DARK HORSE COMICS – @DarkHorseComics
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Neil Gaiman
SCRIPT: P. Craig Russell
LAYOUTS: P. Craig Russell
ART: Scott Hampton
COLORS: Scott Hampton and Jennifer T. Lange
LETTERS: Rick Parker
EDITOR: Daniel Chabon
COVER: Glenn Fabry with Adam Brown
VARIANT COVER: David Mack
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2019)
American Gods is a fantasy novel first published in 2001 and written by Neil Gaiman. The novel won several fantasy-literary awards and has been developed into the current hit television series for the cable network, Starz Media. American Gods blends Americana and also ancient and modern mythology to tell the story of a man caught in a war between the gods of the Old World and the new American gods.
American Gods is currently being adapted as a comic book series by frequent Gaiman collaborator, P. Craig Russell, and publisher, Dark Horse Comics. Russell is the guiding hand behind the American Gods comic book adaptation. Russell writes the script adaptation of Gaiman's novel and provides the layouts for the artist. American Gods the comic book is drawn and colored by Scott Hampton and lettered by Rick Parker.
This comic book adaptation will yield 27 issues over three nine-issue series (or story arcs). American Gods, the first series, ended late in 2017. The second series, American Gods: My Ainsel, concluded at the end of 2018. The final series is American Gods: The Moment of the Storm.
American Gods: The Moment of the Storm #1 opens in Minneapolis. There, Shadow Moon, Czernobog, and Mr. Nancy meet Alviss, a dwarf, who provides them with a new mode of transportation. The trio heads for “the Center” of the United States, near Lebanon, Kansas. There, they will meet the people who killed Mr. Wednesday, and who now want to surrender his corpse. The battle's just begun.
In my previous reviews of the American Gods comic book series, I have informed you, dear reader, that I am a big fan of American Gods the novel, although I did not read it upon its original release in 2001. I read the American Gods: Tenth Anniversary Edition (June 2011, William Morrow) which features a longer text and is the author, Neil Gaiman's preferred edition. I also feel that I must admit that I loved that book, and that “love” is not a strong enough word in this case. American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition is one of my favorite books, and I consider the reading of that edition of American Gods to be a life-changing event for me in terms of my life as a writer.
P. Craig Russell continues his excellent work, capturing both the details and spirit of American God's narrative through balance, knowing what text to retain and what to translate into illustrations. He makes Shadow Moon really stand out and evolve. He makes American Gods: The Moment of the Storm #1 as much a joy to read as the opening issues of the previous series.
Scott Hampton drawings and colors are more eccentric and ethereal than ever, but also quite solid in storytelling. Still, Hampton infuses his art and storytelling with a sense of magic. Letterer Rick Parker hums along, capturing the magic with his stylish fonts and with the deftness in where he places exposition and word balloons.
As before, I implore you, dear readers, to set aside your four dollars each month so that you can buy this lovely comic book. I still think that American Gods may end up being on the short list of great comic book adaptations of a prose novel.
8 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
---------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment