agree the one you have posted is much more like what I pictured too. I did like how they portrayed Ivy’s auro though. That was cool! Working Quen in there was nice. I wasn’t sure what that was all about untill I looked closer at the partial face and saw the scars. Added to the memos from the Insider and I am even more intrigued with Trent’s motives than ever.
Dresden Files is worth the wait. I think you will enjoy them when you get to them. They are what brought me back to Urban Fantasy. I became a Vampgirl (there was nothing much else but vamps outside of total fantasy) when I picked up Interview in 1986. I was obsessed. I read everything Vamp, good bad and indiffernt. The volume was nothing like it is now. I got out in about 1994 when it seemed like every time I walked into a bookstore ( yep no internet yet) and there were no new Vampire novels to read. Harry is the male Rachel. Young, talented, more powerful than they know, tragic past, impulsive, quick to anger, and always tries to do his version of the right thing. Funny I didn’t relise til I started writing this how very much alike the 2 characters are.
Sorry for the rambling on a non Hollows toic….it’s waaay later than I realized!
Yeah, I love the Hollows the most, but I am not the type that loves any and *every*thing Hollows. It’s not the worst I’ve ever seen, but it just doesn’t accentuate the Hollows for the better.
I hear Harry is like the female Rachel all of the time (minus the irritating romance angles), so I know I’ll really enjoy it.
Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files is awesome!!! Jim Butcher and Kim Harrison write my absolute favorite novel series. They are both tied for first, so trust me that he is worth the read! Harry Dresden is more Grey then Rachel and more jaded and more of a smart (butt) the Rachel. He is not a white wizard (pure good) nor is he Black (evil). He gets the job done without degrading his morals, but others think of him as a bad wizard… Sounding familiar. 😉 I seriously love both series! I have his Graphic novel and they are also awesome, but read the novels before going to the Graphic novels. Books are so much more fun with the details of a novel and Jim Butcher is a master at it!
I got side tracked with the off hand discussion, but the reason I came here was to ask you about these pictures of Trent and Rachel. Are these in the new Graphic novel? They are not on her website. I have Blood work and loved it, but these pictures are so much better and if this is really what the art is like in the new book… I will be the happiest Hollows fan ever! 😀 These pictures take the art work up like 10 levels. PLEASE tell me that these are from the graphic novel and not just Fan Art. WOW.. there is serious talent in these pictures! Thank You for the signing Videos of Kim Harrison by the way! Seven more days till I get to meet her!
Oh I see now that it is Fan Art. Guess I should have read all of the posts. WOW… These are amazing! This is the kind if art work that belongs in the graphic novels. Very artistic drawings. That is a shame. I got myself all excited over here. I agree with you guys, these pictures are not just great they are Perfect; exactly how I see them myself! May Kim needs to hire this person to do her graphic novels.
Hey Donna! You beat me to the reply, lol. Yup, those are fanart, but it looks like the artist is capable of comic book style if you look at her portfolio. Kim has seen these fanarts too ~_^. Apparently Trent was wearing a watch initially but Kim said that Trent doesn’t wear watches. Interesting, eh? She’s also a Trent/Rachel shipper. I think I read she is out of practice which hurts because could you IMAGINE what that’d look like?!
Thanks for the strong recommendation of the Dresden books! I know I’m in for a fabulous time when I get around to it. I just know that when I start I’m going to want to read them all back to back, lol.