Author: Bram Stoker
Adaptation: Stacy King
Artwork: Virginia Nitouhei
Contains spoilers
The Blurb: An ancient evil lurks in the dark heart of Transylvania - but it won't lurk there forever. Now Count Dracula's immortal eyes look towards London, a new land full of opportunity and unsuspecting victims. A ragged band of survivors must stop him before it is too late... but how? Manga Classics® proudly presents a beautiful, faithful recreation of Bram Stoker's famous vampire story Dracula.
The review: Manga Classics are a range of books bringing classic literature to a new audience through the medium of Manga, which can only be applauded. In fact I will go as far as to say this is the most novel accurate graphic rendition of Dracula I have seen. There are some minor differences, such as Steward and Van Helsing do not go to the cemetery alone before taking Quincy and Arthur and Van Helsing does not use a Eucharist putty to seal the door of the tomb. But these are very minor things and the majority of the novel is faithfully rendered. I will say the Lucy/cemetary scene was the one bit that gave me a moment of thought. It looks as though her open casket is in/on a grave when discovering it empty and then she goes into the crypt (and her coffin) to escape Van Helsing’s cross. It is a wobble in an otherwise impressive adaptation.
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The review: Manga Classics are a range of books bringing classic literature to a new audience through the medium of Manga, which can only be applauded. In fact I will go as far as to say this is the most novel accurate graphic rendition of Dracula I have seen. There are some minor differences, such as Steward and Van Helsing do not go to the cemetery alone before taking Quincy and Arthur and Van Helsing does not use a Eucharist putty to seal the door of the tomb. But these are very minor things and the majority of the novel is faithfully rendered. I will say the Lucy/cemetary scene was the one bit that gave me a moment of thought. It looks as though her open casket is in/on a grave when discovering it empty and then she goes into the crypt (and her coffin) to escape Van Helsing’s cross. It is a wobble in an otherwise impressive adaptation.
I liked that each character was given their own fonts to reflect type and handwriting. The work that went into the art was impressive also, after all the book is some 380 pages. The art style if very clean and absolutely of a manga style, which might be the downside for some. If you are not keen on the style then the characters may feel off for you – it is certainly where the style departs from that which the original novel brings to mind. On the other hand this is the point of the book, that it is meant to draw in a new audience and the fact that story-wise it follows the novel so closely can only be a good introduction to Dracula. Whilst artistically it isn’t my favourite rendering of the novel I certainly did not mind it and appreciate the artistry. Over all, 8 out of 10 as a manga/graphic novel.
Just to note, if you track it down, that as this is in Manga style you read it from the back forwards, right to left.
In Paperback @ Amazon US
In Paperback @ Amazon UK
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