S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 57

Manga Review: Voice Over! Seiyu Academy Vol. #01

For hard core manga and anime fans, the voice acting world has the same kind of glamor and mystique as Hollywood. So it’s no surprise that the world of Maki Minami’s manga Voice Over! Seiyu Academy portrays it as such.

Back Cover Blurb

Hime Kino’s dream is to one day do voice acting like her hero Sakura Aoyama from the Lovely Blazer anime, and getting accepted to the prestigious Holly Academy’s voice actor department is the first step in the right direction! But Hime’s gruff voice has earned her the scorn of teachers and students alike. Hime will not let that stand unchallenged. She’ll show everyone that she is too a voice acting princess, whether they like it or not!!

The Review

Considering the number of manga titles available about mangaka, idols, and actors, it’s not surprising that one about anime voice actors has hit the market. These types of stories seem to fall into two camps: those rooted in reality like Bakuman and those that are pretty much fantasy like Skip Beat!. Voice Over! Seiyu Academy falls firmly in the fantasy camp.

That fantasy feel is due in large part to the setting, Holly Academy. It has an exclusive voice acting department (only 25 students per class), students who are idols, and industry professionals frequenting its halls. The other reason for its fantasy feel is the main character, Hime Kino. Her dream is to become a leading voice actor for the popular anime Lovely Blazers, which requires a cute voice. Unfortunately, her vocalization skills aren’t just bad, they’re downright dismal. Throughout Volume 1, she gets compared to a broken radio, an old man, an old woman, and animal grunts, and she earns the unfortunate but appropriate nickname Gorilla Princess. Yet she remains a Holly Academy student, and by the end of the volume, she manages to get scouted, get called in for an anime part, attract the interest of a famous idol, and catch the attention of the son of her favorite voice actor.

As a main character, Hime falls into the category of determined, super-positive idiot. Not only does she have no control over her voice, she’s dumb, clumsy, and so-so in the looks department. Minami-sensei attempts to present Hime as an underdog heroine we can root for, but I can’t get myself to cheer for her. She has a lack of self-awareness reminiscent of the truly horrible singers who think they actually have a chance at American Idol. The other thing is Hime actually has a hidden ability, but it’s completely inconsistent. She can’t control it, but it conveniently surfaces when she’s really in a pinch. As such, her successes aren’t due to diligent effort or a normal kind of talent, and  that comes across as a cheap way of getting “super amateur” to rub shoulders with the best of the best.

Hime aside, the supporting cast does make this manga somewhat entertaining. Some of the best laughs come from the motley crew who make up the Stragglers group: a delinquent who can barely read; a soft-spoken girl with a penchant for hexing; and a half-Japanese, half-French figurine pervert who cracks under pressure. Other characters are more stereotyped. The idol duo Aqua is a borderline BL pair, and Senri Kudo, who’s the likeliest candidate for Hime’s romantic interest, is a mostly cold but occasionally considerate tsundere type.

By the way, this is a manga about voice acting so sound is critical to the plot, but readers obviously can’t hear what characters are hearing. To convey sound impressions, the manga uses different types of fonts, the spoken and facial reactions of listeners, and visual images depicting the bizarre voice types coming out of Hime’s mouth.

In Summary

If you’re looking for a title that delves into the realities of the voice acting world the way Bakuman did for manga making, keep looking. Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy is not it. Minami-sensei attempts to create an inspiring underdog heroine, but Hime’s personality is closer to the annoyingly bad singers that try out for American Idol. But if you like high school manga where an ordinary girl can do anything, even break into the highly competitive world of entertainment, give Voice Over! Seiyu Academy a try.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: A Bride’s Story Vol. 5

Kaoru Mori is best known for her work, Emma, an exquisite romance/slice-of-life set in Victorian England. Her latest work to be released in the United States, A Bride’s Story, is also a historical/slice-of-life but is vastly different than Emma. Set in Central Asia in a rural town near the Caspian Sea during the early 19th century, A Bride’s Tale revolves around a young woman, Amir, who arrives from a distant village across the mountains to marry Karluk, a boy 8 years her junior. Volume 5 has recently been released, and you can read on for the review. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Acclaimed creator Kaoru Mori’s tale of life on the nineteenth-century Silk Road takes on an air of celebration as, at long last, Laila and Leily’s wedding day arrives! But the marriage ceremony may be even more taxing for the girls than their search for a pair of grooms. Sitting still and silent as their guests celebrate and eat is a trial that will push the girls’ patience to its limit, not to mention that of Sami and Sarm! As the twins finally make their vows and commit themselves to their husbands, the gravity of the moment finally sets in. Though they have dreamed of marriage for years, only now do they realize that everything in their lives is about to change…

The Review

Although this manga is entitled A Bride’s Story, the only actual wedding scenes thus far are brief glimpses of Amir’s and Talas’ weddings. Now Mori-sensei makes up for it with the community extravaganza that is the twins’ wedding.

And it is a massive family effort. While we have scenes of the girls getting decked out in their bridal finery, Mori-sensei devotes even more panels to the preparations for the nuptial celebration. Clothes, food, decorations, ornaments, musical instruments – all are showcased in Mori-sensei’s usual meticulous detail. Probably the most unexpected segment is the butchering of the sheep. Mori-sensei takes great pains to show how the animals are slaughtered and quartered for cooking. Western readers will likely sympathize with poor Mr. Smith when he sees the blood and guts preceding the feast.

The village’s wedding customs are, of course, steeped in tradition, and many of these are entirely foreign to Western readers. However, as mentioned in my review of Volume 4, Laila and Leily, have very modern sensibilities. Despite their desire to be admired as perfect brides, they have little patience for the restraint required of them, and readers will be able to relate when they complain.

And boy, do they complain. Mori-sensei uses the girls’ restlessness and lack of self-control as the main thrust of the comedy for the wedding chapters. The twins not only drive their mother crazy, they try the patience of their grooms. In contrast to the girls’ gluttony and whining, the boys show remarkable maturity as they do their best to please their brides. Even so, they have their limits. The revenge they exact upon the girls is not only laugh out loud funny but a reminder of how young the two couples are.

With the twins happily married, the story eases back to Amir’s village, and when I say “eases back,” that’s exactly what I mean. Chapter 26 “The Daylong Song,” isn’t so much a narrative as it is a string of images depicting Amir’s daily routine. No panels or dialogue bubbles, just beautifully drawn illustrations of her in the house, about town, and on the plains. That is followed by a side-story about the family matriarch. (I didn’t know people could ride goats!) It isn’t until the final chapter that the narrative resumes in earnest with a standalone story about an injured hawk.

Extras include Mori-sensei’s manga style afterword and selections from her sketch collection Scribbles (also available from Yen Press).

In Summary

The first half of Volume 5 concludes the bridal sitcom of twins Laila and Leily with their wedding. Mori-sensei does her usual meticulous presentation of Aral Sea traditions, but the antics of our sassy brides give these chapters a lively feel. The story then shifts back to Amir’s village. The plot doesn’t progress much in these chapters, but the illustrations are still a feast for the eyes.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Whispering Minds Release and Goodreads Book Giveaway

It’s always exciting when someone you know gets published. So I’m thrilled to share that an old critique partner, A.T. O’Connor, is making her debut on November 1 with Whispering Minds, a YA thriller. Here’s the cover blurb:

By day, a terrifying blackness eats at Gemini Baker’s memories. Her nights are filled with unsettling dreams.

After the death of her beloved granny, seventeen-year-old Gemi is left with parents more interested in gambling than paying the bills, a best guy friend who’s looking for love at a time when she has none to give and a dark childhood secret that just might be the key to her sucky life.

During her search for answers, Gemi turns to her cyber friends for support and quickly learns that nobody is who they seem. Not her granny, her friends or even herself. As her blackouts increase in frequency, a threat on her life has Gemi on the run…if only she can remember long enough to keep herself alive.

The book will be available on Amazon, and she’s also hosting giveaways on her blog and Goodreads, so check it out!

Manga Review: Otomen Vol. 16

There are many stories about tomboys, girls with boyish tendencies, but what about the opposite? In fact, what would you call a boy with girly interests? The manga answer is: Otomen!

For those unfamiliar with this series by Aya Kanno, “otomen” is a play on the Japanese word otome (乙女), meaning “young lady” or “mistress,” and the English word “men.” The plot centers around Asuka Masamune, the manliest guy in his high school.  However, he has a secret: the things he really loves are sweets, shojo manga, and sewing. He hides this part of his life from everyone until he meets Ryo Miyakozuka, the least feminine girl in school. Volume 16 of the series has just come out and you can read on for the review! (For those interested, you can click here for my reviews of earlier volumes).

Back Cover Blurb

At a school play, Asuka competes against his friends for the hand of Princess Kaguya— played by Ryo! While on stage, Asuka inevitably displays his otomen qualities while his anti-otomen mother is watching… Is Asuka about to face the biggest crisis of his life?

The Review

Otomen continues with its focus on Yamato and his crush on Ryo. The prevailing theme is “Love is a battle!” and it comes to a head at Ginyuri’s school festival. No Ideal Woman Contest this year (“… cut because of last year’s issues.” –Juta), but in its place is the Drama Club’s unscripted version of the folktale Princess Kaguya.

For those who enjoy zany theatrical fairytale productions so prevalent in shojo manga, Princess Kaguya: Big Proposal Plan will be a treat. Thanks to the ridiculous director (Kanno-sensei admits in the author’s notes that the story becomes absurd because of him), Yamato, Asuka, and their friends wind up as the suitors battling for the hand of Kaguya, played by Ryo. Most of it is silly jokes, but Ryo/Asuka fans will be gratified when Asuka expresses his true feelings for Ryo on stage. (Plus, they look fantastic in period costume!)

After the play, the story immediately transitions to what appears to be the final arc of the series: the wrath of the biggest anti-otomen of all – Asuka’s mom! I’m actually surprised she didn’t catch on sooner (I expected that to happen after Asuka reconciled with his dad). But now that Mama Masamune knows what her son has been doing behind her back, be prepared for a lot of crazy eyes. Interestingly, she doesn’t go for the direct approach. Instead, she stealthily picks apart Asuka’s world in a way only a woman of her wealth and power can. (As they say in manga, rich people are scary.) Things are heading toward an inevitable mother/son confrontation, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next volume.

Extras include five pages introducing Kanno-sensei’s assistants, embedded author’s notes, and translation notes.

In Summary

Kanno-sensei wraps up the spotlight on Yamato with a school play turned battleground for Ryo’s affections! In the midst of the usual comic silliness is a moving and surprisingly candid declaration of Asuka’s feelings for Ryo. Unfortunately for Asuka, it also blows his uber-masculine cover. The horrified look on his mom’s face is priceless, and the way her anti-otomen wrath unleashes makes me eager to see how it will all end.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #09

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has  a unique bent. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has recently released the ninth volume of this series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my reviews of previous Spice and Wolf releases).

Back Cover Blurb

The capture of a narwhal and the ensuing power struggle between the northern and southern districts of Kerube has Lawrence caught in the middle! Backed into a corner by his own trade guild, can the merchant find a way to extricate himself from this delicate situation? And what of the wolf bone from Holo’s pack? Can the Wisewolf of Yoitsu manage to keep her rage and frustration in check?

The Review

Volume 9 is billed as the second part of a two-part story, but it is actually the culmination of events laid out in Volumes 5, 6, and 8. So if you aren’t familiar with those previous three installments, you’ll get lost in Volume 9 fast. Even if you have read them, the content of this volume is rather daunting. Volume 8 laid the groundwork for a massive conflict over a rare narwhal, and in Volume 9, that battle plays out with schemers wheeling and dealing in the shadows, plotting double-, triple-, and quadruple-crossings.

While the conflict is interesting, it is so complex that it bogs the pace of the story. Hasekura-sensei sets Lawrence up as a small fry trying to maneuver among the sharks of Eve and his guild leader Kieman. The plot requires an understanding of the power struggle over the narwhal, then the backroom deal Eve and Kieman are trying to broker, then the different ways everyone’s trying to swindle one another, and finally, the great ploy that upsets everything. Because the story unfolds through Lawrence’s eyes, the information we get is limited and mixed up with Lawrence’s conjecture and confusion. There were several passages I had to reread to understand what was going on. Hasekura-sensei’s underuse of dialogue tags in group scenes didn’t help. (Interestingly, one of the color illustrations attributes a quote to Col that actually belongs to Lawrence.)

However, if you’re willing to stick through the story’s sometimes tedious twists and turns, you’ll be rewarded by a brilliant and very clearly explained conclusion that also solves the mystery of the coin puzzle introduced in Volume 6. On top of that, poor Lawrence, who’s tossed around like a pawn throughout the majority of this arc, gets his hero moment.

Though Eve, Kieman, and the narwhal dominate in the battle within Kerube, we do get a couple character building moments with Holo and Col. As it turns out, Holo’s not unfamiliar with the narwhal, and her connection to the creature reputed to bring immortality sheds light on how she regards her traveling companions. And a conversation away from Holo shows how a child raised in the pagan mountains views a journey with a wisewolf.

This light novel includes the title page, three two-page spreads, and the table of contents printed in color as well as eight black-and-white illustrations, a summary of Town of Strife I, and a world map.

In Summary

Hasekura-sensei brings the Kerube’s power struggle to its dramatic conclusion. The search for the ancient wolf bones fades to the background as Lawrence finds himself caught between the schemes of Eve and Kieman. Unfortunately, these masterminds are so crafty that their plans are difficult to follow. Spice and Wolf Volume 9 is a dense read for a light novel, but if you make it to the end, you’ll be gratified by a conclusion that sheds light on the events of three earlier volumes.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Writing Historical Fiction and Adjusting History

Research is an important part of writing historical fiction. This is because getting the details correct makes settings authentic. Things like tomatoes in ancient Egypt or European units of measurement in ancient China drive me nuts, and I do my best to keep things accurate as possible. But I’ve learned since writing in this genre that sometimes accuracy must be sacrificed in the name of clarity. Because in the end, the goal is to write a compelling story, not a textbook.

I don’t like making that kind of compromise. Still, I found myself tweaking a historical fact last month due to a pacing issue.

Basically, my manuscript’s problem was that the conflict that sets everything into motion was not only complicated, it didn’t directly involve my main character. The conflict in question was the dispute over the Spartan throne after King Agis’ death. The two possible contenders were his half-brother Agesilaus and his son Latychides. Latychides, though, was rumored to be a bastard, and not just any bastard. He was supposedly the product of an affair Agis’ wife had with an Athenian defector. As for Agesilaus, no one questioned his bloodlines, but he was short and congenitally lame – not the type of guy the military minded Spartans were eager to see in charge.

It was stuff worthy of modern tabloids. It even involved an ominous oracle. In the end, Agesilaus came out on top, but the controversy didn’t die down (well, at least it didn’t in my story). And opposition to the lame king’s reign was what spurred his sister Cynisca (my main character) to action.

Unfortunately, up until her brother becomes king, she’s largely an observer. It’s not until Chapter 4 that she’s really making things happen.

So I was struggling for a way to shorten that backstory and get Cynisca into the action sooner when a new critique partner made a suggestion: cut out the bastard son and focus on the lame king controversy. After all, given what we know of them, Spartans probably would have objected to Agesilaus even without a rival.

I didn’t like the idea of cutting out Latychides, especially since he was such a juicy detail. But it had the potential to solve my problem so I gave it a try.

It worked.

Without having to explain the queen’s affair, I got from King Agis’ death to Agesilaus’s inauguration sooner. I also managed to repurpose the ominous prophecy in a way that gave Cynisca a part to play even before Agesilaus is crowned. And there was an additional benefit.

Something that I’ve learned in my critique groups is that unless a name is an American standard or something super famous like Cleopatra, it’s not going to stick quickly or easily. And the more unfamiliar names you throw out, the harder it is for people to keep track. My previous draft introduced six characters with Greek names in the first chapter, which turned out to be a stumbling block for my critique partners. After the change, I cut four characters, and the number of characters introduced in the first chapter went down to a much more manageable three.

So far everyone in my critique group approves of the changes, and I, too, think it makes for a more streamlined story. Still, the stickler inside me wishes Latychides could have stayed, and if this novel gets published, I’m fully prepared to get that email that says, “You left out the part about the bastard prince…”

GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class Vol. #05 Manga Review

While most manga are written in chapter format, that does not mean the comic strip is unknown to Japanese artists. Known as 4-Koma manga, four-panel comic strips aren’t nearly as widespread as their long-format counterparts, but they are no less entertaining.

One of the few 4-Koma titles translated to English is GA: Geijutsuka Art Design, a lighthearted series centered around five art students. Yen Press has recently released Volume 5 and you can read on for the review.

Back Cover Blurb

C’mon, GA students-sketchbooks at the ready! Kisaragi and friends are all set for some fun in the sun! “Inspired” by their summer housework assignments, the friends enjoy their vacation by going to a baseball game, the beach, and a summer festival. But as their time off draws to a close, will the gang be able to adjust once again to school life?!

The Review

As you can guess from the cover, this is the GA summer volume. We only get one art lesson type arc on animal caricatures, and then the girls are off on their first high school summer vacation. While art assignments show up as part of the girls’ homework, most stories center around generic Japanese summer events and activities. So we see the girls attending a Koshien baseball playoff game, having fun with fireworks, making summer greeting cards, capturing beetles, and going to a festival dressed in yukatas. Kiyuduki-sensei inserts a little of the fantastic with Noda’s mischievous foxy look-alike at the festival and the Professor getting super intense right before a hurricane, but mostly it’s the antics of kids enjoying school vacation.

In the midst of their summer play are some interesting character building episodes. The funniest is Noda’s bad luck day. The little prankster is always causing trouble for others so it’s fun to see all her tricks backfire on her. Big sister and former Art Club president Fujiko Nozaki is a larger-than-life character, and her visit home from college shows both the Art Club members and Namiko in a different light. And though brief, the closet episode provides an unexpected glimpse into the Professor’s personality. There’s also an encounter Noda and Kisaragi have with a girl under a bridge that attempts to be a character building arc, but it comes off as more weird than anything else.

In keeping with the summer theme, this volume includes four sets of color pages focusing on the different seasons. They include commentary from the GA characters, lists of season-themed works, and design and art image words.

In Summary

It’s the GA summer edition! While the students do some drawing here and there, they’re mostly having fun and goofing off. So there aren’t too many lessons on art history or techniques, but we get to see the girls in summer clothes, enjoying the treats, activities, and scenery of the season.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Bakuman Vol. 20

Bakuman is the latest collaboration of Ohba and Obata, the creators of the wildly popular Death Note series. Unlike Death Note, Bakuman is more or less grounded in reality, but it is no less entertaining as it follows the ups and downs of a mangaka duo as they strive to make it big in the publishing world!

This series is a personal favorite of mine, and Viz Media has just released the final volume. (My reviews of earlier Bakuman volumes can be found here.)

The Review

Spoiler Alert!!!

Volume 19 did an excellent job of returning Miho to the spotlight, and Volume 20 takes advantage of the buzz generated from the public declaration of her relationship to Moritaka. She already had a lot riding on the Reversi audition, and the stakes shoot through the roof when it turns into a live Internet competition. Shonen manga is all about battles, and the climax of Volume 20 is a voice actress battle!

Actually, the underlying concept is kind of far-fetched. Despite the hype touting the audition as the contest for the most popular voice actress, Kaya’s bored comment of, “This is long…” is entirely warranted from an objective standpoint. Still, the characters are so emotionally involved, it doesn’t matter. For the most part, the series has been about Ashirogi struggling to come up with a series worthy to be animated. Now it’s Moritaka’s turn to wait for Miho to do her part to make their dream come true.

Following the audition results, Ohba-sensei does a thorough job of wrapping things up, perhaps a little too thorough. After the adrenaline rush of the Reversi competition, Akito’s goal to boost sales of the graphic novel are somewhat ho-hum, even if Ashirogi accomplishes another achievement because of it. The part I found surprisingly brief was the farewell glimpses of Ashirogi’s fellow mangaka. Final volumes generally provide what-are-they-doing-now cameos, and Bakuman allots only five pages to that segment, most of which gets taken up by Eiji. But what that does is leave plenty of space for Miho and Moritaka’s first date. The entire last chapter gets dedicated to it, and considering they’ve been going long distance for ten years, it deserves the space.

By this time, readers may have forgotten Moritaka’s dead Uncle Nobuhiro, a major factor in his career and his decision to pursue Miho. Ohba-sensei neatly reintroduces him at the close of the story with a few “instructions” for Moritaka, and given the numerous ways Moritaka’s life reflected his, it’s a nice touch. It’s funny, sweet, and poignant all at once as the nervous couple step into that long-awaited moment, and the final pages provide a satisfying conclusion, signifying the end of one journey and the beginning of another.

In Summary

Bakuman reaches its conclusion! Unlike Ashirogi’s Reversi, the Bakuman series did feel like it went on a bit too long. Even in this last volume, Akito’s “wedding present” to Moritaka seemed an unnecessary extra hurdle to be overcome. However, the manga does an excellent job of bringing Miho back to the forefront with the Reversi audition, and the final chapter provides a satisfyingly sweet ending to Miho and Moritaka’s ten-year long-distance romance.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Hello Kitty: Fashion Music Wonderland Comic Review

My husband and I are pretty big Hello Kitty fans. Yes, that’s me AND my husband. He’s actually the bigger fan, with Hello Kitty iPhone accessories and the Hello Kitty decal on the car. And it was his idea for us to attend Sanrio’s 50th Anniversary celebration in Santa Monica and visit Hello Kitty’s Puroland in Japan (which you can read about here).

One thing we’ve noticed about Japan’s feline ambassador is that Sanrio seems very open to licensing her image to others. (Hello Kitty Swarovski crystals anyone?) One of its latest partnerships is with Viz Media, which has been granted permission to create graphic novels featuring the iconic cat. They’ve recently released the first of these books entitled Hello Kitty: Fashion Music Wonderland.

The Review

I should emphasize that this is not a translation of an existing Japanese comic. The story was written by Viz Media, and the illustrations produced by one Argentinian and three American artists. But though the comic is intended for a Western audience, storylines are simple enough to be understood across cultures.

Regarding the artwork, each of the three stories within Fashion Music Wonderland is drawn by a different artist. While all of them use bright colors, their illustration styles are distinctly unalike. Chabot’s artwork, which I liked the best, is closest to the standard Sanrio look. Maderna uses softer lines and colors for her illustrations. McGinty has a cluttered style and takes the most liberties with the Sanrio characters, exaggerating proportions and depicting them from multiple angles.

Fashion Music Wonderland has been called a graphic novel by some, but it’s really a comic book. It contains three simple stand-alone stories that feature no dialogue and a minimal amount of text for things like signs and flyers. As such, it’s perfect for very young readers. The only common element connecting the three stories is Japanimation Kitty, Sanrio’s latest version of the famous cat. With her pink wig, maid-style costume, and sparkly eyes, she looks like a Visual Kei band member. Each story takes normal Hello Kitty and thrusts her into circumstances that transform her into Japanimation Kitty. It’s not groundbreaking storytelling, but it is cute and certainly a book that little kids and hard-core Hello Kitty fans will enjoy.

By the way, don’t be fooled by the two cover designs. Fashion Music Wonderland is printed with a rock band cover and a Wonderland cover, but both versions contain the same material inside. Extras include a cutout paper doll with clothes and accessories and two notecards.

In summary

Fashion Music Wonderland is rated A for all ages, and the 48-page wordless comic is definitely appropriate and well suited for a kid audience. But though the artwork and stories are as charming as the cute cat herself, the books are probably too simple for anyone past third grade (unless you’re a hard-core Hello Kitty fan).

A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Vol 2 Review

I am a relative latecomer to the Game of Thrones fandom. I didn’t start watching the HBO series until it was in its third season. Having made it through to the rather gruesome Season 3 finale, I await Season 4 with great anticipation. For fans wanting to get their hands on all things Game of Thrones, Random House is releasing a graphic novel based on the series, and I recently had the chance to review Volume  2.

Back Cover Blurb

Now, in the second volume, the sweeping action moves from the icy north, where the bastard Jon Snow seeks to carve out a place for himself among bitter outcasts and hardened criminals sworn to service upon the Wall . . . to the decadent south and the capital city of King’s Landing, where Jon’s father, Lord Eddard Stark, serves as the Hand of King Robert Baratheon amid a nest of courtly vipers . . . to the barbarian lands across the Narrow Sea, where the young princess Daenerys Targaryen has found the unexpected in her forced marriage to the Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo: love-and with it, for the first time in her life, power.

The Review

A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume 2 is a hardcover compilation of the bimonthly Game of Thrones comic releases. The actual cover is plain white with the title in shiny green letters on the spine. The dust cover design is a bit more interesting with the outline of a raven in green superimposed on Patterson’s pencil art, but it isn’t exactly flashy. The pages inside, however, are vibrantly colored.

Volume 2 contains Issues 7 through 12 as well as “The Making of A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume 2” and a sneak preview of Issue 13 (cover art plus six pages of uncolored line art). Editor Anne Groell provides most of the commentary for “The Making of A Game of Thrones,” which explains the process by which five pages from Martin’s novel got turned into the Hand’s Tourney depicted in Issue 9.

In addition to Patterson’s illustrations, Volume 2 includes each issue’s cover art by Mike S. Miller and two illustrations of Jon Snow at The Wall by Michael Komark. Komark’s art, which look more like paintings than comic book art, are dramatic and breathtaking. Miller’s cover illustrations aren’t quite as captivating, but they do a satisfactory job of setting the mood for the pages to follow. However, Patterson’s art, although beautifully colored, isn’t exactly a feast for the eyes. Action scenes come off as stiff and clumsy, and facial expressions are overdone. I should note that some of Patterson’s characters, like Tyrion, are similar to their TV counterparts while others, like Theon and Lysa, look completely different.

This volume’s narrative begins with dwarf Tyrion Lannister’s visit to The Wall and ends with his demand for trial by combat in the Vale. Not having read the original novels, I can’t make any comparisons to them, but the graphic novel and TV show follow the same general storyline. The two mainly differ in the details they focus on. For instance, Abraham uses several pages to introduce the overweight Black Brother Samwell Tarly, providing a clear picture of the circumstances that forced him into the Night’s Watch. While the TV show relied on brief sweeping visuals to convey the scope of Lysa’s Vale and the Eyrie, the graphic novel follows Cat as she rides through her sister’s territory and makes the long, treacherous climb to the mountaintop castle at night. Game of Thrones has a mind bogglingly huge cast, but Abraham’s storytelling allows you to absorb and get a much better grasp of the characters than the show did.

Speaking of the show, the TV creators always seemed to push the limits of how gratuitous they could get with violence and sex. Patterson’s not nearly as gruesome when it comes to hacking and slashing. Victims definitely bleed and fall, but he doesn’t show guts spilling onto the ground in painstaking detail. As for sex, Volume 2 contains none although there are several nipples poking around.

In Summary

Abraham does an excellent job of presenting the complex plot and characters in his adaption of A Game of Thrones. Unfortunately, the artwork isn’t quite at the same level. Given how visually stunning the TV adaption was, the graphic novel may disappoint fans of the HBO series. The graphic novel, however, isn’t nearly as gratuitous when it comes to sex and violence, which may appeal to those captivated by Martin’s story but would rather not watch disembowelments in gory detail.

First published at the Fandom Post.