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The Graveyard Book #1
The Graveyard Book Graphic Novel, Volume 1
The first volume of a glorious two-volume, four-color graphic novel adaptation of Neil Gaiman's #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning novel The Graveyard Book , adapted by P. Craig Russell and illustrated by an extraordinary team of renowned artists. Inventive, chilling, and filled with wonder, Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book reaches new heights in this stunning adaptation. Artists Kevin Nowlan, P. Craig Russell, Tony Harris, Scott Hampton, Galen Showman, Jill Thompson, and Stephen B. Scott lend their own signature styles to create an imaginatively diverse and yet cohesive interpretation of Neil Gaiman's luminous novel. Volume One contains Chapter One through the Interlude, while Volume Two will include Chapter Six to the end.
192 pages, Unknown Binding
First published July 29, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,435 reviews
December 31, 2015
OH MAN. I loved this so much! I read it in one sitting. I love the fact that several artists contributed to this book! It made for an interesting graphic novel full of beautiful artwork.
September 4, 2024
I haven't had the chance to read The Graveyard Book in its original form and I was happy enough to have read it in the graphic novel adaptation first. The story, an orphaned boy raised in the unlikeliest of communities, is Neil Gaiman at the height of his powers. The story is dark, cold, warm and tender all at the same time. Truly, only a writer with talent such as Gaiman's could have accomplished thus.
P. Craig Russell is one of the few talents able to work with Gaiman and turn his script into both the vision of the writer and the artist. It helps Russell is himself capable of writing at a top level to be able to turn The Graveyard Book into a true melding of both men's individual gifts.
P. Craig Russell is one of the few talents able to work with Gaiman and turn his script into both the vision of the writer and the artist. It helps Russell is himself capable of writing at a top level to be able to turn The Graveyard Book into a true melding of both men's individual gifts.
September 23, 2018
The book by Neil Gaiman is one of my top 10 all time favorite books. There is nothing like it out there. Unique and fresh and gothic. Now, it has been adapted into a graphic novel. What I like about this, is I can read it in much shorter time and enjoy it. A few details had already begun to fade from my mind and now they are back.
Bod is an orphan taken in by residents of a graveyard. He has their protection as well. Silas is his guardian and he is a Vampire. Bod is short for Nobody Owens. He is a boy that lives among tombstones and ghosts and other things. He gets lessons and advice from dead people. It is a wonderful little story. It's funny, my mom read this after I told her how good it was and she did not like the story. I can't understand. We like many of the same stories and she was not a fan. I guess I have a bit darker streak than she does at times.
I can't wait to finish the story with Vol. 2. I think my favorite part of the whole thing was the Danse Macabrae. Many people wouldn't have put that in the story, but it takes it to a whole new level and adds something special and magical. It is so memorable. This is Gaiman at this best in my opinion. I can go on and on, but I will leave it at this. If you don't want to read the whole book, this is a great way to read the story. How do the Brits have such a great literary history. I guess 2,000 years of history does help or so. I also think it's in the water.
Bod is an orphan taken in by residents of a graveyard. He has their protection as well. Silas is his guardian and he is a Vampire. Bod is short for Nobody Owens. He is a boy that lives among tombstones and ghosts and other things. He gets lessons and advice from dead people. It is a wonderful little story. It's funny, my mom read this after I told her how good it was and she did not like the story. I can't understand. We like many of the same stories and she was not a fan. I guess I have a bit darker streak than she does at times.
I can't wait to finish the story with Vol. 2. I think my favorite part of the whole thing was the Danse Macabrae. Many people wouldn't have put that in the story, but it takes it to a whole new level and adds something special and magical. It is so memorable. This is Gaiman at this best in my opinion. I can go on and on, but I will leave it at this. If you don't want to read the whole book, this is a great way to read the story. How do the Brits have such a great literary history. I guess 2,000 years of history does help or so. I also think it's in the water.
March 20, 2018
3/5. En sí me ha gustado, pero también reconozco que me faltó algo.
October 16, 2017
Really great companion for the original novel. I especially loved the depiction of Silas.
July 3, 2015
Po spisku pročitanih knjiga lako je zaključiti da sam ljubitelj Gaimanovih dela... Sada sam malo počeo da istražujem i njegove grafičke novele.
Priča o groblju me je oduševila kao roman, a ova grafička verzija je samo pojačala moje oduševljenje.
Ono što je svakako najjači adut ove grafičke novele jeste to što je svako poglavlje radio drugi ilustrator. Postoje dakle, razlike u vizuelnom aspektu, ali one nikako ne smetaju - čak je interesantno upoređivati likovna rešenja glavnih likova i samog settinga.
Svaka čast na ideji! Pet zasluženih zvezdica!!!
Priča o groblju me je oduševila kao roman, a ova grafička verzija je samo pojačala moje oduševljenje.
Ono što je svakako najjači adut ove grafičke novele jeste to što je svako poglavlje radio drugi ilustrator. Postoje dakle, razlike u vizuelnom aspektu, ali one nikako ne smetaju - čak je interesantno upoređivati likovna rešenja glavnih likova i samog settinga.
Svaka čast na ideji! Pet zasluženih zvezdica!!!
September 10, 2018
4,5* - I absolutely loved this! Both the art and the story were so entertaining and the atmosphere was perfect.
I'm really looking forward to part 2. I already ordered it lol.
I'm really looking forward to part 2. I already ordered it lol.
June 18, 2016
mükemmeldi ❤ kitabı okuduysanız alın mutlaka. çok özlemişim :')
October 25, 2018
Terminé mi libro en un aeropuerto y decidí descargar este volumen en mi kindle, para pasar el rato pues ya había leído la novela. disfruté mucho de las ilustraciones, el juego de foreshadowing que realizan con algunos personajes y demás.
Cuenta la historia de manera precisa y entretenida, algo oscuro en los momentos que debe serlo. Hay pedazos del texto original que no aparecen, aún así es una lectura muy recomendable. en mi opinión personajes como Silas y la Dama Gris lucen increíbles en estas ilustraciones.
Cuenta la historia de manera precisa y entretenida, algo oscuro en los momentos que debe serlo. Hay pedazos del texto original que no aparecen, aún así es una lectura muy recomendable. en mi opinión personajes como Silas y la Dama Gris lucen increíbles en estas ilustraciones.
December 10, 2020
Much like The Graveyard Book, the graphic novel is told through vignettes of Nobody Owens' life.
Sometimes the characters were beautiful, sometimes ugly and sometimes very "meh" in appearance. The thing is, I could be talking about the same person. Each vignette had a different artist , which was slightly disconcerting. As soon as I get used to one portrayal of a character - we'd be on to the next artist. I like consistency. A few times the characters appeared so differently that I needed context clues to match their image to their persona.
Other than that - this was a true book-to-graphic novel adaption. I enjoyed experiencing the book through a new media.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Sometimes the characters were beautiful, sometimes ugly and sometimes very "meh" in appearance. The thing is, I could be talking about the same person. Each vignette had a different artist , which was slightly disconcerting. As soon as I get used to one portrayal of a character - we'd be on to the next artist. I like consistency. A few times the characters appeared so differently that I needed context clues to match their image to their persona.
Other than that - this was a true book-to-graphic novel adaption. I enjoyed experiencing the book through a new media.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
January 15, 2022
"It is neither fair nor unfair. It simply is."
I love Bod and Silas so much for different reasons, of course.
I fell in love with that animal too.
And all the strange characters, ghosts, the friendship between Bod and Scarlett.
I love how the story started. Gruesome but gripping.
Gaiman knows how to keep you hooked.
Granted I haven't completed the original book (I started it months ago but gave it up because I was in a book hangover. But yes, read this book with Gaiman narrating the audiobook. It's amazing!).
I got really curious about the story. And yes, I got the graphic novels yesterday, so why not?!
This is the story of a boy brought up by paranormal beings in a graveyard. The boy was content with whatever he had until a new world of education and knowledge was opened up to him by unexpected friends and acquaintances.
It also represented well the pangs and anxiety resulting from separation.
The graphics is amazing!
The story and the art sequence is one of the best in graphic novels I have read so far.
(Do not expect dialogue bubbles and the general artstyle as in comics.)
For me, this book is more than just a horror story.
It defines found family, friendship and, most importantly, it defines fears that are not real but we constantly live with and facing your enemies which promise the greatest pleasures in life but actually wait to gobble you up. Most importantly it defines hope.
The later half is filled with so much adventure that it's just impossible to calm down. It's a world of nightmarish entertainment!
***Favourite lines:
*Miss Lupescu: Name the different kinds of people.
*Bod: The living. Er, the dead. Cats?
(🤦☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️😆)
*"You are ignorant. And you are content to be ignorant, which is worse."
*"I will have died with all my memories."
"But at least if I die, I will have died as myself."
*"Everything in its season."
*"Joy filled his chest and his head, leaving no room for anything else."
I love his writing. Filled with rhythm and so fantastical!
Ghosts and ghouls?!
Sign me in for more!
(Let's move on to Part 2 🖤) ⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵
I love Bod and Silas so much for different reasons, of course.
I fell in love with that animal too.
And all the strange characters, ghosts, the friendship between Bod and Scarlett.
I love how the story started. Gruesome but gripping.
Gaiman knows how to keep you hooked.
Granted I haven't completed the original book (I started it months ago but gave it up because I was in a book hangover. But yes, read this book with Gaiman narrating the audiobook. It's amazing!).
I got really curious about the story. And yes, I got the graphic novels yesterday, so why not?!
This is the story of a boy brought up by paranormal beings in a graveyard. The boy was content with whatever he had until a new world of education and knowledge was opened up to him by unexpected friends and acquaintances.
It also represented well the pangs and anxiety resulting from separation.
The graphics is amazing!
The story and the art sequence is one of the best in graphic novels I have read so far.
(Do not expect dialogue bubbles and the general artstyle as in comics.)
For me, this book is more than just a horror story.
It defines found family, friendship and, most importantly, it defines fears that are not real but we constantly live with and facing your enemies which promise the greatest pleasures in life but actually wait to gobble you up. Most importantly it defines hope.
The later half is filled with so much adventure that it's just impossible to calm down. It's a world of nightmarish entertainment!
***Favourite lines:
*Miss Lupescu: Name the different kinds of people.
*Bod: The living. Er, the dead. Cats?
(🤦☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️😆)
*"You are ignorant. And you are content to be ignorant, which is worse."
*"I will have died with all my memories."
"But at least if I die, I will have died as myself."
*"Everything in its season."
*"Joy filled his chest and his head, leaving no room for anything else."
I love his writing. Filled with rhythm and so fantastical!
Ghosts and ghouls?!
Sign me in for more!
(Let's move on to Part 2 🖤) ⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵⛵
July 6, 2015
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
I thought this graphic novel was awesome! I loved the fact that Bod (Nobody Owens) lived in the graveyard!
Through some unfortunate events his family were killed, but he had wandered off to the graveyard before he could be killed. He was still just a toddler. The ghosts from the graveyard and Silas, whom I'm assuming is a vampire, take him in and raise him! :) I totally love it!
The graphics were awesome! Bod got into some hairy situations but always got out of them with the help of some friends.
I'm afraid the way this first volume ended that something bad or sad is coming up in the next one. I look forward to reading it.
I thought this graphic novel was awesome! I loved the fact that Bod (Nobody Owens) lived in the graveyard!
Through some unfortunate events his family were killed, but he had wandered off to the graveyard before he could be killed. He was still just a toddler. The ghosts from the graveyard and Silas, whom I'm assuming is a vampire, take him in and raise him! :) I totally love it!
The graphics were awesome! Bod got into some hairy situations but always got out of them with the help of some friends.
I'm afraid the way this first volume ended that something bad or sad is coming up in the next one. I look forward to reading it.
November 30, 2014
It takes a village graveyard to raise a child.
A little live boy is taught the ways of the world by the spectral residents of a cemetery.
I've not read Gaiman's original book, but I really enjoyed this graphic adaptation of the story. Can't wait to start volume II.
A little live boy is taught the ways of the world by the spectral residents of a cemetery.
I've not read Gaiman's original book, but I really enjoyed this graphic adaptation of the story. Can't wait to start volume II.
March 22, 2024
I realized while updating my status about this graphic novel adaption of Neil Gaiman’s wonderful “Graveyard Book” that I had failed to review it the first time around. Well, no time like the present!
As the rating makes it obvious, I loved it as much as the novel. This lovely book about found family and Bod’s coming of age lends itself very well to the format, and having different artists work on different chapters is absolutely brilliant, as we see Bod grow and change through different sets of eyes. Stylistically, I have an eternal soft spot for P. Craig Russell’s work: his almost Art Deco style delights me! But special shout out to the chapters illustrated by Tony Harris and Scott Hampton, who make Miss Lupescu and the adventure through the ghoul gate so remarkable.
Gaiman’s gift of making what could have been quite morbid and creepy into a story that gives me the warm and fuzzies (and makes me cry at the end every single time) is something I may never tire of. I do have a tendency to reach for these books as a form of self-care. If you are feeling crummy, do yourself a favor: make a cup of hot chocolate and grab these gorgeous books. You’ll feel better by the last page, I promise.
As the rating makes it obvious, I loved it as much as the novel. This lovely book about found family and Bod’s coming of age lends itself very well to the format, and having different artists work on different chapters is absolutely brilliant, as we see Bod grow and change through different sets of eyes. Stylistically, I have an eternal soft spot for P. Craig Russell’s work: his almost Art Deco style delights me! But special shout out to the chapters illustrated by Tony Harris and Scott Hampton, who make Miss Lupescu and the adventure through the ghoul gate so remarkable.
Gaiman’s gift of making what could have been quite morbid and creepy into a story that gives me the warm and fuzzies (and makes me cry at the end every single time) is something I may never tire of. I do have a tendency to reach for these books as a form of self-care. If you are feeling crummy, do yourself a favor: make a cup of hot chocolate and grab these gorgeous books. You’ll feel better by the last page, I promise.
August 20, 2022
The Graveyard Book in its original form is a book that I loved tremendously and think about all the time, so I decided I'd finally get around to checking out the graphic novel adaptation! While it definitely doesn't function as a full substitute for the original book, if you've read the novel and enjoyed it, I highly recommend checking this out as an addition to it. It lacks a great deal of the heart and charm of the original story, as is the usual case for adaptations like this (after all, there's only so much you can pack in!), but it's still a lot of fun and covers the important bases of the plot! I do wish the art had been a little more whimsical and fun to go along with the story, though.
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September 12, 2017
Saw this on the shelf at the local library and just picked it up. It looked like the perfect little read for in between and the change of weather.
This is an adaptation by P. Craig Russell of Neil Gaiman’s award winning novel ‘The Graveyard Book’. It contains chapter one through the interlude. Volume two includes chapter six through the end.
Though the concept seemed a bit strange at first, I enjoyed Nobody Owens character and his little adventures around the graveyard. His primary care taker Silas is really one of the reasons I picked this graphic novel up. He appears to resemble Dracula in many ways and I am still trying to figure out his role, abilities and secrets.
The read was entertaining and peaked my interest to pick up volume two as well as the original novel. As this one ended on a cliffhanger, I am sure it won’t disappoint.
This is an adaptation by P. Craig Russell of Neil Gaiman’s award winning novel ‘The Graveyard Book’. It contains chapter one through the interlude. Volume two includes chapter six through the end.
Though the concept seemed a bit strange at first, I enjoyed Nobody Owens character and his little adventures around the graveyard. His primary care taker Silas is really one of the reasons I picked this graphic novel up. He appears to resemble Dracula in many ways and I am still trying to figure out his role, abilities and secrets.
The read was entertaining and peaked my interest to pick up volume two as well as the original novel. As this one ended on a cliffhanger, I am sure it won’t disappoint.
March 1, 2023
Graphic novel
August 2, 2016
I absolutely ADORED every single page in this graphic novel adaptation of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It's like holding magic in your hands!
P. Craig Russell has managed to perfectly capture Gaiman's story in this illustrated form and reunites the reader once again with Nobody Owens (aka Bod), his mysterious guardian, Silas, the equally mysterious Miss Lupescu and the witch, Liza Hempstock (who may be related to Lettie from The Ocean at the End of the Lane).
This graphic novel ticks all of the boxes: great story line, fantastic illustrations, wonderful dialogue, brilliant characterisation, etc. What makes this adaptation even more special is the number of illustrators who have lent their artistic ability to this book (each chapter has been illustrated by a separate artist). Now, usually, this could mean a varied depiction of the same characters/setting which some readers might find distracting. This is not the case here. The artists have all managed to convey the characters in an incredibly similar way creating continuity throughout.
Each chapter was perfect in its own way; it starts with the man Jack searching for Nobody Owens (who is a baby when the story opens), how Bod makes a friend who visits the graveyard from time to time, his adventures upon leaving the graveyard (which he is forbidden to do since it isn't safe for him (Bod goes not realise that the man Jack is after him)) and finally the danse macabre, uniting the living and the dead for one night.
Out of all of the chapters, my favourite one has to be Chapter 3 - The Hounds of God, which was a perfect story in itself and was reminiscent of Gaiman's Sandman in places. This was the story which touched me the most and left me feeling like I had been on a great adventure.
The quality of the storytelling is something else entirely and is very poetic and dream-like. I can see why it is so popular!
Overall, a fantastic visual read which certainly won't disappoint. The nice thing about this adaptation is that you don't have to read Gaiman's book first to understand it - the graphic novel stands alone and is a complete entity in itself (well, relatively complete). All that remains is for me to delve straight into volume 2!
P. Craig Russell has managed to perfectly capture Gaiman's story in this illustrated form and reunites the reader once again with Nobody Owens (aka Bod), his mysterious guardian, Silas, the equally mysterious Miss Lupescu and the witch, Liza Hempstock (who may be related to Lettie from The Ocean at the End of the Lane).
This graphic novel ticks all of the boxes: great story line, fantastic illustrations, wonderful dialogue, brilliant characterisation, etc. What makes this adaptation even more special is the number of illustrators who have lent their artistic ability to this book (each chapter has been illustrated by a separate artist). Now, usually, this could mean a varied depiction of the same characters/setting which some readers might find distracting. This is not the case here. The artists have all managed to convey the characters in an incredibly similar way creating continuity throughout.
Each chapter was perfect in its own way; it starts with the man Jack searching for Nobody Owens (who is a baby when the story opens), how Bod makes a friend who visits the graveyard from time to time, his adventures upon leaving the graveyard (which he is forbidden to do since it isn't safe for him (Bod goes not realise that the man Jack is after him)) and finally the danse macabre, uniting the living and the dead for one night.
Out of all of the chapters, my favourite one has to be Chapter 3 - The Hounds of God, which was a perfect story in itself and was reminiscent of Gaiman's Sandman in places. This was the story which touched me the most and left me feeling like I had been on a great adventure.
The quality of the storytelling is something else entirely and is very poetic and dream-like. I can see why it is so popular!
Overall, a fantastic visual read which certainly won't disappoint. The nice thing about this adaptation is that you don't have to read Gaiman's book first to understand it - the graphic novel stands alone and is a complete entity in itself (well, relatively complete). All that remains is for me to delve straight into volume 2!
February 6, 2017
Çizimlere bayıldım. Kitap çok güzel yansıtılmış bana göre. Kitabı da baya unutmuşum onu fark ettim, iyi oldu hatırlattı kendisini :')
Devamı bir an önce çıksın :')
Devamı bir an önce çıksın :')
August 28, 2017
τι όμορφη μεταφορά του βιβλίου σε graphic novel!! μου άρεσε το σκίτσο..και που είχε διαφορετικούς καλλιτέχνες μέσα!! ευτυχώς αγόρασα κ το volume 2 μαζί και το ξεκίνησα άμεσα!
September 2, 2014
One night, a man murders a family with a knife, except for a toddler who manages to escape to a nearby graveyard. There, he is kept safe, named Bod (short for Nobody) and raised by an Addams Family assortment of ghosts, vampires, and werewolves. The story follows his adventures as a 10 year old exploring the graveyard and its curious inhabitants as he learns Important Life Lessons.
I like Neil Gaiman’s comics and short stories but I’ve never really enjoyed his novels in the way a lot of other readers have. American Gods was interminably long, so much so that I ended up abandoning it, while I’ve finished a few of his other novels - Anansi Boys, Stardust, Neverwhere - without really being that impressed with them. This trend continued with the award-winning bestseller, The Graveyard Book, which was much too slow and mundane for my taste so I dropped it after a few chapters.
But I was able to get through P. Craig Russell’s graphic adaptation of Gaiman’s celebrated story which divides up the book into two volumes. And “get through” it is about the best I can say for this book because, though the adaptation features the work of many excellent artists, my problems with the pacing and unremarkable nature of the story itself still persist so I can’t say I loved it - but I did finish this time.
The story is episodic with each chapter drawn by a different artist taking in a different adventure. Bod meets another human girl and the two meet an ancient ghost in the oldest grave. Bod’s protector, the vampire Silas, temporarily leaves him in the care of Miss Lupescu and suddenly a large wolf is seen skulking around the graveyard (d’you think they might be connected!?) before he’s captured by some ghouls and taken to their blighted home of Ghulheim. Later he tries to give a witch’s ghost her own headstone but finds trouble with a pair of shady antiques dealers. The book ends with the living and the dead dancing the Danse Macabre at midnight.
A lot of the stories felt like Enid Blyton-esque tales given the most superficial of “edges” by having the inclusion of gothic horror staples that are nevertheless rendered totally safe. I can see this appealing to younger readers if only for perhaps not having had much experience with occult books - like a primer for Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, etc. - but for older readers like myself, I think the stories are a bit too simplistic to fully engage.
The stories are also strangely uncreative with Gaiman taking bits and pieces of folkloric detail and meshing them with his dreary cast. Details like how “witches” were killed hundreds of years ago, how the Romans buried their dead, and names like Danse Macabre are all fairly well known in a general kind of way, so reading about them here isn’t terribly interesting or revelatory.
The main “character” – a term I use for convenience only - is a blank canvas. Maybe that was Gaiman’s intent, having named him Nobody to perhaps focus on the rest of the seemingly more colourful cast, but unfortunately none of the other characters especially stand out. The vampire is a dull kindly vampire, as is the werewolf, and the ghosts are just ghosts who act like people. There’s no original creation here and no memorable characterisation.
The art is better than the lacklustre narrative and writing. P. Craig Russell leads a talented roster of artists that includes Jill Thompson, Tony Harris, Galen Showman, Kevin Nowlan, Scott Hampton, and Stephen B. Scott, all of whom produce some lovely art.
Curiously though, with the exception of Harris and Hampton’s contributions on the Miss Lupescu/Ghulheim story, the art is almost uniformly similar - a peculiar quality as you’d think the artists would all have different styles. Having seen some of the artists’ previous works, Thompson’s art in particular feels restrained as does Russell’s, perhaps to match the others’ art and lend the book a stable look – again, a very safe approach.
Lovern Kindzierski, the colourist, does fine work, giving the pages a bright, lively quality despite the settings being mostly nocturnal and potentially drab.
In the end, The Graveyard Book, Volume 1 is a self-conscious attempt at being a graphic novel, rather than a comic. In adapting Gaiman’s novel, P. Craig Russell has decided to put as much of the original into his version and as such it loses the energy and pace that a comic can have over a prose novel.
A lot of the stories could’ve benefitted from a less strenuous adherence to the source material to become its own thing. Russell could’ve trimmed Gaiman’s prose and storytelling to become leaner and allowed for pictures to inform the story rather than relying on words - a bizarre critique to make of an experienced artist who should know this better than anyone. Russell could’ve limited the chapter stories to fit 20 pages and the adaptation could’ve been one volume rather than two.
As it is, The Graveyard Book, Volume 1 succeeds in being slightly less plodding than Gaiman’s sluggish story, and as such is only a decent adaptation when it could’ve been greater if Russell had loosened his grip on the reins and taken some chances. It does have some delightful art though and if you want to read The Graveyard Book, I would definitely recommend the graphic version over the original novel.
I like Neil Gaiman’s comics and short stories but I’ve never really enjoyed his novels in the way a lot of other readers have. American Gods was interminably long, so much so that I ended up abandoning it, while I’ve finished a few of his other novels - Anansi Boys, Stardust, Neverwhere - without really being that impressed with them. This trend continued with the award-winning bestseller, The Graveyard Book, which was much too slow and mundane for my taste so I dropped it after a few chapters.
But I was able to get through P. Craig Russell’s graphic adaptation of Gaiman’s celebrated story which divides up the book into two volumes. And “get through” it is about the best I can say for this book because, though the adaptation features the work of many excellent artists, my problems with the pacing and unremarkable nature of the story itself still persist so I can’t say I loved it - but I did finish this time.
The story is episodic with each chapter drawn by a different artist taking in a different adventure. Bod meets another human girl and the two meet an ancient ghost in the oldest grave. Bod’s protector, the vampire Silas, temporarily leaves him in the care of Miss Lupescu and suddenly a large wolf is seen skulking around the graveyard (d’you think they might be connected!?) before he’s captured by some ghouls and taken to their blighted home of Ghulheim. Later he tries to give a witch’s ghost her own headstone but finds trouble with a pair of shady antiques dealers. The book ends with the living and the dead dancing the Danse Macabre at midnight.
A lot of the stories felt like Enid Blyton-esque tales given the most superficial of “edges” by having the inclusion of gothic horror staples that are nevertheless rendered totally safe. I can see this appealing to younger readers if only for perhaps not having had much experience with occult books - like a primer for Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, etc. - but for older readers like myself, I think the stories are a bit too simplistic to fully engage.
The stories are also strangely uncreative with Gaiman taking bits and pieces of folkloric detail and meshing them with his dreary cast. Details like how “witches” were killed hundreds of years ago, how the Romans buried their dead, and names like Danse Macabre are all fairly well known in a general kind of way, so reading about them here isn’t terribly interesting or revelatory.
The main “character” – a term I use for convenience only - is a blank canvas. Maybe that was Gaiman’s intent, having named him Nobody to perhaps focus on the rest of the seemingly more colourful cast, but unfortunately none of the other characters especially stand out. The vampire is a dull kindly vampire, as is the werewolf, and the ghosts are just ghosts who act like people. There’s no original creation here and no memorable characterisation.
The art is better than the lacklustre narrative and writing. P. Craig Russell leads a talented roster of artists that includes Jill Thompson, Tony Harris, Galen Showman, Kevin Nowlan, Scott Hampton, and Stephen B. Scott, all of whom produce some lovely art.
Curiously though, with the exception of Harris and Hampton’s contributions on the Miss Lupescu/Ghulheim story, the art is almost uniformly similar - a peculiar quality as you’d think the artists would all have different styles. Having seen some of the artists’ previous works, Thompson’s art in particular feels restrained as does Russell’s, perhaps to match the others’ art and lend the book a stable look – again, a very safe approach.
Lovern Kindzierski, the colourist, does fine work, giving the pages a bright, lively quality despite the settings being mostly nocturnal and potentially drab.
In the end, The Graveyard Book, Volume 1 is a self-conscious attempt at being a graphic novel, rather than a comic. In adapting Gaiman’s novel, P. Craig Russell has decided to put as much of the original into his version and as such it loses the energy and pace that a comic can have over a prose novel.
A lot of the stories could’ve benefitted from a less strenuous adherence to the source material to become its own thing. Russell could’ve trimmed Gaiman’s prose and storytelling to become leaner and allowed for pictures to inform the story rather than relying on words - a bizarre critique to make of an experienced artist who should know this better than anyone. Russell could’ve limited the chapter stories to fit 20 pages and the adaptation could’ve been one volume rather than two.
As it is, The Graveyard Book, Volume 1 succeeds in being slightly less plodding than Gaiman’s sluggish story, and as such is only a decent adaptation when it could’ve been greater if Russell had loosened his grip on the reins and taken some chances. It does have some delightful art though and if you want to read The Graveyard Book, I would definitely recommend the graphic version over the original novel.
April 26, 2015
Fantasticna graficka novela!
Izuzetna prica i pored Nikaddodjije i Okeana na kraju puteljka, meni najbolja Neil Gaiman-ova knjigu (o groblju).
Svako poglavlje je ilostrovano od strane drugog umetnika, a stilovi odstupaju minimalno i ta raznolikost nimalo ne smeta u citanju. Za razliku od Sendmena ovde mi je crtez fantastocno legao i ide u rasponu od dobrog ka jos boljem.
Do pre par dana nisam ni znao za postojanje ove graficke novele, a sada mi je u samom vrhu top 10.
Izuzetna prica i pored Nikaddodjije i Okeana na kraju puteljka, meni najbolja Neil Gaiman-ova knjigu (o groblju).
Svako poglavlje je ilostrovano od strane drugog umetnika, a stilovi odstupaju minimalno i ta raznolikost nimalo ne smeta u citanju. Za razliku od Sendmena ovde mi je crtez fantastocno legao i ide u rasponu od dobrog ka jos boljem.
Do pre par dana nisam ni znao za postojanje ove graficke novele, a sada mi je u samom vrhu top 10.
November 5, 2022
‘The Graveyard Book’ by Neil Gaiman is a very entertaining graphic comic for young readers and the young at heart! It is very mysterious too. I haven’t read the novel this graphic comic is based on, but I enjoyed the story and the illustrations. This comic is volume one. It ends when the main character is ten years old.
Nobody ‘Bod’ Owens is a boy who is growing up in a cemetary. Why and how is a mystery! Silas, a vampire, rescued him after finding him wandering about the cemetary as a baby. Bod had run from his home during the slaughter of his parents and a sibling. The killer, Jack, is still looking for him. Why Bod and his entire family needed to be killed is not revealed.
Bod is a happy boy despite that his only friends are dead people. The ghosts are taking care of him. Mr. and Mrs. Owens are his stepparents. Silas brings him food. All of the other ghosts are teaching him how to read and write. They also are giving him an education, but it is a problematic one, since the ghosts are teaching him what children were taught in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Never mind. Bod is alive and healthy.
Silas has given Bod one rule - never leave the cemetary! Bod doesn’t know why. In the meantime, he becomes familiar with many of the dead who are buried and now ‘live’ in the cemetary. He is able to see them, talk to them, touch them.
During visits by the living to the cemetary, who are looking after relatives’ graves, he learns the difference between the living and the dead, the primary one being those who are alive cannot see the ghosts as he can.
But it’s all good. Bod is friendly and very young, and he doesn’t really question his life. He meets ghouls and witches, and has a series of adventures. There is a mysterious woman on a horse who is revered by the ghosts. There is a mysterious dance done every eighty years at midnight by the living and the dead, called the Macabray.
However, Bod obeys Silas and avoids most of the living visitors. Mostly. But. Bod leaves the cemetary once out of curiosity and necessity. It teaches him he definitely is safer in the cemetary!
At the end of volume one, many mysteries remain. Bod is a very appealing kid, the ghosts are fun, kind or mean, depending on who they were when they were alive, and Silas is a dark entity who yet is somehow a good protector of the graveyard. The woman on a horse and the ghouls are strange and wonderous beings who are the opposites of each other on a spiritual spectrum of Good and Evil. Jack, the killer, is still looking for Bod because a group of men continue to want Bod found and murdered. Why? I guess I will have to go on to Volume Two!
Nobody ‘Bod’ Owens is a boy who is growing up in a cemetary. Why and how is a mystery! Silas, a vampire, rescued him after finding him wandering about the cemetary as a baby. Bod had run from his home during the slaughter of his parents and a sibling. The killer, Jack, is still looking for him. Why Bod and his entire family needed to be killed is not revealed.
Bod is a happy boy despite that his only friends are dead people. The ghosts are taking care of him. Mr. and Mrs. Owens are his stepparents. Silas brings him food. All of the other ghosts are teaching him how to read and write. They also are giving him an education, but it is a problematic one, since the ghosts are teaching him what children were taught in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Never mind. Bod is alive and healthy.
Silas has given Bod one rule - never leave the cemetary! Bod doesn’t know why. In the meantime, he becomes familiar with many of the dead who are buried and now ‘live’ in the cemetary. He is able to see them, talk to them, touch them.
During visits by the living to the cemetary, who are looking after relatives’ graves, he learns the difference between the living and the dead, the primary one being those who are alive cannot see the ghosts as he can.
But it’s all good. Bod is friendly and very young, and he doesn’t really question his life. He meets ghouls and witches, and has a series of adventures. There is a mysterious woman on a horse who is revered by the ghosts. There is a mysterious dance done every eighty years at midnight by the living and the dead, called the Macabray.
However, Bod obeys Silas and avoids most of the living visitors. Mostly. But. Bod leaves the cemetary once out of curiosity and necessity. It teaches him he definitely is safer in the cemetary!
At the end of volume one, many mysteries remain. Bod is a very appealing kid, the ghosts are fun, kind or mean, depending on who they were when they were alive, and Silas is a dark entity who yet is somehow a good protector of the graveyard. The woman on a horse and the ghouls are strange and wonderous beings who are the opposites of each other on a spiritual spectrum of Good and Evil. Jack, the killer, is still looking for Bod because a group of men continue to want Bod found and murdered. Why? I guess I will have to go on to Volume Two!
October 29, 2014
The artwork is breathtaking and I just couldn't look away from it. What's even cooler is that a different artist illustrates for each new chapter. Highly recommended, especially if you are a fan of the original book.
May 6, 2020
3.5
I think I'd like the book more.
I think I'd like the book more.
October 31, 2018
Bir Neil Gaiman romanı bu kadar iyi uyarlanabilir. Üstelik henüz sadece birinci cilt yayınlandı. İkinci cilt için güzel haberler geliyor. Başta P. Craig Russell'ın emeği, çizimleri ve diğer çizerlerle müthiş özgün bir çalışma. İthaki Yayınları'ndan Tuğçe Nida Sevin'in yayına hazırladığı, Alican Saygı Ortanca'nın çevirdiği, düzeltilerini Ömer Ezer'in, kapağını Şükrü Karakoç'un yaptığı kitap çizgi roman severler için evdeki kütüphanelerin en güzel rafında yerini almalı. Diyaloglarıçok başarılı, kurguladığı dünya bir mezarlık üzerinden çok iyi. İlk defa böylesi bir fikir, kurgu ile karşılaşıyorum. Fazlasıyla hoşlandım.
March 15, 2023
Great characters and great story!
December 1, 2014
One of the writers that inspire me is Neil Gaiman. I am envious of the way he masterfully creates worlds and tells his tales. The Graveyard Book is no exception.
I wish I had in my possession the second volume, because you are definitely left wanting more. I could just read the actual book, lets be honest for a second, but then I would miss out on the wonderful illustrations. It must be said (in my opinion) that the imagery in this graphic novel isn’t my favourite. I put this down to it being illustrated by several wonderful people. Each style on their own is again, wonderful, but together and mixed throughout the novel..well it doesn’t go unnoticed.
So far, since I haven’t actually completed the whole novel, I am really enjoying it. I know I would have a greater appreciation if I actually read the book as it definitely reads as short stories rather than chapters in a novel.
The world is fantastic, with unique and historical elements embedded flawlessly. The characters are incredibly unique and you just marvel at Gaiman’s creativity.
I have many a theory about what is really going on, but shouldn’t share them because of spoilers. And also, you should go and pick this one up. If not this version, then definitely the novel. I know I will.
I wish I had in my possession the second volume, because you are definitely left wanting more. I could just read the actual book, lets be honest for a second, but then I would miss out on the wonderful illustrations. It must be said (in my opinion) that the imagery in this graphic novel isn’t my favourite. I put this down to it being illustrated by several wonderful people. Each style on their own is again, wonderful, but together and mixed throughout the novel..well it doesn’t go unnoticed.
So far, since I haven’t actually completed the whole novel, I am really enjoying it. I know I would have a greater appreciation if I actually read the book as it definitely reads as short stories rather than chapters in a novel.
The world is fantastic, with unique and historical elements embedded flawlessly. The characters are incredibly unique and you just marvel at Gaiman’s creativity.
I have many a theory about what is really going on, but shouldn’t share them because of spoilers. And also, you should go and pick this one up. If not this version, then definitely the novel. I know I will.
December 12, 2016
It was so nice to re-read this book in graphic novel form. Loved being able to see the illustrations while the story unfolded. I read this book a few years ago and was surprised while reading this graphic novel that I remembered so little of it the first time around. 4 stars for being a good story and for the illustrations.
The Graveyard Book is about a boy named Bod (Nobody) Owens. When we first meet our protagonist he is a toddler who wanders into the graveyard. He was at the right place at the right time, because just before his trek up hill his family was murdered by the man Jack.
The inhabitants of the graveyard decided that the baby could remain in the Graveyard and live among them. We go along with Bod's days as a child learning to read and write. We meet his friends and learn the histories of the dead around him.
There are several main points of this story that I just completely forgot about the last time I read this book. I'm so happy to dive back into this world. Can't wait for volume 2.
The Graveyard Book is about a boy named Bod (Nobody) Owens. When we first meet our protagonist he is a toddler who wanders into the graveyard. He was at the right place at the right time, because just before his trek up hill his family was murdered by the man Jack.
The inhabitants of the graveyard decided that the baby could remain in the Graveyard and live among them. We go along with Bod's days as a child learning to read and write. We meet his friends and learn the histories of the dead around him.
There are several main points of this story that I just completely forgot about the last time I read this book. I'm so happy to dive back into this world. Can't wait for volume 2.
May 13, 2016
¡Qué belleza! He de decirles que este libro se ha convertido en uno de mis favoritos. No sólo la historia es maravillosa, la edición de la novela gráfica es fantástica. Tengo tanto que contarles, que no sé ni por dónde empezar. Vayamos primero por lo físico…
Esta novela gráfica está basada en el libro homónimo de Neil Gaiman. Para hacerla, se juntaron diversos artistas reconocidos, quienes dieron vida a los primeros seis capítulos de este primer tomo (hay otro tomo de la novela gráfica). Aunque cada artista tiene un estilo diferente y se encargó de un capítulo distinto, todos mantuvieron un criterio, de manera que el libro es coherente y permita que uno se adentre en la historia sin problemas.
Por supuesto, al ser novela gráfica la cantidad de texto es mínima. No obstante, me gustó que algunos de los artistas pusieron pequeñas escenas que complementaban a la perfección la narración. Así, un par de ojos tristes, una sonrisa macabra, un paisaje desolador… permitían entender más sobre la historia que unas cuantas líneas de descripción.
Sigue leyendo en: http://losmillibros.blogspot.mx/2016/...
Esta novela gráfica está basada en el libro homónimo de Neil Gaiman. Para hacerla, se juntaron diversos artistas reconocidos, quienes dieron vida a los primeros seis capítulos de este primer tomo (hay otro tomo de la novela gráfica). Aunque cada artista tiene un estilo diferente y se encargó de un capítulo distinto, todos mantuvieron un criterio, de manera que el libro es coherente y permita que uno se adentre en la historia sin problemas.
Por supuesto, al ser novela gráfica la cantidad de texto es mínima. No obstante, me gustó que algunos de los artistas pusieron pequeñas escenas que complementaban a la perfección la narración. Así, un par de ojos tristes, una sonrisa macabra, un paisaje desolador… permitían entender más sobre la historia que unas cuantas líneas de descripción.
Sigue leyendo en: http://losmillibros.blogspot.mx/2016/...
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