Series: Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #1
Author: Richelle Mead
Adapter: Leigh Dragoon
Artist: Emma Vieceli
Genre: Young Adult Graphic Novel Adaptations, Supernatural
Elements: Vampires, Dhampirs, Magic
Publisher: Razorbill, Penguin Group
ISBN-13: 9781595144294
Release: August 23, 2011
Rating: 2/5
Tagline(s): Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies...
Summary:
Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from the Strigoi, the fiercest vampires---the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.
Review:
Adaptation
There's nothing wrong with the wording, it's all taken straight from the book. But it's like the adapter only took the bare minimum of the story to put in the graphic novel. All of the juicy, meaty parts are left out. There are a lot of events and conversations not even included. I think the story part of this graphic novel would have been better with more substance to it.
Art
To be perfectly honest, I don't really like the art. I also don't like that it's in color. When I read graphic novels I prefer them to be in black and white. The art doesn't really add much character to the faces. Maybe it's just that I don't like American-looking art styles in manga.
My Final Thoughts:
I was sort of disappointed with the whole graphic novel. I thought it could have been much better.
When graphic novels are done in color, for me, it takes something away. It doesn't look as deep as it could be if it were in black and white. And with the pages being glossy it adds a glare that makes it difficult to read.
The adaptation wasn't any better. The story was so watered down that all the depth was sucked out of the story.
If I had to choose between reading the original book or the graphic novel, I'd choose the original hands down.
About this Author:
Vieceli joined Sweatdrop Studios in 2002, and through the group released her own comic series, 'Dragon Heir'. She has also contributed to anthology titles including Boiled Spoons, Cold Sweat, Love, Sweat & Tears, Pink is for Girls and Planet Manga (A&I Covermount) and in 2005 she achieved a runner up position in the first Rising Stars of Manga United Kingdom & Ireland Competition, with her 15-page shōjo entry, "Between the Lines". She included cameo appearances of various titles being published under Sweatdrop Studios in her short story; Looking for the Sun, Once upon a Time, Fantastic Cat, as well as Dragon Heir.
She has worked on comic adaptations of William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing for Self Made Hero. Amongst other projects, has worked on the art and design of the collectible card game Herocard Cyberspace from Tablestar Games and was also of the head contributors to Draw Manga Sweatdrop Studios from New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. Vieceli has worked with Spacedog Entertainment, illustrating the cover to eV, a short story in Princess Ai: Rumors From The Other Side, both published by Tokyopop, and a story in Tori Amos' Comic Book Tattoo a 480 page anthology published by Image Comics on July 3, 2008. In addition, she created Violet for The DFC, which was previewed in The Guardian Comic on May 31, 2008. In 2011, Vieceli provided the art for the Vampire Academy graphic novel, based on the novels of the same name.
I'm not saying I hate Emma's art, I just don't like it in color. I really liked it in the Manga Shakespeare series that she did the art for: Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how tastes can differ. I loved both the artwork and that it was in colour - black and white doesn't really do it for me. I also felt the most important parts of the story were well adapted but then, I had read and loved the book already, so maybe that knowledge covered up any missing parts. Just struck me that the reasons you didn't enjoy it were part of why I did :)
ReplyDeleteIt could be that because I read the book first and I know all that happens, that I can notice what's there and what's not. A lot of my favorite parts aren't in the graphic novel.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the art, I read a lot of manga before I really got into reading novels again, so that could have made me really biased. I love the black and white, the smell of the ink and paper, etc.