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Overview
It was meant to be: The classic fantasy adventure that began the Redwall phenomenon is finally available in a cool graphic format. Illustrated by renowned comics artist Bret Blevins, Redwall: The Graphic Novel brings to life all the battles, all the heroes, and all the villains in a fun new format perfect for reluctant readers, those just entering the Redwall world, or the countless existing fans of the series.
For ages 9 and above.
Synopsis
It was meant to be: The classic fantasy adventure that began the Redwall phenomenon is finally available in a cool graphic format. Illustrated by renowned comics artist Bret Blevins, Redwall: The Graphic Novel brings to life all the battles, all the heroes, and all the villains in a fun new format perfect for reluctant readers, those just entering the Redwall world, or the countless existing fans of the series.
Children's Literature
I m probably the wrong person to review this book. I have never been fond of graphic novels. If I have read and enjoyed a book, then I usually have my own ideas about what the characters look like; if I did not enjoy it, then I do not really care. If they are aliens, I often feel that my ideas about their looks are better than the illustrator s. If they are humans, they generally do not look like any human I have ever seen. The places, too, rarely match my imagination. And the plots are often so hard to follow in this format, with the panels changing in size depending on how important they are or how distant they are supposed to be, that I sometimes cannot tell which panel comes next. The old classic comics were never like this! So, I started reading this book with a couple of strikes against it. Well, this graphic novel has changed my mind! I remember reading the book years ago, and when I opened this version of it, I felt as if the artist had been inside my head. The monastery looks ancient and massive, and somehow seems natural for all the characters to be animals. The mice, with their Abbot, their scribe/historian, their cooks, housekeepers, and Brothers, run the monastery; their allies are shrews, and their enemies are cats, ferrets, rats (just what you would expect). Sparrows, who have no allegiance to anyone, become staunch allies. The story jumps back and forth in time, which can gets somewhat confusing, but history is that way. This piece manages to explain several hundred years of history quite well. Fortunately, the illustrations are in black-and-white; if they were in color, they probably would be mostly red (from the blood of battle, you know). On the whole, this is agood, wonderfully illustrated read and a solid example of the genre. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
Editorials
Children's Literature
I’m probably the wrong person to review this book. I have never been fond of graphic novels. If I have read and enjoyed a book, then I usually have my own ideas about what the characters look like; if I did not enjoy it, then I do not really care. If they are aliens, I often feel that my ideas about their looks are better than the illustrator’s. If they are humans, they generally do not look like any human I have ever seen. The places, too, rarely match my imagination. And the plots are often so hard to follow in this format, with the panels changing in size depending on how important they are or how distant they are supposed to be, that I sometimes cannot tell which panel comes next. The old “classic comics” were never like this! So, I started reading this book with a couple of strikes against it. Well, this graphic novel has changed my mind! I remember reading the book years ago, and when I opened this version of it, I felt as if the artist had been inside my head. The monastery looks ancient and massive, and somehow seems natural for all the characters to be animals. The mice, with their Abbot, their scribe/historian, their cooks, housekeepers, and Brothers, run the monastery; their allies are shrews, and their enemies are cats, ferrets, rats (just what you would expect). Sparrows, who have no allegiance to anyone, become staunch allies. The story jumps back and forth in time, which can gets somewhat confusing, but history is that way. This piece manages to explain several hundred years of history quite well. Fortunately, the illustrations are in black-and-white; if they were in color, they probably would be mostly red (from the blood of battle, you know). On the whole, this is agood, wonderfully illustrated read and a solid example of the genre. Reviewer: Judy SilvermanSchool Library Journal
Gr 4 Up
When Redwall Abbey is attacked by Cluny the rat's army, Matthias the mouse follows the example of Martin the Warrior and becomes a hero. Fans of the novel will want to see if villains like Cluny the Scourge and Asmodeus Poisonteeth live up to their imaginations, while new readers will enjoy visiting Redwall for the first time. The adaptation of the novel is excellent; even this condensed form captures the spirit and the language of the original. The graphic-novel format makes the action accessible to younger readers, who will be able to join the ranks of fans who love Matthias the mouse, Constance the badger, and the rest of the Redwall supporters. The story is a page-turner, and the detailed black-and-white drawings capture both the passion and the pathos. Characters on both sides are injured and killed; the violence is realistic but not graphic. By the end of the book, readers will be cheering for Matthias as he uses both his brawn and his brains to defeat his enemies and become the champion of Redwall.
—Andrea LipinskiCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.