Comics for Newbies: Book to Graphic Novel Adaptations

If you weren’t aware, Panels puts out a yearly comics reading challenge with prompts that help you read more diversely. This year I’m participating in a modified version where I combined prompts from the Panels and Book Riot Read Harder challenges and one of the prompts that I picked out from the Panels list was “Read a comic based on a book and the book it’s based on.”

That got my thinking – there are SO many great graphic novel adaptations of books and classic literature out there, and for book lovers what better way to test the waters of graphic novels and comics then by reading an adaptation of one of your favourite books? Check out these great book to graphic novel adaptations:

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A Wrinkle in Time

image source: MacMillan Publishing

Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time is a true childhood classic.  I remember reading the novel in my Children’s Lit class in university and one of the topics that came up repeatedly in discussion was how perfect L’Engle’s imagery would be for a illustrated book. This graphic novel came out a year later, to nothing but praise and I can understand why.

If you’re a fan of the book, the graphic novel adaptation by Hope Larson will not disappoint. It’s a pretty accurate adaption with very simple, but stunning blue and black illustrations. While there are concepts in L’Engle’s book that most will agree, sort of defy illustration – Larson has done a fantastic job of adapting such a beloved childhood book into a new medium.

This is definitely the book and graphic novel that I’ll be reading to satisfy that prompt for my Read Harder challenge.

Ender’s Game

image source: io9

Ender’s Game is one of those books that most of us were forced to read in school. Now, I’m one of those people that as much as I appreciate the book looking back – if you’re going to force me to read something I’m more than likely going to hate it (mainly out of spite). This is one of the reasons I think adapting a book like Ender’s Game into a graphic novel is such a good idea.  A new medium will not only appeal to new readers, but could perhaps convince old readers like me to give the book a second chance.

With that being said, Christopher Yost has done a fantastic job at remaining true to the novel – it helps that the novel’s writer, Orson Scott Card oversees the issues, so if you’re a fan of the novel you will not be disappointed.

Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation

image source: Amazon

Tim Hamilton’s adaptation of the popular 1950s novel on censorship and conformity remains very faithful to the novel by Ray Bradbury (who writes the introduction). Hamilton’s illustrations do a great job of getting across the dark, and often desperate tones of the original novel, though if you don’t appreciate the novel this adaptation may not be for you.

Dracula

image source: Forbidden Planet

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of my favourite classic novels, but I definitely believe it was meant to be experienced with visuals – be it as a play, or now a graphic novel. Jason Cobley has adapted the iconic novel very faithfully by using the original text (there’s also a ‘modern English’ version available), and the illustrations are in a style that lends itself to the novel, rather than being a modernization. As something that’s become so ingrained in pop culture, Dracula is a must read for everyone and this graphic novel makes it much more accessible to new readers (so you have no excuse!).

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There are so many great book to graphic novel adaptations out there, these are just a few of the popular titles available as a graphic novel. If you have a favourite literary adaptation let me know in the comments.