Overview
One of most ground-breaking shows in the history of television, The Twilight Zone has become a permanent fixture in pop culture. This new graphic novel series re-imagines the show’s most enduring episodes, in all their original uncut glory, originally written by Rod Serling himself, and now adapted for a new generation—a generation that has ridden Disney’s Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorTM ride, studied old episodes in school, watched the annual marathons, and paid homage to the show through the many random take-offs that show up in movies and TV shows everywhere. Submitted for your approval: Marsha White, a dissatisfied shopper with an unusual problem. This is one shopping trip that is marked final sale, return only to the customer service desk—in the Twilight Zone!
Synopsis
One of most ground-breaking shows in the history of television, The Twilight Zone has become a permanent fixture in pop culture. This new graphic novel series re-imagines the show’s most enduring episodes, in all their original uncut glory, originally written by Rod Serling himself, and now adapted for a new generation—a generation that has ridden Disney’s Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorTM ride, studied old episodes in school, watched the annual marathons, and paid homage to the show through the many random take-offs that show up in movies and TV shows everywhere.
Submitted for your approval: Marsha White, a dissatisfied shopper with an unusual problem. This is one shopping trip that is marked final sale, return only to the customer service desk—in the Twilight Zone!
VOYA
Adapted from Twilight Zone television show scripts, these new graphic novels recreate the historic series for the next generation of fans. In Walking Distance, while waiting for his car to be fixed, thirty-nine-year-old ad executive Martin finds himself back in his childhood town where everything is still the same. In The After Hours, Marsha White is shopping at a department store to purchase a thimble for her mother. After unusual circumstances involving a brusque attendant and damaged goods, Marsha goes to lodge a complaint, which leads to her being locked in the department store after hours. These graphic novels adequately tell the story. Walking Distance will have little interest to teen readers unless they are already fans of the Twilight Zone. The story line is suited more for adults with Martin searching for his lost childhood. The After Hours story line might have more appeal for teens because there is nothing to hinder teen interest. The colored artwork in both graphic novels is sufficient to add in the storytelling, but it is better executed in The After Hours, whose creepy feeling pervades the story. If your library is looking to add diversity to a graphic novel collection, then these titles, although not likely to be high-circulating items, will serve that need. For nostalgic purposes, they may fit better in an adult collection than a teen one. Reviewer: Kristin Fletcher-Spear
Editorials
VOYA -
Adapted from Twilight Zone television show scripts, these new graphic novels recreate the historic series for the next generation of fans. In Walking Distance, while waiting for his car to be fixed, thirty-nine-year-old ad executive Martin finds himself back in his childhood town where everything is still the same. In The After Hours, Marsha White is shopping at a department store to purchase a thimble for her mother. After unusual circumstances involving a brusque attendant and damaged goods, Marsha goes to lodge a complaint, which leads to her being locked in the department store after hours. These graphic novels adequately tell the story. Walking Distance will have little interest to teen readers unless they are already fans of the Twilight Zone. The story line is suited more for adults with Martin searching for his lost childhood. The After Hours story line might have more appeal for teens because there is nothing to hinder teen interest. The colored artwork in both graphic novels is sufficient to add in the storytelling, but it is better executed in The After Hours, whose creepy feeling pervades the story. If your library is looking to add diversity to a graphic novel collection, then these titles, although not likely to be high-circulating items, will serve that need. For nostalgic purposes, they may fit better in an adult collection than a teen one. Reviewer: Kristin Fletcher-SpearChildren's Literature -
Adapted from one of Rod Serling's original Twilight Zone teleplays, this graphic novel retells The After Hours, an eerie story about Marsha White, a young woman shopping for a gold thimble to give to her mother. As Marsha searches the department store, however, she notices bizarre things—from an elevator that goes to a non-existent eighteenth floor, to a department store that sells only a single gold thimble, to the mannequin that resembles one of the shop girls. But when Marsha ends up trapped in the store after hours, she discovers a dark secret about the department store—and her own existence. Fans of The Twilight Zone will find this interpretation intriguing, especially since writer Mark Kneece incorporated deleted scenes from Serling's teleplay, enabling the graphic novel to reveal, among other things, the story behind Marsha's mother—something hinted at but not shown in the television episode. Rebekah Isaacs' art is also suitably eerie, although the character designs do not resemble the actors from the original episode and the inclusion of color detracts from the moody black-and-white tones of the television series. Nevertheless, it is obvious the creators had great respect for the original material and do their best to make it fit the graphic novel format—and many readers will probably look forward to other upcoming "Twilight Zone" graphic novels, including Walking Distance, The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street, and The Odyssey of Flight 33. Reviewer: Michael JungKirkus Reviews
A full-color graphic novel, seamlessly adapted from the original Twilight Zone episode. Marsha White, a pretty young woman, enters a department store to buy a gold thimble and finds herself in an odd predicament. A mysterious elevator takes her to the 18th floor—a floor nearly bare, except for the notion she seeks. Discovering her purchase damaged, she files a complaint only to learn there is no 18th floor. Marsha then unearths a shocking discovery about the store, its mannequins—and herself. With only a few minor changes, Kneece's adaptation is quick and enjoyable and introduces a classic TV series to a new generation of readers. Isaacs's illustrations are clean, distinct and cinematic in scope, employing an interesting variety of angles. Simultaneously released by the publisher is another Twilight Zone adaptation: Walking Distance, illustrated by Dove McHargue (ISBN: 978-0-8027-9714-8; paper: 978-0-8027-9715-5). Stylistically consistent with The After Hours, its nostalgic slant may prove too obtuse for younger readers to grasp; if forced to make a choice between the two, Hours may prove a more popular choice for a teen audience. (Graphic fiction. YA)